Myth Busters

Family Planning NSW runs anti-homophobia activities in high schools through their Same Difference Program. During QC 08 Annaliese Constable gave a talk in which she led a workshop that they do with students in high schools. Students sit in a circle and pass balloons around the circle; it works best with one balloon going around at a time, each balloon has a myth written on it. Music is played, sort of like playing pass the parcel, whoever is holding the balloon when the music stops, pops it..."busting the myth" Inside the balloon is a bit of paper with the "myth buster" written on it.

Here are some examples of myths and busters that could be used:
These have been taken from the sexuality page of the Young Adult Health website: http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=240&np=299&id=2057#5

Myth No. 1
There are very few bisexuals. People are either completely homosexual or heterosexual.
Busted:
Research suggests that few people are predominantly heterosexual or homosexual in their actions, feelings, thoughts, or sexual fantasies. Most people fall somewhere on the continuum between these two extremes and have the capacity to experience both affection and sexual feelings for members of both sexes.

Myth No. 2
GLBTIQ are only a small percentage of the population.
Busted:
Research has also shown that approximately 10% of the population is predominantly same sex attracted. Approximately one in every four families has a member who is predominantly same sex attracted.

Myth No. 3
Same sex attracted people can ordinarily be identified by certain mannerisms or characteristics.
Busted:
The vast majority of same sex attracted people cannot be identified by looks or effeminate/masculine characteristics. The small number of same sex attracted people who behave like this do so because they want to be known as same sex attracted or in rebellion of traditional sex roles. Many straight people appear to be same sex attracted for this last reason. Stereotypes persist due to the way sex attracted people are portrayed in the media.

Myth No. 4
Going through puberty and developing your sexuality is easy.
Busted:
No way! Some people have forgotten how difficult and confronting this time can be in your life. It means getting used to a whole new set of feelings and learning about who you are and what it is you like and dislike.

Myth No. 5
Same sex attraction is not "natural"; it does not exist in nature and is therefore dysfunctional.
Busted:
From a scientific point of view, it is 'natural'. Any animal, including the human species, is capable of responding to homosexual stimuli. Research suggests that same sex attraction is almost universal among all animals and is frequent among highly developed species. One anthropological study of non-western cultures found that 64% of their sample cultures considered same sex attraction 'normal' and 'acceptable' for certain members of the society.

Myth No. 6
Same sex relationships don't last.
Busted:
Many people believe that same sex relationships are just short flings and never long lasting relationships. This is not true. They are relationships just like any other, and like any other, some last and some do not. However they may be under more social pressure than other relationships and this may affect how long they last.

Myth No. 7
People chose to be GLBTIQ.
Busted:
There are many theories about how people 'become' GLBTIQ. Some suggest there is a genetic reason, that is people are born with a tendency towards a certain sexuality. But sexuality is just one aspect of person, and the different ways of being reflect the diversity in humans in general. It is interesting that people don’t often look for a 'cause' of heterosexuality, eh?

These ones I thought of all by myself….

Myth No. 8
Any sexuality other than heterosexuality is sinful.
Busted:
WRONG: the section of the bible most often quoted by Christians arguing that people of the same gender should not have sex is Leviticus. Leviticus 18 (Verse 22) "lying with man as with a woman is an abomination." The same section of the bible would condemn us all for wearing clothes made of more than one thread (i.e cotton, polyester, wool etc).

Myth No. 9
All lesbians hate men because they’ve been hurt by men or they cant “get” a man.
Busted:
As surprising as it may be for some ignorant heterosexual men the world actually DOESN’T revolve around them and they are NOT God’s gift to women. Women don’t “turn lesbian” because they cant get a man to go out with them or because they’ve been hurt by men. Sexuality is fluid, it is not something that can be controlled or chosen.

Myth No. 10
People who claim to be bisexual are either straight people trying to be “cool” or gay people who hope that people can connect to the “straight part” of them.
Busted:
Most queer people will tell you that their sexuality has not been embraced as “cool” by society, quite the contrary many queer students experience sexuality and gender stereotype based bullying. While some homosexual people may choose to identify as bisexual in the hope that this is more accepting to society, many bisexuals who identify as bisexual, are bisexual. Sexuality is fluid and occurs along a range of scales. While you may identify as straight at one time in your life you may identify as gay at another and at yet another bi.

Myth No. 11
There are only two kinds of sexuality: Homosexuality and Heterosexuality.
Busted:
WRONG! There are many different sexuality identities, such as: homosexual, heterosexual, asexual and bisexual. There are also a variety of different gender identities such as trans-gender, intersex, bi-gendered, neither-gendered etc.

Myth No. 12
Homosexuals are always flaunting their sexuality.
Busted:
Non-heterosexuals frequently feel pressured to do quite the opposite, hiding their sexuality which often hurts their self esteem as a result. Think about how often you see couples of the same gender kissing or being openly affectionate in public and contrast this too how often you see couples of the opposite gender doing the same.

Myth No. 13
Homosexuality is a disorder
Busted:
A disorder is something that makes you incapable of functioning and is essentially an illness. Homosexuality does no limit your capacity to preform tasks, and has no "symptoms" which indicate illness.

To add to the effect of the game you could select relevant music to be played.
I tried to brainstorm some music that related to queers...i didn't come up with Much


"Dear Mr President" by pink, sexuality is only one themes listed in the song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q56pHCGrlc4


"Billy Joans" by the Waifs, this is a story about a MTF transsexual
http://www.musicsonglyrics.com/W/thewaifslyrics/thewaifsbillyjoneslyrics.htm

"I kissed a girl and I liked it" by Katy Perry; depending on how you interpret it
http://www.youtube.com/user/KatyPerryMusic?ob=1

Does any one else know of any "queer friendly" songs or have any other queer-related myths.