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The word homophobia appeared in the 1960’s. George Weinberg, an American psychologist, seems to have been the first to use it in a study in 1969. He used it again in his 1972 book “Society and the healthy homosexual”. K.T. Smith also used this word in 1971 in an article called “Homophobia: A Tentative Personality Profile”.
Francophone authors quickly followed suit. Here is how Weinberg defined homophobia in 1972:
“The fear expressed by heterosexuals of being in the presence of homosexuals, and the loathing that homosexual persons have for themselves.”
Many have suggested using the term heterosexism, but the term homophobia has won the day. Other neologisms are gradually appearing such as lesbophobia, which is defined as an aversion for lesbians and lesbianism, and biphobia, which is an aversion for bisexuals and bisexuality. |