Iona has been blogging about privilege. Heterosexual privilege is often talked about in terms of bisexuality, eg; “Bisexuals have heterosexual privilege.” Well, I seem to have missed out on my share, because believe me, homophobic people / systems don’t give a damn whether I have ever been out with a guy.
So what is heterosexual privilege?
Well, if I was straight…
I could have access to marriage and all the legal privileges that come with it.
I could take my partner to the school ball without needing to involve the Human Rights Commission.
I could be ordained as a minister.
I would have the right to stay with my partner if they were in intensive care after an accident or emergency.
I could be affectionate in public without fearing abuse.
I could ask someone on a date and they’d no what I meant without me having to spell it out in really big letters.
I could work with children without having to worry that I’ll be accused of corrupting them or abusing them.
I could mention a partner / crush to a counsellor without them assuming that my sexuality was the cause of all my emotional problems.
I wouldn’t have to tell people about my sexuality, it would just be assumed.
I wouldn’t have to listen to any of the following; Maybe it’s just a phase; Maybe you just think you’re queer because you were abused; Maybe you just haven’t met the right guy; I don’t mind gay people as long as they don’t force it on me/flaunt it; But if you raised children they’d be really messed up.
Any others?
*
Headline in next month’s Dolly magazine; Blogging, how it ruined my life.
“I had the world at my feet… but I chose to sell my soul to my computer.”
Posted by Fionnaigh at June 27, 2003 11:20 AM"I could mention a partner / crush to a counsellor without them assuming that my sexuality was the cause of all my emotional problems."
Hee! I was talking to a counsellor about stuff and I mentioned "and there's this woman I like who keeps flirting with me". And he said, "So you have sexuality issues." And I was like, huh? No, not really. What's *your* problem?
Posted by: iona at June 27, 2003 12:55 PMplus, if you were straight and married, and your spouse was dodgy, you could help them to escape after committing a crime and you wouldn't be prosecuted! or have to testify against them in court. (could be wrong on details, saw this on a site about the civil unions bill a while back. which is waiting around in some kind of ballot so will only get a chance to go through if picked out of ballot, or something stupid like that.)
Posted by: bec at June 27, 2003 05:00 PMOn the being ordained as a minister thing, the first openly gay bishop in Britain has been ordained by the Anglical Church. Cool huh, and the lovely Bish or Canterbury issues a cool statelemt that said (in short), "stop complaining dumbarses, he's really good at his job"
Wicked!
That should be Anglican, Bish OF canterbury, and statement.
DUmb fingers!
if i were straight i wouldn't have to worry about people finding out about my sexuality and therefore causing me to lose my job.
if i were straight i wouldn't have to defend myself to everyone in my life about wanting to be in a relationship.
if i were straight i would be able to date people.
if i were straight i wouldn't have to fear posting this comment for fear someone i know will read it.
Posted by: shannon at June 28, 2003 08:41 AMOccassionally I become aware just how lucky I've been... I have been out at every job I've had since I was 18. I'm out to everyone in my family I know the phone number of (and a few others), so far none of them have reacted in any way badly. I came out at high school and was supported by the other kids. I kiss my girlfriend goodbye in the street and forget to worry. In fact, sometimes I forget that there is anything unusual about my choice of partner at all (I mean, how could anyone *not* want to go out with her?!).
I've had the extraordinary good fortune to live and grow up in central Wellington (which is notoriously queer friendly) in the 1990s. I'm well educated and (as someone recently told me) I have a good interface :).
I just hope my luck becomes less lucky and more normal.
Posted by: carla at June 28, 2003 11:25 AM