What Is Heterosexism?

Heterosexism refers to the social and cultural “norms” that support the idea that heterosexuality is inherently 'right' and anything else isn’t. This is also known as ’hetero-normativity’, the assumption that heterosexuality is the norm and that everyone is heterosexual.

Examples include:

• Asking a woman “do you have a boyfriend?” rather than “do you have a partner?” (i.e. assuming that they’re straight)
• Failing to include positive queer role models in mainstream media
• Assuming that all feminine men are gay, or that all gay men are feminine. Or assuming that masculine women are lesbians, or that all lesbians are masculine
• The most obvious example of heterosexism is the fact that we have to 'come out' as same-sex attracted. There is an assumption that everyone is heterosexual unless we prove otherwise.

What Is Homophobia?

Homophobia is the term used to describe the irrational fear, hatred, aversion to or discrimination against people who are homosexual, or same-sex attracted, or who are perceived to be homosexual or same-sex attracted.

Homophobia can exist in a variety of forms

The Three “I”s of Homophobia:

Internalised Homophobia: Fear or hatred of homosexuality that exists inside one’s own mind. Examples include:

• Making a determined effort to dress or act in such a way as to not appear to be queer
• Having low self-esteem because of concerns around being queer 
• A gay man discriminating against another gay man for acting ‘too feminine’ or ‘too gay’

Interpersonal Homophobia: Homophobic speech and or actions of an individual towards others who are, or who are perceived to be lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender or queer. Examples include:

• Violence, physical harassment, name calling, anti-queer hate crimes
• Jokes that misrepresent or put down queers, the suggestion that we should ‘understand’ when we are treated differently

Institutional Homophobia: The ways in which government, business, churches and other organisations discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other queer (LGBTQ) people. Examples include:

• Policy or legislation that actively prevents same-sex couples from being able to adopt or marry
• Ignoring sexuality as a category on data collection sheets
• Being prevented from career opportunities or being fired from a job for being queer or being perceived as queer
• Being prevented from taking a same-sex partner to a school dance or prom.

Homophobia can be extremely hurtful and harmful, not only to your physical well being and safety but also to your mental health and happiness and to society as a whole. If you are in  immediate danger of physical harm please call your local police or 000. If you or anybody you know has experienced homophobic violence, report it to ACON’s Anti-Violence Project.

More info

If you would like support, advice or more information about homophobia please contact:

Contact: ACON's Anti-Violence Project

Tel: (02) 9206 2030
Free Call: 1800 063 060
Hearing Impaired: (02) 9283 2088

Email: avp@acon.org.au

Web: www.acon.org.au/anti-violence