Race and Ethnicity
Racism cannot be benign (it will affect issues that cannot be measured).
Non-white people cannot be lumped into one category. Each group needs to be explored for how their particular culture views LGBT issues.
Additive models of identity will not work (we can’t say we understand “people” and then add a few details about ethnicity)
For Latinos, religion, machismo, and family all play a role in how gay culture is understood. This is one of the groups we will emphasize.
Racism cannot be benign (it will affect issues that cannot be measured).
Non-white people cannot be lumped into one category. Each group needs to be explored for how their particular culture views LGBT issues.
Additive models of identity will not work (we can’t say we understand “people” and then add a few details about ethnicity)
For Latinos, religion, machismo, and family all play a role in how gay culture is understood. This is one of the groups we will emphasize.
Gender
By assuming all gay men and lesbians are the same, we neglect the experience of
By assuming all gay men and lesbians are the same, we neglect the experience of
- Bisexuals
- Transsexuals
- Gender Queer Individuals
- Masculine or feminine gays and lesbian
However, the most important thing to learn in regards to the diversity of LGBT individuals is learning the difference between brain, heart, genitals, and expression. The gingerbread person will help with this. Think of the parts of the gingerbread person as independent. Usually, the various pieces will line up, but sometimes, they don't.
Our gender identity is in our head. We all have a sense of whether we are male, female, both, or neither. This is not related to our sexuality or even our sex. They usually match, but not always.
Our heart tells us who we are attracted to. Again, this is may have nothing to do with our sex or gender identity.
Our sex relates to our genitals. Our gender identity might be different. You can think of yourself as female, feel female, think more like a woman, but still have a penis. However, when this happens, many people will seek our surgery to align their sex with their identity. Others will find contentment with an incongruent gender identity and sex. Such people sometimes choose labels like genderfluid or transgenderists to describe themselves.
Then there is our expression. This relates to how masculine or feminine we present. This may have nothing to do with our identity, orientation, or sex. You could be a straight male, identify as male, and yet appear very feminine. There are many times of gingerbread constructions, and any of these combinations can occur.
Our gender identity is in our head. We all have a sense of whether we are male, female, both, or neither. This is not related to our sexuality or even our sex. They usually match, but not always.
Our heart tells us who we are attracted to. Again, this is may have nothing to do with our sex or gender identity.
Our sex relates to our genitals. Our gender identity might be different. You can think of yourself as female, feel female, think more like a woman, but still have a penis. However, when this happens, many people will seek our surgery to align their sex with their identity. Others will find contentment with an incongruent gender identity and sex. Such people sometimes choose labels like genderfluid or transgenderists to describe themselves.
Then there is our expression. This relates to how masculine or feminine we present. This may have nothing to do with our identity, orientation, or sex. You could be a straight male, identify as male, and yet appear very feminine. There are many times of gingerbread constructions, and any of these combinations can occur.
Here is an interesting video training police to work with LGBT individuals. It uses some archaic language, but it helps provide a good introduction about how industry has to change to address the unique concerns. Here are some of the things that I find offensive:
1) biological gender. Birth-assigned gender is not the same a "biological."
2) transgender community. Although, there is a community, it is unfair to assume that all people with gender transition histories are part of this "community."
3) Pre-op and post-op. Viewing "transsexual" as a permanent condition belies the experience of many. When people have transitioned, let them be who they are.
Unique needs
Gay men who are parents may need more time off
Lesbian women will likely earn less than their male companions (see http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/06/06/study-poverty-rate-elevated-for-lgbt-community). But Lesbian woman earn more than straight women.
Relationships between men and women tend follow different structures than mixed gender relationships. We will discuss this more when we get to gay parents.
Gay men who are parents may need more time off
Lesbian women will likely earn less than their male companions (see http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/06/06/study-poverty-rate-elevated-for-lgbt-community). But Lesbian woman earn more than straight women.
Relationships between men and women tend follow different structures than mixed gender relationships. We will discuss this more when we get to gay parents.
Bisexuality or Pansexuality
Attracted to people regardless of sex.
May be monogamous (i.e., with a person of the opposite gender in one relationship and the same gender in the next) or polyamorous.
Some people who later identify as gay or lesbian may call themselves bisexual early in the coming out process.
Attracted to people regardless of sex.
May be monogamous (i.e., with a person of the opposite gender in one relationship and the same gender in the next) or polyamorous.
Some people who later identify as gay or lesbian may call themselves bisexual early in the coming out process.
