Wednesday, 10 October 2007 03:47 pm
(no subject)
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
deckardcanineWarning: Despite my effort to skirt issues of disputed facts and ethics, this may be a controversial entry. If I rub readers the wrong way (NPI), I'll post an apology.
I've reflected on the Larry Craig story, contemplating whether it deserves as much attention as it has. Then I realized that the particular setting touches upon a fear which, while possibly very common, is seldom voiced.
We live in a society with gender-segregated restrooms. The only justification I know for this is that many of us are concerned that integration will make it easy for perverts to peek or do worse. But this barrier is useless against perverts who happen to be gay. Thus, many who consider stories like Craig's decide that public restrooms are not safe enough for comfort.
To me, this could explain why homosexual behavior is as vociferously abhorred as it is. It explains why many don't even want to acknowledge the existence of gays and bis, let alone let them feel comfortable with an open lifestyle. It puts the "phobia" in homophobia. And like all genuine phobias, the fear is out of proportion to the actual danger.
I've reflected on the Larry Craig story, contemplating whether it deserves as much attention as it has. Then I realized that the particular setting touches upon a fear which, while possibly very common, is seldom voiced.
We live in a society with gender-segregated restrooms. The only justification I know for this is that many of us are concerned that integration will make it easy for perverts to peek or do worse. But this barrier is useless against perverts who happen to be gay. Thus, many who consider stories like Craig's decide that public restrooms are not safe enough for comfort.
To me, this could explain why homosexual behavior is as vociferously abhorred as it is. It explains why many don't even want to acknowledge the existence of gays and bis, let alone let them feel comfortable with an open lifestyle. It puts the "phobia" in homophobia. And like all genuine phobias, the fear is out of proportion to the actual danger.