LGBTQ 2 Module

HELPING THE
UNDERSERVED:
The LGBTQ2 Community
The LGBTQ2 Community
Lesbian
Gay
Bi-sexual
Transgender
Queer
Questioning
Sex/Gender/Sexual Orientation
• Sex - What you’re born with (male/female
genitalia).
• Gender identity - the gender with which a person
identifies (i.e. whether one perceives oneself to be
a man, a woman, or describes oneself in a less
conventional way). Who you are.
• Sexual orientation refers to a person’s emotional
romantic and sexual attraction to individuals of a
particular gender. Who you love.
Sex/Gender/Sexual Orientation
Sexual Orientation: The culturally-defined set of meanings
through which people describe their sexual attractions. Sexual
orientation is not static and can shift over time. Sexual
orientation has at least three parts:
a) Attraction - Ones own feelings or self-perception about to which
gender(s) one feels drawn. Can be sexual, emotional, spiritual,
psychological, and/or political.
b) Behavior - What one does sexually and/or with whom.
c) Sexual Identity - The language and terms one uses to refer to
their sexual orientation. It may or may not be based on either of the
above and can also be influenced by family, culture, and
community.
LGBTQ Defined
• Lesbian: Term most commonly used by female-identified people who
are primarily or exclusively attracted to other female identified people.
Preferred self-identifier for many homosexual women. Can also refer to
the community and culture of women who love/are attracted to other
women.
• Gay: Term most commonly used by male-identified people who are
primarily or exclusively attracted to other male identified people.
Preferred self-identifier for many homosexual men and women. Also a
term used to describe the LGBT community. Some men who have sex
with men do not identify as gay.
• Bisexual: A term used to indicate attraction or potential for attraction to
more than one gender.
LGBTQ Defined
• Transgender: An umbrella term for people whose gender identity,
expression or behavior is different from those typically associated with
their assigned sex at birth, including, but not limited to transsexuals,
cross-dressers, individuals who are androgynous, genderqueers, and
gender non-conforming people. Transgender is a broad term and is good
for providers to use.
• Queer: A political and sometimes controversial term that some LGBT
people have reclaimed, while others still consider it derogatory. Used
most frequently by younger LGBT people, activists, and academics, the
term can refer to either to gender identity, sexual orientation, or both and
can be used by any gender.
• Questioning: A term that can refer to an identity or a process of
introspection whereby one learns about their own sexual orientation
and/or gender identity. Can happen at any age and multiple times
throughout ones lifetime.
Some Definitions for the LGBTQ Community (and Allies)*
A Note on Definitions: Please know that all definitions and labels do not mean the same
thing to all people. Use the preferred terminology of the person/people with whom you are
interacting. This list represents common usages and meanings of these terms within
communities, but is neither exhaustive nor universal.
• Bi-gendered: One who has a significant gender identity that encompasses both male and
female. Some may feel that one gender or another is stronger, but both sides are there.
• Bisexual: A term used to indicate attraction or potential for attraction to more than one
gender.
• Butch or Stud: An identity term most frequently used by people with a more masculine
gender identity and/or gender presentation
• Coming Out: The process by which a person begins to self-identify as gay, lesbian,
bisexual, transgender, transsexual, or queer. Coming out can happen over a long or short
period of time and at different levels (i.e. a person may be out to their friends, but not to
their family).
• Cross-dresser: A term for people who dress in clothing traditionally or stereotypically
worn by the other sex, but who generally have no intention to live full-time as the other
gender.
Some Definitions (continued)
• Down Low (DL): A controversial term describing the phenomenon of MSMs
(men who have sex with men) who publicly identify as heterosexuals and
maintain sexual relationships with women, “The Down Low” has become
synonymous with sensationalized claims that MSMs are spreading HIV into
“the general population.” Avoid inaccurate suggestions that “The Down
Low” is a phenomenon exclusive to communities of color. In general, the
more accurate descriptor is MSM, which should be reserved for clinical or
statistical contexts. Only use the term “Down Low” to describe men who
self-identify that way.
