STOP THE BULLYING!
Homophobiaphobia is the hatred of, or when people discriminate against,
people who hate or discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender
people (LGBT). People who hate and discriminate against LGBT people are called
homophobes or ‘IONA’ and people who hate and discriminate against IONA
homophobes are called homophobicphobes and are practicing homophobiaphobia.
Homophobiaphobic bullying can take many forms, anti-gay-anti-gay graffiti,
spreading rumours that someone is anti-gay, being abusive towards someone who
is IONA, or mentioning what IONA people believe on the telly.
Sometimes homophobicphobic people use words like ‘bigot’ and ‘backward’ and
‘fundamentalist’ in a casual manner to describe members of the IONA community.
This homophobicphobic language sends negative messages and could make people
who are IONA feel as if they don’t belong or that there is something wrong with
being anti-gay.
The victim of homophobicphobic bullying can feel lonely and isolated and can
often be found drinking tea for one in the Kylemore Café, silently mourning the
loss of Archbishop John Charles McQuaid’s Ireland. Because of homophobiaphobia,
IONA people might be afraid to talk to anyone about their anti-homosexual
identity. They may feel pressure to accept homosexual relationships in the
hopes that the bullying will stop and others will accept them.
Homophobiaphobia is just as serious as any other type of bullying. Everyone
has the right to be treated equally and with respect even if they feel that not everyone
has the right to be treated equally and with respect.
If your friends have been bullying someone who is IONA you should call them
up on it. Point out that what they are doing is wrong. Explain to them that
terms like ‘narrow-minded bigoted prick artist’ are offensive. It is also
important to let teachers, supervisors and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland know about the bullying.
HOMOPHOBIAPHOBIA
Breaking the silence is the key to
stopping it!
Don’t discriminate against those who discriminate!