Page 230 - Microaggressions in Everyday Live Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation

204 sexual - orientation microaggressions and heterosexism

(Balsam, Rothblum, & Beauchaine, 2005), face the frustration of not being
able to be marry in most states, are restricted from adopting children, face
discrimination in housing and employment, and are often rejected by family
and friends (Morales & Sheafor, 2004). Clearly, the negativity toward LGBTs
diminishes self - esteem, depletes psychic energies, and affects a sense of
well - being.

The Way Forward

Overcoming Heterosexism

Heterosexism is a rampant force in our society that has a detrimental
impact upon LGBTs. Sexual-orientation microaggressions take many forms,
but thematically contain overt and covert messages that include seeing
LGBTs in a narrow sexual way, exposing them to homophobia, heterosexist
language, religious concepts of sinfulness, to beliefs in their abnormality, and
to invalidations of their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors, which are central to
healthy sexual identities. Bombarded from the moment of birth with heter-
osexist microaggressions, LGBTs fi nd their identity development disrupted,
which can result in internalized sexual stigma, self-hate, silence, and hid-
ing (being in the closet), psychological distress, and decreased well-being.

Research would be beneficial in understanding the unique experiences of
oppression for LGBTs.
1. While LGBTs share many similar experiences with other marginalized
groups (persons of color and women), their physical invisibility exposes
them to a unique psychological dynamic not usually visited upon people
of color or women (being in the closet vs. coming out). Being an invis-
ible minority in the true physical sense (not just psychological) may possess
different qualitative experiences of oppression. An African American who
walks through a predominantly White neighborhood stands out like a sore
thumb and the person is likely to be reported by residents or stopped by
law enforcement officers. While an LGBT White person may go unnoticed

while walking through a White neighborhood and thus not considered sus-
picious or undesirable, they may be prone to experiencing a different form
of quandary. For example, when in the presence of classmates, coworkers,
or neighbors, they may be subjected to overt heterosexist comments or
jokes because of their physical invisibility and assumptions by others that

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