A Deeper Understanding

Forgive this long post but while doing some research I ran across this book which clearly outlines some current cultural issues for the GLBT community. It has given me some insight (and perhaps pity) for heterosexist mentalities:

Heterosexism, as defined by Jung and Smith (1993), is a "reasoned system of bias regarding sexual orientation [that] denotes prejudice in favor of heterosexual people and connotes prejudice against bisexual and, especially, homosexual people" (13). Herek (1995) elaborated by defining heterosexism as a system of denial, denigration, and stigma towards any non-heterosexual behavior, relationship, or identity. Utilizing these definitions, heterosexism, then, is a reasoned system of bias regarding sexual orientation that denotes prejudice in favor of heterosexual people and denies, denigrates, and stigmatizes any non-heterosexual form of behavior, identity, relationship, or community.
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In 1992, Warren Blumenfeld edited the text Homophobia: How We All Pay the Price, which highlighted the ways in which heterosexism, or homophobia as defined by Blumenfeld, hurts the members of the heterosexual community. While GLBT people are “marginalized and disenfranchised” by heterosexism, this form of oppression serves “the dominant group [heterosexuals] by establishing and maintaining power and mastery” over the nonheterosexual minority (8). Despite the privileges assumed by heterosexuals as a result of this power, they, too, pay a price. As outlined by Blumenfeld, heterosexism hurts heterosexuals in the following ways:

First, heterosexism locks people into “rigid gender-based roles that inhibit creativity and self expression” (8).
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Second, heterosexism “compromises the integrity of heterosexual people by pressuring them to treat others badly, actions contrary to their basic humanity” (9).
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Third, heterosexism “greatly restricts communication with a significant portion of the populations” (Blumenfeld, 1992, 9-10)... As noted by Jung and Smith (1993), “[T]he dishonesty, secretiveness, manipulation, hatred, and ostracism fostered by heterosexism undermine the development of healthy social interaction” (95).

Fourth, heterosexism can be used to “stigmatize, silence, and on occasion, target people who are perceived by others as gay, lesbian, or bisexual but who are in actuality heterosexual” (Blumenfeld, 1992, 11)...According to the Community United Against Violence (CUAV), an agency that serves the victims of anti-gay and antilesbian violence, “3 percent of the over three hundred victims seen by CUAV each year identify as heterosexuals” (as cited in Vazquez, p. 160).

Finally, heterosexism “inhibits appreciation of other types of diversity, making it unsafe for everyone because each person has unique traits not considered mainstream or dominant” (Blumenfeld, 1992, 13). As demonstrated previously, heterosexism promotes stereotypes, based on physical traits or gender roles, associated with GLBT people that affect both the non-heterosexual minority and the heterosexual community. Thus, heterosexism inhibits appreciation of diversity.

From Working with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender College Students, by Ronni Sanlo, EdD, pp. 269-271.

For a link to the referenced section from the book CLICK HERE