Word of the Gay: "Breeder Voyeur"

"Breeder Voyeur" is a disparaging term for a heterosexual who attends a gay bar or event in order to observe queer life and culture.

Word of the Gay: "Heterofriendly"

"Heterofriendly" is a new marketing term being used by predominantly gay establishments to indicate an openness to straight consumers.

Word of the Gay: "Bambi Effect"

The "bambi effect" is when a young gay man discovers sexual interest in women and comes to identify as heterosexual.

Word of the Gay: "Beard"

A "beard" is a woman who dates or appears with a gay man to imply that he is heterosexual. The term is less commonly used for a man who accompanies a lesbian for this purpose.

The Heterosexual Questionnaire

The Heterosexual Questionnaire was created back in 1972 to put heterosexual people in the shoes of a gay person for just a moment. Questions and assumptions made of Gays and Lesbians that are unfair, are reversed and this time asked to the straight people.

This is a fun survey, but also an activist survey. Please repost this to your email list, myspace bulletin, use it in a group setting, have fun with it but also let the point be made.

1. What do you think caused your heterosexuality?

2. When and where did you decide you were a heterosexual?

3. Is it possible this is just a phase and you will out grow it?

4. Is it possible that your sexual orientation has stemmed from a neurotic fear of others of the same sex?

5. Do your parents know you are straight? Do your friends know- how did they react?

6. If you have never slept with a person of the same sex, is it just possible that all you need is a good gay lover?

7. Why do you insist on flaunting your heterosexuality... can’t you just be who you are and keep it quiet?

8. Why do heterosexuals place so much emphasis on sex?

9. Why do heterosexuals try to recruit others into this lifestyle?

10. A disproportionate majority of child molesters are heterosexual... Do you consider it safe to expose children to heterosexual teachers?

11. Just what do men and women do in bed together? How can they truly know how to please each other, being so anatomically different?

12. With all the societal support marriage receives, the divorce rate is spiraling. Why are there so few stable relationships among heterosexuals?

13. How can you become a whole person if you limit yourself to compulsive, exclusive heterosexuality?

14. Considering the menace of overpopulation how could the human race survive if everyone were heterosexual?

15. Could you trust a heterosexual therapist to be objective? Don't you feel that he or she might be inclined to influence you in the direction of his orher leanings?

16. There seem to very few happy heterosexuals. Techniques have been developed that might enable you to change if you really want to.

17. Have you considered trying aversion therapy?

- Martin Rochlin, Ph.D., 1972

Blog Spotlight: Supporting Love

Supporting Love is a blog written by a straight woman ally who knew little about the LGBTQ community, but realized ignorance was no longer an excuse for apathy. She created the blog to educate herself and others through book suggestions, movies, quotes, and news that is relevant in the fight for equality and justice for all.

Word of the Gay: "Heterocentrism"

"Heterocentrism" is the implicit assumption that everyone is heterosexual.

Open Forum: What If Heterosexuality Was An "Abomination"?

This open forum question is open to all, whether a straight non-supportive of gay rights, a straight ally and for queer people to hypothesize as well. (Most of all this is for those who read/comment here who espouse views against LGBT equality).

What would happen in a world where the Bible had a verse that said "man shall not lie with woman for it is an abomination."

What if you opened the Bible to a chapter with Adam and Steve, or Aida and Eve and God instructed that all made in his image should follow the natural order of homosexuality.

Close your eyes for a moment and contemplate this, imagine this is considered the absolute truth in society and you are now a part of the minority or majority.

If you are straight, and believe in the Bible, would you be able to suppress your heterosexuality? Could you overcome your heterosexuality and become an "ex-straight" or would you just give in to the way you were made?

If you are queer, how do you think we would be treating the heterosexual minority being that we would have been privileged. Do you think heterosexuals who are currently anti-gay would become "ex-straight", celibate or would they defy the Bible and promote a "heterosexual agenda"?

Word of the Gay: "Bromance"

A "bromance" is a non-sexual affectionate relationship between two males, where they appear as a couple. It is expressed physically through wrestling, nuggies, and head locks. In rarer instances hugging, snuggling, spooning, and even kissing.

Open Forum: Does Gay Marriage Threaten Straight Identity?

