Heterosexual Privilege

Heterosexual Privilege is a big part of heterosexism and the two are inextricably linked. I have heterosexual privilege if:

  1. I can, if I wish, arrange to be in the company of people of my sexuality most of the time.
  2. I can, if I wish, expose my sexuality as a member of the armed services without fear of dischargement.
  3. If I should need to move, I can be pretty sure that my neighbors in such a location will be neutral or pleasant to my sexual orientation.
  4. I can be sure that I will not be denied the right to marry whomever I choose to because of my sexual orientation.
  5. I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my sexuality widely represented.
  6. When I am told about our national heritage or about “civilization”, I am shown that people of my sexual orientation made it what it is.
  7. I can be pretty sure that I can adopt children.
  8. I can be sure that my children will be given curricular materials that testify to the existence of my sexuality.
  9. I can be sure I will not be denied insurance, employment, or credit due to my sexuality.
  10. I can arrange to protect my children most of the time from people who might not like them because of my sexuality.
  11. I do not have closet anxiety.
  12. I can publicly display my affection to my loved one without fear of harassment or attack.
  13. My sexual orientation is honestly portrayed in the media.
  14. I am never asked to speak for all the people of my sexuality.
  15. I can be pretty sure that if I ask to talk to “the person in charge”, I will be facing a person of my sexuality.
  16. I don’t have to hide my sexuality in certain situations for personal safety.
  17. I can leave a nightclub consisting mostly of people of my sexuality knowing I will not get harassed or attacked for my sexuality.
  18. I can go home from most meetings of organizations I belong to feeling somewhat tied in, rather than isolated, out-of-place, outnumbered, unheard, held at a distance, or feared because of my sexuality.
  19. I can reference my sexuality to someone without fear of negative consequences.
  20. I need not fear financial and emotional truncation from my family simply due to my sexuality.
  21. I can be sure that if I need legal or medical help, my sexuality will not work against me and that my partner will be able to visit me.

Source: Adapted from www.owlnet.rice.edu/~maxwell/fest/privilege.html