LGBTQ and Microaggressions What Are You? LGBTQ and Microaggressions PacRim Conference 2016 Barbara Diamond and Carole Zoom

The Gender Binary Two genders only, assigned at birth. The Dominant Paradigm The Gender Binary Two genders only, assigned at birth. A culturally and socially defined system and code of behavior which divides people into two genders, male and female, based upon the sex assigned at birth.

Male Female Man Woman Feminine Masculine Attracted to women Attracted to men

Reality: it’s a spectrum. Rules of the Binary You must be on one side or the other. You can’t change sides. All traits are locked together. Reality: it’s a spectrum.

Queer Terminology Gender Identity Gender Expression Sexual Orientation

Transgender Trans man =female-to-male (FTM) A person whose gender identity does not conform to the gender assigned at birth. Trans man =female-to-male (FTM) Trans woman= male-to-female (MTF)

Microaggressions LBGTQ people face microaggressions (daily unintentional snubs) based upon their failure to conform to the gender binary. They may face microaggressions based upon people’s failure to respect their gender-expression or sexual orientation.

LGBTQ Microaggressions Mis-gendering (wrong pronouns) Non-verbal (staring, avoiding) Treating LGBTQ people as defective or attracted to all members of their same sex. Assuming all people are heterosexual and cisgender (not trans.)

Microaggressive Terms “A transgender” (noun) Transgendered Pre and post-operative, “sex change” “Biologically” or “genetically” male/female Transsexual, Homosexual Tranny, transvestite, he/she, it, she-male Referring to a "sex-change operation," or using terms such as "pre-operative" or "post-operative," inaccurately suggests that one must have surgery in order to transition. Avoid overemphasizing surgery when discussing transgender people or the process of transition.

Better A transgender person Transgender or trans Transition Assigned (female or male) at birth Genderqueer/Gender-nonconforming, LGBTQ/Queer Using preferred pronouns

See the film What Are You?