Homophobia Shouldn’t be the Norm in America

Homophobia Shouldn’t be the Norm in America

Homophobia Shouldn’t be the Norm in America

The Nation’s Richard Kim speaks with the hosts of Democracy Now! about the end of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, America’s culture of homophobia and how politicians continue to fan the flames of hate.

Copy Link
Facebook
X (Twitter)
Bluesky
Pocket
Email

In the past weeks, a wave of gay teen suicides, a horrific hate crime in the Bronx and New York Governor-hopeful Carl Paladino’s much-talked-about anti-gay remarks have thrust America’s struggle with homophobia back into the spotlight.

Nation senior editor Richard Kim recently wrote that despite all the media attention given to anti-gay bullying, the coverage largely misses the bigger picture of pervasive homophobia in American society. Most commentators, he writes, are pointing fingers at the individual bullies, rather than confronting the homophobic culture that’s still the norm in this country—even in liberal circles.

Kim speaks with Democracy Now!‘s Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez about how even with the positive news of yesterday’s court ruling essentially ending Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, all these homophobic incidents contribute to an increasingly unsafe climate for LGBT people. "[Paladino’s] comments don’t necessarily have a policy implication, but it’s much broader than that," Kim explains. "It engages in systematic dehumanization of gay and lesbian people, and that’s absolutely related to the attacks that happened in the Bronx and the incidents of anti-gay bullying that we’re seeing across the country."

Watch this clip to hear about the ways politicians on the right continue to support America’s culture of homophobia—on a policy level and an ideological level—and what can be done to oppose it on an everyday basis.

—Braden Goyette

Support independent journalism that exposes oligarchs and profiteers


Donald Trump’s cruel and chaotic second term is just getting started. In his first month back in office, Trump and his lackey Elon Musk (or is it the other way around?) have proven that nothing is safe from sacrifice at the altar of unchecked power and riches.

Only robust independent journalism can cut through the noise and offer clear-eyed reporting and analysis based on principle and conscience. That’s what The Nation has done for 160 years and that’s what we’re doing now.

Our independent journalism doesn’t allow injustice to go unnoticed or unchallenged—nor will we abandon hope for a better world. Our writers, editors, and fact-checkers are working relentlessly to keep you informed and empowered when so much of the media fails to do so out of credulity, fear, or fealty.

The Nation has seen unprecedented times before. We draw strength and guidance from our history of principled progressive journalism in times of crisis, and we are committed to continuing this legacy today.

We’re aiming to raise $25,000 during our Spring Fundraising Campaign to ensure that we have the resources to expose the oligarchs and profiteers attempting to loot our republic. Stand for bold independent journalism and donate to support The Nation today.

Onward,

Katrina vanden Heuvel

Editorial Director and Publisher, The Nation

Ad Policy
x