GETTING ‘OUT’ OF PREJUDICE: Analysis on the Leadership of Homosexual Men in Activist Organizations

Abstract

Leadership of women has been the subject of many researches that investigate on the restricted opportunity for women to lead on society. Studies were mostly focused on gender and on how such concept defined socially determined men and women roles which then prohibit women from being chosen as leaders. But only a very few studies centered on homosexual men leadership despite its similarity to the problems women experience such as stereotypes attached to women leaders. Only a few accounts explained how discrimination affects leadership of homosexual men and how and why they emerge as leaders in non- traditional organizations. This study then explored the perception on and dynamics of leadership of homosexual men among activist organizations. Motivations and behaviors of these leaders were analyzed and compared to heterosexual men leaders. Discrimination among gays was also factored in to know its relation to homosexual men leadership. Relevant literatures were analyzed and a number of informants were interviewed to answer the research queries. It was then learned that discrimination affects the effectiveness of homosexual men leaders in the beginning of their immersion to highly patriarchal communities. But it is noteworthy that despite being discriminated, homosexual men were motivated by their perceived appalling condition of society that is why they accepted leadership in activist organizations in the first place. Also, activists’ acceptance and acknowledgment of homosexuals allows gay men to maximize their potentials. Adopting activists’ concepts on leadership and sexuality will be helpful in changing the perception on homosexuality and in achieving equality of treatment among individuals regardless of their sexual orientation.