Homophobia: A History

by Byrne Fone

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The first comprehensive history of homophobia-from ancient Athens to the halls of Congress-this bold, original work is certain to become a classic.It is the last acceptable prejudice. In an age when racial and ethnic name-calling are viewed with distaste, and physical epithets are frowned upon, hatred of homosexuals remains rife. Now, in a tour de force of historical and literary research, Byrne Fone chronicles the evolution of homophobia through the centuries. Delving into literary sources show more as diverse as Greek philosophy, the Bible, Elizabethan poetry, and the Victorian novel, as well as historical texts and propaganda from the French Revolution to the Moral Majority, Fone finds that same-sex desire has always been the object of legal, social, and religious persecution. Fone shows how the biblical story of Sodom became the primary source for later prohibitions against homosexuality. He charts the subtle shifts in public attitudes and law, from Anglo-Saxon edicts that imposed death by burning upon "confess'd sodomytes," to Victorian decrees that punished sodomy with "forfeiture of all rights, including procreation" (i.e., castration). Sifting the evidence of our own times, including Reader's Digest articles and TV talk-show transcripts, Fone demonstrates that homophobia remains one of the central tenets of law, science, faith, and literature, and defines the very essence of what it means to be male or female. Written by an acclaimed expert in gay and lesbian history, Homophobia is the best sort of history: lively, accessible, and enlightening. show less

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2 reviews
While it necessarily skips over some of the history, the author shares a well-supported history of the possible origins of homophobia, its connections with misogyny and sexism, and speculation as to why it remains one of the last acceptable prejudices (Sexism and even misogyny are still pretty widespread). It is extensively rich with detailed information and references on the parts of history that it does cover; for the parts that are skipped, there are full books written on those topics to fill the gaps. The author does repeat information a few times, but it is otherwise an eye-opening and detailed enrichment of the history of a prejudice. Well-documented with references quoted straight out of original or translated sources.
La homofobia es uno de los prejuicios más persistentes y generalizados en la cultura occidental. Hoy en día, cuando el racismo, el antisemitismo y la misoginia van perdiendo legitimidad y se baten poco a poco en retirada, el rechazo hacia los homosexuales se mantiene bajo las más diversas formas. Sus manifestaciones van desde el desprecio, la burla y la desconfianza, hasta el odio, la agresión física y el homicidio.

Byrne Fone emprende en estas páginas un recorrido histórico que analiza el fenómeno de la homofobia, sus orígenes y posibles causas. El autor busca probar que este prejuicio ha sido inventado, fomentado y apoyado a lo largo de los siglos por diferentes instancias de la sociedad (la religión, el gobierno, las leyes, show more la ciencia, etcétera).

También demuestra que uno de los fundamentos de este temor se relaciona con la creencia de que los homosexuales perturban el orden social, legal, político, y moral, y que por esta razón deben ser perseguidos, reprimidos o "reformados".
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Byrne Fone, a pioneer in the teaching of gay and lesbian studies, is the author of three previous books, including A Road to Stonewall, and editor of The Columbia Anthology of Gay Literature. Professor emeritus at the City University of New York, he lives in Hudson, New York. (Bowker Author Biography)

Classifications

Genres
Nonfiction, LGBTQ+, Sexuality and Gender Studies, History, General Nonfiction
DDC/MDS
306.76Society, Government, and CultureSocial sciences, sociology & anthropologySocial Behavior - Dating, Marriage, DivorceSexual relationsSexual orientation, transgender identity, intersexuality
LCC
HQ76.25 .F7Social sciencesThe family. Marriage, Women and SexualityThe Family. Marriage. WomenSexual life
BISAC

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Members
322
Popularity
98,500
Reviews
2
Rating
½ (3.73)
Languages
English, Spanish
Media
Paper, Ebook
ISBNs
6
ASINs
2