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Discussion: Homonormativity 101
Member Since: 9/15/2012
Posts: 22,487
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Used to describe something that’s been around much longer than the word itself, the phenomenon of homonormativity is considered by many to be destructive to the queer rights movement and to the larger queer community. Homonormativity is a word that addresses the problems of privilege we see in the queer community today as they intersect with White privilege, capitalism, sexism, transmisogyny, and cissexism, all of which end up leaving many people out of the movement toward greater sexual freedom and equality.
Our culture is deeply heteronormative, but as queer experiences and rights become more accepted, a policing of sexual and gender expressions within LGBQ spaces is also growing. This is homonormativity. Homonormativity explains how certain aspects of the queer community can perpetuate assumptions, values, and behaviors that hurt and marginalize many folks within this community, as well as those with whom the community should be working in solidarity. It addresses assimilation, as well as intersection of corporate interests and consumerism within LGBQ spaces. It also describes the assumption that queer people want to be a part of the dominant, mainstream, heterosexual culture, and the way in which our society rewards those who do so, identifying them as most worthy and deserving of visibility and rights. We see homonormativity every day, but it can be so entrenched in queer culture that we don’t really recognize it as problematic.
As we’ve seen the issue of marriage equality gain success, swooping the nation in election after election, we have to question its position as The Gay Rights Issue™. Fighting for sexual liberation and equality is, of course, so much more than fighting for the right to marry, but how is the positioning of marriage equality as the major issue also promoting homonormativity? Marriage as an issue sets up the requirement that all relationships should mimic this heteronormative standard of sexuality and family structure. It promotes the idea that all people want to emulate straight monogamous couples. When we focus only on this issue, we exclude polyamorous and other non-normative relationship structures as acceptable, as well as, of course, those who don’t want to get married. Even as marriage becomes inclusive of a particular kind of queer relationship, it perpetuates a policing of other kinds of relationships, maintaining the borderline of what is an “acceptable queer relationship.”
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Thoughts? 
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Member Since: 4/14/2011
Posts: 48,397
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Interesting ideas, I agree with some of those 
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Member Since: 1/4/2014
Posts: 3,730
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 3/22/2012
Posts: 53,769
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I get what they're arguing. It's a good point that monogamous homosexual couples tend to receive much more focus than the rest of their community.
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 15,224
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Don't really agree with the bit about marriage.
Just because gay people can get married doesn't mean they have to...
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Member Since: 4/6/2014
Posts: 12,514
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We need to tackle issues one at a time. Getting the support from the gp, even if it might be homonormative, is the gateway for equality for everyone else. Don't bring down the gay rights effort for other issues because it will backfire for everyone.
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Banned
Member Since: 3/3/2012
Posts: 13,073
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You chose the most confusing parts.
What they meant is that the community is not being fully represented, (white cis) gays are usually the only members that get to appear on TV, they are not trying to break the way people see a relationship, they are just assimilating to heteronormative.
Basically, the movement is only focused on gay marriage instead of other problems our community lives.
Then again, gays think they are the center of it.
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Member Since: 8/3/2010
Posts: 71,871
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Quote:
Originally posted by Su-Barbie-A
You chose the most confusing parts.
What they meant is that the community is not being fully represented, (white cis) gays are usually the only members that get to appear on TV, they are not trying to break the way people see a relationship, they are just assimilating to heteronormative.
Basically, the movement is only focused on gay marriage instead of other problems our community lives.
Then again, gays think they are the center of it. |
Oh thank god for explaining lol I was confused
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 34,855
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Quote:
Originally posted by jonasha
We need to tackle issues one at a time. Getting the support from the gp, even if it might be homonormative, is the gateway for equality for everyone else. Don't bring down the gay rights effort for other issues because it will backfire for everyone. |
More or less this. The key to changing minds and gaining acceptance is challenging what's considered "acceptable." Unfortunately, I think what's acceptable to most people is still pretty backwards and trying to push some of the more fringey aspects of queer rights would only generate backlash to the whole movement. Gays and lesbians and, to a lesser extent, trans-people are only just getting their feet in the door. If they start trying to promote things like polyamory or more complex gender categorizations now the door will just be shut in their faces.
It's painstakingly slow and not fair in the slightest, but I really don't see much of a way around it.
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It also describes the assumption that queer people want to be a part of the dominant, mainstream, heterosexual culture, and the way in which our society rewards those who do so, identifying them as most worthy and deserving of visibility and rights.
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This is such a fascinating view, though. I never really considered this.
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Member Since: 3/21/2012
Posts: 55,134
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Hmm I do agree with the assumptions that gay ppl want to be apart of the mainstream hetero culture ..
Just look how gay ppl label themselves . Their sexual positions dictate how they act . Top = masc = male
Bottom=fem=female
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 43,104
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Quote:
Originally posted by Su-Barbie-A
You chose the most confusing parts.
What they meant is that the community is not being fully represented, (white cis) gays are usually the only members that get to appear on TV, they are not trying to break the way people see a relationship, they are just assimilating to heteronormative.
