If you're talking about privilege as in saying their sexuality is not subject to careless generalizations, mockery and stereotyping, then yes. Even though that has more to do with LGBT discrimination than any reputation hetero people may have.

I don't think it's a privilege in the same way as white privilege, which is more of a (sometimes subconscious) casual feeling of security towards white people and insecurity towards people of other races (and even people within those races are guilty of this).

Unless it's obvious you're gay, people do assume that you are straight all the time.

Thanks! This is what I was trying to express, but I couldn't really put it to words.

Originally posted by cloudinthesky Oprah and Anderson Cooper are rarities, not standards. They're called famous celebrities for a reason. If the majority of black/gay people lived like Oprah and Anderson Cooper then you would be right, but they don't. Also Oprah, as a famous black celebrity, has talked about racism that she's experienced multiple times. I don't keep up with Anderson so I don't know about him, but I'm sure he's dealt with his fair share of homophobia as well.

Originally posted by Mica I think to be able to discuss some things you have to be able to remove your self and the sense of the individual. While it is nice to think of everyone as unique, there are statistics that prove certain things that are more likely to occur to a person because of a factor beyond their control (race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.) This one isn't even debatable, like in many states you can be refused service for being gay and that's fine.