Q: What is homophobia?
A: Homophobia is the fear or dislike of people who are lesbian, gay or bisexual. When this fear and dislike is directed at bisexual people, it's called biphobia. When people fear or dislike heterosexual people, it is called heterophobia. And when people fear or dislike transgender people, it is called transphobia.
Here are some ways these phobias can turn ugly:
Calling a guy a "fag"
Writing insults on the locker of a girl who the rumor mill says is bisexual Forcing a guy to have sex with a girl to prove he's not gay.
Raping a girl who identifies as lesbian to "turn her" heterosexual.
Stripping a transgender person to reveal that person's genitals and challenging their identity.
Hitting or hurting someone because she or he is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.
This type of behavior is always wrong. No one has the right to hurt any person, either emotionally or physically. And no one should be discriminated against based on their race, gender, age, physical abilities--or their sexual orientation.
