What is Internalized Homophobia?

Question: What is Internalized Homophobia?

Answer: Because there are so many negative stereotypes about gays, lesbians and bisexuals in popular culture and religion, gays and lesbians often turn that into hatred for themselves. This is called internalized homophobia. Internalized homophobia can be blatant, like the person who attempts to change their sexual orientation by Reparative Therapy.

Internalized homophobia can be more subtle. For example, feminine lesbians may be uncomfortable or embarrassed by more butch looking women . Or you may think people in the community who are too flamboyant, too out, or too political reflect poorly on you. You may be accepting of yourself as lesbian, but not of the greater gay community. These are all examples of internalized homophobia.