Assumption Quote by Dan Savage
“When I was a kid, and I was odd, the default assumption was that I was odd, not that I was gay. Now when a kid is odd in a Greensburg, gay or straight, the default assumption is gay.”
About This Quote
Societal assumptions about identity have shifted from viewing oddness as a label to assuming sexual orientation.
In simple terms: Assumptions about identity change over time.
Key Takeaway
Challenge stereotypes.
Themes
identity
stereotypes
social change
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
advice
observational
When to use this quote
- schools
- media
- community discussions
Key Concepts
gender
sexuality
culture
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we avoid new stereotypes?
- What supports inclusive understanding?
A Different Perspective
Assumptions can still marginalize individuals.
![“One of the few nice things about [time in Yale] was you got to know people before there were labels on them, so you got to know them as people, not as either gay or straight. Because as far as we knew, we thought everyone was straight.” quote by Kevin Sessums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3ca/kevin-sessums-9486_gay_one-of-the-few-nice-things-about-time-in_687609.jpg)
![“And that really captures the difference for the bullied straight kid versus the bullied gay kid, is that the bullied straight kid goes home to a shoulder to cry on and support and can talk freely about his experience at school and why he's being bullied. [...] And I couldn't go home and open up to…” quote by Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f23/dan-savage-2880_being-bullied_and-that-really-captures-the-difference_58927.jpg)
![“I'm one of those gay people who's constantly reminded of how fortunate I am to live now and not to be Ennis and Jack [from Brokeback Mountain] or whatever - not that I'd mind being Ennis for half an hour. But it's been so much worse recently. It still is terrible. In Iran, they're hanging gay…” quote by Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/31f/dan-savage-2880_addict_i-m-one-of-those-gay-people-who-s-consta_100210.jpg)
