So, I’ll write about it. Just because I am not a woman, or trans, does not
mean I am not touched by the taint of sex and gender discrimination. Everyone in the LGBT community suffers, because of the negative views of women and the feminine…Not just the L’s and the T’s. That’s because the negative views people have about us, our community, and even our own judgments of our selves all come from one source: sexism. But rather than mansplain the role of sexism in society, I will share the wisdom of author Suzanne Pharr, who published a book in 1997 that cut to the heart with its elegant explanation of negative views of women and the effect on the gay community, captured beautifully in the title:Homophobia: A Weapon of Sexism. Homophobia has long been thought of as the “fear
of homosexuals,” but it is really any of the negative sets of beliefs, attitudes and behaviors toward those of the homosexual persuasion. Pharr illustrates that our negative views of women, is at the heart of our negative views of the entire LGBT community. And yes, you read it right; I said “our.” This is one, big, sexist soup. All of us were raised
in this society together and we can’t expect that just because we may be of the gay, bi, trans, or even cisgender female variety that we are exempt from the clutches of societal reinforced (and possibly biologically-induced) prejudice. And as members of that society, we all are a little bit sexist.
IN HER GROUNDBREAKING (often overlooked) BOOK,HOMOPHOBIA: A WEAPON OF SEXISM, PHARR MAKES THREE BASIC CLAIMS:
1. Sexism and its begotten child, Heterosexism, rule in society.
2. Gay people threaten that Heterosexist society.
3. Homophobia is the weapon used to subdue that threat. Heterosexism is the belief that heterosexuality
is what is normal, natural and most importantly, assumed, for all human beings. You were born into a world where you were groomed to think poorly of gays, because you associate them with the lessened place of women. Woman are inferior, thus, being gay is inferior. Remember, “God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.” But, it doesn’t stop there. Point two is that gay people threaten the structure of a heterosexual
(heterosexist) society. From an early age, boys and girls are taught to conform to gender norms. When puberty hits, the gender gap widens. Male domination and female submissiveness are praised. Homosexuality is seen as contradicting what it means to be a “man” or a “woman.” Thus, it is threatening to heterosexual norms and relationships and must be stamped out. But how do you do that? With homophobia! Homophobia becomes the weapon society uses
to try to stamp out the homosexuality that threatens to topple the masculine dominance in society. Calling someone a “fag,” is a way to keep social order. Family and church rejection, making fun of a lisp, or calling a butch “sir” are all ways to quiet us. Gays go back in the closet and society is once again restored to “normal.” Then we do it to our own with infighting between the gay boys and the trans men and women and the drag queens and the lesbians. Every LGBT person has experienced this. Any
person touched by sexual orientation or gender difference knows the ravages of homophobia. And those ravages are based in a system that is driven by basic sexism. You know this personally when you go on your mobile dating app to see “masc4masc” or “no femmes!” Not to fault people for personal
preferences, but we need to be aware that at least some of our preferences, may be rooted in a prejudice that was ingrained in us long ago. And, it isn’t going away. In these United States, male domination is
still revered. And, whether you saw it clearly or not, our recent presidential election highlighted that in an extreme manner. Donald Trump was the very stereotype of a hyper-masculine male. Hillary Clinton, by being ambitious, assertive, and accomplished, violated the expectations of the stereotypical, nurturing female. Many people emotionally responded to those factors—trusting him and distrusting her—despite evidence to the contrary on both counts. Now look where we are. So, let me call to all my gay and bi brothers, to
stop turning our backs on the suffering of women, trans people and our beloved drag queens. The attitudes that are hurting them are hurting us, as well. Gender and sex affects our community, our country and our everyday lives. We are all in this together. So let’s put down our dating apps and put on that pussy hat. The next time you are asked how many feminists
it takes to screw in a light bulb, you can answer: “One. I’ll be happy to do it.”
APRIL 2017 | RAGE monthly 51
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