
Professor Quizzes Students On Heterosexuality To Make An Important Point About Homophobia
By Mark PygasNov. 18 2019, Updated 2:28 p.m. ET
It's fair to say that there's a lot of people who simply don't understand the facts when it comes to queer identities, including homosexuality, bisexuality, and so on. Yes, it's natural. No, it's not a choice. And we're not all going to burn in hell now that same-sex marriage is legal.
One thing a lot of people don't understand is that, even if they think heterosexuality is the norm, it lies on a spectrum, and very rarely is is a conscious choice. While it isn't quite the same as a physical trait like eye color, it is the sort of trait one develops unconsciously. We can choose who we love about as much as we can choose what foods we like and don't like, what smells appeal to us, or any number of traits that make up who we are. However, strangely, some people seem to think a lot more choice and thought goes into being queer, yet never stop to think about all the thought that went into their "decision" to be straight.
One professor is pointing these things out to students with a very pointed quiz, turning common questions people ask gay people on her straight students who are probably not used to having their sexuality called into question or being shamed for displaying affection toward their romantic partners like holding hands or kissing, a very common concern same-sex couples face.
As it turns out, Twitter user sincerelyelise has a professor who is just as sick as these misconceptions as we are. So, she decided to hand out a short quiz to heterosexual students during a lecture about early sex research.
my professor isn't taking anyone's shit pic.twitter.com/SQrFbjUiz1
— elise (@sincerelyelise) February 21, 2017
Fire.
There was obviously going to be some criticism, but Elise handled it like a champ.
@SamuelAlden @coupdebanks 1. it's a joke and 2. gay people are asked these questions all the time
— elise (@sincerelyelise) February 22, 2017
@FrankLepore @sincerelyelise @coupdebanks I'm sure you support the separation of church and state?
— Samuel Alden (@SamuelAlden) February 22, 2017
@thelordoflard it's actually a pretty open class, we're just learning about early sex research & i think she wanted to make a point
— elise (@sincerelyelise) February 21, 2017
While other Twitter users seemed to support the message.
@jourdak @sincerelyelise Yes! Add me to that list!
— Marta PetersonWomack (@MartaWomack) February 23, 2017
@daretothink53 @sincerelyelise I think it's awesome. Making students really think about the fact that it isn't a "choice."
— Beth Brigham (@PersuasivePR) February 21, 2017
@sincerelyelise @deadassing imagine presenting this in a class full of straight people pic.twitter.com/vhjmdVPAZw
— Joe 💟 (@MISSSHOEE) February 22, 2017
@sincerelyelise @stvstheworld these are the questions I ask ppl when they tell me ppl weren't born gay.
— 👁👃🏾👁 (@Irene_toldyou) February 22, 2017
@sincerelyelise I don't know your professor but I like them already.
— Wily383 (@Wily383) February 22, 2017
@sincerelyelise 🔥🔥🔥
— Matthew Gottula (@DLthings) February 22, 2017