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The Campaign is guided by a Board of Directors that is, by policy, at least half female and at least one-third People of Color.
Our conferences have been co-sponsored by many organizations that share an interest in ending heterosexism and homophobia, such as the American Pyschological Association, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the Methodist Federation for Social Action, Women's Action Alliance, the Fellowship of Reconciliation, Lesbian Herstory Archives, and the World Congress of Gay and Lesbian Jewish Organizations.
Our Work Includes:
We believe that education is a powerful tool for ending homophobia and heterosexism, so our work is focused on providing educational strategies which can be used to end homophobia and heterosexism.
We believe that education about homophobia and heterosexism is most effective when done in connection with other oppressions. Therefore, in the context of our work to end homophobia and heterosexism, we are committed to recognizing and exploring alternatives to oppression based on race/ethnicity, ability, class, age, sex, gender identification, sexual orientation, and religion or spiritual beliefs.
Homophobia is the irrational fear of homosexuality and the hatred, disgust, and prejudice that fear brings. Oppression of lesbians and gay men, as well as bisexual women and men, is based on homophobia.
Heterosexism is institutionalized homophobia, the assumption that being heterosexual is inherently better or more moral than being lesbian, gay or bisexual. Like racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression, heterosexism awards power to members of the dominant group (heterosexuals) and denies privilege to members of the subordinate group (lesbians, gay men, and bisexual women and men.)
Homophobia and heterosexism clearly oppress lesbians, gay men, and bisexual women and men through individual acts of verbal and physical harassment and collective actions which result in invisibility, invalidation and discrimination. But homophobia and heterosexism also hurt heterosexuals by maintaining rigid definitions of "approporate" sex-role behavior and sexual relationships.
In the same way that racism is a white person's problem and sexism is a man's problem, homophobia and heterosexism are a heterosexual's problem.
The Campaign develops educational resources such as materials affirming lesbian and gay youth, information for teachers, and curriculum for anti-homophobia workshops. Resources are distributed by Creative Response in Nyack, NY.
Networking and Sharing Information
The campaign serves as a clearinghouse for information about heterosexism and homophobia and for the many people around the world who are involved in anti-oppression education. College students, clergy, public school teachers, and community activists have requested and received our help.
Facilitating Regional Training Institutes
Experienced trainers provide one and two-day intensive seminars to increase people's skills in teaching about homophobia. We have conducted Training Institutes across the country since 1990.
Convening Conferences
The Campaign convenes national and local conferences where participants gather to support one another, share educational resources and methodologies, and develop more effective ways of educating about homophobia. Participants represent various religious and spiritual communities, educational institutions, community-based organizations, health care providers, and the media.
If you share a vision of a world free of homophobia and heterosexism, then we encourage you to contribute to the Campaign. The more support we have, the stronger and more effective we can be.