Page 214 - Microaggressions in Everyday Live Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation

188 sexual - orientation microaggressions and heterosexism

the DSM (DSM - IV - TR, APA, 2000), and other mental health organizations,
including the American Psychological Association, no longer consider it a
mental disorder.
However, simply removing it from a psychiatric classification has not

convinced some that it is not a psychological disorder. Former majority
leader of the Senate Trent Lott likened homosexuality to a disorder like
alcoholism and kleptomania — conditions that should be treated (Mitchell,
1998), and religious leader Jerry Falwell stated that the September 11, 2001,
terrorist attack that killed thousands was punishment by God for the growing

influence of gay and lesbian groups. Unfortunately, beliefs that homosexual-
ity is a pathological condition or a sin continue to distort the attitudes and
beliefs of many. Unconscious biases and beliefs that equate LGBT psycho-
social functioning to pathology are unconsciously shared by counselors and
therapists alike (Mohr, Israel, & Sedlacek, 2001).
Given so much public and professional misunderstanding and misinfor-
mation about homosexuality, it seems important to answer one important

question directly and firmly: Is homosexuality a mental disorder? The answer
is no! First, heterosexuality should not be the sole standard by which other
sexual behavior or affection is judged (Halderman, 2002). Second, research

supports the conclusion that LGBT sexual orientation reflects a normal
variant of sexual expression (D. Sue, Sue, & Sue, 2010). Third, homosexuality,
in and of itself, is unrelated to psychological disturbance, and its higher
correlations with mental disorders seem related to prejudice, discrimination,
and minority stress (Berube, 1990; Gonsiorek, 1982). Discouragingly, however,
it appears that, like the general public, many mental health professionals
continue to view departure from heterosexual norms as repugnant or a sign
of psychological disturbance.

FROM OVERT ANTI - GLBT SENTIMENTS
TO INVISIBLE HETEROSEXISM

In 1998, Matthew Shepard, a gay University of Wyoming student, was tied to a fence
and left for dead after being brutally tortured and beaten. Two 21 - year - old men, high
school drop - outs, had lured Shepard from a bar and targeted him because he was gay.

During the trial, they were accused of being homophobic, filled with hate toward
gays, and believing gays and lesbians were sick and did not deserve to live among the
populace. The incident had a profound impact upon national and international hate

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