“Oftentimes, people develop internalized homophobia due to negative messages they received from society as a whole about LGBTQ+ people, from public debates on sex education to reports of discrimination.”Īccording to the psychologist, many people are afraid of coming out due to rejection from their family members and friends based on media reports of family rejection, and these unfortunate realities can further exacerbate the experience of internalized homophobia. “Societal beliefs and social support definitely play a role as well,” Williams added.
However, it’s important to mention that religion is not the only reason behind these negative feelings and not all religions condemn people for being LGBTQ+ in the first place. Some religions promote messages that express bias and animus toward LGBTQ+ people and condemn us as a group.”
“Certain religious beliefs are a major key player in the impact of internalized homophobia. Williams said internalized homophobia can be exacerbated by a number of factors.
