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Chapter 6 Same-Sex Couples and Families Chapter Outline Prevalence of Homosexuality, Bisexuality, and Same-Sex Couples • Origins of Sexual Orientation Diversity • Heterosexism, Homonegativity, Homophobia, and Biphobia • Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and MixedOrientation Relationships • Chapter Outline Legal Recognition of Homosexuality and Same-Sex • GLBT Parenting Issues • Effects of Antigay Bias and Discrimination on Heterosexuals • Changing Attitudes Toward Same-Sex Couples and Families • True or False? • Heterosexuals have more favorable attitudes toward gay men and lesbian women if they know someone who is gay or lesbian. Answer: True • Heterosexuals have more favorable attitudes toward gay men and lesbian women if they know someone who is gay or lesbian. True or False? • Compared with children reared by heterosexuals, children reared by lesbians have less emotional well being. Answer: False • A growing body of research on gay and lesbian parenting supports the conclusion that children of gay and lesbian parents are just as likely to flourish as are children of heterosexual parents. True or False? • In over half the states it is legal to fire a person because of his or her sexual orientation. Answer: True • In over half the states it is legal to fire a person because of his or her sexual orientation. Sexual Orientation • The direction of one’s thoughts, feelings, and sexual interactions toward members of the same sex, the other sex, or both sexes. – Heterosexuality refers to predominant sexual attraction to the opposite sex. – Homosexuality refers to predominant sexual attraction to the same sex. – Bisexuality is sexual attraction to both sexes. Identifying Sexual Orientation • • • • Many individuals conceal their sexual-orientation to avoid prejudice and discrimination. Not all people who are sexually attracted to the same sex view themselves as homosexual or bisexual. Sexual attractions may change across time. Sexual behavior, attraction, love, desire, and sexualorientation identity do not always match. Question • The direction of one's sexual thoughts and interactions is called A. sexual orientation. B. homosexuality. C. sexual preference. D. bisexuality. Answer: A • The direction of one's sexual thoughts and interactions is called sexual orientation. The Heterosexual-Homosexual Rating Scale The Heterosexual-Homosexual Rating Scale 0. Exclusively heterosexual with no homosexual 1. Predominantly heterosexual, incidentally homosexual 2. Predominantly heterosexual, more than incidentally homosexual 3. Equally heterosexual and homosexual 4. Predominantly homosexual, more than incidentally heterosexual 5. Predominantly homosexual, but incidentally heterosexual 6. Exclusively homosexual Question • Which of the following refers to an orientation towards someone of the opposite sex? A. bisexuality B. heterosexuality C. homosexuality D. asexuality Answer: B • Heterosexuality is an orientation towards someone of the opposite sex. Prevalence of Homosexuality • • • • Recent data estimates that there are more than 10 million gay and lesbian adults in the United States. This represents between 4 and 5% of the total U.S. adult population. A 2004 national poll showed that about 5% of U.S. high school students identified themselves as lesbian or gay. Among Americans older than 65 years, an estimated 1 to 3 million are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. Homosexual Relationships • Pg. 164 • These are two of the almost half a million U.S. college students who are gay. Prevalence of Same-Sex Couple Households The 2000 census showed that about 1 in 9 unmarried-partner households in the U.S. involve partners of the same sex. • Female and male same-sex couples were nearly equal in number. • Census 2000 data also revealed that 99.3% of U.S. counties reported same-sex cohabiting partners, compared with 52% of counties in 1990. • What “Causes” Homosexuality? Most gays believe that homosexuality is an inherited, inborn trait. • In a national study of homosexual men: – 90% reported that they believed that they were born with their homosexual orientation – 4% believed that environmental factors were the sole cause. • Stereotypes of Gay Men • Common stereotypes of gay men include: – They do not develop close, intimate relationships with their partners. – They do not seek monogamous long-term relationships. – Same-sex couples (male or female) adopt “husband” and “wife” roles. Monogamy and Sexuality • Pg. 173 This couple has been together for 19 years. Heterosexism Denigration and stigmatization of any