1. The Effects on the LGBT Community

2. What is Heterosexism?
 Heterosexism is a belief system that values
heterosexuality as inherently normal and
superior.
 Heterosexism imposes heterosexual norms
that individuals must follow to be considered
normal, moral, and equal.
 Sex-roles are attitudes and activities that a society
links to each sex.
○ Sex-roles govern emotional expression, career
choice, dress, interests, etc.

3. Heterosexism and the LGBT
Community
 Heterosexism has many devastating effects on the
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender or “LGBT”
community.
 Although tolerance and acceptance of the LGBT
community has slowly increased, the lives of members
are still oppressed and discriminated against in many
ways.
 Institutional heterosexism
 Hate crimes
 Depression and suicide
(Caggiano, 2011)
 Substance abuse

4. Institutional Heterosexism
 Institutional Heterosexism is
heterosexist bias built into the operation
of society’s institutions.
 Prohibition of gay marriage
 Military’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy
 Employment discrimination

5. Prohibition of gay marriage
 The laws that
prohibit gay
marriage deny
homosexual couples
1,138 federal
protections that are
given to
heterosexual
couples by default.
(Harris, 2009)

6. Military’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”
Policy
 Sexuality is not discussed.
 Homosexuals are prohibited from enlisting
 Individuals are discharged for disclosing their
homosexuality or engaging in homosexual conduct
 Reasoning is that homosexuals “would create an
unacceptable risk to the high standards of
morale, good order and discipline, and unit
cohesion”

7. Employment discrimination
 35 states have no laws against
employment discrimination based on
sexual orientation or gender identity
 A study of 191 employers revealed that
18% would fire a gay individual
 26% would not promote a qualified gay
individual

8. Hate crime laws
 Only 21 states include sexual orientation
in their hate crime laws
 Only 11 states include both sexual
orientation and gender identity
 13 states have no laws regarding hate
crimes against sexual orientation and
gender identity

9. Hate crimes
 Between 1991 and 2005 there were more
than 15,000 reported hate crimes based on
sexual orientation
 In 2009, 18.5% of hate crimes committed in
the U.S. were based on sexual orientation
 A large number of hate crimes are not
reported due to fear and embarrassment of
the victims

10. Depression and suicide
 The LGBT community experience a
higher quantity of suicidal ideation and
attempts than heterosexuals.
 This is due to heterosexist messages that
instill shame and cause depression.
 LGBT adolescents make up 63% of all
suicide attempts

11. Substance abuse
 20% - 25% of homosexuals are alcohol users
 Only 3% - 10% of the heterosexual population are
alcohol users
 Other drugs, and cigarette smoking are also higher
amongst the LGBT community
 Due to the instilled shame and poor self-
perception, LGBT members turn to substance abuse to
cope
 Substance abuse contributes to the shorter life
expectancy of homosexual men

12. Human Services and LGBT
 The LGBT community needs assistance
and advocates
 Human Service professions engage in
institutional heterosexism due to a lack
of information
 Not aware of LGBT issues
 Generalize as heterosexual
 Personal biases

13. References
Burelli, D. F., & Feder, J. (2009). Homosexuals and the U.S. Military: Current Issues. Congressional Research Service, 1-33.
Caggiano, G. (2011). Are you afraid of gay marriage. From New York to San Francisco. Retrieved from
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://gcaggiano.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/gay_marriage_opponents-1-
731273.jpg&imgrefurl=http://gcaggiano.wordpress.com/2011/01/02/why-are-you-afraid-of-gay-marriage
Fish, J. (2008). Far from Mundane: Theorizing Heterosexism for Social Work Education. Social
Work Education, 27 (2), 182-193.
Harris, H. R. (2009). Ministers lead protest of D.C. legislation. The Washington Post.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://media3.washingtonpost.com
Hate crimes based on sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and disability. (2010) Congressional Digest, 170-172.
Hays, D.G., & Erford, B.T. (2010) Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A
Systems Approach. Boston: Pearson Education Incorporated.
Lansing, P., & Cruser, C. (2009). The Moral Responsibility of Business to Protect Homosexuals
from Discrimination in the Workplace. Employee Relations Law Journal, 35 (1), 43-66.
Macionis, J.J. (2010). Sociology. Boston: Pearson Education Incorporated.
Moss-Racusin, C.A., Phelan, J.E., & Rudman, L.A. (2010). When Men Break the Gender Rules:
Status Incongruity and Backlash Against Modest Men. Psychology of Men &
Masculinity, 11 (2) 140-151.
Rubenstein, G. (1995). The Decision to Remove Homosexuality from the DSM: Twenty Years
Later. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 49 (3), 416-426.
U.S. Department of Justice. (2009). Hate Crime Laws 2009. Washington, DC: U.S. Government
Printing Office.