International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education (INT-JECS) ISSN: 1308-5581 Vol 14, Issue 04 2022 2828 DOI: 10.9756/INTJECSE/V14I4.383 HOMOPHOBIA HAILS ‘HOME’PHOBIA: A QUEER AND PURE INTERROGATION INTO SARAH SCHULMAN’S NOVEL THE CHILD Joseph K J PhD Research Scholar, St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Affiliated to Bharathidasan University, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India, kochupurayil@gmail.com Dr. J Amalaveenus Assistant Professor of English, St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Affiliated to Bharathidasan University, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India, amalaveenus@rediffmail.com Abstract: This paper explores how familial homophobia makes ‘home’phobia in children who are homosexuals, with special reference to Sarah Schulman’s novel The Child. Homosexuality being a taboo topic raises heated debate.In reality, the term to refer to fear of homosexuals is not homophobia but homo-sex-phobia. Etymologically, homophobia means fear of the same and not fear of the same-sex (homo-sex-phobia). But academic world generally prefers the term homophobia over homo-sex-phobia to refer to unreasonable fear of homosexuality. The word‘Home’phobia can be used to refer to the fear of home in homosexualsfabricated by homophobes in the family.The homes of Stew and Eva, homosexual characters in Schulman’s novel The Child, are transformed into chambers of phobia by the homophobes in the family. There is no need of fear of Homosexuality as it is not pathology but a way of life. The negative responses of the family membersto the “Coming out” of Stew and Eva, as homosexuals, make their homes places of phobia and puts their lives in psychological and physiological chaos.Homophobia is despicable as it is a morbidexpression and prejudice of heterosexual culture. Education and third party intervention arenecessary in erasing the societal intolerance connected with homophobia, as it stems from ignorance, even though it might be a long and strenuous process. Once the homophobia is taken out, the humankind will be viewed not as heterosexuals and homosexuals but as human beings.Schulman through her novel The Child breaks open the door of the closetedtoilet and invites the readers to lend their ears to hear the piercing lamentations of homosexuals from the closet of homophobia and exhorts to rationalise on the erasure of irrational fear (phobia) towards homosexuals. Keywords: Homophobia, Coming Out, Prejudice, Education, Third Party Intervention Introduction How does the negative response of homophobes in the family create ‘home’phobia in children, who are homosexuals, is the question explored here, with special mention to Sarah Schulman’s fiction The Child. The forbidden topic homosexuality posits burning discussion inside and outside of literature.In common parlance, the term homophobia points to the fear of homosexuals and the term ‘home’phobiacan be used to indicate the fear of home in homosexuals created by homophobes in the family.Homophobes in the families of Stew and Eva, homosexual characters in Schulman’s novel The Child, transforms their homes a place of phobia for Stew and Eva.Fear of Homosexuality is unwanted as it is not pathology but a way of life. Homo-negativity of the family members to the “Coming out” process of Stew and Eva as homosexuals makes their homes locations of phobia and puts their lives in psychosomatic turmoil. Homophobia being a cooked updemonstration and prejudice of heterosexual culture is contemptible. Though it consumes time and enduring effort, the best tools to eradicate the familial and societal intolerance towards homosexuals are education and third party intervention. The non-existence of homophobia will help everyone to look at the other not as a threat but as human beings. Schulman, through her novel The Child,strives to invite audience’s mind to the unnoticed sobbing of the homosexuals in the closeted rooms in the family of homophobes and to hold the hand to alleviate the undeserving pain they undergo and expects a dawn spreading the rays of equality. Discussion and Results Applying the concept of binary opposites, one can define heterosexuality as sexual orientation towards individuals of the opposite sex and homosexuality as the sexual orientation towards the individuals of the same- sex. Homosexuals, who have same-sex orientation, are called in different names in different places and cultures. Some of the synonyms of homosexuals mentioned in the article A Homophobia are “Butch, Dyke, Faggot, Queer, Man-Hater, Femme, Diesel-Dyke, Bulldagger, Pervert, Feminist, Amazon, Sissy, Fairy, Witch” (13).Psychologists presented homosexuality as a disorder.“Most psychiatrists have considered homosexuality a neurotic disorder” (Gramick, 1983, p.137).Religions present it as a sin. “Churches take a strong stand against homosexuality, placing it squarely among the major sins” (Dadisman, 1991, p.25). Researchers also looked at