Homophobia

To the Editors of The Crimson:

Your article on the Defeat Homophobia poll ("Students Support Gay Rights, Survey Reveals," May 9, 1988) was extremely informative. As presented, there seems to be a contradiction in the results; Harvard students overwhelmingly support gay, lesbian and bisexual rights, yet there is widespread use of epithets such as "fag," "dyke," and "queer" on campus. I would like to add a few comments on this point.

Most students don't understand that words such as "fag," "dyke," and "queer" are not just generic swear words; they are slurs against a specific community.

Many people use these words without intending to insult homosexuals and bisexuals. However, any time these words are used regardless of the context, they serve to reinforce negative stereotypes. These and other words serve to validate people's homophobic feelings, and make it easier for people to use such words to harass homosexuals and bisexuals.

There is no "innocent" use of these terms, only ignorant use. Clarissa C. Kripke '89   Co-founder, Defeat Homophobia