• Drag King: Refers to women who dress as men (often celebrity men) for the
purpose of entertaining others at bars, clubs, or other events.
• Drag Queen: Refers to men who dress as women (often celebrity women)
for the purpose of entertaining others at bars, clubs, or other events. It is
also used as slang, sometimes in a derogatory manner, to refer to all
transgender women.
• Dyke: Historically, this term was used to refer to lesbians or women who
were less feminine than people believed they should be. Originally meant
to be a slur, it has been "reclaimed" by many lesbians.
Some Definitions (continued)
• Fag/Faggot: Historically, the term was used to refer to men who
were seen as less masculine than people believed they should
be and has become the slur most commonly used to abuse gay
men and men perceived to be gay. The term has also become a
general insult that is often used to humiliate any men. However,
it is also been “reclaimed” by many gay men.
• Femme: An identity term most frequently used by people with a
more feminine gender identity and/or gender presentation.
• FTM: A person who has transitioned from “female-to-male,”
meaning a person who was assigned female at birth, but now
identifies and lives as a male. Also known as a “transgender
man.”
Some Definitions (continued)
Gender: The set of meanings assigned by a culture or society to
someone's perceived biological sex. Gender is not static and can shift
over time. Gender has at least three parts:
a)
Physical Markers - Aspects of the human body that are considered to
determine sex and/or gender for a given culture or society, including
genitalia, chromosomes, hormones, secondary sex characteristics,
and internal reproductive organs.
b)
b) Role/Expression - Aspects of behavior and outward presentation
that may (intentionally or unintentionally) communicate gender to
others in a given culture or society, including clothing, body
language, hairstyles, voice, socialization, relationships, career
choices, interests, and presence in gendered spaces (restrooms,
places of worship, etc).
c)
Identity - An individual's internal view of their gender. Their own
innermost sense of them selves as a gendered being and/or as
masculine, feminine, androgynous, etc. This will often influence
name and pronoun preference.
Some Definitions (continued)
• Genderqueer: A term used by some individuals who identify as
neither entirely male nor female. Genderqueer is an identity more
common among young people.
• Gender Non-conforming: This term can refer to gender identity or
gender role and refers to someone who falls outside or transcends
what is considered to be traditional gender-norms for their assigned
sex.
• Hermaphrodite: Considered a derogatory term, referring to a person
who is intersex.
• Heterosexism: Systematic belief that heterosexuality and the binary
gender system are superior or more valid. Gives people who follow
more culturally traditional heterosexual lifestyle greater power, as
well as increased opportunities for legal, medical, and economic
social privilege, assistance, and status.
Some Definitions (continued)
• Homophobia: Societal, systemic, and interpersonal oppression against
LGBTQ people and communities. Also can be experienced by those who
are perceived to be LGBTQ. Can often be internalized by someone who is
having difficulty with his/her own gay, lesbian, or bisexual orientation. A
direct result of heterosexism.
• Intersex: A term referring to people who have physical markers that differ
from the medical definitions of male or female. Most commonly, it is used
to speak about people whose genitalia are not easily classifiable as 'male'
or 'female' at birth. It can also be used to refer to any biological marker
that falls outside medical norms for masculine and feminine including, but
not limited to, external genitalia, chromosomes, or internal reproductive
systems.
• Maricόn, joto/a: derogatory term similar to “faggot” in English, generally
used to describe effeminate men. But can also be a term of endearment
much like English usage.
• Mariposa: Also a derogatory term similar to “faggot” in English, generally
used to describe effeminate men. The literal translation is butterfly.
Some Definitions (continued)
• MSM: Abbreviation for Men who have Sex with Men, a term used to
describe men who engage in same sex sexual behavior but who may
choose not to label themselves as ‘gay/bisexual.’
• MTF: A person who transitions from “male-to-female,” meaning a
person who was assigned male at birth, but now identifies and lives as
a female. Also known as a “transgender woman.”
• Passing: A term that is used by people who are transgender to mean
that they are seen as the gender they self-identify as. For example, a
transgender man (born female) who most people see as a man.
