raises skepticism about rights discourse and other forms of universalism in gay politics.‖
The researcher uses Laurent Berlant and Michael Warner‘s theory on
Heteronormativity to reveal the qualities of queer in the world of politics. ―By heteronormativity we mean the institutions, structures of
understanding, and practical orientations that make heterosexuality seem not only coherent
—that is, organized as a sexuality—but also privileged. Its coherence is always provisional, and its privilege can take several sometimes
contradictory forms: unmarked, as the basic idiom of the personal and the social; or marked as a natural state; or projected as an ideal or moral
accomplishment. It consists less of norms that could be summarized as a body of doctrine than of a sense of rightness produced in contradictory
manifestations
—often unconscious, immanent to practice or to institutions. Contexts that have little visible relation to sex practice, such as life narrative
and generational identity, can be heteronormative in this sense, while in other contexts sex between men and women might not be heteronormative.
Heteronormativity is thus a concept distinct from heterosexuality. ―Berlandt
and Warner: 1998
It means that the world is set and structured in heterosexuality. Every aspect of human lives, i.e. education, clothing, music, norms, religion etc. is in
heterosexual continuum including politics. The heteronormativity helps the researcher to evaluate its role on the rise of gay politics.
3. Labeling Theory
Labeling theory is based on the idea that behaviors are deviant only when society labels them as deviant. As such, conforming members of society, who
interpret certain behaviors as deviant and then attach this label to individuals, determine the distinction between deviance and non-deviance. Labeling
theory questions who applies what label to whom, why they do this, and what happens as a result of this labeling. Powerful individuals within society
politicians, judges, police officers, etc. typically impose the most significant labels. Labeled persons may include drug addicts, alcoholics, criminals,
delinquents, prostitutes, sex offenders, and psychiatric patients, to mention a few. The consequences of being labeled as deviant can be far-reaching. Social
research indicates that those who have negative labels usually have lower self-images, are more likely to reject themselves, and may even act more
defiantly because of the label. Unfortunately, people who accept the labeling of others
—be it correct or incorrect—have a challenging time changing their opinions of the labeled person, even in light of evidence to the contrary.
a. Labeling in Homosexual
The application of labeling theory to homosexuality has been extremely controversial. Alfred Kinsey and his colleagues have shown differentiation
between the behavior and the role attached to it. They also observe the negative outcome of labeling and accursed of labeling people as homosexual.
The term homosexual is generally used to refer to anyone who engages in overt sexual practices with a member of his own sex, the practice being called
homosexuality. This usage appears to be based on a medical and legal frame of reference and provides much too broad and heterogeneous a categorization for use
here. I refer only to individuals who participate in a special community of understanding wherein members of ones own sex are defined as the most desirable
sexual objects, and sociability is energetically organized around the pursuit and entertainment of these objects. Goffman, 1963
The Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender are labeled as queer in society. According to Goffman above, those who engage in the activity of
homosexuality are those who attracted only to one same sexual gender and this individual pursuit to achieve in such enjoyment. Although homosexual
