Heterosexism is the societal assumption that everyone is or should be heterosexual. It manifests in different forms of homophobia, including personal biases, interpersonal discrimination, institutional policies that disadvantage LGBT people, and a culture that normalizes heterosexuality. Heterosexism is correlated with certain demographic, political, religious, and personality traits and confers various privileges onto heterosexual people, such as freely displaying affection without fear of harassment. Anti-heterosexism involves using inclusive language, not making assumptions about sexuality, and recognizing the humanity and diversity of LGBT people.

1. Heterosexism

2. Cultural Homophobia (Heterosexism)
 Heterosexism is based on societal values that
dictate that everyone is, or should be,
heterosexual.

3. Gender Identity
vs.
Sexual Orientation

4. Symbols

6. Types of Homophobia
 Personal homophobia
 Interpersonal homophobia
 Institutional homophobia
 Cultural homophobia
www.endhomophobia.org

7. Correlates of Homophobia
 Demographic characteristics
 Political and religious values
 Personality and attitudinal characteristics

8. Examples of Heterosexual Privilege
 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 societal "normalcy": 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

9.  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 of 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

10.  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
 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
 Marry

11. Anti-heterosexism
 USE GENDER INCLUSIVE AND NON-HETEROSEXIST
LANGUAGE.
 ASSUME THAT ANYONE COULD BE LESBIAN, GAY,
BISEXUAL, QUEER, TWO-SPIRITED, TRANSGENDERED OR
HETEROSEXUAL.
 DON'T "OUT" PEOPLE.
 DON'T THINK OF LGBQTT PERSONS SOLELY IN TERMS OF
THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
 REMEMBER THAT AN INDIVIDUAL'S SEXUAL ORIENTATION
INVOLVES MORE THAN SEXUAL BEHAVIOR.
 DO NOT FORCE PEOPLE TO HIDE.
 DON'T ASSUME THAT LGBQTT PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING.
 RECOGNIZE INTERSECTIONS AND SIMILARITIES OF
PREJUDICE.

12. More on Heterosexism and
Homophobia
 See http://www.understandingprejudice.org/links/hetero.htm
 Media that Matters:
http://www.mediathatmattersfest.org/issue/gay_lesbian/