Navigating the Queer Spectrum: Sexual Orientation 101 March 22, 2017

Kelly Garrett, Program Director [email protected] Je-Shawna Wholley, Program Coordinator [email protected]

Brown LGBTQ Center 321-327 Campus Center (Faunce) www.brown.edu/lgbtq

GUIDELINES FOR DISCUSSION • No question is a stupid question – this is a learning space but recognize impact • Please use “I” statements when speaking • Active listening • What’s shared here stays here, what’s learned can leave • Challenge yourself to move outside of your comfort zone © Brown LGBTQ Center 2017

GOALS To introduce the spectrum of sexual orientation To go beyond individual prejudice and understand institutional and cultural oppression.

© Brown LGBTQ Center 2017

WHAT IS HETEROSEXISM?

Heterosexism “Discrimination or prejudice against LGBQ+ people on the assumption that heterosexuality is the normal sexual orientation.” Ex: Je-Shawna visits HR to inquire about adding her partner to her health insurance. Rep: How long have you and your husband been married? © Brown LGBTQ Center 2017

CLIMATE AT BROWN FOR LGBQ+ STUDENTS

WHAT ARE THREE LEVELS OF SOCIAL INJUSTICE?

THREE LEVELS OF SOCIAL INJUSTICE INDIVIDUAL ACTS OF PREJUDICE, IGNORANCE, HATRED (intentional or unintentional) ▪ Homophobic jokes and insensitive comments ▪ Slurs said directly to someone or behind someone’s back ▪ Rejection by family – lack of support from home

© Brown LGBTQ Center 2017

THREE LEVELS OF SOCIAL INJUSTICE INSTITUTIONAL POLICY, PRACTICES & NORMS (intentional or unintentional) ▪ Limited or no financial support if a student is disowned ▪ Lack of support from home/family religious community ▪ Limited roles models and/or lack of representation in faculty and staff (particularly for LGBQ+ People of Color)

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THREE LEVELS OF SOCIAL INJUSTICE CULTURAL ASSUMPTIONS, PRACTICES & NORMS (intentional or unintentional) ▪ Assumption that everyone is heterosexual ▪ Assumption that someone in a same-gender relationship will not have children ▪ Absence of positive representation in the media

© Brown LGBTQ Center 2017

Intersecting identities, particularly historically oppressed identities, Additional barriers of complicate experiences heterosexism & homophobia.

© Brown LGBTQ Center 2017

SPECTRUM OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION Variation of the Kinsey Scale 1

2

3

4

5

6

<----------------------Bisexual/Pansexual/Fluid------------------------->

Queer

Behavior

Attraction Sexual and/or Romantic

Asexual: may or may not be on spectrum for romantic attraction ∙ Gray-A & Demisexual: may be on the spectrum for one or more of the parameters ∙

Parameters

Identity © Brown LGBTQ Center 2017

Exclusively Gay/Lesbian

Exclusively Heterosexual

0

SEXUAL ORIENTATION TERMINOLOGY ▪ Pansexual ▪ Bisexual ▪ Fluid ▪ Queer ▪ Asexual ▪ Demisexual ▪ Gray A

© Brown LGBTQ Center 2017

GROUP ACTIVITY Examples Institutional & Cultural Oppression in Health Care, Workplace, Legal Systems, Family, Education, Media © Brown LGBTQ Center 2017

TAKING ACTION: BECOMING AN ALLY ▪ What are the risks? ▪ What are the benefits? ▪ What are some ways you feel you can

become an active supporter of the LGBQ+ community?

© Brown LGBTQ Center 2017