Have you ever wondered what LGBT and being an “ally” mean? Knowing some key terms and concepts, like the difference between “sex,” “gender,” and “sexual orientation,” are ways to be an ally.
WHAT IS LGBT?
People usually describe themselves as ‘gay’ or ‘homosexual’ when they find themselves emotionally and sexually attracted exclusively to people of their own gender.
TERMS AND CONCEPTS
LESBIAN: Usually refers to a woman who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation toward women. Some nonbinary people also identify with this term.
GAY: Used in some cultural settings to represent men who are attracted to men in a romantic, erotic and/or emotional sense. Not all men who engage in same-gender sexual behavior identify as gay, and as such this label should be used with caution.
BISEXUAL or BI: A person who experiences sexual, romantic, physical, and/or spiritual attraction to more than one gender, not necessarily at the same time, in the same way, or to the same degree.
TRANSGENDER: A person whose sense of personal identity or gender does not correspond to the sex they were assigned at birth, or does not conform to gender stereotypes. Sexual orientation varies and is not dependent on gender identity.
QUEER: a multi-faceted word that is used in different ways and means different things to different people. 1) Attraction to people of many genders. 2) Don’t conform to cultural norms around gender and/or sexuality. 3) A general term referring to all non-heterosexual people. Some within the community, however, may feel the word has been hatefully used against them for too long and are reluctant to embrace it.
QUESTIONING: An individual who is unsure of and/or exploring their gender identity and/or sexual orientation.
INTERSEX: An umbrella term that describes people born with any of 30 different variations in sex characteristics including chromosomes, gonads, sex hormones, or genitals.
ASEXUAL: A person who experiences little or no sexual attraction to others and/or a lack of interest in sexual relationships/behavior. They may or may not experience emotional, physical, or romantic attraction. Asexuality differs from celibacy in that it is a sexual orientation, not a choice. People who are asexual may call themselves ace.
AROMANTIC: A person who experiences little or no romantic attraction to others and/or has a lack of interest in romantic relationships/behavior.
PANSEXUAL: A person who experiences sexual, romantic, physical, and/or spiritual attraction for members of all gender identities/expressions.
NON-BINARY or ENBY: A person whose gender identity does not fall within the binary genders of man or woman.
GENDERFLUID: A person who does not identify with the gender binary and move within genders and gender stereotypes.
GENDERQUEER: A person who does not identify or express their gender within the gender binary. Those who identify as genderqueer may identify as neither men nor women, may see themselves as outside of or in between the gender binary, or may simply feel restricted by gender labels.
AGENDER: a person with no (or very little) connection to gender, no personal alignment with the concepts of either man or woman, and/or someone who sees themselves as existing without gender.
STUD: A term originating within communities of color to describe a masculine identifying person who was assigned female at birth. Here is a study looking at the sexuality and gender construction of people who use ‘stud’ to describe their identity.
MĀHŪ:(‘in the middle’) in Kanaka Maoli (Hawaiian) and Maohi (Tahitian) cultures are third gender persons with traditional spiritual and social roles within the culture. Here are two videos to help you learn more about the Māhū culture.
MUXE: Derived from the Spanish word for woman (mujer), muxes generally represent Mexican people who are assigned male at birth and identify as different genders. The iterations among the muxe community and their self-identifications vary – some identify as male but are female-expressing, while others identify as female and are more closely associated with Western culture’s understanding of transgender. Others defy gender entirely. But, in Mexican culture, the term “third gender” is often tacked to the muxe community. This video and article can help you learn more about muxe culture and identity.
HETEROSEXISM: Prejudice against individuals and groups who display non-heterosexual behaviors or identities, combined with the majority power to impose such prejudice. Usually used to the advantage of the group in power. Any attitude, action, or practice backed by an institutional power that subordinates people because of their sexual orientation.
CISGENDER: A person whose sense of personal identity or gender does correspond to the sex they were assigned at birth.
LGBTQ2S+ ALLY: Someone who confronts heterosexism, anti- LGBTQ2S+ biases, heterosexual and cisgender privilege in themselves and others; believes that heterosexism, homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia are social justice issues.
Common Health Issues Among LGBT People:
There are no LGBT-specific diseases or illnesses. However, LGBT people are more likely to experience certain health issues compared to people who are not LGBT. These health issues are often related to the stigma and discrimination LGBT people experience in their daily lives—at school or work, in public places, or in health care settings. These experiences can be the cause of health issues requiring medical attention.
For example, LGBT youth may experience bullying from schoolmates and, as a result, become socially isolated and turn to substance abuse. At other times, LGBT people’s previous negative experiences getting care can interfere with their access to the health care they need. If they feel uncomfortable due to negative experiences with staff, they may stop going to a clinic or medical facility even if they are in the middle of necessary treatment. Being a member of a group that experiences discrimination can cause high levels of stress (sometimes called “minority stress”), which can lead to a broad range of health problems, some of which are listed below. By learning to avoid discrimination, stigmatization, and simple mistakes due to inexperience, front-line health care workers can help LGBT people avoid the “double whammy” of experiencing these health problems in their daily lives, and then being discouraged from seeking the care they need.
A few examples of these health problems include:
- LGBT youth are 2 to 3 times more likely to attempt suicide, and are more likely to be homeless (it is estimated that between 20% and 40% of all homeless youth are LGBT). LGBT youth are also at higher risk for becoming infected with HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). They are also more likely to be bullied.
- Gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM) are at higher risk of HIV and STDs, especially within communities of color.
- LGBT populations are much more likely to smoke than others; they also have higher rates of alcohol use, other drug use, depression, and anxiety.
- Lesbians are less likely to get preventive services for cancer, such as mammograms and Pap tests.
- Bisexuals have higher rates of behavioral health issues compared to lesbians and gay men.
- Transgender individuals experience a high prevalence of HIV and STDs, victimization, and suicide attempts. They are also less likely to have health insurance than heterosexual or LGB individuals due to rejection by their families or discrimination when seeking employment.
- Elderly LGBT individuals face additional barriers to health care because of isolation, diminished family supports, and reduced availability of social services. Some report discrimination from their peers when living in communal elderly housing.
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