behavior, person, or relationship that is not heterosexual. • Heterosexism says that to be heterosexual is good; to be homosexual is bad. • Biphobia Negative attitudes and emotional responses and discriminatory behavior toward bisexuals. • Lesbians seem to exhibit greater levels of biphobia than gay men. – Many lesbian women associate their identity with a political stance against sexism and patriarchy. • Question • An ideological system that denies, denigrates, and stigmatizes any nonheterosexual identity is referred to as A. heterosexism. B. homophobia. C. homosexism. D. biphobia. Answer: A • An ideological system that denies, denigrates, and stigmatizes any nonheterosexual identity is referred to as heterosexism. Decriminalization of Sodomy In the United States, a 2003 Supreme Court decision in Lawrence v. Texas invalidated state laws that criminalized sodomy—oral and anal sexual acts. • The ruling found that sodomy laws were discriminatory and unconstitutional. • Prior to this ruling, sodomy was illegal in 13 states. • Civil Unions, and Domestic Partnerships Legal recognition of same-sex couples exist in a number of countries throughout the world at the national, state, and/or local level. • Some workplaces recognize same-sex couples for the purposes of employee benefits. • Legal recognition of same-sex couples conveys most of the rights and responsibilities of marriage. • States that Recognize Same-Sex Relationships State Legal Recognition California Has domestic partner registry that confers most state-level spousal rights and responsibilities. Same-sex couples may enter civil unions that offer most of the benefits of marriage. Connecticut States that Recognize Same-Sex Relationships State Legal Recognition Hawaii Offers “reciprocal beneficiary” status to samesex registered couples, rights associated with inheritance, property and insurance. Domestic partner registry provides registered same-sex couples with inheritance rights, nextof-kin status, victim’s compensation, and priority in guardian and conservator rights. Maine States that Recognize Same-Sex Relationships State Legal Recognition Massachusetts Grants same-sex marriage licenses to residents of Massachusetts. New Jersey Offers “domestic partner” status to same and some opposite-sex couples, allows retirement and health benefits. Vermont Gives same-sex couples rights and responsibilities extended to opposite sex spouses. Same-Sex Marriage Effective May 2004, Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to offer civil marriage licenses to same-sex couples. • In the first year, more than 5,000 same-sex couples were married in Massachusetts. • Same-sex marriages in Massachusetts are not recognized in other states, nor are they recognized by the federal government. • Same-Sex Marriage • Pg. 177 • Massachusetts permits same-sex couple marriages, but these are not recognized by the federal government or other states. Anti-Gay Marriage Legislation • • • In 1996 Congress passed and President Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The act states that marriage is a “legal union between one man and one woman” and denies federal recognition of same-sex marriage. As of March 2006, 36 states have banned gay marriage either through statute or a state constitutional amendment. Insert Video: • 6. The Same Sex Marriage Debate (Run time: 2:12) Question • How many states have banned same-sex marriages? A. 10 B. 27 C. 18 D. 36 Answer: D • 36 states have banned same-sex marriages. Gay? Fine By Me • Lucas Schaefer, shown in this photo, helped create the “Gay? Fine By Me” t-shirt project in 2003, after the Princeton Review named Duke the most gay-unfriendly school in the United States. • Pg. 183 Effects of Antigay Bias and Discrimination on Heterosexuals Heterosexual victims of hate crimes. • Concern, fear, and grief over well being of gay or lesbian family members and friends. • Restriction of intimacy and self-expression. • Effects of Antigay Bias and Discrimination on Heterosexuals Dysfunctional sexual behavior. • School shootings. • Loss of rights for individuals in unmarried relationships. • Changing Attitudes toward SameSex Couples and Families Over the past few decades, attitudes toward the morality of homosexuality have become more accepting. • Reasons include – Increased contact between homosexuals and heterosexuals – Positive depictions of gay and lesbian individuals in the media. • Homosexuality in the Media • Pg. 185 • • The 2005 movie Brokeback Mountain depicts a love story between two cowboys and conveys the horror of antigay violence. If you have seen this movie, how did it affect your attitude toward homosexuality?