Steven LaChance Blog

The worst homophobia I have experienced in my life has been within the paranormal community. I have been threatened to be outed several times over the years, which I found amusing because anyone who truly knew me was aware that I came out at 29. I considered my sexuality a non-topic and something that was my business. After all, sexuality and the paranormal do not necessarily go hand in hand.

During those early years, there were individuals who attempted to undermine me in the paranormal community. The first thing they wanted to do was to out me. They expressed that the paranormal world needed to know about my sexuality. Another incident occurred around the time of the Survivor Tour when the same group of people once again attempted to out me with the intention of hurting me.

Homophobia seemed to be the go-to weapon that paranormal individuals would leverage against me, often driven by jealousy. When I distanced myself from an individual who conducts tours, he spread rumors that I made advances towards him, which is entirely untrue.

On the night of the 2016 election, a paranormal figure called me a derogatory term shortly after Trump was elected. These instances are just a few examples of the homophobia that seemed prevalent within the paranormal community. There are exceptions to this pattern, but overall, even those exceptions, I believe, would admit that their sexuality is often the first point of attack when criticized or challenged.

Homophobia exists in every aspect of life, not just the paranormal field. However, based on my experiences, there appears to be a more pronounced issue with homophobia within the paranormal community. While there are individuals who do not exhibit this behavior, those who do often resort to pointing out one’s sexuality as a means of attack. As if that somehow advances the value of their arguments against another.

I believe it is important for us to share our stories. These acts of hate are a form of abuse. By recounting my experiences, I hope that it can contribute, even in a small way, to changing the narrative for others. While not everyone behaves in this manner, there are enough who do, and I have witnessed firsthand the ugliness they can exhibit. Shedding light on these issues is crucial to instigating change.

Although June is traditionally celebrated as Pride Month, I am urging all of my paranormal friends to take a moment to show support for the LGBTQ community at any time of the year. Perhaps by being agents of change, we can alter the perspectives of those harboring hate.