I Have Heterosexual Privilege If...
by Ken Hirschmann
1. I can if I wish arrange to be in the company of people of my sexuality most
of the time.
2. If I should need to move, I can be pretty sure that my neighbors in
such a location will be neutral or pleasant to me.
3. I can be sure I will not be denied the right to marry whomever I
choose to.
4. I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper
and see people of my sexuality widely represented.
5. When I am told about our national heritage or about
"civilization,"
I am shown that people of my sexuality made it what it is.
6. I can be pretty sure that I can adopt children.
7. If I want to, I can be pretty sure of finding a publisher for this
piece on heterosexual privilege.
8. I can be sure that children will be given curricular materials that
testify to the existence of my sexuality.
9. I can be sure I will not be denied insurance, employment or credit due
to my sexuality.
10. I can arrange to protect my children most of the time from people who
might not like them.
11. I do not have closet anxiety.
12. I can publicly display affection to my loved one without fear of
harrassment or attack.
13. I am honestly portrayed in the media.
14. I am never asked to speak for all the people of my sexuality.
15. I can remain oblivious of the culture and customs of homosexuals and
bisexuals without feeling in my culture any penalty for such oblivion.
16. I can remain oblivious to the culture and customs of homosexuals and
bisexuals and be congratulated by my culture for such oblivion.
17. I can be pretty sure that if I ask to talk to "the person in
charge," I will be facing a person of my sexuality.
18. I needn't hide my sexuality in certain situations for personal
safety.
19. I can leave a nightclub consisting mostly of people of my sexuality
knowing I will not get harrassed or attacked for my sexuality.
20. I can go home from most meetings of organizations I belong to feeling
somewhat tied in, rather than isolated, out-of-place, outnumbered, unheard,
held at a distance, or feared.
21. I can tell my sexuality to someone without fear of negative
consequences.
22. I need not fear financial and emotional truncation from my family
simply due to my sexuality.
23. I can be sure that if I need legal or medical help, my sexuality will
not work against me.
24. If my day, week, or year is going badly, I need not ask of each
negative episode or situation whether it has sexuality overtones.
25. I can be pretty sure postings like this and chalkings will not be
removed solely for their content.