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The Past
How it influences us today and will influence us in the future
We all have preconceived notions and prejudices about others. Your past experiences with people different than you shape those ideas and in turn the experiences you have with others in the present and future. By examining your past experiences you can trace your prejudices to their roots and thus begin to positively change those preconceived ideas. The following questions are designed to help you trace any prejudices you may have towards homosexuals. Please take the time to fully think about each of these questions. If it helps you to do so, take out a piece of paper and write down some thoughts to every question.
1. By what words were homosexuals referred to in your household?
2. What is your earliest recollection of those words? How old were you? Was the person using the words a major part of your life at the time?
3. Think back to a time when you were in the company of family, friends, or acquaintances and you saw homosexuals in the media (talk show, news, newspaper, etc). What was the reaction of those around you?
4. Think about your school career. Can you recall an incident when someone was made fun of, taunted, teased, bullied, or physically harmed because of their sexual orientation? Who was the person doing this? Was the person an important or an influential part of your life at the time?
5. Did/Does any one in your family have homosexual coworkers? How were/are they spoken about in your home?
6. Did/Does any one in your home have homosexual friends?
7. Do you have any gay relatives? How do other family members treat them?
8. Have you ever heard 'queer' jokes? Who was telling them? Who was laughing? In what type of situation were they being told?
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