Stereotypes/Prejudices towards the LGBT community

     The prejudices and stereotypes that surround the homosexuality community have been created due to society’s ignorance to understand the actual lifestyle of a gay person.  This ignorance is derived from people’s lack of first-hand interaction with someone who is homosexual. “Gallup poll found that only one in five American’s reports having a gay acquaintance (friend)” (Rothenberg, 2010, p. 577).  The two main stereotypes that exist in our society are based on the concept of gender identity.  First, lesbians are said to have some desire to be or act like a man and are associated with derogatory names such as: dyke or bulldyke.  Also that gay men are men who want to be a women or act like a woman in some form and are associated with being a queen, fairy, and limp-wrists.  Another common stereotype is that homosexuals are rebellious wanting to corrupt others and that their feelings are a choice to be different.  These stereotypes are false claims made on a whole group that is created from a small sample. 

     Unfortunately facts from others do not make enough of an impact to counteract the stereotypes that already exist for gays.  Scientific studies and academic research have been able to create proof and awareness of the stereotypes and prejudices that take place on a daily basis.  This scientific proof and awareness over time has pioneered the shift in society where homosexuality is slowly starting to become more acceptable.  Although there has been progress in this country there is still a lot more support and respect that needs to be had by the gay community. Fear of the unknown and hatred seem to fuel a certain part of the population to continue with these inaccurate stereotypes and biases. 

     These stereotypes and prejudices sometimes lead to violence which is actually reported less if the crime involves someone who is homosexual.  This is prejudice and discrimination towards the gay community within itself.  Gays experience violent acts and hate crimes based solely on their sexual orientation and not because of anything they did wrong.  “More than one in five gay men and nearly one in ten lesbians have been punched, hit, or kicked; a quarter of all gays had objects thrown at them; a third had been chased; a third had been sexually harassed and 14 percent had been spit on-all just for being perceived to be gay” (Rothenberg, 2010, p. 581). These statistics put in perspective the amount of violence that is committed just based on stereotypes.  People are getting hit, punched, kicked, chased, and sexually harassed not because of their character or any action they committed, but merely on the fact that they are or could be homosexual.  An extreme version of violence that takes place in our country involves “queerbashing.”  This is when a group of men will gang up on another man and beat and harass this man just because he is homosexual.  Sometimes this even leads to death.

      Hendren and Blank (2009) conducted a study that looked into the negative attitudes and prejudices towards gay men and lesbians.  In the past, results of this topic have only used methods of self-reports to collect data.  These two researchers wanted to take it a step further and see the prejudices that surface for lesbians and gay men when using behavioral measures.  The study was conducted with the setting that the requestor would go up to cars and ask each person if they had a 10-pence piece to spare because they needed if for a parking fee.  The independent variable in this study is the t-shirt the requestor was wearing.  If the requestor wanted to be perceived as a heterosexual they would just wear a black t-shirt. When they wanted to be perceived as a homosexual, the requestor would wear a “Gay Pride” t-shirt.  The dependent variable would then be whether or not the person displayed helpful behaviors (giving change to requestor) or a non-helpful behaviors (not giving change to the requestor).  Results indicated that the person who was perceived as a lesbian or gay man (with “gay pride” t-shirt) would get much less help than the group who was considered heterosexual.  Men especially showed the most prejudices towards homosexuals and would make it a point not to help the requestor just based on their perceived sexual orientation. 

     Although I recognize and appreciate the increased acceptance of homosexuality in our society, it still breaks my heart that this much prejudice and hatred still exists.  As a homosexual women growing up, I experienced even at an early age the prejudices of being a perceived as a lesbian.  In early as middle school, I was a tomboy and my athleticism and athletic attire led other boys to assume I was a lesbian and the name calling and jokes started.  At that time I did not completely come to terms with my sexuality, but their perceptions already assumed that I was a homosexual.  These experiences did have an effect on my confidence and acceptance growing up. The part that I regret the most is not standing up for myself, but at this point it was not considered a norm and acceptable in any form.  I still hold some anger towards these boys even when I see them as grown adults.  Not that I judge them now as an adults, but just that they will never know the impact these words made in my life for so many years.  It’s not until I reached my first year of college, when I met some amazing people who supported me and allowed me to come to terms with who I was.  This then allowed me to grow and become confident in myself and my homosexuality.  The complete acceptance helped me flourish into the person I am today and strive towards meeting my potential.  I have overcome obstacles and have grown from a shy and timid young girl to a proud and confident woman.  So I hope our society continues to push for acceptance and that the children in the future who come to terms with their sexuality are greeted with love and acceptance and not prejudice and hate.