A Bunch of Poofters

It has been suggested that Imperial is a bad place to be gay. However, this attitude is closer to an outdated stereotype than the truth. There is homophobia here (as there is everywhere), but it does seem to have decreased from what it once was. Even last year, as soon as any IQ poster went up, it was torn down, it was almost a race between the posterer and the bigot to see who could get to the end of the walkway first! This year our posters have remained up longer although this is not a plea to the first homophobic twat to start removing our posters again! Blatant homophobia is now frowned upon, so insults have now become more underhand and bitchy.

Homophobia can take many forms, from indirect comments behind the back to direct "queer bashing". A person coming out can destroy their employment opportunities, have their family turn against them and be subject to mental and physical abuse.

Some people are homophobic due to the fact that they have a low self esteem, they need to find a minority group that they feel superior to. Stereotypes are formed of the people within these minorities. In this way gay men are tarty, camp and should be doing art, therefore, there should be none here. Lesbians should be shaven headed mechanics with attitude problems. These stereotypes are ingrained into people’s consciousness to the extent that young gay people can assume all other lgb’s are like this and become frightened that they are not, and so stay closeted. However, as more people come out, they realise these are just stereotypes and that they have no need to live up to (or indeed down to) this media induced image.

So far, I think I have implied that homophobes and biphobes are largely ignorant and straight - however, there is another group equally as likely to be biphobic as the heterosexual community. To some, in this group, bisexuals are traitors to the cause, people who haven’t made up their minds to be gay because they are too keen on keeping their "heterosexual privilege". On this issue, the gay community are as guilty as their heterosexual counterparts. Bisexuals, in no way gain a heterosexual privilege, closeted gays and bis do, but once a bisexual is out, they are subject to queer bashing, taunts, loss of job, loss of family.... sound familiar so far? Far from having "the best of both worlds", bisexuals are subject to suspicion by both the gay and straight communities.

Gays, lesbians and bisexuals have been around for a long time and, in a sense, we have moved backwards in our behaviour towards them.

In 2500BC a married couple were buried in Egypt. The only difference between this tomb and any other tomb of a married couple was that both the people in this tomb were male. There is also evidence that in the past the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches sanctioned and even sanctified unions like marriage between members of the same sex.

It is only relatively recently that problems have occurred, the proposed change in the law in Hawaii allowing same-sex marriage resulting in a right-wing blackmail campaign against the state.

Discrimination against homosexuals and bisexuals is allowed by law. There is no law that states that employers should not not employ somebody because of their sexuality as there is with sex or race. It is up to individual employers to decide on their equal opportunities policy on this issue. An equal opportunities policy, such as IC’s, that only takes "appropriate provisions in relation to age, disability and sexual preferences within the law" should, in time be improved so that it is made clear that the best person for the job gets the job regardless of who they are.

One step at a time brings us closer to a fair and equal system....

Many of the arguments against gays, lesbians and bisexuals can be easily countered, I have listed some of the most common ones:

1) Sex with members of the same sex is unnatural.

About 80% of the world’s population are heterosexual, therefore to them, yes, same sex relations are unnatural. However, equally unnatural is a sexual relationship with a member of the opposite sex for a gay person.

2) Homosexuals recruit young people

Almost all heterosexuals do not abuse children - the same is true for gay people. My aunt used to think that all gay people were paedophiles, then she found out about me... She has since decided that although I am not a paedophile so her original idea was wrong, I must fit into the stereotypes, coming out as lesbian to your aunt is a good way to avoid grotty perfume for Christmas!

3) The Bible condemns same sex relations.

The original Hebrew scriptures seem only to condemn homosexual rape and both heterosexual and homosexual prostitution. It says nothing of homosexual feeling. The writings of St Paul are believed to be mainly personal opinion as he also condemned women even speaking in church. Many churches teach that people should love the homosexual but hate homosexuality, unfortunately some people end up hating both.

IQ is here for you

Although this article may seem at first to be depressing we have come a long way towards eradicating homophobia and biphobia.

IQ could not have existed just a few years ago. It is important to note that the majority of people are very open minded and, frankly, do not care what you are as long as you are happy. There is however still a lot of work to be done until we reach the point where a homo/bisexual can come out to their parents without fear, perhaps, eventually there will be no need to even come out.

IQ is a friendly group where gays, lesbians and bisexuals can meet. IQ meets every Tuesday at 7.30 in the Brown Committee Room. We can be contacted via the pigeon holes in the union office or by e-mail to ka.yates@ic.ac.uk or s.r.cook@ ic.ac.uk

Contact Numbers:

National Lesbian and Gay Switchboard (0171) 837 7324

National Bisexual Helpline (0181) 569 7500 10.30am - 12.30pm