Społeczny odbiór osób homoseksualnych a edukacyjny potencjał filmu

The paper deals with homosexuality and the ways it is viewed in society. It focuses on some aspects that accompany homosexual people’s social functioning, such as stereotypes, discrimination, and homophobia. In Poland, as well as in other countries, there exists the problem of discrimination against homosexuals, which results in serious difficulties gay people have to overcome in their everyday life. Since it is mainly from the lack of knowledge that discrimination or homophobia often stem, education might be the key solution. The educational idea this paper puts forward is based on anti-discrimination efforts that promote education through films. The cinematic works chosen for this purpose, Milk, Brokeback Mountain and A Single Man, can help to understand the social aspects of discrimination and homophobia, as well as the psychological consequences suffered by those discriminated against. Still, a screening of films is not sufficient for the accomplishment of this goal; it should be complemented with an after-film discussion that would increase a person’s awareness of differences and various points of view, encouraging them to refresh their own beliefs. Such actions may create an opportunity for the participants and thus result in the change of their attitude.