9781422283820

CONTENTS

Foreword by Kevin Jennings, Founder, GLSEN ............................................ 8

1 What Are Stereotypes? .................................................................................. 11 Close-up: Some Common High School Stereotypes ...................................... 13 Butch Women, Effeminate Men ........................................................................... 14 Where Stereotypes Come From .......................................................................... 17 Close-up: Sex versus Gender ............................................................................. 17 2 Stereotypes of Gay Men ................................................................................ 21 We’re Not All Hairdressers, Dancers, or Wedding Planners ........................... 23 Close-up: Gay Voice ............................................................................................. 23 The Stereotype Trap ............................................................................................. 25 Close-up: Gay Bears and Other Stereotype Busters ....................................... 28 3 Stereotypes of Lesbians ................................................................................ 31 Reclaiming Power from the Negative ................................................................. 33 Close-up: Butches on Broadway ........................................................................ 34 Butch and Femme ................................................................................................. 34 4 Stereotypes of Bisexual People ................................................................... 37 Gays and Lesbians as Oppressors ..................................................................... 38 An LGBT Pecking Order ....................................................................................... 40 Bisexuals and Monogamy .................................................................................... 40 Close-up: The Range of Sexual Orientation ...................................................... 42 Bisexual ≠ Confused ............................................................................................. 43