Madcow:
Everyone celebrating this savage killing is propably gay and in denial

When people are faced with situations in life that cause anxiety, they often react to them with certain subconscious defense mechanisms. These psychoanalytical mechanisms include familiar tactics such as memory repression, denial and regression. But the one I find most intriguing in this case is called reaction formation.

Reaction formation is defined as a psychological defense mechanism by which a repressed impulse is expressed in an opposite or contrasting behavior. In other words, if something in your life is making you feel anxious, you may react to that thing excessively harshly in order to deal with that internal anxiety.

In terms of the anti-gay movement, this means that if a person has homosexual feelings within his or her self, which they haven’t accepted, he or she will cope with the anxiety by excessively acting out against homosexuality. This mechanism has made itself known time and time again within the anti-gay realm. Several outspoken anti-gay politicians, religious figures and counselors have either been found to exhibit homosexual tendencies or have actually come out themselves.

One prominent example is of U.S. Sen. Larry Craig. Craig’s a vehemently anti-gay politician who voted in favor of many discriminatory laws, which actually made society more dangerous for LGBT individuals, such as laws that disallow penalties for hate crimes against them. In 2007, Craig was arrested for engaging in inappropriate conduct and attempting to initiate sex with a policeman in a bathroom stall. Craig denies being gay to this day and although he pleaded guilty in court he continues to say that he regrets pleading guilty in the case.


Some more optimistic examples of former anti-gay leaders coming out include Kathryn Lehman and Ken Mehlman. Lehman, a Republican staffer who worked against legalization of same-sex marriage and actually helped to write the Defense of Marriage Act, has since come out as a lesbian and is currently a GOP lobbyist attempting to repeal that same law.

Mehlman once held the position of an operative under George W. Bush, and helped orchestrate a platform, which included strong opposition to same-sex marriage. Since then, he has come out as gay and worked to repeal the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy He also lobbied to legalize same-sex marriage in a number of states. In an interview, Mehlman commented on coming out publicly, “A big part of one’s brain that used to worry about this issue has now been freed to worry about things that are much more productive.”

Reaction formation is a common defense mechanism within the anti-gay population and is likely to be a huge cause for the continuation of conflict regarding gay prejudice and discrimination. The reasoning behind gay prejudice is still a mystery to me, but as we progress toward a more egalitarian and just society, I will continue to attempt to shed light on the dark places that spawn the hate we see today.

Jessie Gray is a senior Advertising and Public Relations major. Reach her at opinion@dailynebraskan.com or follow her on Twitter @itsjessie.

Rextizzle:
Disgusting pictures! Let him rot in hell

Ivimilly:
Whoever shot him did the world a favor Spits.

Rextizzle:
Disgusting pictures! Let him rot in hell

Buffalowings3:
NairaLand, a Mass gathering of never do well homophobes.
Let me go see him on YouTube.

Albert0011:
Mumu guy...God created Adam and Eve to live together not Adam and Johnson,rest in pieces and Hades will welcome u with open hands and send u to tartarus.

allthingsgood:


U are not making heaven either. So he's waiting for u there

Randy100:
He was shot 8 times . The guy that shot him didn't want to hear that he later survived.

Judybash93:


Well, this is only just one version of the creation story. Have you heard the one from the Hindus?

DefSimple:
Hate the act not the person.

Rextizzle:
Disgusting pictures! Let him rot in hell

Albert0011:
Mumu guy...God created Adam and Eve to live together not Adam and Johnson,rest in pieces and Hades will welcome u with open hands and send u to tartarus.

Amakababe:
shutup bastard homo

sayisayi:
There are some naija homophobes who go chop wipe mouth finish if he was alive

Madcow:
Everyone celebrating this savage killing is propably gay and in denial

When people are faced with situations in life that cause anxiety, they often react to them with certain subconscious defense mechanisms. These psychoanalytical mechanisms include familiar tactics such as memory repression, denial and regression. But the one I find most intriguing in this case is called reaction formation.

Reaction formation is defined as a psychological defense mechanism by which a repressed impulse is expressed in an opposite or contrasting behavior. In other words, if something in your life is making you feel anxious, you may react to that thing excessively harshly in order to deal with that internal anxiety.

In terms of the anti-gay movement, this means that if a person has homosexual feelings within his or her self, which they haven’t accepted, he or she will cope with the anxiety by excessively acting out against homosexuality. This mechanism has made itself known time and time again within the anti-gay realm. Several outspoken anti-gay politicians, religious figures and counselors have either been found to exhibit homosexual tendencies or have actually come out themselves.

One prominent example is of U.S. Sen. Larry Craig. Craig’s a vehemently anti-gay politician who voted in favor of many discriminatory laws, which actually made society more dangerous for LGBT individuals, such as laws that disallow penalties for hate crimes against them. In 2007, Craig was arrested for engaging in inappropriate conduct and attempting to initiate sex with a policeman in a bathroom stall. Craig denies being gay to this day and although he pleaded guilty in court he continues to say that he regrets pleading guilty in the case.


Some more optimistic examples of former anti-gay leaders coming out include Kathryn Lehman and Ken Mehlman. Lehman, a Republican staffer who worked against legalization of same-sex marriage and actually helped to write the Defense of Marriage Act, has since come out as a lesbian and is currently a GOP lobbyist attempting to repeal that same law.

Mehlman once held the position of an operative under George W. Bush, and helped orchestrate a platform, which included strong opposition to same-sex marriage. Since then, he has come out as gay and worked to repeal the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy He also lobbied to legalize same-sex marriage in a number of states. In an interview, Mehlman commented on coming out publicly, “A big part of one’s brain that used to worry about this issue has now been freed to worry about things that are much more productive.”

Reaction formation is a common defense mechanism within the anti-gay population and is likely to be a huge cause for the continuation of conflict regarding gay prejudice and discrimination. The reasoning behind gay prejudice is still a mystery to me, but as we progress toward a more egalitarian and just society, I will continue to attempt to shed light on the dark places that spawn the hate we see today.

Jessie Gray is a senior Advertising and Public Relations major. Reach her at opinion@dailynebraskan.com or follow her on Twitter @itsjessie.

IprintMONEY:
bonrisky u are next o