Homosexuality: Erasure Of Nonconformity

Most people, myself included follow the assumption that everyone we meet is heterosexual. We follow this assumption until we are proven right or we are proven wrong. This assumption is called heteronormativity. It is following the speculation that everyone is straight until proven guilty. It is popularly believed that, “Heterosexuality prescribes what is proper intimacy, who is a proper citizen, and what is a proper family” (Steinbugler 423). It is this quotation that summed up the belief that “whole” people are heterosexual because they can provide a proper family whereas homosexual have to create their families by other means. Because of the assumption of heteronormativity, those who fall outside of the spectrum are also forced to think and act about the way their actions will be viewed by others …show more content…
Acosta describes erasure of nonconformity as, “when the respondent discloses lesbian, bisexual or queer identity to her family and they in turn try to erase it by using control and manipulation tactics” (569). The tactics the family uses are taking the family members to church or priests so God can “cure” them. Sexual silencing is described by Acosta as, “a strategy used by respondents who chose not to disclose their sexual and are instead complicit with their family members in pretending their relationships with women are platonic friendships” (569-570). It is described by Acosta as an open secret because the families have an idea of what is really going, but chose to forgo the title of “girlfriend” and use “friend” instead. Avoidance after discloser is described as, “Respondents disclosing their lesbian, bisexual, or queer identity to family members and then become complicit with them rendering the disclosure unheard” (569). After their disclosures are heard, they are no longer allowed to bring “friends”