Mental Health & Internalised Homophobia

You have to deal with your internalized Homophobia.

You have to drive your companion away.

You have to stay disguised even if the communities, environments, settings are safe.

You have to change your sexual orientation.

You have to have to push away the emotions and relations, that you so desire.

You have to bear it and stay quiet.

These are just some of the veracities of internalized Homophobia, an issue that affects the vast majority of LGBQIA+ individuals. They experience this at the forefront of the fight for justice and equality. But what is “Internalised Homophobia” exactly? Does it differ from Homophobia?

Introduction

Homophobia, refers to a feeling and expression of hate, intolerance & oppression towards people of a non-heterosexual orientation. However, Internalised Homophobia, refers to a sense of self-hatred and shame in homosexual/LGBTQIA+ individuals.

But how can someone who identifies as LGBTQIA+ have feelings of dislike, fear or disgust towards themselves, for who they are? This can transpire due to various factors such as being taught that only heterosexuality is the “correct way to be” or the negative representation, portrayal and treatment of LGBTQIA+ individuals. Moreover, it may also be promulgated and institutionalised by poor parenting, social stigma, bullying, forceful reinforcement of gender-roles, hate crimes etc. This all tends to internalise certain messages, subjecting one to Internalised Homophobia.

As a result one might start denying their sexual orien is imperative and salient. It can lead to immensely positive results such as emotional and physical well-being, a stronger more effective political movement, and a more compassionate world. mm into being “heterosexual”. Thus, a major issue that arises is the attempts at justifying such practices or the denial that homophobia, biphobia, transphobia etc. are serious social problems; leading to major Mental Health Problems.

Impact on Mental Health

Our mental well-being directly depends on factors like self-acceptance, perception of reality, coping mechanisms etc. Since Internalised Homophobia directly degrades all these factors in an individual, it becomes the root cause of mental health issues.

1. It could provoke negative feelings like worthlessness, hopelessness, pessimism; contributing to depression in the future.

2. It could result in negative body imaging, low self-esteem/confidence often accompanied by eating disorders.

3. It can also cause high levels of chronic stress; increasing the risk of panic/anxiety attacks, heart diseases and hypertension.

4. Another problem could be OCD.

5. Furthermore, LGBQIA+ people, who are likely to suffer from what’s known as “minority stress,” is a direct cause of internalized Homophobia. “Minority stress,” arises from specific, negative events in a person’s life, as well as the whole of the minority person’s experience in the dominant, oppressive society.

Thus, Internalised Homophobia destabilizes movements for justice and equality, and keeps us fighting amongst ourselves rather than focusing on the big picture issue of institutionalized oppression. And so the self-perpetuating cycle of suffering continues.

How to Help?

The manifestation of internalized Homophobia, as well as the extent to which LGBQIA+ people suffer from it, is as varied and layered as our identities, which makes recognizing it a complicated process. It is one thing that is not easily visible to oneself or others.

However, here are some ways to reduce Internalised Homophobia in oneself and others.

1. Educate yourself about the LGBTQIA+ community including their history, struggles, problems, accomplishments and goals. Acknowledge your faults/misconceptions and move on.

2. Try to interact and spend time with members of the LGBTQIA+ community and understand and listen to them.

3. Try to educate others and spread awareness about the same by getting involved, volunteering and working with organisations who seek to spread the word about the same. Normalise being LGBTQIA+!

4. If you are the one going through it, talk to friends, family, counsellors, therapists or other mental health professionals who are well-versed with such issues; in your own time.

Conclusion

Imagine growing up and hearing from your own loved and trusted ones that certain people are detrimental to society. Imagine this being instilled in you. Then imagine realising that you are one of them. The ones you were supposed to despise…. But you are now among “the despised”.

However, Internalised Homophobia is a concept much more nuanced than its simple definition. It is possible to exist outside of it and the real definition of it is so much more than the dictionary simplicity of “irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals.”

“Homophobia whether Internalised or externalised is really fear; it’s not hatred, it’s fear. It’s fear of the truth about ourselves” -Andrew Sullivan.

Therefore, Working to overcome Internalised Homophobia is imperative and salient. It can lead to immensely positive results such as emotional and physical well-being, a stronger more effective political movement, and a more compassionate world.

✏️: @ishani_jaiswal & @tarini_puri

🎨: @tarini_puri