Editing Heterosexism (section)

=== Individual and group level ===
[[File:Save Our Children From Homosexuality Brochure.jpg|thumb|upright|Brochure used by [[Save Our Children]] in 1977]]
Heterosexism as a set of beliefs and attitudes relies on a core [[wikt:tenet|tenet]] according to which [[Heteronormativity|homosexuality and bisexuality do not normally exist]] and, as such, constitute [[Mental disorder|mental illnesses]] or [[Deviance (sociology)|deviant behaviors]].<ref name="genderknot17">{{cite book|last=Johnson|first=Allan J.|title=The Gender Knot|publisher=Temple University Press|location=Philadelphia|year=1997|page=17|isbn=1-56639-519-4}}</ref> Within a heterosexist ideology or [[mindset]], the concept of [[sexual orientation]] is rejected or deemed irrelevant. A set of more nuanced heterosexist views, which some may consider faith, [[dogma]], [[Moral absolutism|universal truths]], natural law, [[Appeal to authority|appeals to authority]], or popular beliefs, but others consider to be [[conventional wisdom]] or [[Sociobiology|sociobiological]] knowledge can include, among others, the following:

* Non-heterosexual people should keep their sexual orientations private (i.e., they should remain "[[closeted]]").<ref name="JungSmith" /><sup> p.&nbsp;15</sup>
* The attitude that gay men are not [[Machismo|"real" men]] or lesbians are not "real" women because of the socially pervasive view that heterosexual attractions or activities are the "norm" and therefore superior.<ref name="genderknot149" />
* "God created [[Adam and Eve]], not [[Adam and Steve]] (or Madame and Eve)" and similar essentialist cultural notions that maleness-masculinity and femaleness-femininity are complementary;
* Homosexuality being wrong, ungodly, and against nature, it is therefore a [[sin]], [[evil]] or subhuman.<ref name="JungSmith" /><sup> p.&nbsp;18</sup>
* The idea that (in the words of [[Anita Bryant]] during her [[Save Our Children]] campaign): "homosexuals cannot biologically reproduce children; therefore, they must [[Homosexual recruitment|recruit]] our children."
* Because of their lifestyle, homosexuals do not have families with children, so they undermine the survival of the human race ([[natalism]]).
* Homosexuality is an affectional or [[mental disorder]] or simply a social ill, therefore, it can be cured or stamped out. If it is not eradicated, it will lead to [[Social solidarity|social disintegration]] and [[societal collapse]].
* Homosexuals can be [[Conversion therapy|converted]] to heterosexuality.<ref name="JungSmith" /><sup> p.&nbsp;109</sup>

In an attempt to bring awareness to people who exhibit heterosexist views but are possibly not aware of it, Mark Rochlin constructed a set of questions in 1977 which are questions that non-heterosexual people are often exposed to, but not heterosexuals, such as "''What do you think caused your [[sexuality]]?''" This heterosexuality questionnaire is often distributed around college campuses to bring awareness of heterosexist sexual prejudice against LGBT persons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pinkpractice.co.uk/quaire.htm|title=The Pink Practice – Heterosexuality Questionnaire|access-date=4 July 2016}}</ref>