I'm attempting to learn a little more about gay, lesbian, and bisexual history and research. One author of a paper in the 2000s published an interesting argument. That "homophobia" is an inaccurate word for most contexts in how it is used, and he or she advocates for an alternative, with "heterosexism" being one.
I've heard heterosexism being used sparingly before without ever really understanding what it meant. It "refers to an underlying belief that heterosexuality is the more natural, acceptable, or superior form of sexual orientation". My interpretation is that this seems to convey that the perception and treatment of same-sex attracted people being deviant, odd, inferior - whatever - is rooted in or otherwise a type sex discrimination. I'm curious to hear your thoughts.