Human Rights at Home and Abroad: Past, Present, and Future
Human Rights at Home and Abroad: Past, Present, and Future
Human Rights at Home and Abroad: Past, Present, and Future
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questions are rarely if ever asked towards heterosexuals, it shows a form of heterosexual privilege. In this<br />
case it‘s referring to the privilege to talk about personal rel<strong>at</strong>ionships openly without seeming to flaunt<br />
one‘s sexuality, knowing th<strong>at</strong> one‘s sexuality will not be used to undermine achievement <strong>and</strong> the<br />
reassurance th<strong>at</strong> one‘s hiring, promotion or firing are not rel<strong>at</strong>ed to one‘s sexual orient<strong>at</strong>ion (Johnson,<br />
2006).<br />
For a non-heterosexual child, this first occurrence of being excluded by heterosexual privilege<br />
often occurs the time when they are first starting to explore their sexuality. This may be in the early stages<br />
of identity confusion, the first stage in the coming out process, this can be traum<strong>at</strong>izing.<br />
Coming-out is a process th<strong>at</strong> is widely misunderstood among most heterosexuals. Most assume<br />
th<strong>at</strong> it is the defining moment when a friend or rel<strong>at</strong>ive announces th<strong>at</strong> he or she is gay, lesbian or<br />
bisexual, but this is not the case. The coming-out process is not defined by a specific moment in time, but<br />
r<strong>at</strong>her occurs over a period of years. Since the realiz<strong>at</strong>ion by psychologists th<strong>at</strong> this is in fact a lengthy<br />
process, there have been many models developed surrounding sexual identity form<strong>at</strong>ion in gay, lesbian<br />
<strong>and</strong> bisexual individuals. Some researchers even go as far as to cre<strong>at</strong>e separ<strong>at</strong>e models of development for<br />
gays <strong>and</strong> lesbians.<br />
Cass (1979) proposed six stages for sexual identity development in gay, lesbian <strong>and</strong> bisexual<br />
individuals th<strong>at</strong> serves as a model for the coming-out process. Stage 1 is labeled as the confusion stage. In<br />
this stage the individual first notices same-sex <strong>at</strong>traction <strong>and</strong> begins questioning their own sexual identity.<br />
Stage 2 is labeled as identity comparison. In this stage the individual compares their own experiences to<br />
th<strong>at</strong> of their peers, looking specifically <strong>at</strong> the sexual <strong>at</strong>tractions their peers are expressing towards others<br />
<strong>and</strong> realizing th<strong>at</strong> it is different from their own. Stage 3 is identity tolerance. This stage is defined by the<br />
individual assuming th<strong>at</strong> their experience with same-sex <strong>at</strong>traction means th<strong>at</strong> they are probably gay,<br />
lesbian or bisexual. In this stage they have not yet come to terms with this possible identity. Stage 4 is<br />
labeled as identity acceptance. In this stage the thinking th<strong>at</strong> same-sex <strong>at</strong>traction means the individual is<br />
probably gay is confirmed. The individual comes to terms with this <strong>at</strong>traction being a part of their<br />
identity. Stage 5 is identity pride. After accepting th<strong>at</strong> being gay, lesbian or bisexual is a part of the<br />
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