Combating homophobia, lesbophobia, biphobia and transphobia: A liberating and subversive educational alternative for desires

Abstract

The repression of human sexuality began anew in the twentieth century with a strengthening of patriarchal conceptions that pathologised sexual preferences, such as homosexuality, lesbianism and bisexuality, and medicalised transsexuality. Our educational approaches based on action research have reduced violence and empowered teenagers – girls and boys – and groups of teachers in different countries of the European Union. The diversification of assessment tools has resulted in an improved evaluation of processes and results. As a result, a high percentage of violence has been eliminated, accompanied by a scaling up of prevention and greater respect for sexual diversity. Critical-emancipatory action research is a viable alternative, as is the empowerment of men, not only of women.