Hate speech is one of the most serious social problems that can damage society. It has existed since ancient times, but now it takes new forms due to technological advances. One form is online hate campaigns against people who are LGBTQ+. These campaigns take advantage of the anonymity provided by digital platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, Tik Tok, YouTube, and others. They use memes, videos, gifs, pictures, texts, tweets, comments, and other tools to spread messages of hatred. This essay will explain how traditional forms of homophobia and transphobia adapt to these new media.
Linguistic techniques used to express homophobic and transphobic sentiments have evolved from using physical attributes to emphasizing gender roles and stereotypes.
Terms like "faggot" and "dyke" were used to refer to gay men and lesbians as sexual deviants, while "tranny," "shemale," and "she-male" referred to transgender individuals in a derogatory way. In contrast, modern hate campaigns rely on body language or appearance to ridicule the target's identity.
People may mock drag queens for their makeup, hairstyle, clothing, and mannerisms, which they perceive as feminine or unnatural. Someone might say something like "he looks like he has boobs" or "she wears dresses like a girl." The words are not necessarily explicit, but they convey negative messages about what it means to be masculine or feminine.
Hate campaigns employ rhetorical strategies that suggest that being gay or trans is wrong or abnormal. One technique is to question someone's masculinity or femininity by saying things like "you're not man enough" or "you're too sensitive." Another is to assume an omniscient voice and claim that only straight men or women are normal, leading to the creation of acronyms such as LGBTQ+ and TWOC (trans women of color). This implies that anyone who does not fit into these groups is either non-existent or abnormal.
Online bullying can take place without any verbal communication at all. People post pictures and videos of gay or trans individuals with captions that imply they are less worthy than heterosexual or cisgender people. They might show them alone or paired with other members of their community, suggesting that they have no right to love, sex, or intimacy. They also create memes that sexualize gay or trans bodies in degrading ways, implying that homo/trans attraction is a fetish rather than genuine desire.
Online hate campaigns against LGBTQ+ people use traditional forms of discrimination but adapt them for digital spaces. They rely on insults based on appearance or stereotypes, rhetoric implying that heteronormativity is superior, and trolling via social media posts or comments. These tactics can cause psychological harm, including anxiety, depression, and even suicide attempts. It is essential to recognize how prejudice manifests itself online so that it can be stopped before it causes irreversible damage.
How do online hate campaigns adapt traditional forms of homophobia and transphobia to digital spaces?
Hate campaigns in digital spaces have adapted traditional forms of homophobia and transphobia by using new technologies and platforms such as social media, chat rooms, forums, blogs, and websites to spread their messages. These campaigns often target marginalized groups with vitriolic rhetoric, misinformation, and disinformation that can be easily shared among like-minded individuals and amplified through virality.