Trans
Definitions
Birth assigned gender: Transgender people believe they have always been their identified gender. To explain the “change” in identity, they talk about changing their “birth assigned” gender or the label wrongly given to them at birth.
Cisgender: An individual’s gender identity matches their birth-assigned sex.
Trans (Categories)
Gender Queer: People who do not identify with one gender. They may seek surgery to remove breasts or testes, but they do not change their identity from their birth assigned gender.
Drag kings and queens: Usually gay men or women who mockingly depict the opposite gender.
Cross dresser or transvestite: Usually a self-identified man who dresses in women’s clothing for sexual gratification or to deal with anxiety.
Transsexuals: People who change their gender identity from their birth-assigned sex to their desired sex.
Note: Many people who complete sexual-reassignment surgery no longer consider themselves transsexuals, as they are simply male or female. As such, the category better describes pro-operative transsexuals.
Definitions
Birth assigned gender: Transgender people believe they have always been their identified gender. To explain the “change” in identity, they talk about changing their “birth assigned” gender or the label wrongly given to them at birth.
Cisgender: An individual’s gender identity matches their birth-assigned sex.
Trans (Categories)
Gender Queer: People who do not identify with one gender. They may seek surgery to remove breasts or testes, but they do not change their identity from their birth assigned gender.
Drag kings and queens: Usually gay men or women who mockingly depict the opposite gender.
Cross dresser or transvestite: Usually a self-identified man who dresses in women’s clothing for sexual gratification or to deal with anxiety.
Transsexuals: People who change their gender identity from their birth-assigned sex to their desired sex.
Note: Many people who complete sexual-reassignment surgery no longer consider themselves transsexuals, as they are simply male or female. As such, the category better describes pro-operative transsexuals.
Intersexuality
Intersexuality in humans refers to intermediate or atypical combinations of physical features that usually distinguish male from female. An intersex organism may have biological characteristics of both the male and female sexes. Intersexuality is the term adopted by medicine during the 20th century applied to human beings whose biological sex cannot be classified as either male or female. Intersexuality is also the word adopted by the identity-political movement, to criticize medical protocols in sex assignment and to claim the right to be heard in the construction of a new one. (see http://www.lexic.us/definition-of/intersexuality)
Intersexuality in humans refers to intermediate or atypical combinations of physical features that usually distinguish male from female. An intersex organism may have biological characteristics of both the male and female sexes. Intersexuality is the term adopted by medicine during the 20th century applied to human beings whose biological sex cannot be classified as either male or female. Intersexuality is also the word adopted by the identity-political movement, to criticize medical protocols in sex assignment and to claim the right to be heard in the construction of a new one. (see http://www.lexic.us/definition-of/intersexuality)
Social Class
Many LGBTQQI individuals are born into wealth or the middle class.
When they come out, they face struggles occupational, educational, housing, and relationships struggles that impact their financial well being.
Homelessness
When jobs are not easy to find, families are rejecting, and you have nowhere to go, homelessness becomes a very real threat.
Many LGBTQQI individuals are born into wealth or the middle class.
When they come out, they face struggles occupational, educational, housing, and relationships struggles that impact their financial well being.
Homelessness
When jobs are not easy to find, families are rejecting, and you have nowhere to go, homelessness becomes a very real threat.
Ethnicity
Nazi Germany and the Pink Triangle
Some nationalities accept transsexuals but not gays and lesbians (e.g., Iran).
Other countries forbade transsexual surgery but are more open to gays and lesbians (e.g., Argentina). Argentina recently changed their policy and not only permitted surgeries but decided to pay for trans surgeries through their national health care.
Nazi Germany and the Pink Triangle
Some nationalities accept transsexuals but not gays and lesbians (e.g., Iran).
Other countries forbade transsexual surgery but are more open to gays and lesbians (e.g., Argentina). Argentina recently changed their policy and not only permitted surgeries but decided to pay for trans surgeries through their national health care.
Geography – New York Times
It is also important to realize that different geographical areas will handle issues differently. These areas change rapidly. The list of top cities for same-sex couples as a portion of the population does not include that traditional gay mecca, according to new census data. In fact, the city, which ranked third in 1990 and 11th in 2000, plummeted to No. 28 in 2010. And West Hollywood, once No. 1, has dropped out of the top five. See the complete list.
It is also important to realize that different geographical areas will handle issues differently. These areas change rapidly. The list of top cities for same-sex couples as a portion of the population does not include that traditional gay mecca, according to new census data. In fact, the city, which ranked third in 1990 and 11th in 2000, plummeted to No. 28 in 2010. And West Hollywood, once No. 1, has dropped out of the top five. See the complete list.
