„Ég myndi alltaf enda með einhverri stelpu“ : eru framhaldsskólar á Íslandi gagnkynhneigðir?

This article discusses the concept heterosexism and gives the first results of a study of institutionalized heterosexism in an Icelandic upper secondary school. We discuss our understanding of the concept in order to assess the manner in which it can be useful to analyze the status of queer students in the Icelandic school system. We ask how to explain the experiences of three young gay men in a traditional Icelandic upper secondary school by looking at institutionalized heterosexism. Results indicate that institutionalized he-terosexism prevails in the structure and culture of the school under investigation. Queer youth experience institutionalized heterosexism daily in their dealings with faculty and fellow students, for instance in lack of understanding, uncomfortable questions they are asked and heterosexual discourse. Possible explanations for this can be found in the low visibility of queer students and systematic exclusion and silencing, whether aware or unaware, of their issues and interests.