What is homophobia?

• A. Irrational fear of someone who identifies sexually as gay or lesbian
• B. Irrational fear of bisexuals
• C. Opposition to marriage between same-sex couples
• D. Disapproval of all sexual orientations

Answer: (A)

Homophobia is an irrational fear or dislike of people who are gay or lesbian, often showing up as prejudice, harassment, or discrimination toward them. This description captures the main idea: fear or aversion toward someone based on their sexual orientation, which is what the term homophobia refers to. The other options point to related ideas but don’t define the term itself: fear of bisexuals is a different prejudice (biphobia); opposition to same-sex marriage is a policy stance that may reflect homophobia but isn’t the definition; disapproval of all sexual orientations is too broad and not how the term is used. Understanding this helps recognize and address attitudes and actions that discriminate against LGBTQ+ individuals in school and safety contexts.