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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
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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
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•
•
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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
•
•
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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.
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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
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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
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Pg. 177
•
Massachusetts permits
same-sex couple
marriages, but these
are not recognized by
the federal government
or other states.
Anti-Gay Marriage Legislation
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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:
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6. The Same Sex Marriage Debate
(Run time: 2:12)
Question
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How many states have banned same-sex
marriages?
A. 10
B. 27
C. 18
D. 36
Answer: D
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36 states have banned same-sex marriages.
Gay? Fine By Me
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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.
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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.
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Homosexuality in the Media
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Pg. 185
•
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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?