Homophobia Law and Legal Definition
Homophobia includes hatred or fear of homosexuality. It is also defined as a desire or attempt to discriminate homosexuals. Generally, homophobia is placed in the same class as racism. where hatred, fear and discrimination are directed against persons of different races. Homophobia is fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals. Sometimes it is used as a label, to intimidate and stifle legitimate disagreement with homosexual issues.
In the United States, laws prohibiting sexual behavior are the responsibility of the individual states. Many states still have laws which ban specific sexual acts, whether consensually performed by same-sex couples. In 1961, Illinois was the first state to repeal anti-sodomy laws. Since that event, state legislatures have repealed their law, or a state court has declared it unconstitutional in: Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