• Same Gender Loving: A term created by African American communities
and used by some people of color who may view labels such as ‘gay’
and ‘lesbian’ as terms referring to and/or representing white people.
Some Definitions (continued)
• Sex: 1. Verb: Consensual, intimate physical contact between adults. 2.
Noun: Biologically based and socially constructed determination of a
person’s label of “female” or “male.” Often based on a doctor’s visual
assessment of a baby’s genitalia.
• Sex Reassignment Surgery: Surgical procedures that change one’s
body to make it conform to a person’s gender identity. This may
include “top surgery” (breast augmentation or removal) or “bottom
surgery” (altering genitals). Contrary to popular belief, there is not
one surgery; in fact there are many different surgeries. “Sex change
surgery” is considered a derogatory term by many.
• Straight Ally: Someone who is not LGBT, but advocates for the fair
treatment of individuals who are.
• Transition: The period during which a person begins to live as their
new gender. Transitioning MAY include changing ones name, taking
hormones, having surgery, or changing legal documents (e.g. driver’s
license, Social Security number, birth certificate) to reflect their new
gender.
Some Definitions (continued)
• Transphobia: Societal, systemic, and interpersonal oppression against
people of transgender experience. Also something experienced by
some gender queer and gender nonconforming people.
• Transsexual: A term for people whose gender identity is different
from their assigned sex at birth. Often, but not always, individuals
who are transsexual alter their bodies through hormones or surgery in
order to make it match their gender identity.
• Transvestite: A term for a cross-dresser that is considered derogatory
by many.
• Two-Spirit: An English translation of a concept present in some North
American indigenous cultures. Refers to someone who is assigned
one sex at birth, but fulfills the roles of both sexes or of another sex.
The Dynamics of
Domestic Violence
in the
2
LGBTQ Community
LGBTQ2 Power & Control Wheel Segments
Transphobia
Using fear and hatred of anyone who challenges traditional gender
expression, and/or who is transsexual, to convince partner of danger in
reaching out to others. Controlling expression of gender identity and
connections to community. Outing gender identity. Shaming. Questioning
validity of one’s gender.
Psychological & Emotional Abuse
Criticizing constantly. Using verbal abuse, insults and ridicule. Undermining
self esteem. Trying to humiliate or degrade in private or public. Manipulating
with lies and false promises. Denying partner’s reality.
Threats
Making physical, emotional, economic or sexual threats. Threatening to harm
family or friends. Threatening to make a report to city, state or
federal authorities that would jeopardize custody, economic situation,
immigration or legal status. Threatening suicide.
LGBTQ2 Power & Control Wheel Segments
Physical Abuse
Slapping, hitting, shoving, biting, choking, pushing, punching, beating,
kicking, stabbing, shooting or killing. Using weapons.
Entitlement
Treating partner as inferior…because of race, education, wealth, politics,
class privilege or lack of, physical ability, and anti-Semitism. Demanding that
their needs always come first. Interfering with partner’s job, personal needs.
Using Children and family obligations
Threats or actions to take children away or have them removed. Using
children to relay messages. Threats to or actual harm to children. Threats to
or revealing of sexual or gender orientation to children or others to
jeopardize parent-child relationship, custody or relationships with family,
friends, school or others.
Economic Abuse
Controlling economic resources and how they are used. Stealing money,
credit cards or checks. Running up debt. Fostering total economic
dependency. Using economic status to determine relationship roles/norms,
including controlling purchase of clothes, food, etc.
LGBTQ2 Power & Control Wheel Segments
Sexual Abuse
Forcing sex. Forcing specific sex acts or sex with others. Physical assaults to
"sexual" body areas. Refusing to practice safer sex. In S&M refusing to
negotiate or not respecting contract/scene limits or safe words.
HIV-Related Abuse
Threatening to reveal HIV status to others. Blaming partner for having HIV.
Withholding medical or social services. Telling partner she or he is "dirty".
Using illness to justify abuse.
