[lbo-talk] The myth of homophobia (was Pansy Power)

[Max B. Sawicky]

My 15 second analysis is that homophobia is simultaneously
psychological and social, and I agree to dwell on the psychological is
a reductionist depoliticization.  The article made me think of the
imperative of individualized consumption and waste in capitalist
culture that follows from the conventional way of being fruitful and
multiplying.  I'd add that hostility to gays is also rooted in the
need to subjugate women and maintain oppressive gender roles.

-----Original Message-----
From: lbo-talk-bounces at lbo-talk.org
[mailto:lbo-talk-bounces at lbo-talk.org] On Behalf Of James Heartfield
Sent: Sunday, March 01, 2009 3:54 PM
To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org
Subject: [lbo-talk] The myth of homophobia (was Pansy Power)

I thought Carrol's explication of the meaning of Marx's epigram 'The
anatomy 
of man is the key to the anatomy of the ape' was very good. But just
to go 
one further, we could ask not just whether homophobia existed in past
eras, 
but also whether it exists today. My friend Pete Ray wrote this
seventeen 
years ago, arguing that homphobia is itself a myth, because it takes a

social force and turns it into a psychological reaction:

The myth of homophobia
Peter Ray examines why there is such hostility to homosexuals