Exploring Culture: Homosexuality

Cassidy Brinley
Informative Outline
Topic:

Homosexuality; specifically men.

General Purpose:

To inform the audience

Specific Purpose:

To inform my audience of what defines men in the homosexual culture.

Thesis:

The main cultural differences that define the homosexual culture are
religion, family dynamics/values, and stereotypes.
I. Introduction
A. Attention Grabber:

What is homosexuality? Homosexuality is any

attraction to (or sexual relations with) person of the
same sex. The term homosexual (to describe a
sexual and emotional interest in members of ones
sex) was created by theorists in the nineteenth
century. (Theorists: the person that deal with the
theory of a subject.)

B. Reason to Listen:

Homosexuality in the modern world is becoming

more socially acceptable and it is important to be
knowledgeable about the sexuality.

C. Thesis Statement:

The main cultural differences that define the

homosexual culture are religion, family
dynamics/values, and stereotypes.

D. Credibility Statement:

1.

My grandfather was a homosexual and died from AIDS, so my family

know a lot about the different cultural aspects of having a homosexual
family member.

2.

I have studied the following topic throughout research in scholarly

articles, first person blogs, and conducted interviews with homosexual
men.

E. Preview of Main Points:

1. First, I will discuss the Stereotypes of homosexuals.
2. Second, I will discuss the family values and dynamics of a homosexuals.
3. Lastly, I will discuss religion in relation to homosexuals.

II.

Even though the homosexual culture is becoming more socially

acceptable, it can still be defined by many stereotypes. Those stereotypes
sometimes being wrong or offensive.
A.

Stereotypes are a simplified and standardized conception or image

invested with special meaning and held in common by members of a
group.
1.

Homosexual men are often stereotyped as feminine rather than the

stereotypical masculine man.
a.

According to John Stossel, in his article Gay: Stereotypes:

Are They True? research has been conducted that gay
men do prefer certain professions, like fashion, interior
design, and hair coloring.

2.

Stereotypes of homosexuals are often tied into bullying and abuse,

due to differences some people cannot simply over look.
a.

Nine out of ten LGBT (including gay men) have reported

being bullied at school regarding their sexual orientation.
(Gay Bullying Statistics, 2014).

b.

In an article on LGBT bullying, Violence Prevention

Works, says that LGBT students are two to three times as
likely to commit suicide as heterosexual students and may
account for a startling thirty percent of all completed youth
suicides.

c.

The stereotypes that have been made throughout history;

have made it more difficult for homosexual men to
come out.

3.

Stereotypes usually coming from people who are uneducated on

different cultures.
a.

Stereotypes often come from people with traditional

values.

b.
Transition:

Stereotypes can also come from family members.

Stereotypes often come from people with traditional family values and dynamics.
Values and dynamics that vary from the homosexual culture.

B.

Homosexual families and heterosexual families differ when it comes down to

family values and dynamics.

1.

Heterosexual families are considered to have the most traditional

household, including a father, a mother, and two children.
a.

A house hold with a homosexual as a parent or a child; violates the

values of a traditional household.

b.

when a child or parent of a traditional household comes out

with their sexuality. This really shifts the nature of a traditional
household to a non-traditional household.

2.

Perceiving homosexuals
a.

Homosexual becoming a parent through adoption or surrogate

being viewed as, not knowing how to parent.

b.

How parents or family members are perceived when someone in

their family is gay.

3.

Interview Question: How do you think family dynamics and values differ
from a straight persons family dynamics and values?
a.

While I conducted an interview with a homosexual male, a part of

the OUTsource community, I asked if he thought his family values
and dynamics differed from a heterosexual family.

b.

Interviewee #1, said that his family was very lucky when he
coming out to his family. But he know people with family that
werent so understanding.

Transition:

Families with traditional dynamics and values are expected to follow in their
parents footsteps, including the aspect of religion.

C.

A large population of homosexual males are not religious, due to stereotypes.

1.

Most religions are said to be Anti-gay.

a.

According to the article, Gay people and religion Revel & Riot:
Today, homosexuals are a favorite target of the religious
right, whose members frequently quote scripture to justify
anti-gay bias and even violence. There are even those who
claim that AIDS is Gods punishment on homosexuals.

b.

This is probably because beliefs that say God hates gays or

If youre gay, youre going to hell. Things like this make
homosexuals afraid to even step foot in a church much less
spread the word of god.

2.

A video recording that went viral on the internet, by Daniel Pierce.

a.

Showed him being verbally and physically abused by his own

parents because he came out.

b.

His parents had specific religious views that did not agree
with his decision to become homosexual.

III. Conclusion
A.

Review of Main Points:

1. First, I will discuss the Stereotypes of homosexuals.
2. Second, I will discuss the family values and dynamics of a homosexuals.
3. Lastly, I will discuss religion in relation to homosexuals.

B.

Restate Thesis:

The main cultural differences that define the homosexual

culture are religion, family dynamics/values, and
stereotypes.

C.

Closure:

We all believe in some type of stereotype, values, or

religion. Homosexuals believe that being sexually attracted
to another man is acceptable, just like heterosexuals believe
being attracted to the opposite sex is acceptable.

References
ABC News. (2006, Semptember) Retrieved from:
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=2449185
ProCon. (2014, October) 32 States with Legal Gay Marriage and 18 States with Same-Sex
Marriage Bans. Retrieved from:
http://gaymarriage.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=004857
GQ. (2011, September). Dont ask dont tell. Retrieved from: http://www.gq.com/newspolitics/big-issues/201109/dont-ask-dont-tell-gay-soldiers-military
Revel and Riot. (n.d.) Gay people and Religion. Retrieved from:
http://www.revelandriot.com/resources/religion/
Huffingtonpost. (2012, October) Retrieved from:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/23/homosexuality--choice-bornscience_n_2003361.html
Violence Prevention Works, (n.d.) Youth Who Are Bullied Based upon Perceptions
About Their Sexual Orientation. Retrieved from
http://www.violencepreventionworks.org/public/bullying_sexual_orientation.page