Anyone alarmed by the sudden increase in Homophobia?

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Because, like i noticed on some sites, someone will say something homophobic and others will agree with the person.

Whereas in the past, people would know to keep bigoted comments to themselves.

I also noticed it too in public, like some days back, i heard a guy saying about me being bisexual "what is with wrong me?"

I can't say I've noticed an increase, rather just a consistent level. Personally I disagree with the notion that people previously knew to keep bigoted comments to themselves. It hasn't been my experience. People have shared plenty of comments with me, in public, regarding how they feel about gay people. Sometimes it's more subtle, but there have been times where it's been very overt and unapologetic.

One time a guy spat at me and called me disgusting when he found out. I would consider that overt and direct homophobia.

Whereas, there's the more casual type, such as using the word gay as a stand in for uncool, to convey dislike (or when it is otherwise used as an insult). A significant amount of such behaviour occurs at my workplace. For instance, there's graffiti which calls someone who works there gay. To my knowledge he isn't gay, rather it is intended as a form of banter. I hear my co-workers refer to each other as gay as an insult, especially to imply emasculation. Of course, masculinity and male homosexuality aren't mutually exclusive, but that's an entirely different conversation and would perhaps be handled better by someone else.

It's awkward since people likely assume that I am straight at work. Makes me wonder how to handle the conversation if someone ever asks me about relationships. If I come out, they'll probably accept me but will then become conscious about their language when around me. They would probably continue to make gay jokes but then awkwardly remember and apologise to me which is fairly uncomfortable. I've been in such situations before.

Unfortunately, whenever progress is made, there's always going to be pushback. On a personal note, the homophobia that I have directly experienced has decreased. When I first came out, I was physically attacked, insulted and spat at - in comparison the casual homophobia that occurs around me these days is far less extreme. However, I am quite aware that the extreme cases still occur in the UK, someone I know was attacked not too long ago.

It is concerning, but I've always been aware of the risk that I take by being out of the closet. Certainly I wouldn't want to go back in, I am fortunate to have a close friend group that has members of the community and allies.

Also a few weeks back i also think i got targeted for a gay bashing.

When i was waiting for food outside of a restaurant at a parking lot,i heard someone say a anti gay slur.

I looked back when i heard it and i think i had a look of disgust on my face, when what i should have done was gone into the restaurant or something to be somewhere safe.

people have always been homophobic, and they've always proudly presented that stance on social media. i don't think anything at all has changed in the past two decades, people are as*holes, and they will continue to be. if anything they'll support each-other's hate spreading. stay strong out there, things won't become different until we start to make structural changes to society as a whole.

I have heard more expressions of Trumpophobia than Homophobia.

There has been a marked increased of LGBT hate crimes in the UK as the data from the Home Office, police reports and campaigners show. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/ ... -and-wales

Incidentally, I can't say that I'm alarmed by it. I am a gay man and I feel continualy alienated by my own "community". I think the internal divisions within the LGBT community created by some who might be transphobic, racist and have sexist sorts of views add to that. But also, I think that all the insecurity around sexuality triggered by all the pornified culture of society plays a role too which creates all sorts of hyper-fixations on image and the right affectations to perform and all that postmodern BS. The sooner the LGBT community learns that coming out is just one step out of many obstacles rather than a miracle fix that instantly leads to a better life for all, the better.

I've noticed this in Britain and because young people in my family are LGBT, I am really scared for their safety.

Yes, it could be dangerous for LBTQ, etc. folks. And that's truly unfortunate.

In truth, though, they've made tremendous progress in all areas over the past 30 years or so. More works needs to be done; but the progress should be noted, and not ignored.

I would argue that the progress is being noted in triumphalist very virtue signalling, insular sorts of ways in popular media. The problem is that the LGBTQ community are not tackling other problems within their own community that makes it accessible. Instead they lazily assume that 'coming out' will solve everything for each individual. Yet there are other problems that are holding them back that they are ignoring (ageism, greater rates of depression, higher substance abuse). Some of that might be related to not feeling able to come out but it is also down to some of the very cliquey attitudes in the LGBTQ community too.

I feel the proper way to address the negative---is to acknowledge the positive.

I grew up with my parents very rarely saying a positive thing about me; that had an effect on me. The atmosphere was toxic to me.

And not acknowledging the positive, I believe, will turn some people off. People don't like being surrounded by all negative all the time.

I disagree. In the society we have at the moment, acknowledging the positive is not simply acknowledging the positive. It is rather sticking your fingers in your ears and singing loudly in denialist fashion about how everyone should think positively without any critical reflection or thinking about anything. That is why students in educational institutions suffer from a deficit of critical thinking at the moment. It's fine to be optimistic but not in the fundamentalist sort of way Barabara Ehrenreich's Smile or Die explains, for instance.

I didn't say "simply acknowledge the positive" and don't be an activist.

It's more like I said "Don't stick your head in the sand, and deny the positive."

Many movements for change have died because of the pure emphasis on the negative.

Obviously, we must stamp out violence caused by homophobia----and homophobia itself.

That's fair enough. I think all that I will add is that we, not you, but we as a society have been overly proccupied with value judgements "positive" and "negative" that it becomes all very much a black and white sort of thinking that can inhibit critical thinking skills and make people averse to analysing things critically but also constructively when tackling problems the LGBTQ community face, as well as other minorities. For example, yes, stamping out homophobia in the long-term is necessary. However, the methods or tactics of doing so e.g. vague statements that lack any pragmatism "spreading the love" and other performative posturing on online mediums among the LGBTQ has a negligible effect in the long-term. Just a quick endorphin boost and preaching to the already converted. It's quite an hypocritical exercise because you have some individuals that only want "good vibes" which typically translates into them only wanting to hear what they want to hear in their own online bubble.

I haven't seen an increase in homophobia myself; if anything, I've seen the opposite.

The one thing I have seen, however, is a stark increase in transphobia, especially among feminists and British media/politics.

The LGBTQ+ community and movement do consist of much more than just a social media choir.

If you have an opportunity to do so, I would strongly recommend that you march in a pride parade at least once in your lifetime.

If possible, obtain a copy of the march order (or whatever they call it in your nearest city), listing all the many organizations that will be marching in the parade. In at least some cities, such as NYC, you can't just join the march as a lone individual; you will need to pick a group to march with. Even if that's not the case in your nearest city, it's good to obtain a copy of the march order anyway, or at least a list of all the groups that will be participating. That's a good way to get a feel for the breadth of the movement in your area.