Conquering Heterosexism: The Gay and Lesbian Challenge to Social Work Education

Abstract

At the beginning of the 21st century, it appears some social work educators are ambivalent about teaching gay and lesbian issues. At times, educators have been supportive of efforts by gay and lesbian people to fight heterosexism. However, social work education's overall record as advocates for gay and lesbian rights can be characterized as erratic. This article is a call for social work education to acknowledge its institutional heterosexism, to return to its roots of advocacy for all disenfranchised and oppressed people, and to take an unequivocal stand in support of gay and lesbian civil rights. This article also challenges individual educators to acknowledge their own personal heterosexism and to implement the profession's historical commitment to social justice for gay men and lesbians. Specific actions that social work educators can take to support the movement of gay men and lesbians toward equality are described.