A little more than 40 years ago the term “homophobia” first appeared as a descriptor for those who feared homosexuals.
It was coined within the psychological community to address an increase in patients who suffered an irrational aversion and fear of homosexuals, which seemed to be associated with a fear of contagion, disease, and morality.
The terminology then entered the vernacular of popular culture to describe the hateful and discriminatory attitudes faced by the liberation of individuals previously forced to subversive identities.
The term “homophobia” has since branched out to the other sectors of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, queer, and questioning (LGBTQQ) community to describe other forms of oppressive attitudes, such as lesbophobia, biphobia, and transphobia.
These terms are, however, inaccurate and provide escapism for the aggressors of hate and discrimination. It’s buried deep within the language that phobia is irrational and can’t be controlled by the person who suffers the phobia.
Consider the term “gynophobia,” which means “the fear of women.” When a woman is oppressed, subjugated, discriminated against, or assaulted, we don’t say that the perpetrator of such wrongful acts is gynophobic.
Instead, we use the language that accurately describes the acts as sexist, misogynist, or a male chauvinist.
I would encourage the evolution of the language to use the term “heterosexism” to address the discriminatory and hateful attitudes against the LGBTQQ community, which I feel is a more correct and accurate discourse.
By using the correct language we can maintain the implication of accountability on those who commit heterosexist acts.