Cultural homophobia

Is it real?

Most would say this is the most common and pervasive form of homophobia in New Zealand. It is sometimes also called heterosexism and refers to the assumptions and attitudes that make it seem like being heterosexual is the only acceptable way to be.

It is this sort of homophobia in action that makes a same-sex-couple holding hands in the street seem like ‘not the thing to do.’ It is also how homophobic words like ‘homo’, 'gay' and ‘faggot’ get used as general insults for anything.

Because this sort of homophobia is acceptable at a societal level, when people as individuals perpetuate it they often don't realise they are being homophobic because it is so normalised.

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