Sexual Identity

1. Sexual Identity • “Sexual Identity” • When the Political is Personal by Ann Marie Nicolosi (31) • Putting a Face on Difference: A Gay Family Visits the College Classroom by Mildred L. Rice Jordan (32)

2. “Sexual Identity” (99-100) • Biological sex, sociological gender, sexual orientation • Different but related • Gender roles and sexual orientation • Labeling those who differ from stereotypes as homosexual is a way to: • Exercise social control over them • Reinforce traditional gender roles • Reinforce valuing male over female • Reinforce heterosexuality

3. Contrasting Views on Sexual Identity or Orientation • Conservative View • Homosexuality is wrong or harmful • Homosexuality is a choice • Public policy should discriminate against homosexuals • Liberal View • Homosexuality is not wrong or harmful • Homosexuality is a natural part of human sexuality, biologically based • Public policy should not discriminate against homosexuals

4. Social Science Findings • Most social scientists believe that homosexuality is a part of human nature • Research findings • Many or most people have mixed inclinations • Many people act on this • Some people seem to be primarily or exclusively homosexual from early age • Evidence • Cross-cultural • Historical

5. Stories • Develop empathy • Whatever your beliefs might be • Identify content, source of own feelings about these issues • Compare and contrast them with your values

6. When the Political is Personal by Ann Marie Nicolosi (31; 119-121) • “Heterosexual privilege” • Similar to white privilege • Different aspects, from psychological, to interpersonal (including violence) to public policy • Changing social climate toward “coming out”

7. Putting a Face on Difference: A Gay Family Visits the College Classroom by Mildred L. Rice Jordan (32; 121-125) • “Putting a face on difference” 125 • Creating empathy • To what extent are people’s attitudes and behaviors shaped by such encounters?