Internalized Homophobia Meaning: How to Overcome Shame and Self-Hatred | Info Self Development
Is Internalized Homophobia Real or Are You Imagining It?
Oh yes it’s certainly real! Many of us have experienced it in some shape or form, some more closely than others; maybe it happened within ourselves or our closest closeted friends. Unfortunately, internalized homophobia is not a fruit of our imagination, and fortunately we are mentally sound.
We were thinking clearly when we were bullied in school, and as a result we felt ugly and worthless on the inside for being secretly attracted to our classmate, to our same sex best friend.
And we are still thinking clearly when we are haunted by the thoughts and beliefs of others around us. We are programmed by the prejudices of people who have conditioned us with their narrow minded idea that being lesbian and gay is wrong. Perhaps the conditioning was gentle and subtle or it could have been loud and strong. Yet no doubt today many of us still feel ashamed within ourselves to publicly hold hands with someone else.
What Is Internalized Homophobia?
Internalized homophobia is when a lesbian or gay person was told homophobic myths and stereotypes about themselves, and then believes…