Discussion Board

Oppression of LGBTQQIAP2+

People

Definitions • Heterocentrism: expectations and behaviors that people are heterosexual • Heterosexism: a discriminatory attitude towards homosexuals, favor and

privilege to opposite sex relations • Homophobia: unreasoning fear, dislike, or hatred of sexual minorities

üResult of heterosexism which has been an ideological system • Homo-ignorance: minimal level of encounter resulting from lack of knowledge • Homo-negativity : discriminatory attitudes and behavior resulting from stereotypical beliefs

that stigmatize gay, lesbian, and bisexual • Homo-hatred: active form of discrimination and prejudice stemming from strongly held

religious beliefs.

Gay and Lesbian Population • Gay and Lesbian individuals are increasingly

represented in census • Not totally accurate

• Gay and lesbian families live in 99.3 percent of all counties in the United States • Historic Discriminatory Policy: • Marriage • Employment • Partner benefits • Adoption

Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin

Oklahoma State Senator Al McCaffrey

Sexual Identity • Sexual Orientation: describes emotional, physical and/or sexual attraction to an individuals sex • Sexual Preference: Describes the sexual interests of the individual

• No longer used as synonymous to sexual orientation which is considered innate not choice

• Sexual Identity: how one identifies their sexuality • Behavior is not consistent with identity

• Men who have Sex with Men vs. Gay Men

•Heterosexual •Marital •Monogamous •Reproductive •Noncommercial •Coupled relational

Privileged Sexuality:

LGBT Universal Processes • LGBT individuals share several psychosocial

processes • Identification and confrontation of sexual differences • Socialization in the gay and lesbian communities • Self-identification or coming out to self and others • Sexual experimentation • Development of a sexual identity • Nurturance of sexual and intimate relationships • Formation of families of choice • Coupling and separating • Raising children

Transgender and Gender Nonconforming

• Transgender: when gender identity differs from biological sex • varying sexual orientations ranging

from heterosexual to bisexual to homosexual • Gender Nonconforming: individuals

who cross over or challenge traditional gender roles or expectations • Cisgender: gender identity matches

biological sex

Historical Oppression in Context

• Overt Societal Discrimination for Sexual Orientation remains permissible • Heterocentrism, heterosexism and

homophobia shapes the context of psychosocial development of LGBTQIA people • Produce barriers to: • Individual identity development • Coping ability • Adaptation to Social and Psychological Social

Status Stressors

The Roots of Oppression • Socially Constructed Gender Ideology

üAll human sexual behavior is socially scripted behavior üRely on historically bound socio-cultural

definitions üGender role conformity differs within or across

cultures. üIdeologies related to sexuality and gender

hold hierarchical roles together üHeterosexuality is equated with “normal”

masculinity and “normal” femininity: Homosexuality violates norms.

The Roots of Oppression

•Heterosexual Privilege üHeterosexism is a system of

advantages over heterosexuals üReligion, law, psychiatry play key

roles in teaching and reinforcing gender üProblematic to gay and lesbian social

role functioning üRely on Stereotypes of GLBTQIA

The Roots of Oppression •Religion • Values patriarchy and

heterosexuality • Foundation for homophobia and

heterosexism • Support the social order • Judeo-Christian roots of the legal

system • Social construction within religion

is evident: The words homosexual, homosexuality, and sodomite do not appear in the Bible until 1946.

The Roots of Oppression

• Psychiatry/Psychology • Labeled as dysfunctional, deviant, or a social

problem. • Mentally and physically deviant • Unconvinced of naturalness of homosexuality. • 20% of practicing therapists treat

homosexuality as a mental illness • despite fact that it is not classified as such

since 1973 • Gender dysphoria diagnosis is controversial

The Roots of Oppression

•Law and Policy •Disenfranchisement through exclusion. • Current attention to: • Workplace protections • Parental recognition • Religious exemption • Youth law and policy • Health and safety • Correct name and gender on

documents

2017 LGBT Equality by State

• Violence and Gay Bashing • Victims are less likely to report

crimes because of individual family and friend stigma.

• 80s & 90s: anti-gay violence paralleled the increased attacks against women and against ethnic, religious, and racial minorities. • LGBTQIA violence increased after

marriage equality laws passed • Trans* women of color are at the

highest risk for physical and sexual assault and murder.

Internalized Homophobia • Gay men and lesbians are taught to hate

themselves • Internalized Homophobia: • A set of negative attitudes and affects

towards homosexuality in other persons and towards homosexual features in oneself

• A core construct in understanding gay and lesbian affirmative psychology and often in developing a focus for clinical intervention