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Lock Haven UniversitySafe Zone |
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LGBTQ Supporter Program Online Training
Developing Awareness
Peggy McIntosh wrote her essay about the privilege of being White; however, several other groups receive privileges, often unknowingly. People who identify as straight receive many legal, social, religious, and educational privileges, but are often unaware of those privileges. This type of privilege is especially insidious, as people who identify as LGBTQ are capable of living "stealth" - appearing to be straight even when they are not. This invisibility makes it more difficult for people to become aware of both privilege and discrimination. Several groups have created an "Unpacking the Invisible [Straight] Knapsack" to raise awareness about those privileges. The following list is heavily based on one created by ontd political and students at Earlham College, posted here, with a few additions. Although some of the links are older, please check out the evidence of these areas of privilege.
1. I can be pretty sure that my roommate, hallmates and classmates will be comfortable with my sexual orientation. (Example: “Gay bulling in schools ‘common’” – BBC | Campus Climate for LGs – The Task Force).
2. If I pick up a magazine, watch TV, or play music, I can be certain my sexual orientation will be represented. (Example: More gay characters on TV now than before – Variety | LGBT Character Shows May Lose Tax Credit – SD G&L News).
3. 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.
4. 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. (Example: PFLAG Rejection Statistics – PFLAG)
5. I did not grow up with games that attack my sexual orientation (IE fag tag or smear the queer). (Example: From Bullies to Heroes: Homophobia in Video Games – Student Pulse.)
6. I am not accused of being abused, warped or psychologically confused because of my sexual orientation. (Example: “Camp that ‘cures’ homosexuality” – Times Online.)
7. 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. (Constance McMillen Wanted to Take Her Girlfriend to the Prom, So the School Board Canceled it – CBS News.) It’s also worth noting that CBS probably chose the worst picture of her to pair with that article. It’s hard to say if that was motivated or not.
8. I am never asked to speak for everyone who is heterosexual.
9. I can be sure that my classes will require curricular materials that testify to the existence of people with my sexual orientation. (Example: Banning Gay Books – Alternet).
10. People don’t ask why I made my choice of sexual orientation.
11. People don’t ask why I made my choice to be public about my sexual orientation.
12. I do not have to fear revealing my sexual orientation to friends or family. It’s assumed.
13. My sexual orientation was never associated with a closet.
14. People of my gender do not try to convince me to change my sexual orientation.
15. I don’t have to defend my heterosexuality.
16. I can easily find a religious community that will not exclude me for being heterosexual. (Example: Homosexuality and Religion – Religion Facts).
17. I can count on finding a therapist or doctor willing and able to talk about my sexuality. (Example: Rekers and the Barbarism of Anti-Gay Therapy.)
18. I am guaranteed to find sex education literature for couples with my sexual orientation.
19. Because of my sexual orientation, I do not need to worry that people will harass me. (Largest Ever Study on Anti-LGBT Harassment – GLSEN).
20. I have no need to qualify my straight identity.
21. My masculinity/femininity is not challenged because of my sexual orientation. (Examples: Are Gay Stereotypes true? – ABC).
22. I am not identified by my sexual orientation.
23. I can be sure that if I need legal or medical help my sexual orientation will not work against me. (Example: ‘Doctor Shock’ – Huffington Post.)
24. 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.
25. 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. (Example: Before ‘Bruno’: A brief history of gay characters in movies and TV – NY Daily News ).
26. I am guaranteed to find people of my sexual orientation represented in the Lock Haven curriculum, faculty, and administration.
27. I can walk in public with my significant other and not have people double-take or stare. (Example: Kiss Off: A gay couple cited for holding hands on Main Street Plaza – Salt Lake City Weekly).
28. I can choose to not think politically about my sexual orientation.
29. I do not have to worry about telling my roommate about my sexuality. It is assumed I am a heterosexual.
31. I can remain oblivious of the language and culture of LGBTQ folk without feeling in my culture any penalty for such oblivion.
32. I can go for months without being called straight.
33. I’m not grouped because of my sexual orientation.
34. My individual behavior does not reflect on people who identity as heterosexual.
35. In everyday conversation, the language my friends and I use generally assumes my sexual orientation. For example, sex refers to heterosexual sex and family means heterosexual relationships with kids.
35. People do not assume I am experienced in sex (or that I even have it!) merely because of my sexual orientation. (Example: GLBT Stereotypes – GLBT Social Sciences).
36. I can kiss a person of the opposite gender in the cafeteria without being watched and stared at. (Example: Is Main Street USA Ready For Gay PDA – ABC News).
37. Nobody calls me straight with maliciousness. (Example: John Mayer’s Apology Wanted for Use of Gay Slur – Aceshowbiz).
38. 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”).
39. I am not asked to think about why I am straight.
40. I can be open about my sexual orientation without worrying about my job. (Example: Bias in the Workplace: Consistent Evidence of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination [.doc download] – UCLA).”
41. I am not told that my love for someone is just a phase that I will grow out of and then find a "normal" love.
Please click here to continue to the next step in the training.