The Attitude Spectrum: Where We Stand

This list presents a continuum of understanding which can be used to assess individual attitudes toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people, and to explore ways to help others enlighten themselves. The concepts are adapted from The Welcoming Congregation, courtesy of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

Repulsion: Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgendered people are sinful, sick, and immoral. Their behavior must not be tolerated and social pressures should be used to isolate them.

Pity: Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgendered people are unhappy because they aren?t normal and cannot live a happy heterosexual life. They need our help.

Tolerance: Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgendered people exist and always have. We must tolerate them even if we object to their sexuality.

Acceptance: Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgendered people are fine in most walks of life, but should keep to themselves, and not flaunt their "lifestyle" or ask for "special privileges" (civil rights, open acknowledgement).

Support: Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgendered people deserve the same rights and respect as everyone else. We still may be uncomfortable, but we believe discrimination against Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgendered people is wrong.

Appreciation: Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgendered people are valued members of our diverse community. Our society and our individual lives are enriched because there are openly Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgendered people in our community.

Oppressing: Telling gay jokes, avoiding people who are (or might be) bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or transgendered; discouraging their open acceptance, denying them full rights and equal access; working to prevent the passage of gay-rights laws; participating in harassment of or violence against Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgendered people.

Denying/Ignoring: Allowing bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender oppression to continue. (This category includes behavior that is not actively anti-gay, but supports anti-gay actions with silent consent or denying that such oppression is a problem.)

Recognizing/Not Acting: Recognizing oppression and its harmful effects, but taking no action to stop anti-gay behavior, because of fear, shame, lack of information, or confusion about what to do; feeling discomfort with the incongruence between our inner beliefs and our lack of action on these beliefs.

Recognizing/Acting: Recognizing oppression and taking action to stop it. (Though our response may go no further than objecting to anti-gay behavior, this is an important step in the transition from silent disapproval of anti-gay actions to choosing to speak out against them.)

Educating Self: Taking action to learn more about Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgendered people, anti-gay prejudice, homophobia, and heterosexism. This may include reading books, attending workshops, participating in discussion groups, joining organizations, and attending bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender cultural events. (This is a prerequisite to the three steps that follow.)

Engaging Others: Rather than just objecting to anti-gay behavior, we engage people in dialogue to increase their awareness of oppression based on sexuality.

Supporting/Encouraging: Supporting and encouraging others who speak out against anti-gay actions, or who work to be more inclusive of Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgendered people.

Initiating/Preventing: Working to change individual and institutional actions that exclude or denigrate people because of their sexual orientation ? for example, planning educational programs; including sexual orientation in institutional nondiscrimination statements; explicitly inviting Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgendered people to become open and appreciated members of a community.