christian grantham
Christian Grantham was a student activist in the late 90s and later was a consultant to domestic policy forums for the Clinton Administration as well as events for HRC and GLAAD.
	latest posts   The Fine Line of 'Free Speech'   Heteronormative Breeders   Anderson Cooper is Such A Tease   Sunday Read   Militant Christian 'Black Shirts' March Against Gays in New Zealand

March 07, 2005

Please tell me this isn't the next generation of gay activists.

Beyond academics and gay activists, few people had heard the term until actress Jada Pinkett Smith came under criticism for comments at a recent Harvard University appearance.

"Women, you can have it all - a loving man, devoted husband, loving children, a fabulous career,'' the "Collateral" star and spouse of Will Smith told a Sanders Theatre crowd.

Jordan Woods, co-chair of Harvard's Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender and Supporters Alliance, branded Pinkett Smith's remarks as "extremely heteronormative" and said they made BGLTSA members uncomfortable.

Heteronormative?

"This is a fancy way of coming up with another 'ism' word,'' said Jesse Sheidlower, North American editor of the Oxford English Dictionary. "They could have said 'heterosexist.' "

Although it hasn't yet entered the OED, one gay-themed glossary offers this definition: "Sustaining or promoting heterosexuality as the dominant sociopolitical institution by which gender norms and behavior standards are set for everyone in society."

Sounds like a polite synonym for the perjorative "breeder."
[Gay activists `het' upset over actress' comments - Boston Herald - 03-07-05]