Heterosexual Privilege
Heterosexual Privilege is a big part of heterosexism and the two are inextricably linked. I have heterosexual privilege if:
- I can, if I wish, arrange to be in the company of people of my sexuality most of the time.
- I can, if I wish, expose my sexuality as a member of the armed services without fear of dischargement.
- 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.
- I can be sure that I will not be denied the right to marry whomever I choose to because of my sexual orientation.
- I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my sexuality widely represented.
- 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.
- I can be pretty sure that I can adopt children.
- I can be sure that my children will be given curricular materials that testify to the existence of my sexuality.
- I can be sure I will not be denied insurance, employment, or credit due to my sexuality.
- I can arrange to protect my children most of the time from people who might not like them because of my sexuality.
- I do not have closet anxiety.
- I can publicly display my affection to my loved one without fear of harassment or attack.
- My sexual orientation is honestly portrayed in the media.
- I am never asked to speak for all the people of my sexuality.
- 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.
- I don’t have to hide my sexuality in certain situations for personal safety.
- I can leave a nightclub consisting mostly of people of my sexuality knowing I will not get harassed or attacked for my sexuality.
- 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.
- I can reference my sexuality to someone without fear of negative consequences.
- I need not fear financial and emotional truncation from my family simply due to my sexuality.
- 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