Cultural Heterosexism

Cultural heterosexism does not refer to the beliefs of a "culture", or a society. That is what heterosexism is. Cultural heterosexism is one of the ways in which heterosexism is taught and perpetuated in a society, through its cultural products - movies, music, television, art, literature, etc. For years, heterosexuality was forbidden in Hollywood films, and when it was finally permitted, representations of homosexuals were always deviant, unhappy, and their relationships were doomed to failure. Today, cultural heterosexism continues with misrepresentations of LGBT lives, and while there is increased visibility, it continues with under-representation of diverse images of queerness. We have a long way to go, though we have come a long way in recent years. When Ellen DeGeneres came out in 1996, it seemed like the sky was falling. Her sitcom was soon canceled and it seemed her career was over. Now, she is one of the most beloved television personalities, she is out, in a relationship, funny, and loved by many. Queer characters exist on many TV shows and in many movies. A few mainstream films have been produced with prominent LGBT characters in somewhat fulfilling roles. Change has been slow in coming, but it definitely has come and continues. Here is a sweet scene from Ugly Betty that would have been unimaginable in 1996 when Ellen came out. These days it is becoming more and more normal. It gives me hope.

What if everyone were gay?

This very powerful, short film looks at a world where the tables are turned, where homosexuality is the norm and heterosexuality is the perversion. As unusual as this may seem, it's the world LGBTQ children have to endure every day - just the other way around.

Effects of Heterosexism

The Pew Research Center just released the results of a study of LGBT Americans. While they reported that things are better than they've ever been for them, there is still room for improvement. Many respondents reported being rejected by a loved one, facing discrimination or slurs, or being physically attacked or threatened. Seems it's not always easy to be happy when you're not completely accepted. You can read more about the survey here.