In most progressive nations people support some form of legal recognition of same-sex relationships whether it be civil unions or domestic partnerships, but they outright reject the notion of providing marriage to gay and lesbian couples. Obviously something about granting marriage rights to same-sex couples threatens their world view.

Do self sufficient lesbians threaten the roles of the stereotypical "housewife" and the "man of the house" status. Does this whole notion of women's liberation in the sense that a woman need not be dependent on a man, not only threaten the mans macho self image, but also challenge the traditional "housewife" to reconsider her subservient role?

Do effeminate gay men represent a loss among straight men for their image of male supremacy and masculinity? Perhaps, marriage for these men would be an indicator of acceptance of them, and in order to preserve the "male image" femme men cannot be accepted or even tolerated under any circumstance.

Is there an irrational fear that children being raised by same-sex parents may grow up open-minded or even explorative of their own sexualities. The more homosexual people there are, the fear of a destruction of the human animal becomes a reality in the mind of our critics.

If gay marriage is legal, it will be on par with straight marriage and will be considered just another variation of a legal contract one can enter. Does the fact that one group can put down another help to empower this sort of straight pride and privilege that exists in our culture. Although never discussed and maybe entirely sub-conscious perhaps there is this feeling of being above gay people.

So what do you think, does queer sexuality/identity threaten heteronormative thinking and identity? Could this be one of the reasons for fierce opposition to granting marriage rights to same-sex couples?

Word of the Gay: "Yestergay"

A "yestergay" is a gay man who has chosen to live a heterosexual lifestyle. This is distinct from "ex-gay" who is someone who is attempting to alter their orientation.

The Heterosexual Privilege Checklist

Most of you have seen the post about the heterosexual questionnaire.  Well below is the heterosexual privilege checklist.

On a daily basis as a straight person…

•  I can be pretty sure that my roomate, hallmates and classmates will be comfortable with my sexual orientation.


•  If I pick up a magazine, watch TV, or play music, I can be certain my sexual orientation will be represented.


•  When I talk about my heterosexuality (such as in a joke or talking about my relationships), I will not be accused of pushing my sexual orientation onto others.


•  I do not have to fear that if my family or friends find out about my sexual orientation there will be economic, emotional, physical or psychological consequences.


•  I did not grow up with games that attack my sexual orientation (IE fag tag or smear the queer).


•  I am not accused of being abused, warped or psychologically confused because of my sexual orientation.


•   I can go home from most meetings, classes, and conversations without feeling excluded, fearful, attacked, isolated, outnumbered, unheard, held at a distance, stereotyped or feared because of my sexual orientation.


•   I am never asked to speak for everyone who is heterosexual.


•   I can be sure that my classes will require curricular materials that testify to the existence of people with my sexual orientation.


•   People don't ask why I made my choice of sexual orientation.


•   People don't ask why I made my choice to be public about my sexual orientation.


•   I do not have to fear revealing my sexual orientation to friends or family. It's assumed.


•  My sexual orientation was never associated with a closet.


•  People of my gender do not try to convince me to change my sexual orientation.


•  I don't have to defend my heterosexuality.


•  I can easily find a religious community that will not exclude me for being heterosexual.


•  I can count on finding a therapist or doctor willing and able to talk about my sexuality.


•  I am guaranteed to find sex education literature for couples with my sexual orientation.


•  Because of my sexual orientation, I do not need to worry that people will harass me.


•  I have no need to qualify my straight identity.


•  My masculinity/femininity is not challenged because of my sexual orientation.


•  I am not identified by my sexual orientation.


•  I can be sure that if I need legal or medical help my sexual orientation will not work against me.


•  If my day, week, or year is going badly, I need not ask of each negative episode or situation whether it has sexual orientation overtones.


• Whether I rent or I go to a theater, Blockbuster, an EFS or TOFS movie, I can be sure I will not have trouble finding my sexual orientation represented.


• I am guaranteed to find people of my sexual orientation represented in my workplace.


• I can walk in public with my significant other and not have people double-take or stare.


• I can choose to not think politically about my sexual orientation.


• I do not have to worry about telling my roommate about my sexuality. It is assumed I am a heterosexual.


• I can remain oblivious of the language and culture of LGBTQ folk without feeling in my culture any penalty for such oblivion.


• I can go for months without being called straight.


