LGBTQIA* Affirming Care Workshop

Liberty Home Care – February 9, 2024

Powerpoint available here:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1esyqe4OFWkwuvThY4kP04boRgwkStkmNj8jUWUCBrEg/edit?usp=sharing

Transgender: A person whose assigned sex at birth does not match their internal sense of their gender identity. Not all, but many trans people experience dysphoria, which means an intense uncomfortable feeling of “wrongness” in one’s body. Dysphoria can be relieved by things such as name changes, social changes like hair, clothing, hormone blockers or therapies to alter secondary sex characteristics more masculine/feminine, gender affirming surgeries, and affirming behavior from those who interact with the person.

Non-Binary: A person who does not feel their gender identity matches their sex assigned at birth, and falls outside of the gender binary of “male” or “female.” There are many different types of non-binary identities such as agender or gender fluid. There is no right way to be, look, or act non-binary.

The rest of the LGBTQ alphabet: https://www.hrc.org/resources/glossary-of-terms?utm_medium=ads&utm_source=GoogleSearch&utm_content=Glossary-List&utm_campaign=GoogleGrant&utm_source=GS&utm_medium=AD&utm_campaign=BPI-HRC-Grant&utm_content=620437481249&utm_term=list%20of%20lgbt%20terms&gclid=CjwKCAjw8JKbBhBYEiwAs3sxN1faHdBP-gJVy3dNGn8AxabrGkT-i70D0Ol3fjTxuHP81u9Ah8NfqRoC674QAvD_BwE

What is genderfluid? What does it feel like to be genderfluid?

https://www.34st.com/article/2017/09/being-gender-fluid

How Can You Be Supportive to Queer People?

  • Familiarize yourself with different types of people presenting with different genders and sexual identities- meet them and get to know them, watch videos or shows, follow online social media pages, etc.
  • Use affirming language – respect pronouns, refer to all people neutrally unless you know their gender
  • Understand that to be a member of the LGBTQIA* community is stressful in many ways, and many people have traumatic experiences or vicarious traumatic experiences that impact their mental health. Many of our youth do not have a safe home environment.
  • Help the people navigate situations that may cause dysphoria such as: using bathrooms that feel safe, using the locker room that feels safe or finding an alternative changing location, and avoid separating based on boys/girls binaries during classroom activities.
  • Correct others who might misgender the person and share helpful information.
  • Work toward an understanding that a range of gender/sexuality differences and all differences are within the realm of normal human diversity, and should be celebrated!

FAQ:

  1. This person doesn’t look trans or non-binary. They look like a boy/girl/man/woman but are telling me they are trans or non-binary or name/pronouns don’t seem to match. I’m confused?
    • Gender identity is not the same as gender presentation! What someone chooses to look like (gender presentation) does not necessarily reflect how they feel inside. Sometimes it is not safe for the person to transition, but also “passing” and looking like a particular gender is not a goal for many trans or non-binary people.
  2. It’s hard to change pronouns for a person I have known for a long time. I have continued to call them by their same name and pronouns I have always used and they don’t correct me, they don’t really seem to care or respond. I guess I don’t need to change anything?
    • Not true! It’s actually really hard for trans and non-binary people to correct others when they are misgendered. It feels like a burden, and they are usually internally feeling very distressed. Sometimes asking them about it can help, and if you put in the effort to use correct name and pronouns that person will feel supported by you! Even one person can make a huge difference.
    • Practice practice practice! It can help to say three things about a student who has changed to help your brain remember. For example: Max has a green logo on their shirt. I gave them an A on their last homework assignment. They have short brown hair.
  3. I notice no one else has changed pronouns for a person after they came out. What should I do?
    • Talk to the person and talk to your colleagues to make sure correct name and pronouns are being used.
    • Example: “Hey, I remember you shared that you are going by Max now. Is that still the case? Are your pronouns still they/them? I noticed not a lot of people are respecting that change. Is it okay if I remind other students or teachers about this?”
  4. Are kids claiming trans or non-binary identities because it’s trendy or they see their friends or people on tik-tok doing it and want to fit in?
    • This is a really common and understandable misconception. Studies show that the higher prevalence of “out” trans and non-binary people leads more youth to feel safe enough to come out themselves, so it might seem like everyone is jumping on the bandwagon when in fact they do experience gender and sexuality differently. Because it’s often unsafe to come out, it’s important to believe someone even if you have your doubts. If you are concerned about someone, you can talk with their therapist or school social worker and a referral for counseling can be made to further assess and support them.
    • It’s also within the realm of a healthy and normal response to try on different things to see what fits! It’s very common that gender expansive folks will, for example, come out as gay before realizing they are transgender, and then they may change their name and pronouns a couple of times to see what feels right! Almost none of us make immediate and permanent decisions about who we are then never change and that goes for gender and sexuality as well.
    • Reference: https://fenwayhealth.org/new-study-examines-the-social-contagion-hypothesis-of-transgender-and-gender-diverse-identities/?fbclid=IwAR2KFnyiznPiRM0234MbCOg8rMbL7HKzP79sXLa83iIFOf9wcUF_b_mQai8

More Resources:

Thank you for attending!

For questions and comments please email: Kristen@GrowthTherapyLLC.com