Intimidation
Creating fear by using looks, actions, gestures and destroying personal items,
mementos or photos. Breaking windows or furniture. Throwing or smashing
objects. Trashing clothes, hurting or killing pets.
LGBTQ2 Power & Control Wheel Segments
Isolation: Restricting Freedom
Controlling personal social contacts, access to information and participation in
groups or organizations. Limiting the who, what, where and when of daily life.
Restraining movement, locking partner in or out.
Heterosexism
Perpetuating and utilizing invisibility of LGBTQ relationships to define
relationship norms. Using heterosexual roles to normalize abuse and shame
partner for same sex and bisexual desires. Using cultural invisibility to isolate
partner and reinforce control. Limiting connection to community.
Homo/Biphobia
A part of heterosexism. Using awareness of fear and hatred of lesbians, gay
men and bisexuals to convince partner of danger in reaching out to others.
Controlling expression of sexual identity and connections to community.
Outing sexual identity. Shaming. Questioning status as a "real" lesbian or gay
man, or gay man or bisexual.
The Dynamics of
Sexual Violence
in the
2
LGBTQ Community
How Domestic Violence is Similar within
Heterosexual and LGBTQ Settings
• Power & Control
• Ideas of privilege and entitlement
• Prevalence and tactics of violence
• Victim blaming
Prevalence of Sexual Violence Against LGBTQ Individuals
Violence targeted at people because of their actual or perceived
sexual orientation and/or gender identity or expression may
include hate mail, threats, physical assault, battery, sexual
assault, rape, torture, attempted murder and murder.
According to the FBI, in 2006 hate crimes against people
perceived to be LGBTQ increased 2% to comprise a total of 16%
of all hate crimes. Hate crimes perpetrated against the LGBTQ
community are the third most common type of hate crime after
crimes based on race and religion. The data does not distinguish
between sexual violence and other types of hate crime, so the
exact prevalence of sexually-based hate crimes is unknown.
Same Sex/Same Gender Sexual Violence
• As with heterosexual people, LGBTQ individuals may experience sexual violence
perpetrated by strangers, acquaintances, within a dating relationship, or
between partners.
• Same sex/same gender violence occurs in all economic, racial, ethnic, and age
groups; it is not limited to certain groups or types of people.
• When sexual violence occurs between same sex/same gender partners,
survivors often experience resistance from within their sexual and/or gender
minority communities, such as disbelief, unwillingness to admit the problem,
lack of support, and blaming the survivor for “airing the community’s dirty
laundry,” thus giving a homophobic world one more reason to shame and
repress the community.
• Same sex/same gender violence may threaten the sense of solidarity within
LGBTQ communities. Thus, survivors of same sex/same gender sexual assault
are in "double jeopardy.” They may risk losing support from heterosexual
family, friends and others if they come out as LGBTQ, and they may risk losing
support from the LGBTQ community if they come out as survivors.
Barriers To Reporting Faced By LGBTQ Survivors Of
Sexual Assault
• It is estimated that 85-90% of all sexual assaults go unreported. Sexual assault
survivors frequently find it difficult to report their assault. Survivors who identify
as LGBTQ, like all survivors, often feel fear, self-blame, anger, shame and/or
shock after an assault. All of these feelings exacerbate the challenges of
participating in the civil or criminal justice systems. However, LGBTQ survivors
face many additional barriers.
• Reporting a sexual assault perpetrated by someone of the same gender can
“out” a survivor to family, friends, coworkers, etc. For people who were not
already out, this can lead to a multitude of complications related to employment,
housing, education, immigration, financial safety, personal safety, privacy and
personal relationships.
Barriers To Reporting Faced By LGBTQ Survivors Of
Sexual Assault
• Survivors may also fear that reporting their sexual assault will reinforce negative
stereotypes about their community. If an LGBTQ survivor has not “come out” to
family and friends or an employer, this adds additional stress in deciding whether
to report the assault. Coming out can be an experience of re-victimization.
