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Personal Assessment of Homophobia

Homophobia may be defined as an unrealistic fear of or generalized negative attitude toward homosexual people. Homophobia may be experienced and expressed by lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people as well as heterosexual people. There are many kinds of homophobia that happen everyday. We often overlook more subtle actions and exclusions because they may seem insignificant. They are not. Subtle homophobia is still homophobia.

1. Do you believe that lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender people (LGBT) can influence others to become homosexual? Do you think someone could influence you to change your sexual and affectional preference?
2. If you are a parent, how would you (or do you) feel about having a lesbian daughter or a gay son?
3. How do you think you would feel if you discovered that one of your parents or parent figures, or a brother or sister, were LGBT?
4. Are there any jobs, positions, or professions that you think LGBT people should be barred from holding or entering? If yes, why?
5. Would you go to a physician whom you knew or believed to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender if that person were of a different gender from you? If that person were of the same gender as you? If not, why?
6. If someone you care about were to say to you, " I think I'm gay," would you suggest that the person see a therapist?
7. Have you ever been to a LGBT social event, march, or worship service? If not, why?
8. Can you think of three positive aspects of a gay or lesbian lifestyle? Can you think of three negative aspects of a non-gay lifestyle?
9. Have you ever laughed at a "queer" joke?

Adapted by UNC Chapel Hill Safe Zone. Written by A. Elfin Moses and Robert 0. Hawkins, Jr.

Questions, Comments? Email us at lgbt@unc.edu