Definition: Heterosexism is a form of discrimination that favors heterosexuals over lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals.
Most legal systems are profoundly heterosexist, offering visitation rights, tax benefits, and other protections to opposite-sex couples that are not available to same-sex couples. Heterosexism is also a reality in the corporate world, where those who are oriented towards partners of the same sex are often denied promotions on the basis of their sexual orientation, or fired outright when their sexual orientation is discovered.
Heterosexism is distinct from homophobia, though homophobia is in all likelihood the driving force behind heterosexism.
Most legal systems are profoundly heterosexist, offering visitation rights, tax benefits, and other protections to opposite-sex couples that are not available to same-sex couples. Heterosexism is also a reality in the corporate world, where those who are oriented towards partners of the same sex are often denied promotions on the basis of their sexual orientation, or fired outright when their sexual orientation is discovered.
Heterosexism is distinct from homophobia, though homophobia is in all likelihood the driving force behind heterosexism.
