The virus of homophobia

In a beautiful article published in 1990, the American writer Barbara Smith underlined that “homophobia is usually the last of the oppressions mentioned, the last to be taken seriously, the last to be considered”.

This reflection, born in the heat of her own vital experience —as a “black woman, lesbian, feminist and activist”—, pointed to the fundamental role played by the educational system in its eradication.

Despite the three decades that have passed, the laws enacted and the public policies implemented, it is disturbing to note the presence of homophobic discourse in classrooms in so many countries.

However, it is not only a problem that needs to be solved in schools, but also, for example, in the streets, in public administrations and in parliaments.

From the hackneyed joke to physical aggression, passing through verbal insult, the multiple facets of homophobia (where Smith would have included, of course, lesbophobia, biphobia or transphobia) continue to roam freely and, with them, the violence.

A violence with which no one in their right mind should share.

Remember, just in case, that it was also in 1990 that the general assembly of the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses.

And that every May 17, the day of that historic vote, the day against homophobia, transphobia and biphobia is commemorated.

If homosexuality is not a disease, according to the WHO, homophobia probably is, as its last two syllables reveal.

Reducing homophobia to a mental illness would be as beneficial as it is impossible, as I can imagine thousands of Olympic stadiums teeming with patients to cure.

I do not think I am exaggerating when I state that in Spain there is a greater number of homophobes, of very different degrees, than there are people infected with the covid virus.

Many millions, in other words.

The "virus" of homophobia, moreover, is very long-lasting and cannot be combated with vaccines —I don't think the vast majority would allow themselves to be vaccinated, either, because of the negationism inherent in hetero thought

that Monique Wittig conceptualized.

On the other hand, it is transmitted very easily, through millions of contacts, such as those that strengthen misogyny or racism, without going any further.

It is clearly in our country and confirmed by police sources and observatories against homophobia or LGTBphobia, among others.

Meanwhile, that "fear of going home: homophobia" persists, about which Gloria Anzaldúa spoke in

, favoring a play on words between

("house") and "homo", which may also be the underlying reason of not a few suicides in these times of pandemic.

People of a certain age or position, of a certain professional status or social context, can offer an empowered reading of our life experience, reducing the pain of harassment suffered;

Not so many young people, inside and outside our borders.

Remember Barry Jenkins' award-winning film

(2016)?

Without a doubt, the tragedy that it encrypts is much more frequent than the experience shown in

(2017), by Luca Guadagnino.

Stigmatized lives are not usually bright.

Homophobia predates the birth of the word itself, in the late 1960s.

Among the many issues that flow in the

of Rafael Chirbes, one of the most celebrated books of the past 2021, homophobia is one of those that seems less marginal to me, despite the fact that there are those who skip it, as safeguarding the reputation of the author of, no less,

(1988) and

(2016).

It is the opposite face of the one reflected in

, in which Miguel Bosé portrays the prevailing model of masculinity during the Franco regime that was embodied and practiced by his father, the bullfighter Luis Miguel Dominguín, whose effects are not so far away in the background of those painted by Jordi Esteva in

, a memoir in which the escape suggested by the title appears marked by sexual diversity.

These three volumes have just appeared, so to speak, and join a long list of more or less autobiographical texts in which homophobia no longer hides.

I'm not surprised that last year also saw the light

, by Gabriel J. Martín, where this psychologist provides survival tools to today's youth and adults.

I'm not surprised that his second chapter is "An overly demanding emotional biography", seen what has been seen.

Homophobia (and with it, lesbophobia, biphobia or transphobia) is a violence that we should not get used to and that must be fought in the streets, in public administrations and in parliaments, even if it is the last oppression to be taken seriously, as Barbara Smith very well gauged.

We should not be surprised by resolution 2417 of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, of January 25, to combat the increase in hatred against LGBTI people in Europe.

Rafael M. Mérida Jiménez

is a professor at the University of Lleida.

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