Problem:
I like how you pointed out how both heteronormative and gendered assumptions shrink lesbian and gay sexuality into one-dimensional images. What stood out in the readings is how research directly contradicts many of those assumptions. For example, while the stereotype you mentioned about gay men being "hypersexual" is widespread, event-level studies actually show the opposite: oral sex, kissing. Mutual masturbation is the most common behavior, and most encounters happen with known partners in private settings rather than in risky or anonymous contexts (Lehmiller, 2023). That kind of data helps dismantle the idea that gay male sexuality is defined by excess or danger.
On the lesbian side, I think it is also important to connect how age and cultural scripts intersect with these stereotypes. Faus-Bertomeu and Redondo (2017) found that older women, including lesbians, are often wrongly viewed as asexual, even though many continue to report sexual desire and satisfaction well into later life. When society already erases older women's sexuality, the added layer of stereotypes, like assuming lesbians must rely on penetration for "real" sex, doubles the stigma. That shows how these myths are not just inaccurate, they actively silence how diverse and lasting women's sexual experiences actually are.
For me, that reinforces the role of human services professionals not only in creating inclusive spaces, as you noted, and actively challenging cultural scripts with evidence. Naming that lesbian and gay sexuality is more varied and relational than stereotypes allow, and that desire can extend across the lifespan, can be really empowering for clients who are navigating shame or invisibility (Lehmiller, 2023; Faus-Bertomeu & Redondo, 2017). Need Assignment Help?