Tell others about GSA/GLSEN’s phobia
of non-homosexual students and curriculum under the guise of
"heterosexism."
Source: below GLSEN
Heterosexism Alert
> Subject: GLSEN SPECIAL
HETEROSEXISM ALERT
> *****************************************************
> Calling all students and school staff! Help GLSEN with a new
resource on heterosexism by sharing your thoughts and experiences:
> a.. Is using the school bathroom a daily anxiety because neither
"boys" nor "girls" match your gender identity/expression?
> a.. Do the curriculum guidelines, textbooks and other instructional materials in your school erase your gay identity and history?
> Most people equate anti-LGBT bias with individual acts of
harassment or discrimination. Equally as damaging, however, are
heterosexist school policies and practices that are not the fault of
any one individual or group, but that give privileges and access to
certain people.
>
> Rules and rituals that reinforce heterosexuality and a narrow view
of what it means to be male or female exist for many reasons--
certainly due to overt prejudice, but also because these systems
have long existed and are unseen or taken for granted by many.
>
> The first step toward undoing "institutionalized heterosexism" in
schools is naming it and then offering alternatives to traditional
practices with which schools have grown too comfortable.
>
> Toward that end, GLSEN is developing a resource that will explore
examples of heterosexism in school practices, and offer concrete
strategies for moving toward greater equality.
> Please write to us and share your thoughts on one or more of the following questions:
> 1) What are the forms of "institutionalized heterosexism" that
bother you most in your school?
> (This may include prom rituals, athletic traditions,
gender-specific bathrooms, school curriculum, celebrations of
Valentine's Day or Mothers/Fathers Days, dress codes, course
offerings, library holdings, school forms, or anything else that
reinforces heterosexuality as the norm).
> 2) What personal experiences or observations have you had with regard to institutionalized heterosexism in your school?
Describe specific rules, practices or incidents that you know of and which illustrate heterosexism.
> 3) What have you or others done to change institutionalized
heterosexism?
> Has any particular individual, group or the school leadership
taken specific action to change heterosexist practices?
> Please write to GLSEN's Education Director with your thoughts
and/or questions, and stay tuned for the final resource. Join us for
GLSEN's Sixth Annual TEACHING RESPECT FOR ALL Conference.
> How can
you make a difference?
> Take action immediately by logging onto the
Safe Schools Action Network.