Rural Life
Some common problems with being LGBT and living in a rural environment include:
Some common problems with being LGBT and living in a rural environment include:
- Social isolation
- Limited “safe services”
- More likely to encounter prejudice.
Religion
Judaism: "[A man] shall not lie with another man as [he would] with a woman, it is a תועבה toeba ("abomination")" (Leviticus 18:22).
Christianity: I Corinthians 6:9: Or don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, 6:10nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of God.
Islam: All major Islamic sects disapprove of homosexuality, with Afghanistan, Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates and Yemen sentencing gays to death (Watch ILGA's spot against Homophobia, 2006).
Hinduism tends to view gays and lesbians negatively, and transgendered individuals are part of a pariah class.
Confucianism has allowed bisexualism but not pure homosexuality (Religion and homosexuality, 2007).
One disturbing facet about religious and LGBT issues is the way some leaders have felt required to hide their sexuality (and work against gender/sexual equality) to maintain their positions:
Judaism: "[A man] shall not lie with another man as [he would] with a woman, it is a תועבה toeba ("abomination")" (Leviticus 18:22).
Christianity: I Corinthians 6:9: Or don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, 6:10nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of God.
Islam: All major Islamic sects disapprove of homosexuality, with Afghanistan, Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates and Yemen sentencing gays to death (Watch ILGA's spot against Homophobia, 2006).
Hinduism tends to view gays and lesbians negatively, and transgendered individuals are part of a pariah class.
Confucianism has allowed bisexualism but not pure homosexuality (Religion and homosexuality, 2007).
One disturbing facet about religious and LGBT issues is the way some leaders have felt required to hide their sexuality (and work against gender/sexual equality) to maintain their positions:
Ability
Differences in physical, mental, health, and emotional abilities can affect how we interact with society.
LGBT communities tend to emphasize physical beauty.
Differently abled people may also have fewer resources to handle abuse.
Discrimination. The more minority groups you belong to, the greater the discrimination you are likely to face.
Differences in physical, mental, health, and emotional abilities can affect how we interact with society.
LGBT communities tend to emphasize physical beauty.
Differently abled people may also have fewer resources to handle abuse.
Discrimination. The more minority groups you belong to, the greater the discrimination you are likely to face.
Assignment - LGBTQQI
and Straight Interview
There are two ways to do this assignment. The preferred way is to write it up like a story. For example,
When I interviewed Jack and Mercedes, I was not sure what to expect. They both looked nervous, and I don't think Mercedes had ever knowingly been around a gay man. When I asked the first question (i.e., Why do you think you are straight or LGBTQQI?) they both looked surprised. I asked the question without directing it at either of them. This worked out well, because they both blurted out, "Because I like men!" From there, after the laughter died down, the interview progressed smoothly. They seemed to trust each other and me.
If you did not want to write it as a narrative, you can make it more like a play:
Why do you think you are straight or LGBTQQI?
Mercedes: "Because I like men!"
Jack: "I was going to say the same thing."
Both of the interviewees seemed nervous prior to answering the question. Once they got started, they were more at ease. The rest of the interview progressed smoothly.
As you will notice, with both examples, you have to provide details about what is happening during the interview. Don't simply provide the words. The point is to depict the unfolding of the story.
The final question is, What did you learn by doing this interview? Please be sure to include your thoughts in addition to the answers from the interviewees.
There are two ways to do this assignment. The preferred way is to write it up like a story. For example,
When I interviewed Jack and Mercedes, I was not sure what to expect. They both looked nervous, and I don't think Mercedes had ever knowingly been around a gay man. When I asked the first question (i.e., Why do you think you are straight or LGBTQQI?) they both looked surprised. I asked the question without directing it at either of them. This worked out well, because they both blurted out, "Because I like men!" From there, after the laughter died down, the interview progressed smoothly. They seemed to trust each other and me.
If you did not want to write it as a narrative, you can make it more like a play:
Why do you think you are straight or LGBTQQI?
Mercedes: "Because I like men!"
Jack: "I was going to say the same thing."
Both of the interviewees seemed nervous prior to answering the question. Once they got started, they were more at ease. The rest of the interview progressed smoothly.
As you will notice, with both examples, you have to provide details about what is happening during the interview. Don't simply provide the words. The point is to depict the unfolding of the story.
The final question is, What did you learn by doing this interview? Please be sure to include your thoughts in addition to the answers from the interviewees.