Liberal homophobia
Reference
Definition
Liberal homophobia is the acceptance of homosexuality only as a private matter, with resistance to discussing it publicly or acknowledging it openly.
Quick Facts
| Term | Liberal homophobia |
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What does liberal homophobia mean?
Liberal homophobia treats homosexuality as acceptable provided it remains private. It is expressed through the idea that people may do what they want privately but should not discuss their sexual orientation openly.
The private–public distinction
The concept centers on how homosexuality is assigned to the private sphere while heterosexuality is treated as public and discussable. Debates about coming out, outing, and whether public figures should disclose their sexual orientation have been used to illustrate this form of homophobia.