3. Dr. Walter Block, professor of economics at Loyola University in New Orleans, is quoted as saying “discrimination is one of the greatest evils to have ever beset mankind”. Social Justice:
4. Farmer states that that “any distinguishing characteristic, whether social or biological, can serve as a pretext for discrimination and thus as a cause of suffering”. “Gay bashing’ is a vivid picture of this type of discrimination resulting in violent crime. Social Justice (Continued):
5. According to the Pat Griffin, author of Strong Women, Deep Closets, one of the most prominent places that homophobia has been used to control women is in collegiate athletic departments. Case Study:
6. This book deals with issues confronting lesbians and gays within the sports arena while attempting to make those people directly involved with the homosexual athlete more tolerant, accepting, and understanding of the lifestyle (check out the ATHLETE ALLY Pledge). Case Study (Continued):
7. There are documented cases of the homosexual athlete being cut from the team or unfairly benched due to their sexuality. Coach Renee Portland of the Penn State Lady Lions Basketball program had an extensive history of harassing players she though might possibly be lesbian. This discrimination was directed @ a former women's basketball star, Jennifer Harris through harassing questions about her sexual orientation, threatened to kick Harris off the team which is what the Coach eventually did. Case Study (Continued):
8. The coach holds all the cards and power with a huge influence on the athlete’s future. If that coach is homophobic, the athlete may be forced to stay silent about his or her sexuality. Case Study (Continued):
9. Per Hudson Taylor, heterosexual, previous wrestling star, and collegiate wrestling coach: “I created the Pledge so that we, as an athletic community, can take proactive steps to end homophobia in sports. When we inspire entire teams and athletic departments to commit to a new standard of athletic integrity, we will change the environment in locker rooms and on playing fields. Adding your name to the growing list of supporters is the first step to make a difference.” ATHLETE ALLY
10. The implication of clinical gaze tends to create distance between the healer and the patient, because this allows the medical professional to investigate how the patient's symptoms or pathologies are best defined. Clinical Gaze:
11. This “distance” has long been considered the cause of the chief complaint among patients is that physicians do not listen to them. Clinical gaze has been known to have some devastating effects on disabled persons or aberrant anomalies. These populations are seen as “deviants from the norm in a society”. Clinical Gaze:
12. This clinical gaze results in the handicapping of the medical personnel in meeting the holistic needs of this population or any other “deviants from the norm”. This handicapping occurs when the homosexual population seeks medical care in much the same way. Clinical Gaze:
13. Results of a Swedish study indicated that homosexual patients express fear that they will not receive adequate care if they reveal their sexual orientation. When the emotions of nursing staff and nursing students were investigated, the question posed was “Would you ever wish to refrain from caring for this group of patients?” Nursing Practice:
14. The questionnaire findings showed that the majority of respondents stated that they wished to refrain from nursing for homosexual patients if given the option. Nursing Practice:
15. The homosexual’s approach to health care and the different treatment these individuals experience when seeking medical attention is obvious to most but documentation of the problem is nonexistent secondary to denial of the problem. The ill effects of homophobia have never been measured in a fine-grained, systemic way. Resolution:
16. It has been said that homophobia hastens the development of AIDS if it denies services to those already infected with HIV (see fore-mentioned Swedish study). Acknowledgement and further analysis of these problems can possibly assist society in the riddance of this demon known as homophobia. Resolution:
