1. Homophobia and transphobia force us to act "macho" if we are a man or "feminine" if we are a woman. This limits our individuality and self-expression.
2. Homophobia and transphobia put pressure on straight people to act aggressively and angrily towards LGBTQI people.
3. Homophobia and transphobia can make it harder to be close friends with someone of the same sex.
4. Homophobia and transphobia often strain family and community relationships.
5. Homophobia and transphobia can cause youth to become sexually active before they are ready in order to prove they are "normal." This can lead to an increase in unwanted pregnancies and STIs (sexually transmitted infections).
6. Homophobia and transphobia prevent vital information on sex and sexuality to be readily available in classrooms, medical offices, and other educational venues. Without this information, LGBTQI people are putting themselves at a greater risk for HIV and other STIs (sexually transmitted infections).
7. Homophobia and transphobia can be used to hurt a straight person if they "appear to be gay" and/or express her/his gender outside societal expectations.
8. Homophobia and transphobia make it hard for straight people and LGBTQ people to be friends.
9. Homophobia and transphobia, along with racism, sexism, classism, etc. make it hard to put an end to AIDS.
10. Homophobia and transphobia make it hard to appreciate true diversity and the unique traits that are not “mainstream.”
Crossposted via Q Resources.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Ten Ways Homophobia & Transphobia Affect Straight People
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
6 comments:
It's extremely problematic to use the word "straight" as though it means "non trans" as well as non-GLB. Many trans people are straight. The phrase you are looking for is "straight cis(gender)/non-trans people".
No, the word they're looking for is "straight". It's understood by the overwhelming majority of people for whom this piece is targeted. Let's end the language police. This piece has been around for decades and its' worked very well to defeat homophobia and heterosexism. Let's not put problems on the piece that do not exits in reality.
And let's not forget that, if the anti-homosexuality bill in Uganda passes, a heterosexual cisgendered person can be criminally prosecuted for speaking on behalf of LGBT people.
If you choose to live outside the realm of spritual truth you must be willing to accept the consequences. Just because someone disagrees with your choices in life, whether sexual, moral, political or spiritual, it does not make them all homophobic or racist. Your group is just as guilty as anyone else in placing stereotypes on certain people. When you see the type of behavior that is exibited in your so called Gay Pride parades it's no wonder that many people are sickened. I find most homsexuals pleasant & intelligent, but very spritually & emotionally immature.
What do you see at gay pride parades Greg? I see families, professionals, religious groups, advocacy organizations, social organizations.
Have you ever been to a pride parade or do you just look at the front cover of a newspaper which only shows the a man in a wedding dress on roller blades and assume that's what the whole event is about?
First of all, I agree that straight is understood by 99% of humans as cis-gendered heterosexual person. So I don't mind it being used like that. Transgendered people that are into people of the opposite gender than the one they identify to, I can understand you migh feel you are also entitled to be called 'straight', but that's like me expecting to be called 'ze' and 'hir' in restaurants just because I am somewhat genderfucked. It would be great if people had such a great extent of understanding and knowledge on the LGTBQQI, but let's be realists.
Now onto dearest Gregory.
"If you choose to live outside the realm of spritual truth you must be willing to accept the consequences."
You use the words spiritual truth without even using a pair of these "". What is wrong with you? WHAT spiritual truth? There is no such notion. Furthermore, yes, we have the right to NOT accept the consequences. We can claim our right to NOT HAVE TO FACE CONSEQUENCES for being queer. And to make a society where no such consequences will exist, as they shouldn't. What you are saying is like telling a Jew (because I was BORN queer the same way a Jew was BORN Jew), well, Jew during Nazi rule, you know the drill, you are a minority outside the norm so just accept the consequences. Not very logical, huh?
"Just because someone disagrees with your choices in life, whether sexual, moral, political or spiritual, it does not make them all homophobic or racist."
No one ever said that disagreement is homophobic or racism. This statement is stupid. Discrimination based on feelings of fear towards what is different from you, and injustice based on colour/sexuality/gender or whatnot is what we are talking about. And that's homophobia and racism. Kids who beat up other kids while calling them faggots are not just 'disagreeing' with them. Neh?
"Your group is just as guilty as anyone else in placing stereotypes on certain people."
Your group meaning what? This website? Or the LGBTQQI community? If you mean this website, show us an example. If you mean the LGBTQQI people, then, be aware that we don't all agree with own another. If a republican says that black people should all be shot I can't go on and state that 'Republicans want all African-Americans dead'. If a queer person is narrow-minded and places stereotypes onto people (I admit they exist), there is no collective responsibility for that. It's his own fault, not any "group's".
"When you see the type of behavior that is exibited in your so called Gay Pride parades it's no wonder that many people are sickened."
Judging the LGBTQQI folk based on your limited knowledge of gay parades is like saying that all dog owners comb their dogs' furs for hours and place ribbons on them and generally torture them just because those who take their pets to shows do. For every one guy in a string singing opera, there are ten nice and intelligent people marching. It's just that he's the one you'll remember.
"I find most homsexuals pleasant & intelligent, but very spritually & emotionally immature."
Immature huh? If you could only understand what trials most of them have had to face...
Oh well. No comment on that last one. Just a lot of sighs.
Lydia
Post a Comment