Page 226 - Microaggressions in Everyday Live Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation

200 sexual - orientation microaggressions and heterosexism

that allow the lesbian and gay person to maintain their sense of “ goodness, ”
although this is often experienced as inauthentic and false.
The second form is most closely associated with self - hate or self - loathing.
While threat is related to separation, guilt is related to self - hate or self - denigration
(Moradi et al., 2009). This second form means that a gay man at many levels
is aware of the connection between the gay self as a part of one ’ s being. Thus
guilt represents recognition of self - denigration and the existence of undesir-
able attributes in the self. Both threat and guilt are constant and continuing
experiences of internalized prejudice. It contributes to a constant state of
inner emotional turmoil that ultimately takes it toll on subjective feelings
of well - being.
Internalized heterosexism also affects how sexual minorities may believe,
feel, and respond toward members of their own group. Internalized sexual
stigma can become part of the person ’ s value system through both conscious
and unconscious acceptance and adoption of societal negative attitudes toward
sexual minorities. In the former case, self - hate is directed internally, but its
external manifestation results in sexual prejudice toward LGBTs. These indi-
viduals may actively campaign against laws, policies, and practices intended
to provide equal protection for LGBTs, publicly condemn “ homosexuality, ”
and are more likely to be found among men, those who are strongly religious,
and political conservatives (Herek et al., 2009).
Former Idaho U.S. Senator Larry Craig served 18 years in the Senate
before being forced to resign in 2008. He was a known champion of anti-
gay legislation, and actively campaigned and voted against gay rights. On

August 27, 2007, a plainclothes police officer arrested Craig for lewd con-
duct and attempting to solicit gay sex in a public restroom. The incident
made national headlines and detailed nonverbal signals used by gays in
adjacent public restroom stalls to solicit sex. It also brought forth issues of
hypocrisy, “ outing, ” and the motivations or psychological dynamics of sex-
ual prejudice toward one ’ s own group. While Craig continues to maintain
his innocence and claims to be heterosexual, considerable evidence suggests
that he is gay.

Identity Development and Disruption

Human development from birth to death is filled with many challenges and
does not occur in a smooth transition with respect to sexual - orientation identity
formation. In addition to experiencing the normal developmental milestones of

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