Homophobia

Listed below is an attitude test on homophobia.                                                      

One of the main reasons that our gay and lesbian children find it hard to tell us about their sexuality is often because of our attitude towards homosexual people.

We may not think we have a homophobic attitude but maybe we say or do things that make us look like we do.

We often send off signals to our children that we will not accept them because they are gay,lesbian, bisexual or transgender. This may not be intentional but it does often happen.

Here is an attitude test on homophobia I would like you to answer.

You may be quite surprised with the answers you chose from this test.
If you answer yes to any of these questions, you need to take the time to think about things more deeply. Homophobia can have very damaging effects on your relationship with your child or loved one.

1. Do you laugh at jokes whose humor depends upon put downs and stereotypes of gays, lesbians or bisexuals?

2. Do you automatically think of gays; lesbians or bisexuals only in terms of sexuality rather than seeing them as complex people who have, among other significant features, a bisexual or same sex orientation?

3. Do you use dehumanizing slang - queer, homo, fag, dyke, lezzie, butch to refer to gays, lesbians and bisexuals or to put people in line when they stray from traditional sex roles?

4. Do you assume that a lesbian, gay man or bisexual is interested in you sexually, regardless of your sexual orientation? Do you think that if a lesbian, gay man or bisexual touches you, she or he is making sexual advances?

5. Do you react negatively when lesbians, gay men and bisexuals discuss their same sex relationships, when you do not react negatively to discussions of opposite sex relationships?

6. Do you feel it is important to make others aware that you are not gay, lesbian or bisexual?

7. Do you speak up about gay rights, but make sure every one knows that you yourself are heterosexual?

8. Do you think you can "spot one" - i.e. believe that gay people can ordinarily be identified by certain mannerisms or physical characteristics?

9. Do you fail to confront anti gay remarks or behaviors for fear of being labeled gay yourself? Do you assume that people speaking up for gay rights or against, gay, oppression are themselves gay?

10. Do you assume you don't know anyone who's gay?

This attitude test on homophobia was not included to make you feel like you have failed your child or loved one.

I just wanted you to see for yourself what perhaps your child or loved one sees in you. They sometimes see us more clearly than we see ourselves.

I hope this homophobia attitude test has been helpful to you.