So what is the LGBTQ+ community?

This page offers education on the LGBTQ+ community as well as scientific explanations of the differences in sex, gender, and gender identity.

L- Lesbian ( A woman attracted to other women)

G- Gay (homosexual, meaning in this case to love someone of the same gender)

B- Bisexual (being attracted to both men and women)

T- Transgender (Someone who's gender does not match with their birth - assigned sex)

Q- Queer/Questioning (Someone who is still figuring out their sexuality or gender )

+ - Gender and Sexuality are a spectrum, there are several other valid identities and sexualities such as Pansexual, Genderfluid, Asexual, etc.

Sex is biological. What we're born as physically is known as our sex. Gender is a little bit more complicated as it is a spectrum. Gender is a social construct, and as we grow up we learn how we learn how to identify. Someone who's gender matches their assigned birth sex is known as "cisgender". Transgender people often suffer from what is known as gender dysphoria, which is defined as "psychological distress that results from an incongruence between one's sex assigned at birth and one's gender identity" (APA). Gender identity is how someone expresses their gender, whether it is with clothing, makeup, language, etc.

Here are some helpful videos to explain further!

In many countries, being a part of the LGBTQ+ community is punishable by death, and many others have laws oppressing the community. After centuries of oppression, the purpose of pride events is to celebrate who we are. The United States still has heavy discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community, with the past Trump Administration implementing the Transgender military ban, removing healthcare protections, and once again making human rights a political opinion. There are several hate groups against LGBTQ+, and our community has lost many lives. Understanding and being aware of the community can aid in making inclusive policies and laws that protect the people instead of further division. Only in recent years has the LGBTQ+ community had slight representation in politics and the media, and many portrayals have been inaccurate and/or harmful. Being tolerant isn't enough, it is important to be an ally for the community to improve the rights for everyone.