Basically, the movement is only focused on gay marriage instead of other problems our community lives.
Then again, gays think they are the center of it. |
Yeah this.
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Banned
Member Since: 3/3/2012
Posts: 13,073
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Quote:
Originally posted by Sazare
More or less this. The key to changing minds and gaining acceptance is challenging what's considered "acceptable." Unfortunately, I think what's acceptable to most people is still pretty backwards and trying to push some of the more fringey aspects of queer rights would only generate backlash to the whole movement. Gays and lesbians and, to a lesser extent, trans-people are only just getting their feet in the door. If they start trying to promote things like polyamory or more complex gender categorizations now the door will just be shut in their faces.
It's painstakingly slow and not fair in the slightest, but I really don't see much of a way around it.
This is such a fascinating view, though. I never really considered this.
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I don't know if that quote answered your post but that's what they are describing, that we are just assimilating to heteronormative and we are afraid of losing the allies because we think we'll be "too much" for them, gay people haven't been fully accepted and if that's the case then how many years do trans and non-binary people have to wait for the whole community to support their fight or in this case, try to fit them inside society's view?
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 34,855
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Quote:
Originally posted by Su-Barbie-A
I don't know if that quote answered your post but that's what they are describing, that we are just assimilating to heteronormative and we are afraid of losing the allies because we think we'll be "too much" for them, gay people haven't been fully accepted and if that's the case then how many years do trans and non-binary people have to wait for the whole community to support their fight or in this case, try to fit them inside society's view? |
I agree to some extent, but when queer people are routinely subject to discrimination and persecution, both by public policy and society in general, it's hard to pretend that we can just get by without the acceptance of society. As unfair as it may be, I think some assimilation is going to be required on our part.
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Member Since: 12/9/2009
Posts: 13,069
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I agree with the points in the OP. I think homonormativity is an odd word to use though :-/
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Banned
Member Since: 4/7/2012
Posts: 14,466
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Quote:
Originally posted by Newt
I agree with the points in the OP. I think homonormativity is an odd word to use though :-/
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This. That term is cringeworthy tbh. Because being gay is most definitely not a normal thing yet no matter how many have got on board with white ones. For example, when it's completely okay and normal for a gay love story to be part of the main plot of multiple movies showing at the same time, then we'd be normal (and we still wouldn't need that term).
Also, this is the only hard pill for me to swallow as far as being privileged goes.
Like in terms of racism, I can acknowledge my white privilege and accept that when someone says "white people...." I know a) they're not literally talking about every single white person and b) I'm not one of the white people they're talking about anyways. But with this topic I do feel a bit offended that me having white privilege makes me "problematic" in our own community.
It's definitely a huge issue though because so many white gays do act entitled and desperate for heterosexual attention/approval (in more ways than one), ignore racism and are completely lost on intersectionality.
I just don't like feeling that I have to prove myself as not being one of those people. I guess I have to learn to accept it like I have in terms of racism. It's a problem and I simply just have to accept being part of the group of gays that's most often entitled, racist and privileged. 
White people really did **** it up for everyone. Had humans never had to go through racism or battle their own racism, homophobia would've been so easy to take down.
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Member Since: 9/15/2012
Posts: 22,487
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I don't like the term either, I thought it was very clickbait-y. I wanted people's opinions on it.
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Member Since: 3/25/2011
Posts: 10,337
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I agree with these points on principle, everyone should be open to the choices of others, even if they fall outside the margins of what is considered 'normal". The only gripe I have with discussions like these is I find there is sometimes an undercurrent of shade/disapproval of gays who are seeking monogamous relationships, and do relate to traditional gender roles - which there is nothing wrong with. Everyone should feel entitled to live their lives based on their desires/experiences, and not every gay person who exists is going to identify as a radical queer.
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Banned
Member Since: 3/19/2012
Posts: 7,835
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"queer community" - I thought "queer" was offensive.
"sexism, transmisogyny and cissexism" - wtf are transmisogyny and cissexism?
"LGBQ" - I thought it was LGBT.
"When we focus only on this issue, we exclude polyamorous and other non-normative relationship structures as acceptable" - polyarmorous... as in polygamous, or as in slooty?  meh... doesn't matter which.
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Thoughts?
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Way too much use of "normative" and I don't agree with what the article is saying.
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Member Since: 9/16/2011
Posts: 50,981
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Quote:
Originally posted by Goosey
"queer community" - I thought "queer" was offensive.
"sexism, transmisogyny and cissexism" - wtf are transmisogyny and cissexism?
"LGBQ" - I thought it was LGBT.
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"Queer" has been (or is being) reclaimed as a positive term by the community.
Transmisogyny is prejudice directed towards female-identified people who were not born biologically female. Cissexism is treating transgendered people as though they're inferior to non-trans people.
I think LGBQ was used instead of LGBT to suggest that transgendered people aren't really very included in the community.
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