The Terrorism of Homophobia

by Michael A. Jones

categories: Hate Crimes, International Gay Rights

Published September 03, 2009 @ 06:25AM PT

Despite years of advances toward LGBT rights, a number of incidents in the past few months certainly seem to suggest that on a global level, acts of terrorism are becoming increasingly fueled by homophobia.  And the results are catastrophic, proving that hate is not just a four-letter word, but a global phenomenon that needs to be addressed.

Earlier this summer we saw a horrific scene in Tel Aviv, Israel, where a gunman walked into an LGBT youth center, opened fire, and killed two people while injuring 15 others.  The attack ripped the band-aid off of a simmering type of homophobia rooted within Israel (and many other countries).  In response, tens of thousands of people gathered to mourn, and work to fight the type of hatred that fuels this type of violence.  Israeli President Shimon Peres put things even more starkly: the type of hate that walks into a center for youth, pulls a trigger, and kills or wounds more than a dozen people is the type of hate that affets us all.

"The shots which struck this proud community affected us all as human beings, as Jews and as Israelis. The man who targeted the two victims targeted all of us...Everyone has the right to be different and proud," said Peres.  "Noone has the right to interfere in other people's lives so long as everyone respects law and order. I came to share your tears after the death of two young innocents. Be strong and courageous."

Fast forward a month later, and we're seeing signs of homophobic terror at play in Italy, where attacks toward the LGBT population have become increasingly more regular - and increasingly more violent - in recent weeks.  Three gay people were attacked in Italy in the past 30 days - one stabbed at an LGBT festival - and earlier this week, someone threw firecrackers into a crowd of LGBT people in Rome, injuring at least one person who had shrapnel hit him in the ear.

As the President of Gaynet, an LGBT journalists group in Italy said, "These are acts of terrorism from people who want us to live in hiding."  There's two points not worth arguing there.  One, these are acts of terrorism.  And two, they are being perpetrated by people who want LGBT folks to go running back into the closet.

And think this is only happening abroad?  Not so.  Hate crimes happen in the U.S. based on sexual orientation on an ever-increasing basis.  And as we watch certain preachers like "Rev." Steven Anderson willingly tell people that he prays for violence toward LGBT people, and that if a gunman opened up fire on a crowd of gay people, he wouldn't call that person a murderer.  Instead, he'd call them a martyr for Christian causes.

Hatred, homophobia and terror are inextricably linked.  And they are fueled by the type of commentary that says that LGBT people are less than others simply because of their sexual orientation.  In Israel that thought process bred catastrophic results.  In Italy, it's terrorizing a population.  And in the U.S.?  Well, given the rise in crazy, effed up crimes these past few months - from reproductive health doctors being gunned down in their Church to a 19-year-old unloading a round on police officers to a pastor who thinks it's OK to say that murdering gays and lesbians is doing God's work - it could only be a matter of time where, if left unchecked, we're witnessing similar acts of brutal violence steeped in homophobia.