4 ms·

We need a better word for "anti-gay bigotry". Or, better yet, a set of such words which apply to common subsets of the LGBTQ alphabet-soup categorization. Right

We need a better word for "anti-gay bigotry". Or, better yet, a set of such words which apply to common subsets of the LGBTQ alphabet-soup categorization. Right now all we have are words like homophobia and transphobia, which would do alright if only they didn't have the mental illness connotations.

caryme 16y ago
Heterosexism: discrimination or prejudice by heterosexuals against homosexuals (Merriam-Webster)
- philwelch 16y ago
  That term actually has a much more specific meaning among the "academic left" (for lack of a better term).
  - caryme 16y ago
    What meaning is that? The meaning I am actually more familiar with is "the belief that one sexual orientation is inherently better than another."
    - philwelch 16y ago
      The connotation of "heterosexism" seems closer to "heteronormativity" than "homophobia"--basically the assumption that everyone is heterosexual, or the establishment of heterosexuality as a social norm. For (potentially poor) example, if a television series has a homosexual character who is stereotyped and portrayed in a negative light, that's homophobia. If a television series has no homosexual characters at all despite prominently portraying heterosexual characters and relationships, it's heterosexist or heteronormative. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterosexism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterosexism
      - jimbokun 16y ago
        I think it would make more sense to use this word the way homophobia is used now. It more closely parallels "racism" as the belief that some races are inherently superior to others. Would we call a TV show with no minority characters "racist?" Maybe, but it might be seen as stretching the meaning of the word, and the question of whether or not the show was actually racist would be a question to debate, not a part of the definition. I suppose we could have terms for TV shows, movies, corporate boards, startups, etc. that lack minority, gay or other kinds of people. But using an "-ism" for such terms implies discrimination, which I believe should remain open for discussion and debate.
        philwelch 16y ago
        "Would we call a TV show with no minority characters "racist?"" Though not in so many words, the kind of academic liberals who use words like "heterosexist" and "heteronormative" would.

caryme 16y ago

Heterosexism: discrimination or prejudice by heterosexuals against homosexuals (Merriam-Webster)

philwelch 16y ago
That term actually has a much more specific meaning among the "academic left" (for lack of a better term).
- caryme 16y ago
  What meaning is that? The meaning I am actually more familiar with is "the belief that one sexual orientation is inherently better than another."
  - philwelch 16y ago
    The connotation of "heterosexism" seems closer to "heteronormativity" than "homophobia"--basically the assumption that everyone is heterosexual, or the establishment of heterosexuality as a social norm. For (potentially poor) example, if a television series has a homosexual character who is stereotyped and portrayed in a negative light, that's homophobia. If a television series has no homosexual characters at all despite prominently portraying heterosexual characters and relationships, it's heterosexist or heteronormative. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterosexism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterosexism
    - jimbokun 16y ago
      I think it would make more sense to use this word the way homophobia is used now. It more closely parallels "racism" as the belief that some races are inherently superior to others. Would we call a TV show with no minority characters "racist?" Maybe, but it might be seen as stretching the meaning of the word, and the question of whether or not the show was actually racist would be a question to debate, not a part of the definition. I suppose we could have terms for TV shows, movies, corporate boards, startups, etc. that lack minority, gay or other kinds of people. But using an "-ism" for such terms implies discrimination, which I believe should remain open for discussion and debate.
      - philwelch 16y ago
        "Would we call a TV show with no minority characters "racist?"" Though not in so many words, the kind of academic liberals who use words like "heterosexist" and "heteronormative" would.