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By coming out, the LGBTQ survivor may lose:
Family of origin
Job/career/opportunities
Support system
Children
Safety
Housing
Faith community
• When an LGBTQ survivor does report an assault, the survivor’s sexual orientation
and/or gender identity/expression may become more of the focus of the
investigation than the assault itself. Because LGBTQ survivors have so many
additional barriers to reaching out to traditional responders, such as law
enforcement, health care providers and social service agencies, it is very
important that sexual assault victim advocates be able to provide culturallyspecific and culturally competent services to support LGBTQ survivors.
Considerations to be Accounted
for in Serving the LGBTQ
Community
Questions to Consider
ARE THERE THINGS I SHOULDN’T ASK ABOUT?
• As with any survivor, recognize the difference between necessary questions
and questions you don’t really need to ask. An example of this would be a
transgender person’s anatomy or surgery status. That is not appropriate to
ask about unless you will be advocating for the person at a medical
appointment and it would be relevant to procedures. If this is the case, it
would be appropriate to acknowledge the delicate nature of the subject, to
explain why you are addressing it, and instead of asking for the person to
give this information to you, ask if s/he is prepared to address this with
medical staff.
• Another example would be asking an LGBTQ person when s/he “knew” (that
s/he was gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, etc.). Since nobody asks
heterosexual people when they knew they were heterosexual, the same
courtesy should be extended to LGBTQ persons.
• Also, recognize that it’s not an LGBTQ person’s responsibility to educate you
on LGBTQ issues. Attend trainings, read books, and talk to other
professionals to learn more.
Questions to Consider
I’M NOT FAMILIAR WITH A LOT OF THE LANGUAGE USED BY
LGBTQ PEOPLE AND HOW I SHOULD TO REFER TO A LGBTQ
SURVIVOR?
• If you’re talking with an LGBTQ person and you don’t use the right
language, get confused with pronouns, or aren’t familiar with
something that comes up, apologize, acknowledge that you’re
still learning and ask respectful questions to get the information
you need to help.
• An example of this would be “can you tell me how you prefer to
be referred to?” or “I’m not familiar with the term that you used.
Would you mind explaining it to me so that I can be better
informed?” Most people would prefer that you acknowledge
mistakes and ask questions than avoid them out of fear or
embarrassment.
Questions to Consider
HOW SHOULD I RESPOND AND I’M NOT SURE IF S/HE’S LGBTQ?
• Initially, it is a good practice for advocates answering a call to use gender-neutral pronouns
and not to assume the gender of the caller or the offender until the caller has identified the
pronouns specifically. No matter who the caller is, always use the language and pronouns
the caller uses to refer to him/herself and don’t make assumptions about any caller’s
identity.
• Not everybody is heterosexual or identifies with the gender and/or sex assigned at birth.
Because LGBTQ survivors often have had homophobic, biphobic and/or transphobic
experiences in the past, they may be reluctant to indicate their own genders or the genders
of their abuser. For example, a caller may refer to the person who assaulted or abused
them as “they” or “this person”(as in “they’ve been getting more violent recently” or “this
person is scaring me”). An appropriate response is to mirror the same language back (“are
they in the house with you right now?” or “what sorts of things has this person been doing
that are scaring you?”).
• Also, when referring to the survivor, only use labels they have used themselves. If you are
unsure how they identify and it is relevant to the work you are doing together, ask, don’t
assume. If you don’t need to know, don’t worry about it and just treat the person as you
would any other survivor. If this information is needed, an appropriate way to ask someone
how s/he identifies is to ask just that: “Can you tell me how you identify so I can try to find
the best services available for you?” Before you ask someone about his/her identity, ask
yourself if you are asking because you are curious or because knowing will help you serve
the survivor most competently and effectively.
Things to Do
• Be respectful
• Expand your knowledge about gender
identities and sexual orientation.
• Do not make assumptions about someone's
sexual orientation or about what gender or
sex a person is.
• Do not ask questions about sexual activities.
• Be inclusive.
• Do not reveal another's sexual orientation
without their consent.
• Have vetted referrals for the LGBTQ
community