Places like schools and hospitals can act as a
platform and springboard for heterosexist attitudes
and beliefs. For example, schools treat
the lives of non-heterosexuals as a “sensitive
topic” and sexual and gender diversity is only
discussed in health or guidance classes. Another
example is giving out harsher punishment to a
same-sex/gender couples violating the school
ground rules while allowing a heterosexual couples
to pass with an easier and more subtle disciplinary
action for an equal or identical violation.
Also, hospitals may limit patient visits only
to “immediate family” i.e. relatives, and exclude
same-sex/gender partners and may not be
given the privileges that come with heterosexual
relationships.
A more common example of heterosexism is
assuming that everyone is straight. This often
happens without even thinking about it such as
asking a woman if she has a “boyfriend” or
“husband” rather than a partner or significant
other. The heterosexist assumption is that because
she is female she would naturally be dating
a male.