Myths

1101 14th Street NW Washington. DC 20005 website http://www.hrc.org phone 202 628 4160 fax 202 347 5323 HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN The Myths DISPELLING COMMON MYTHS ABOUT LESBIAN AND GAY AMERICANS With accurate information and contact with openly gay and lesbian friends and family, the public is beginning to understand and abandon longstanding myths. At the same time, anti-gay extremists work to keep them alive and encourage prejudice, because fear is still the basis of discrimination. When these myths are brought up either as questions or misstatements, the following facts may come in handy to counter them and return to the basic values of fairness and non-discrimination for all: Myth: Gays want "special rights." Fact: Gay and lesbian Americans want equal rights. Federal civil rights laws do not protect people from discrimination on the basis of orientation -- but they should. Doing so would equally protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and heterosexual Americans from unfair discrimination, putting no one group ahead of any other -- just like laws against religious discrimination protect people of all faiths without giving special treatment to any one particular religious group. Myth: Gays choose their orientation, and they can change it. Fact: Overwhelming scientific evidence suggests that sexual orientation is not a matter of personal choice, and that people cannot choose to change it. Still, the question of choice should not distract from the importance of ending discrimination. Remember, federal law protects Americans from discrimination based on both race and religion -- even though race is not a matter of choice while religion is. Myth: Gays are affluent. Fact: Gay and lesbian Americans are found in all walks of life and income categories. Studies show they generally earn the same or less than non-gay people with similar jobs, education, and background. In any case, regardless of income, all Americans should have the same basic rights.* Myth: Gays abuse children. Fact: This is a vicious stereotype. Anyone who abuses children should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Studies show that children are 100 times more likely to be abused by a heterosexual male relative than by a gay person.** Myth: Gay teachers recruit children into gay lifestyles. Fact: Homosexuality is not a choice or a matter of "recruitment" any more than heterosexuality. The majority of teachers choose their generally modest-paying careers because they love to teach and want to help children learn. Straight or gay, any teacher who behaves inappropriately should not be teaching. Like other hard-working Americans, teachers should be judged on the merits of their work -- not the myths about their orientation. The Myths' Page /