Read Chapter VIII in Understanding Prejudice and Discrimination, and answer the following questions, but please answer number one before reading the chapter.

 

 

  1. Before reading this chapter, please write down the first ten thoughts you have about homosexuality.
  2. Regarding the Biblical statement on cross-dressing, do you follow this?  Does that mean that you don’t wear traditional men’s clothing, such as pants?

 

Bible Verse:  Is it a Reason or An Excuse?

 

  1. According to this article, how many biblical prohibitions have you violated? 
  2. What is sodomy, and why is it considered a sin?  (Yes, I realize this is an uncomfortable question, but one of the things that encourages multiple problems, is the inability to discuss such issues)

 

Violence Towards Homosexuals

 

  1. When did institutionalized violence against homosexuals really start?
  2. What other groups were vilified and persecuted at that time?
  3. What appears to be the most prevalent form of violence experiences by homosexuals?
  4. When are lesbians most typically victimized?
  5. In addition to physical abuse, what is one of the most severe punishments faced by lesbians?
  6. What is the “homosexual panic defense” and message does it give?
  7. What is the first country to ban all forms of discrimination against homosexuality and what was the year during which this took place?
  8. What does research suggest about influencing teenagers beliefs about homosexuality?

 

Sexual Orientation versus Sexual Preference

 

  1.  Why is the term sexual orientation preferred to the term sexual preference?

 

Is Homophobia Associated with Homosexual Arousal?

 

  1.  How many gay men and lesbians report being survivors of violence related to their sexual identity?
  2. How is homophobia defined?
  3. According to psychoanalysts, what is the most common thought about homophobia?
  4. What was used to measure erectile responses to sexual stimuli?  Why is this considered the most specific measure of sexual arousal?
  5. Why was the lesbian videotape included in this experiment?
  6. What were the results of this study?  What do they indicate?
  7. What hypothesis was not supported by the data?

 

Some Gender Differences In….

 

  1.  Which statistic surprised you the most?  What was most surprising about it?

 

The Inescapable Conclusion

 

  1.  What did Alfred Kinsey’s research demonstrate about sexual orientation?

 

Transgender Identities: Like Stars in the Sky?

 

  1.  What percentage of children are born as intersexuals?
  2.  Why is genital ambiguity corrected at a young age?
  3.  What factors can be taken into account when figuring out someone’s biological sex?
  4.  How do the Navajo people treat individuals who are considered neither male nor female?
  5. What other cultures accept the third gender?  How do they accept it?
  6. In what ways are transgender people vulnerable?

 

The Problem with Categories

 

  1.  What would be one consequence of legislation that defines marriage as between a man and a woman?

 

Suit Over Estate Claims A Widow is Not a Woman

 

  1.  What is the primary issue in this lawsuit?

 

Heterosexism Doesn’t Just Hurt Sexual Minorities

 

  1.   Choose two of the points and write about how these events may have impacted your life.