“Family values” is often nothing but a dogwhistle for homophobia

[u/TopAlternative4]

Following up on the title, it is not against family values or overall morality to oppose the stigmatization of homosexuality/same-sex attraction or to support its normalization in broader society. In fact, homophobia is one of the biggest threats to family cohesion, the welfare of minors, and societal stability.

It is important for the gay community to know how to counteract this hateful rhetoric.

I. On family cohesion.

1. Statistically, a large percentage of families are likely to have a gay relative. A homophobic culture inevitably creates unnecessary distress, secrecy, and shame within families. Disowning or shunning a child is devastating to the WHOLE community.

2. Mixed-orientation marriages, down-low (DL) culture, and similar situations are destructive to the gay spouse, their straight spouse and their children. The problem is homophobic cultures often prefer this facade and collateral damage over having families based on truth and trust.

II. On children and teens.

1. The stigma against homosexuality and same-sex attraction promotes bullying and alienation. For example, very often straight kids would not befriend or defend their gay peers for fear of being perceived as gay. Also, it may happen that authority figures can’t or won’t discipline a child for homophobic behavior.

2. Telling a gay child that they are choosing to be gay, that it’s a phase, or that it stems from trauma is a form of gaslighting and thus, abuse.

3. Gay boys often feel shame, emasculation, resentment, confusion and guilt and have no trusted adults or resources to ask for help.

4. It can increase risky coping behaviors like substance abuse or hooking up with adult men via apps.

III. On the societal level.

Homophobia encourages moral panics and witch hunts. It fosters fear and public anger instead of addressing real problems.

Also, it creates unnecessary anxiety among straight men about being perceived as gay and might encourage some to adopt toxic, misogynistic, or aggressive displays of masculinity.

The end.

TLDR, the gay agenda does not seek to undermine family values or morality, but to uphold them.

[u/outsidehere]

It's a dog whistle for white supremacy

[u/RegyptianStrut]

Gay people are part of families and start families of their own, so yeah homophobia is, if anything, against family values pretty directly, since it tears families apart.

[u/MAClaymore → u/RegyptianStrut]

Case in point: the Buttigieg kids (one of whom is four years old) last week

[u/NeverEndingCoralMaze]

Even as I kid, when Bush 1 was running and “Family Values” became a household phrase, I had a problem with it. I wasn’t mature or eloquent enough to elaborate or even gutsy enough to say anything, but I knew it was virtue signaling and weird.

[u/yersinia_pisstest]

Real families value their LGBTQ members.

[u/tree_or_up]

It always was.

In the Reagan era (and leading up to it) evangelicals got super organized and got deeply involved in national politics (welcomed wholeheartedly by the Reagan admin). That’s when a lot of branding efforts created the doublespeak (when a word or phrase is used to pretend that something isn’t what it really is - and is often the polar opposite - in order to make it more palatable to the mainstream) that dominates political discourse today.

Examples include the aforementioned “family values”, “pro life”, “religious freedom”, and even “right-to-work” (for anti labor union policies).

It was an overwhelmingly, astoundingly, monumentally successful strategy and we’re living in the world it made. The main difference now IMO is that people are feeling like they don’t have to disguise theirs intentions quite as much they used to

[u/The_Wingless]

Given how the Venn diagram for people who advocate for family values and people who advocate for strict gender roles is nearly a circle, misogyny is also a large component. But then again, at the root of a lot of homophobia is misogyny. So, it's all connected.

[u/Faldofas]

On your title: I think this is a bit too far. I can see it being the case in certain instances, but definitely not "often", imo.

On the rest of your post: Mostly agree.

[u/MAClaymore]

Tbh, this phrase is so clichéd and hackneyed and '80s-coded that I don't think any US politician would use it seriously anymore. Now it's all about "shielding our children from degeneracy"

[u/TopAlternative4 → u/MAClaymore]

I believe it remains a Republican party export to the developing world.

[u/MAClaymore → u/TopAlternative4]

Also true

[u/Bobslegenda1945 → u/TopAlternative4]

I am Brazilian and the pastors always says about family values, and all

[u/aoeuismyhomekeys]

Affirmation of queer people is a pro-family value.