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Recognizing Heterosexism and Homophobia
** Terms in italics and/or are underlined are in the glossary, which is in the next post.**


Understanding Sexuality
University campuses are a reflection of the wider society. Indeed, part of a university's strength is the diversity of all its members. Like other forms of discrimination and harassment, homophobia and heterosexism weaken diversity.

In order to increase awareness of homophobia and heterosexism, it is useful to understand two of the components of sexuality: gender identity and sexual orientation.


Gender Identity
A person's self-concept of their own gender (regardless of biological sex) that may be the same as or different from the gender traditionally associated with their birth sex (male, female, or intersex). Thus, adopting the female gender means becoming socially and culturally female, even if one is biologically male or intersex. A person may also define their gender identity as being more fluid than either male or female, or as multi-gendered. In other words, their gender identity may encompass parts of masculinity, femininity, and other non-traditional gender expressions. Some people do not identify with any gender labels at all.


Sexual Orientation
One's sexual, affectional and romantic interests to members of the same gender (usually called gay, lesbian, or queer), another gender (usually called heterosexual), or both/all genders (usually called bisexual or queer). Some people experience their sexual orientation as an unchanging, lifelong part of their nature, and others experience it in a more fluid way that changes over time or across situations. Everyone has a sexual orientation, whether or not they are sexually active.


What Are Homophobia and Transphobia?
Homophobia and transphobia involve harassing prejudicial treatment of, or negative attitudes about, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, trans-identified, transgender, transsexual, two-spirit and/or intersex (LGBQTTI) persons and those perceived to be of these sexual orientations or gender identities.

Homophobia and transphobia include a range of feelings and behaviors from discomfort and fear to disgust, hatred, and violence. It manifest itself in 4 different ways:

- Personal homophobia (or internalized homophobia) consists of personal beliefs and prejudices.

- Interpersonal homophobia (harassment and individual discrimination) involves individual behaviors based on those personal beliefs.

- Institutional homophobia includes the way that governments, organizations, some religions, businesses and other institutions discriminate against people on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

- Cultural homophobia (heterosexism) refers to societal values and "norms" that privilege heterosexuality over all other forms of gender expression and sexual orientation.


Homophobic or Transphobic Behaviors Include:
- "Gay-bashing" or physical violence, including sexual violence.
- Making derogatory comments, innuendos, insults, slurs, jokes or threats about sexual orientation or sexual practice.
- Silencing talk of sexual or gender diversity.
- Forcing people to "come out" or to stay "in the closet" (disclose or hide their sexual orientation or gender identity).
- Linking homosexuality with ***** (child abuse).
- Accusing LGBQTTi persons of "recruiting" others to join their sexual orientation.
- Defacing notices, posters or property with homophobic or transphobic graffiti.
- Rejecting friends or family members because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
- Behaving as though sexual orientation is solely about sexual practice or is a "lifestyle choice".
- Treating the sexual orientations or gender identities of LGBQTTI as less valid than those of heterosexuals.
- Refusing to use pronouns or names consistent with a person's gender identity.
- Harassing someone because they do not fit easily into society's limited definition of what it means to be, and look, like a man or woman.


What is Heterosexism?
Heterosexism is based on societal values that dictate that everyone is, or should be, heterosexual. Intentionally or unintentionally, our society privileges heterosexuality and heterosexual persons, and denies, erases, devalues, mistreats or discriminates against lesbian, gay, bisxual, two-spirit, queer and/or transgendered persons or groups and those perceived to be so.


Recognizing Heterosexual Privilege
Heterosexual privilege bestows unearned and unchallanged advantages and rewards on heterosexual solely as a result of their sexual orientation. These benefits are not automatically granted to LGBQTTI persons.


Heterosexual Privilege Includes the Right To:
- Show affection in public safely and comfortably, without fear of harassment or violence.
- Openly talk about one's partner and relationships to others without considering the consequences.
- Benefit from social "normalacy": the assumption that heterosexual individuals and relationships are valid, healthy and non-deviant.
- Assume that all people and relationships are heterosexual, unless otherwise known.
- Not face rejection from one's family and friends because of one's sexual orientation or gender identity.
- Easily access positive role models and media images for one's gender identity and sexual orientation.
- Not be asked to speak on behalf of all heterosexuals.
- Use gender specific pronouns when referring to one's spouse or partner without discomfort or fear or reprisal.
- Have automatic recognition of one's spouse as next-of-kin in emergencies.
- Easily select reading or viewing materials in which heterosexuality is the predominantly reflected orientation.
- Have families similar to one's own represented in children's literature.
- Raise children without fear that they will be rejected or harassed by peers because of their parents' sexual orientation or gender identities.
- Receive support and validation from a religious community if so desired.
- Not risk being denied employment, housing or other services because of one's sexual orientation or gender identity.
- Not be seen as needing therapy to "cure" one's sexual orientation or gender expression.


