Th ability to act as straight within the queer community has existed forever. It serves as a mask in order to protect an individual from discrimination and targeting by others within society due to their identity. Unfortunately, an individual acting straight means they are rendering their sexuality invisible in order to further themselves within a society that doesn’t accept their identity. This can be by changing minute details such as hand movements, crossing legs, or lowering voice registers, things that people outside of this community do not have to be aware of. However, some people within the LGBTQ+ community do not have the ability to be able to hide their identity as other people can. They are therefore more likely to experience discrimination and violence due to their identity. This results in it being a privilege to be able to act as straight in order to protect oneself or further career prospects. Protection from Violence Within the UK, according to Stonewall, 1 in 5 LGBTQ+ people experience hate crime against them or violence of some form. If you would like more statistics I will link the research, however I will include some statistics here. More than a third of LGBTQ+ people do not feel comfortable holding their partner’s hand, 1 in 10 LGBTQ+ people were discriminated against when buying/renting a property, and 4 in 5 LGBTQ+ people experienced a hate crime last year but did not report to the Police. These figures are very bleak, so to protect oneself and feel protected in an environment, many people act straight. This can protect them from verbal discrimination, stalking and physical violence such as being beaten up. In certain societies, gay women or suspected gay women are correctively raped. The ability for someone to act as straight can result in them protecting themselves and their loved ones from experiencing discrimination or being a victim of hate crime due to their sexuality or gender. Career Prospects Passing as straight also benefits those in the work environment. An article by Adrienne Rich named ‘Complusory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence’ notes how much further a lesbian woman can get in her career if she acts as straight. This goes to changing clothes that they wear, or vocabulary that they use in order to further themselves in their career. In addition, this can create an environment of safety for LGBTQ+ individuals. According to Stonewall, 1 in 5 LGBTQ+ individuals have received negative comments at work due to their identity and more than a third have hidden their identity. This can result in furthering of career prospects and further protecting oneself from abuse and discrimination in the workplace. As can be seen, the ability to hide ones sexuality or gender by 'acting straight' serves many purposes. Protection from violence and discrimination, career prospects, a safe environment and many more. However, not all people have this ability and are therefore at an immediate disadvantage and are more likely to experience hate crime and discrimination. Resulting from this it can be seen as a privilege, although incredibly sad, to be able to act as straight and hide ones identity. References: Bachmann, C. & Gooch, B. (2017). 'LGBT Britain- Hate Crime', Stonewall. Retrieved from: https://www.stonewall.org.uk/system/files/lgbt_in_britain_hate_crime.pdf Bachmann, C. & Gooch, B. (2017). 'LGBT Britain - Workplace Report', Stonewall. Retrieved from: https://www.stonewall.org.uk/system/files/lgbt_in_britain_work_report.pdf Rich, A. (1980). 'Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence', Women, Sex and Sexuality, Signs, 5(4), pp. 631-660.