Health Sciences

'Homophobia - you don't have to wear it' is the message of this booklet.
Beliefs about yourself are like your clothes. If all your clothes (self beliefs) are itchy, smelly and dirty (or sad, bad and mad), you'll feel bad when you wear them. But if you have clean, soft, warm, stylish, comfortable clothes you'll feel great when you wear them.

It's really up to you. Read what other young people have to say and make sure you have lots of beliefs to choose from that make you feel good when you wear them. That way you will always outsmart homophobia. Download the POSH booklet here

Outsmarting 'It's a sin'

This is one of those beliefs that feels really bad if you wear it because it claims to know about god and life after death. But you have the choice.

See how you can outsmart this belief.

Outsmarting 'It's a mental illness'

For years this belief was used to bully same sex attracted people into all sorts of therapies to change them to heterosexual. It never worked and it was damaging as well. Psychology and psychiatry have now admitted they were wrong but some people still believe it.

See how you can outsmart this belief.

Outsmarting 'It's a phase'

Your personal feelings are important and valid. The belief that same sex attractions are a phase in confused young people who are ‘easily influenced’ is common in the heterosexual community and may be used by parents and friends to feel better when they can’t deal with their child or friend’s sexuality.

See how you can outsmart this belief.

Outsmarting 'You will live a lonely life'

Being told you will never find love if you don't change your ways is a powerful attempt at controlling your feelings and behaviours. Fortunately it is untrue.

See how you can outsmart this belief.

Outsmarting 'It's unnatural'

Foucault, a great thinker about sexuality, argued that calling something unnatural is a very powerful way to control it and we can see from young people’s stories that this belief is still being used by others to try to control their behaviour and thinking.

See how you can outsmart this belief.

If you have you worked out (or heard about) new ways to outsmart homophobia please email us and let us know and we'll include them on the site. We're also interested in your stories and experiences.

We would also love to have you in The POSH Interviews It would take an hour every 6 months for a period of two years. We can talk in person or over the phone. We are looking for people now. Read more about this project.