- Definition
Homophobia is when someone has an unreasonable fear, dislike, or hatred of people who are gay, lesbian, or bisexual.
In a play, a character who refuses to work with another actor because that actor is gay is showing homophobia.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Homophobia is like deciding you don't like someone just because they're from a different school, without ever talking to them to see what they're actually like.
Ask your child: In a story, how can you tell if a character is being judged unfairly?
Common mix-up: Kids might think homophobia is just a simple disagreement or opinion. It is actually a form of prejudice that leads to harmful actions and unfairness based on who someone loves.
Examples
- A movie that only shows negative stereotypes about a gay character.
- A song lyric that uses hateful words to describe someone who is lesbian or gay.
- A TV show where a character is bullied or excluded for having two moms or two dads.
homophobia is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