• I'm not grouped because of my sexual orientation.


• My individual behavior does not reflect on people who identity as heterosexual.


• In everyday conversation, the language my friends and I use generally assumes my sexual orientation. For example, sex inappropriately referring to only heterosexual sex or family meaning heterosexual relationships with kids.


• People do not assume I am experienced in sex (or that I even have it!) merely because of my sexual orientation.


•  I can kiss a person of the opposite gender on the heart or in the cafeteria without being watched and stared at.


• Nobody calls me straight with maliciousness.


• People can use terms that describe my sexual orientation and mean positive things (IE "straight as an arrow", "standing up straight" or "straightened out" ) instead of demeaning terms (IE "ewww, that's gay" or being "queer" ) .


• I am not asked to think about why I am straight.


• I can be open about my sexual orientation without worrying about my job.

Crossposted Via The The Painted Turtle.

Word of the Gay; "HeteroQueer"

A "HeteroQueer" is a straight identified individual who is open minded about falling in love with any gender and primarily socializes in LGBT circles.

Word of the Gay: "Breeder"

"Breeder" is a slang or joking term to describe heterosexuals. It is based on the fact that homosexual relations do not lead to reproduction but heterosexual sex does. Although few in number, there have been some hate crimes done by gays on straights that have coupled the word "Breeder" in their violent and/or verbal attack on straight people.

Word of the Gay: "Heteroflexible"

"Heteroflexible" is synonymous with the term bi-curious and refers to someone who identifies primarily as heterosexual but is open minded and/or willing to be in a relationship and/or sexual activity with someone of the same-sex.

The term can but is not as frequently used for someone who identifies primarily as homosexual but is open to the concept of a sexual and/or emotional relationship with someone of the opposite sex.

Word of the Gay: "Fag Stag"

"Fag Stag" - A heterosexual male who enjoys the company of or has many gay/bi male friends. It is the male equivalent of the term fag hag, and although still rarely used it is becoming more popular as homosexuality is becoming more widely accepted.

Queers United Welcomes all Homophobes to Our Site

So Queers United has had its first homophobic comment, yay! This comment was left on the entry about homophobe Greg Gutfeld of Fox News.

"fuck all you gay bastards..jesus christ keep all that fag shit to yerself you fucking queer..and queers united is a ridiculous name..and all of you are ridiculous people and should be put on a giant boat set a sail and sank"

I want to thank the person who wrote this, you inspire me and hopefully others here to continue our activism and educate and create awareness to stop homophobes like yourself.

Word of the Gay: "Heterophobia"

"Heterophobia" - The irrational fear or aversion to heterosexual people.

There are a limited number of hate crimes against heterosexual people by homosexual people based on sexual orientation, but there have been a few instances. In heavily LGBT neighborhoods there have been some isolated cases of harassment against straight people.

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Alternate use of the term:
"Heterophobia" has also been used by more conservative LGBT circles who are opposed to the traditional gay rights platform. They use the term to imply that extending equal rights to LGBT people is tantamount to discrimination against heterosexual people.

The term has been used by conservative circles who feel that when more liberal groups target them by calling them homophobic based on their positions that they can counter that liberal LGBT groups are being so called "heterophobic".

Word of the Gay: "Heterosexual Privilege"

"Heterosexual Privilege: The societal assumption and norm that all people are heterosexual. The basic civil rights and social privileges that a heterosexual person automatically receives, that are systematically denied to gay, lesbian, or bisexual persons, simply because of their sexual orientation." (H/T)

Day of Silence 4.25.08

Friday, April 25th, Silence traditionally begins 10am and is broken at 6pm!

"The National Day of Silence brings attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools. This year’s event will be held in memory of Lawrence King, a California 8th-grader who was shot and killed Feb. 12 by a classmate because of his sexual orientation and gender expression. Hundreds of thousands of students will come together on April 25 to encourage schools and classmates to address the problem of anti-LGBT behavior." Whether you are a student, a faculty member or just a concerned citizen please see how you can get involved in this important day that has shaped and changed the lives of many Queer and straight allied students around the country. Order your t-shirts, print out your silent cards, and see what you can do to be active on behalf of GLBT equality."

Printable cards to notify people of why you are silent:
CLICK HERE!

http://www.dayofsilence.org/