Heterosexism

Heterosexism is the system granting implicit or explicit advantages (e.g., power, control, and rights) to heterosexuals over non-heterosexuals. This means laws, policies, and rules are written to benefit heterosexual men, women, and trans. The chapter discusses misunderstanding terms or inappropriate use of terms which interferes with developing effective action plans to dismantle heterosexism and heteronormativity. For example, action plans for heterosexism involve changing laws, policies, or rules. However, action plans for discrimination against a non-heterosexual person starts with dialogical conversations to make sure both parties understand the problem correctly in order to develop the effective action plans. The chapter emphasizes changing laws and policies must accompany concrete strategies to access unconscious bias which is activated due to the neurobiology of automaticity. Barriers to dismantling heterosexism (e.g., asymmetric perception, ingroup favoritism, attribution error, and social projection, binary thinking, systemic and internalized heterosexual privilege and oppression, etc.) are discussed. Benefits of dismantling heterosexism, LGBTQ discrimination, and prejudice on everyone including heterosexuals are explored. Experiential learning activities and personal stories are inserted in relevant places throughout the chapter to provide an opportunity for a reader to connect the conceptual understanding of heterosexism to their lived experiences to transform.