Internalized Homophobia

Internalized homophobia is a term used by social scientists to describe the phenomena by which lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ) persons direct negative societal attitudes regarding homosexuality toward themselves. Internalized homophobia is generally assumed to have deleterious effects on the health and well-being of LGBQ persons by diminishing self-regard, inhibiting protective factors associated with positive identity development, and fostering identification with the oppressor. The use of the term developed with the advent of gay-affirmative therapeutic interventions during the late 20th century. Detractors have argued that using the stem phobia emphasizes the fear-based aspects of prejudice and further stigmatizes the individual to whom prejudice is directed, whereas homonegativity and heterosexism locate prejudice within its sources in society and social structures rather than within the individual.