LGBTQ 101: Outfront MN

Sex assigned at birth → Gender (man; woman) → heterosexual desire

- Like dominos; knock the first and automatically leads to next
- Sex: assigned based on external genitalia
- Male, female, intersex (XY but look female; biological doesn’t match appearance)
- Components: chromosomes, genitals, hormones, internal reproductive organs,
secondary sex characteristics
- Gender: Set of characteristics that are constructed to distinguish between the two
constitutionally recognized sexes of male and female
- 3 major components
- Physical
- Role/expression
- Refers to way in which a person acts to communicate gender
within a given culture through name, clothing, pronouns, haircut,
behavior, voice
- Society determines the norms for gender expression
- Historically was white, then female = blue until WWII (blue
soldier), now female = pink
- Gender identity: one’s internal sense of being male/female or something
else
- On the inside
Transgender Identities:
- Cisgender (non-transgender): A term for people whose gender identify matches the sex
they were assigned at birth
- “Cis” is often used as shorthand for “cisgender”
- Transgender: A term for people whose gender identity differs from the sex they were
assigned at birth. Umbrella term for variety of expression
- Trans-boy: assigned female and transitioning to male
- Trans-girl: assigned male but identify and transitioned to female
- Gender Diverse: term used to describe those who do not fit into contemporary
categories
- Gender Non-Binary or Genderqueer: a term used by some people who experience their
gender identity or gender expression as falling outside of the categories of male/female

Sexual orientation: romantically, sexually or intimately attracted and who you would like to be
attracted to you
- 3 components:
- Desire
- Behavior
- Identity

LGBTQ:
 - Gay: describe person who is attracted to their same gender exclusively
- Lesbian: A woman who is attracted to other women exclusively
- Bisexual: a person who is sexually attracted to people of their same gender and people
of other gender
- Transgender
Queer: used by someone to refer to themselves, the LGBTQ community, or a person who is
LGBTQ
- Challenging “the norm” - not conforming to traditional structure (family, sexual
development, etc)
Additional letters? (2S, Q, I, A, P)
- 2S: Two spirit: used by some Native LGBTQ people; marks return to native tranditions
that historically recognize more than two genders
- Q: Questioning
- I: Intersex
- A: Asexual: does not feel physical or sexual attraction towards others
- P: Pansexual: People who are attracted to multiple identities

Activity: Share past weekend using gender-neutral terms

- Observations: lots of gender in out language; have to work hard - cadance is not fluid.
Feel like we are leaving out details
- For us - no consequences in messing up - it’s a privilege. For LGBTQ - slips can have
real-world consequences: loss of job, harming relationships

Heterosexism: system of oppression of persons who display non-heterosexual behaviors and

identities
- Assumption that all people are and should be heterosexual
- Heterosexual privilege: actual or promised societal benefits accorded to individuals who
identify as heterosexual
- Norm - expected to be “straight” and don’t have to “come out” to family
- Holding hands with spouse and don’t have to think about it
Cissexims: system of oppression based on the belief that transgender and non-binary identities
are inferior to and/or less valid than cisgender identities
- This belief results in prejudice and discrimination against persons who are trans and
gender non-binary, and serves as the rationalization for institutionalized discrimination

“Phobia” irrational fear

- Homophobia: stereotypes, negative feelings, attitudes, behaviors towards people who
are queer

- Combination of transphobia and racism is devastating for transgender people of color

- Higher rates of unemployment, homelessness, and extreme poverty
- Experience harassment, discrimination, and violence at rates much greater than
white transgender people, LGBQ people, and the general population
Violence, Bullying, Homelessness
- 41% of transgender youth and adults have attempted suicide
- Nearly 9 of 10 LGBTQ-identified students experienced harassment

Minnesota Student Survey

- trans/gender diverse students:
- 3 times more likely to have engaged in self harm
- 3 times more likely to consider attempting suicide
- 5 times more likely to have attempted suicide
- 38% v 6% in 9th grade
- 37% v 8% in 11th grade

Creating Safer Spaces

- Verbal safety cues:
- Person, instead of man/woman
- Try to use non-gender language
- Partner or sweetheart
- Don’t assume girlfriend/boyfriend
- They rather than he/she
- Also works for names that can be either
- Parent, guardian versus mother/father
- Reaches those in foster care or other atypical family
- Call out people’s last names for attendance and letting them speak their chosen
first name
- Again helps with other students such as
immigrants
- Visual safety cues
- Signs, posters, stickers
- All gender/gender neutral restrooms
- Inclusive forms

https://www.outfront.org/
https://education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/safe/

Acronyms:
GSA - Gender & Sexuality Alliance

“Safer” and “braver” space - active listening; cannot guarantee safe