Ten Big Stereotypes that Follow the LGBTQ+ Community

With the progress that the LGBTQ+ community has been making recently, people often forget that same sex marriage was only fully legalized in 2015. For far too long, many members or the community have been portrayed in a negative light with less than flattering stereotypes following them throughout day to day life.

1. “You can’t be queer and religous.”

Some religions believe that homosexuality goes against what they are taught and the nature of what they believe, and while many denominations have come out in their support of the community the belief still pushes an anti-religious stereotypes on the queer community. However, a study from Buzzfeed News and Whitman Insight Strategies showed that just 39 percent of LGBTQ people claim to have no religious affiliation at all.

2. “All bisexual people are promiscuous.”

While a 2011 study by the Williams Institute found that more than half of all non-heterosexual people in the United States identify as bisexual, there is still a stigma that follows them. “A common stereotype is that bisexual people do not want to be, or cannot be, monogamous. This is simply not true,” according to GLAAD. “Bisexual people are just as capable of forming monogamous relationships as heterosexual, gay, and lesbian people.”

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3. “LGBTQ+ teachers are harmful role models.”

Dr. John P. Spiegel, past president of the American Psychiatric Association, says, “Some have feared that homosexual teachers might affect the sexual orientation of their students. There is no evidence to support this thesis.” In fact many argue quite the opposite of this point. The youth need LGBTQ+ role models not only for homosexual youth but also heterosexual youth. Young members of the community need people that are like them to look up to, just as heterosexual youth do. Heterosexual youth also need LGBT role models so that they can learn about differences, about being inclusive, and helping to prevent discrimination and bigotry. As the Vancouver Island University so eloquently put it, “One does not learn to be LGBT one is LGBT.”

4. “People Choose to Be Homosexual.”

“Most LGB people feel that they did not choose to be LGB. Rather, they were aware of having same-sex feelings at an early age or else these feelings evolved and solidified in their adolescent or adult years. The choice seems to be whether to live a full and well-balanced life with a same-sex partner, or to suppress their feelings.”(Vancouver Island University) While it isn’t completely known what causes sexual orientation research has shown that is likely caused partly by biological factors that start before birth. People don’t decide who they’re attracted to, and therapy, treatment, or persuasion won’t change a person’s sexual orientation.

Lesbian Pride Flag

5. “All lesbians are masculine.”

While some lesbians may choose to appear more masculine in appearance this outdated stereotype is simply pushing people in a small box in order to define them. The truth is everyone is different and everyone chooses to express themselves in a different way. “As a lesbian-identifying woman who is relatively feminine (and has friends who identify in the same way), I can personally say that this stereotype is completely false, and fails to acknowledge the fact that lesbians, just like every other human, come in all shapes, sizes, races, and gender expressions,” explains Eleanor Ketcham.

6. “In a Same-Sex Relationship, One Partner Usually Plays the Masculine Role & the Other One Plays the Feminine Role.”

Just like in a heterosexual relationship same sex couples work to achieve equality in their relationships. A couple should not have to fit themselves into a a heteronormative sterotype to be validated.

7. “All gay men are effeminate and flamboyant.”

A 2017 survey for Attitude magazine polled around 5,000 gay, queer, or bisexual men—and a staggering 69 percent of them admitted that their sexual orientation made them feel less masculine at some point in their lives. Assuming that all gay men follow are more feminine and flamboyant is similar to assuming all lesbians are masculine, you are trying to fit people into a define box even when it is unnecessary.

Tansgender Pride Flag

8. “All transgender women are drag queens.”

A drag queen is a man who takes on a woman's persona as part of an act or performance but at the end of the day they don’t necessarily identify as a woman. Trans women aren’t a part of an act or performance; they are people with male genitalia who identify as a woman. They aren’t putting on a show they’re expressing their identity.

9. “Lesbians hate men.”

Just because she doesn’t date them doesn’t mean that she hates men. Elenaor Ketcham says, “just because their sexual orientation doesn’t match up with yours doesn’t mean their view on men is any different.”

10. “All gay men are sexual predators or pedophiles.”

Throughout history many anti-gay organizations have tried to push the image that gay men are a threat to our society. According to the University of California, Davis, these accusations have only been fueled by stories of priests abusing boys in the Catholic church. However, as the UC Davis researchers point out, gay men and women only account for less than one percent of all molestation cases in which an adult was identified. A child is over 100 times more likely to be sexually molested by a heterosexual relative than by a homosexual (Paediatrics, 1994).

How to Help

• Don’t believe everything you hear and do your own research

• Try not to but people in a box, let them express themselves as they see fit

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Sources

• “Eleven Stereotypes People Should STOP Believing About the LGBTQ Community.” United Way Of Alamance County, 7 May 2019, uwalamance.org/nsm_updates/eleven-stereotypes-people-should-stop-believing-about-the-lgbtq-community/.

• Malory, Marcia. “Is Homosexuality a Choice?” Scientific American Blog Network, Scientific American, 19 Oct. 2012, blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/is-homosexuality-a-choice/.

• “Myth Busting: LGTB Myths & Facts.” Myth Busting: LGTB Myths & Facts | Positive Space | Vancouver Island University | Canada, adm.viu.ca/positive-space/lgtb-myths-facts.

• Parenthood, Planned. “What Causes Sexual Orientation?” Planned Parenthood, www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/sexual-orientation/sexual-orientation/what-causes-sexual-orientation.