What is Anti-Heterosexism?
Anti-heterosexism involves recognizing and questioning the power and privileges society confers on heterosexual people because of their sexual orientation. It involves respecting and fostering the inclusivity and diversity of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Anti-heterosexism challenges the assumptions that disadvantage LGBQTII persons because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.


What Can I Do About Homophobia and Heterosexism?
Whether you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, two-spirit, queer, transgender, trans-identified or heterosexual, we all share the responsibility to end homophobia and heterosexism. Here are some tips:

Be non-judgemental. Being LGBQTI is not something to be ashamed of or judgemental about. Homophobia, not sexual orientation or gender identity, is the problem.

Use gender inclusive and non-heterosexist language. Use gender neutral pronouns that do not assume that you know someone's sexual orientation, gender identity or that presume the gender of their romantic/sexual interests. Use inclusive language even if you know someone is heterosexual. Help educate and encourage others to use inclusive language, as well.

Assume that anyone could be lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, two-spirit, transgender or heterosexual. Don't assume that everyone is heterosexual "unless you know otherwise" or that everyone should be heterosexual. Similarly, don't assume that someone is LGBQTTI based on stereotypes or assumptions about their friends.

Don't tease or harass others for exhibiting behaviors that are not traditionally associated with their gender (or what you perceive their gender to be).

Don't "out" people. Do not force anyone to disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity. Also, if you know that someone is LGBQTTI or is questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity, don't assume that you may tell anyone else. Be sensitive to the fact that some people are "out" in some areas of their life, but not in others.

Don't think of LGBQTTI persons solely in terms of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Just as the lives of heterosexual people include far more than their attraction to members of the opposite sex, LGBQTTI persons also have friends, skills and multifaceted interests unrelated to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Don't define anyone by their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Don't engage in homophobic jokes, comments, slurs or other behaviors. Speak up against these when you witness them. If you don't, your silence condones and encourages such behaviors.

Educate yourself. If there are things you don't know or understand about LGBQTTI issues, do some research, ask questions or contact a group that deals with these issues.

Talk about sexual and gender diversity. Maintain an inclusive group, classroom, living or workspace by talking openly and respectfully about LGBQTTI issues when they come up. Treat these issues as you would any other issue.

Remember that an individual's sexual orientation involves more than sexual behavior. It includes attraction, companionship, intimacy and emotional attachments as well as sexual activity.

Do not force people to hide their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Don't assume that LGBQTTI people are suffering or have regrets about their sexual orientation and want to be heterosexual. Likewise, if someone who is LGBQTTI is having problems, don't assume that sexual orientation is the cause.

Recognize intersections and similarities of prejudice. Heterosexism and other forms of oppression and discrimination have similarities and areas of overlap. For example, a black lesbian may experience homophobia, racism, and sexism. An East Asian heterosexual man may be disadvantaged by racism in ways that are similar to the ways a gay man is disadvantaged by homophobia and heterosexism.

Engage in inclusive practices. Create work, study and living environments in which gender and sexual diversity are included, modeled and valued.

Reserved.

I think the Oral/a**l Sticky in the Sex-subforum is heterosexist.

As an update to this post, I have some more pamphlets on same-sex/other sexuality sexual activity (oral sex, a**l sex, etc) that I will be adding soon, or will try to anyways. It's on my to-do list regardless.

However my question still stands - if you have specific information you looked for and didn't see here, what are you looking for? I took a look at the links posted and they didn't seem to be heterosexist to me, but then again I might not see what you're seeing. The discussion in the sticky is mostly regarding heterosexual couples, but I think most people in this guild are heterosexual and so that's why most information in this guild tends to be aimed towards heterosexual people. Which is not to say that I won't add asexual information if I have it - on the contrary, I'm quite happy to add it, I just don't always have that information or know where to find it, unlike your guild which has asexuality as its main topic of discussion.

If you'd like me to add something specifically that you don't see here, please send me some links (nicely) and I will be happy to add the information. biggrin