This article was written by a number of straight-identified students at Earlham College who got together to look at some examples of straight privilege.

These are but a few examples of the privilege which straight people have. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer-identified people have a range of different experiences, but cannot count on most of these conditions in their lives.

On a daily basis as a straight person;

• I don't have to defend my heterosexuality.
• I am not identified by my sexual orientation.
• I can go for months without being called straight.
• I'm not grouped because of my sexual orientation.
• I am not asked to think about why I am straight.
• Nobody calls me straight with maliciousness.
• My individual behaviour does not reflect on people who identity as heterosexual.
• I can choose to not think politically about my sexual orientation.
• People don't ask why I made my choice of sexual orientation.
• My sexual orientation was never associated with a closet.
• I can be open about my sexual orientation without worrying about my job.
• My masculinity/femininity is not challenged because of my sexual orientation.
• People don't ask why I made my choice to be public about my sexual orientation.
• I am guaranteed to find sex education literature for couples with my sexual orientation.
• I can walk in public with my significant other and not have people double-take or stare.
• I can easily find a religious community that will not exclude me for being heterosexual.
• I can be sure that if I need legal or medical help my sexual orientation will not work against me.
• I can be pretty sure that my flatmates and classmates will be comfortable with my sexual orientation.
• If I pick up a magazine, watch TV, or play music, I can be certain my sexual orientation will be represented.
• People do not assume I am experienced in sex (or that I even have it!) merely because of my sexual orientation.
• I am not accused of being abused, warped or psychologically confused because of my sexual orientation.
• I can be sure that my classes will require curricular materials that testify to the existence of people with my sexual orientation.
• I can go home from most meetings, classes, and conversations without feeling excluded, fearful, attacked, isolated, outnumbered, unheard, held at a distance, stereotyped or feared.
• I do not have to fear that if my family or friends find out about my sexual orientation there will be economic, emotional, physical or psychological consequences.