There are many myths and distortions used both to legitimize and to promote homophobia, and many of them are sources for the bigotry we may find students and others expressing. Because we are striving for safety in the classroom, we can use these myths and facts to help examine and dispel stereotypes and prejudices. We hope that this abbreviated list of myths and facts will be a useful tool with which to address common and destructive misinformation when you hear it, and to share with students and teachers. There are several more extensive myth and fact lists available online and through local resources. Please see the citations below for references.

Myth: Lesbians and gays are mentally ill; homosexuality is a sickness.
Fact: The National Institute for Mental Health found no greater incidence of mental illness among lesbians and gays than among heterosexuals. In many countries, homosexuality is considered normal and socially acceptable. This was the case in Ancient Greece and Rome, in many Native American cultures (where lesbians and gay men are influential tribal and religious leaders), and many present-day societies, such as The Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Thailand. It might be more accurate to see homophobia, open hostility toward gays and lesbians, and hate crimes as the real sicknesses.

Myth: Homosexuals are more likely to be child molesters.
Fact: Pedophilia, sexual attraction to children, should never be confused with homosexuality. Many studies have documented that the overwhelming majority (some say 90%) of child molesters are heterosexual men against young girls. The overwhelming majority of homosexuals have no interest in preadolescent children.

Myth: Gays and lesbian teachers will try to convert their students to the gay lifestyle.
Fact: Homosexual "conversion/seduction" is no more common than is heterosexual seduction. Most gay teachers live with the fear that they will be fired if they are "found out." Most, if not all, gays have no desire to "convert" students. Their support for younger gays may be misconstrued.

Myth: All lesbians are "masculine" and all gay men are "effeminate."
Fact: While some lesbians appear masculine and some gay men effeminate, lesbian and gay appearances are as varied as straight appearances. This stereotype may lead some teachers to think they have no lesbians or gays in their classes.

Myth: Homosexuality is not "natural" -- that is, it does not exist in nature.
Fact: Any animal, including a human, is capable of responding to homosexual stimuli. Research suggests that homosexuality is almost universal among all animals and is especially frequent among highly developed species. There has been evidence of homosexuality in all human cultures throughout history.

Myth: There are no gay and lesbian students in my classes; immigrant students have told me that there are no lesbians and gays in their countries.
Fact: Some immigrant students come from countries where homosexuality is a law punishable by imprisonment or death. This might account for some students' silence in their home countries and in the US.

Myth: Homosexuals are predominately white males.
Fact: The homosexual community is completely diverse, consisting of males and females, African-Americans, whites, Asians, Hispanics, Indians, etc. Homosexuality exists worldwide.

Myth: People can choose to be homosexual or straight.
Fact: A complex set of factors combines to determine whether a person will develop a heterosexual, bisexual, or homosexual orientation. It is generally accepted that there is some sort of predisposition or genetic relationship involved, but not everyone agrees with this analysis.

Myth: Lesbians, gays, and bisexuals can change their orientation if they want to.
Fact: Studies have indicated that attempts to change one's sexual orientation are usually unsuccessful and often lead to increased depression and suicide. Statistics show that the majority of lesbian, bisexual, and gay people do not see any reason to change. Some, however, have found that accepting their sexual orientation is difficult, given the prejudice that lesbians, bisexuals, and gay people have to deal with.

Myth: We don't know how many gays, lesbians, or bisexual people there are in the general population.
Fact: Although figures vary, studies have estimated that 10 percent of the population classify themselves as lesbian or gay for a significant portion of their lives. (See, for example, Robert T. Michael, et al., Sex in America: A Definitive Survey (Boston: Little, Brown, 1994). In a class of ten people, one of them is likely to be gay, lesbian, or bisexual (teacher or student). It is difficult to determine exact percentages, and the correct figure could be much higher, as many of those who are fearful of prejudice hide their sexual orientation.

Myth: Only gay and lesbians should initiate discussions about gay and lesbian issues.
Fact: It is often dangerous for gays and lesbians to bring up these issues because of discrimination or worse. Straight people can initiate discussions, point out heterosexism, and work against homophobia in a variety of ways. (For concrete ideas, see "Things We Can Do.".)

Myth: All lesbian, gay, and bisexuals are protected under antidiscrimination laws in this country.
Fact: In a number of states, it is legal to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. Only 11 states in the United States explicitly protect lesbians and gays; Massachusetts is one.

Myth: AIDS is a homosexual disease.
Fact: No. AIDS is not a "homosexually-spread disease." Rather, it is a disease spread by unprotected, unsafe sexual behavior, both homosexual and heterosexual. (Sharing needles can also spread the virus.) Lesbians are the least at risk of infection with HIV, the virus associated with AIDS, of any population group.

Myth: Homosexuality is condemned by all religions.
Fact: Many of the world's religions do not condemn homosexuality at all. Within the Judeo-Christian tradition, theologians and biblical scholars continue to differ on the Bible's six passages that have been used to con-demn homosexual behavior. Other religious traditions, such as Native Americans, are fully accepting of homosexuality, and many denominations are reevaluating their views on homosexuality.

Notes:
Anti-Gay Violence in 1994: National Trends, Analysis and Incident Summaries. Data collected by the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, March, 1995.

Teaching Ideas

• Turn the myths and facts into a true/false questionnaire and hand it out to students to see what beliefs they hold about gays and lesbians. Each student can respond to the "quiz" privately, and the teacher can ask for voluntary answers from the class about each question.

• Each student can take the "quiz" privately, and the teacher can ask for voluntary answers from the class about each question. The teacher can then share the factual information with students as each question is examined and discussed.

Stefanie Mattfeld teaches writing at Springfield College and mentors ESOL teachers-in-training at Simmons College. She has taught ESOL in adult basic education programs for several years. She can be reached at: steftoni2@yahoo.com   Deborah Schwartz teaches at the Boston Secure Treatment Unit of the Judge Connolly Baker Youth Center in Roslindale. She's not yet out to her students (but give her six months!). She can be reached at 617-288-9100, x219.