Anti-LGBTQ Bias

All prejudice and discrimination toward various groups is related.

Systematic inequities (institutionalized discrimination) of a group/individual members of a group is often based on  sex, race, age, disability, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, marital status, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity. Institutionalized discrimination generates misinformation and ignorance about these groups of people (stereotypes), which become socially sanctioned attitudes, beliefs, feelings, and assumptions (acceptable prejudice), which become the justification for further mistreatment ("justified" discrimination) and maintaining the status quo regarding the inequitable treatment. Institutional discrimination is then continually perpetuated by "-isms” such as racism, sexism, heterosexism, etc..

While all forms of discrimination are similar, there are also differences. It is difficult to identify someone based on perceived sexual orientation (unlike sex, gender, or race), making sexual orientation more like religion and some disabilities. Invisibility and silence surrounding LGBTQA issues are key factors regarding prejudice and discrimination experienced by the LGBTQA community. One of the factors correlated with more positive attitudes toward LGBTQA individuals is when someone realizes they know and care about someone who is LGBTQA. For more information on sexual prejudice visit: http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/sexual_prejudice.html

“…I still hear from people who claim to be followers of Martin Luther King, Jr. but who think I should be silent about the human rights concerns of gay and lesbians. All I can do is tell these folks that the civil rights movement that I believe in thrives on unity and inclusion, not division and exclusion. All of us who oppose discrimination and support equal rights should stand together to resist every attempt to restrict civil rights in this country…”
- from remarks by Coretta Scott King accepting the “Honoring Our Allies” Award presented to her by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Sept. 15, 1997.