LGBT Communities understanding the basics © 2012, Human Rights Campaign Foundation. All rights reserved.

here‘s what we’ll do Introduction to the LGBT Community “What does it mean to be LGBT?” “Who makes up the community?” “What is life like for LGBT people in America today?” Building Inclusion Skills Applying the learning to specific HRSA contexts Helpful resources for growth

LGBT people in society

Transgender

words, words, words LGBT/A - An acronym for “Lesbian, LGBT, Bisexual, and Transgender” and sometimes “Ally” (also written as GLBT/A). Lesbian - A woman who is emotionally, romantically, sexually, and relationally attracted to other women. Gay - A man or woman who is emotionally, romantically, sexually, and relationally attracted to members of the same sex. Bisexual - A person who is emotionally, romantically, sexually and relationally attracted to both men and women, though not necessarily simultaneously; a bisexual person may not be equally attracted to both sexes, and the degree of attraction may vary as sexual identity develops over time.

…and a few more words Transgender - A term describing a broad range of people who experience and/or express their gender differently from their birth-assigned sex or more generally from what most people expect. It is an umbrella term that includes people who are transsexual or otherwise gender-variant. Ally- A person who is not LGBT but who supports and honors LGBT diversity, acts accordingly to challenge sexual orientation and gender identity-based bias (e.g. remarks and behaviors) and explores and understands these forms of bias within him- or herself

…and just a few more words Gender expression - All of the external characteristics and behaviors that are typically attributed to gender, such as dress, grooming, mannerisms, speech patterns and social interactions. Social or cultural norms can vary widely and some characteristics that may be accepted as masculine, feminine or neutral in one culture may not be assessed similarly in another. Gender identity - A person’s innate, deeply felt psychological identification as male or female, which may or may not correspond to the person’s body or what sex was originally listed on a person’s birth certificate. Sexual orientation - Refers to an individual’s physical and/or emotional attraction to the same and/or different gender.

Gender expression Gender Identity Sexual orientation Sex sex & gender

Gender expression Bar one represents 50 percent of those gender expression are categorized as gender variant. Gender Identity Bar two represents 50 percent of those gender identity are categorized as genderquee or agender. Sexual orientation Bar three represents 50 percent of those sexual orientation are categorized as bisexual or asexual. Sex Bar four represents 50 percent of those categorized as sex are intersex. sex & gender

straight, masculine man Gender expression Bar one represents 95 percent of those gender expression are categorized as straight masculine male. Gender Identity Bar two represents 95 percent of those gender identity are categorized as straight. Sexual orientation Bar three represents 5 percent of those sexual orientation are categorized as straight masculine male. Sex Bar four represents 95 percent of those categorized as sex are straight masculine male.

bisexual, feminine woman Gender expression Bar one represents 5 percent of those gender expression are categorized as bisexual feminine woman. Gender Identity Bar two represents 5 percent of those gender identity are as bisexual feminine woman. Sexual orientation Bar three represents 50 percent of those sexual orientation are categorized as bisexual feminine woman. Sex Bar four represents 5 percent of those categorized as sex are bisexual feminine woman.

Gender expression Bar one represents 95 percent of those gender expression are categorized as straight, masculine, transgender man. Gender Identity Bar two represents 95 percent of those gender identity are as straight, masculine, transgender man. Sexual orientation Bar three represents 5 percent of those sexual orientation are categorized as straight, masculine, transgender man. Sex This person was assigned sex 'female' at birth but transitioned later to sex 'male' so that his physical sex might align with his gender identity straight, masculine, transgender man

so how many LGBT people are there?

presumptions, assumptions, and myths Myth #1: Being lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender are “choices.” Reality—Sexual orientation and gender identity are no more choices then being right handed or having brown eyes. The choice lies in deciding how open to be with family members, friends, co-workers and others. Myth #2: LGBT people don’t have families or kids. Reality— According to Williams Institute, based on the 2010 Census, approximately 20% of same-sex couples are raising nearly 250,000 children. The American Psychological Association and other major medical and scientific researchers have stated that children of LGBT and lesbian parents are as mentally healthy as children raised by straight parents.

presumptions, assumptions, and myths Myth #3: LGBT people are protected by federal and state laws. Reality—Sexual orientation and gender identity are not protected classes under federal non-discrimination and non-harassment legislation. While some states include sexual orientation and gender identity/expression in their local laws, the majority of states still have no such protections. Myth #4: A discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity has no place in the work environment. These are private matters. Reality– Sexual orientation is discussed every day in the work environment when coworkers discuss their families and plans for the weekend. Every time a coworker talks about his/her husband or wife, it is a declaration of their sexual orientation. A person’s sexual orientation is an integral part of their identity and cannot be left at home. Gender identity and expression come up just as frequently, from references to one’s own gender to pronoun use. 

Myth #5: You can tell if someone is LGBT. Reality—The LGBT community is a diverse and open community made up of people from every race, gender and nationality. You cannot assume someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity based on the way they look, act, dress, speak, their interests and hobbies or their friends. Myth #6: We have an inclusive culture so LGBT employees and clients are treated equally and fairly. Reality– Discrimination & harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression may occur in organizations that have very inclusive policies and practices around other dimensions of diversity. Sexual orientation and gender identity are some of the most misunderstood and invisible dimensions of diversity in many organizations. presumptions, assumptions, and myths

how do sexual orientation and gender identity affect our day-to-day lives?

discrimination in… employment benefits relationship recognition public services adoption credit public accommodations

discrimination in… employment benefits relationship recognition public services adoption credit public accommodations Cultures of Assumption

what we see in others GENDER EXPRESSION SEXUAL ORIENTATION GENDER IDENTITY SEX

learning not to assume everyone is like us is the first step to respect and true inclusion what we see in others learning not to assume everyone is like us is the first step to respect and true inclusion GENDER EXPRESSION SEXUAL ORIENTATION GENDER IDENTITY SEX

what is your gender?  male  female

what is your gender?  male  female  other  decline to answer When do you need information about gender? ?

do you need to put people in boxes? (sometimes, yes – but often, no) what is your gender? _______________ ?

What assumptions might you be making about others’ sexual orientation or gender identity in your work? How might your interactions with others at work change if you stopped making assumptions about their sexual orientation and gender identity? ?

When a person… can identify the right knowledge, possesses that knowledge, can apply it appropriately to the specific relational situation at hand and can do so consistently across engagements then that person is culturally competent. cultural competence

resources for self-learning Straight Guide to LGBT Americans Transgender Americans: A Handbook for Understanding Resource Guide to Coming Out for African Americans Guía de Recursos Para Salir Del Clóset Transgender Inclusion in the Workplace …and many

? Q&A

Allyson August 2012