Philip et al,
There are varieties-of-English issues here, I suspect.
As a native English speaker, East Coast of USA variety, here are
working definitions of three terms:
homophile: positive euphemism for "humans sexually attracted to
members of the same-sex," mid-20th Century, now rarely used.
homophobia: "1. Fear of or contempt for lesbians and gay men. 2.
Behavior based on such a feeling.
." American Heritage Dictionary 4th Ed.
<http://www.bartleby.com/61/90/H0259000.html>
A 20th century combination of "homo" (same) + "phobia" (fear).
I'm not wild about the term term "homophobia" because it summons up
the psychological, not the political, arena. My preference is for
heterosexism: an unconscious ideology that presumes heterosexual
marriage is the sole desirable basis for human society. I first
encountered the idea of "heterosexism" in the work of second-wave
American feminists (ca 1970 and after) including Ti-Grace Atkinson,
Jill Johnson, Adrienne Rich, Carol Ann Douglas and many others.
The American Heritage Dictionary 4th Ed is more circumscribed:
"Discrimination or prejudice against lesbians or gay men by
heterosexual people." <http://www.bartleby.com/61/83/H0178300.html>
However, I believe that you are also asking, "Why is the issue of
homophobia/homophilia relevant to disability studies?"
Here's my response.
I think that disability studies deals with people who have been and
are marginalized in our societies. Lesbians, gay men, transgendered
people, bisexuals -- not so long ago the term of art was "sexual
deviants" -- have been and are similarly marginalized. There is
significant overlap between the power to define "sexual deviance" and
"cripple." And of course, the scholars and the studied in Disability
studies are not exclusively heterosexual. While I may not yet
understand all the ins and outs of this marginalization, its history
and continuing strength, I do firmly believe that people engaged in
disability studies must respect people in their full diversity.
--
Jesse the K -- Madison Wisconsin USA -- <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
For peace of mind, resign as general manager of the universe.
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