The PowerPoint to make the point. Homophobia The PowerPoint to make the point.

The word Homophobia (from Greek homós: one and the same; phóbos: fear, phobia) is an irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuals Homophobia" was first used with its modern meaning in 1972.

Psychologist and gay activist George Weinberg coined the term homophobia in his 1972 book Society and the Healthy Homosexual, published one year before the American Psychiatric Association voted to remove homosexuality from its list of mental disorders.

Why is that an important point to think about? What were your parents and grandparents up to in 1972?

The word can be used to describe the fear of a heterosexual that they will be approached romantically by someone of the same sex. It can also describe the apparently fear-based reactions of recoiling from unintentional close contact with another male or of being in close proximity to other males in certain situations such as while in the restroom. male-to-male relationships often incite a stronger reaction in a homophobic person than female-to-female

The person displaying the reaction may be afraid of others of the same sex. Homophobia can be rooted in an individual's fear of being identified as gay.

What kinds of homophobic behaviours have you seen?

A person who expresses homophobic thoughts and feelings does so to: Communicate their beliefs about the class of gay people Distance themselves from this class and its social status. To reaffirm their role as a heterosexual in a heteronormative culture.

The Bill of Rights (1990) and the Human Rights Act (1993) guarantees every person the protection to freely expresses their views and not be discriminated against.

So, what can we do about making sure people uphold the law – especially about the little everyday things?

Here is your mindmap moment!

That sounds like the kind of world I’d like to live in That sounds like the kind of world I’d like to live in! How do we make it happen? Take another look at those examples of homophobic behaviour – How could we rewrite the script?

It is important to rewrite the homophobic script – because we live in this world and we should all want it to be filled with kindness, compassion, tolerance and laughter. We all collectively decide what is ok – that’s why tolerance works.