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What challenges do transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals face?

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People who identify as transgender or who identify as gender nonconforming often exhibit gender identities, expressions, or behaviors that are not usually connected to the sex they were given at birth. They might firmly identify with the opposite gender or with something other than the gender binary. Transgender and gender non-conforming individuals are at a higher risk for issues related to their mental health and other social issues compared to individuals who identify with their birth sex or other sexual minority populations. Transgender and gender non-conforming individuals struggle with early and ongoing trauma from being mis-gendered, stigma, and from “gender policing” which is when normal gender expressions, such as behaviors or appearance, are imposed on someone. When transitioning, it can also be a challenge to re-learn messages and understand expectations of their preferred gender. Transgender and gender non-conforming individuals are subject to increased violence, discrimina...
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The importance of LGBTQ+ inclusive education in schools

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- Lack of diversity is one of the major causes of the loss of inclusivity in school-based curriculum, including sex education, learning different aspects of the community, and even the ongoing rate of discrimination. The students' understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, history, and importance in daily life is greatly impacted by the sources used for lessons, the lesson plans themselves, and even the demographics of the school. Thus, the underlying realization that LGBTQ+ education has little to no participation in most classrooms is shared by students, schools, and parents. LGBTQ+ Sex Ed in Classrooms Less than adequate coverage of sexual education has always been given to the LGBT population in media. You might wonder "Why is educating LGBT sex ed so important?". According to Hannah Slater, who wrote a detailed article on the subject of the lack of sex education in schools, "Sex-education standards currently vary greatly across the nation, leaving many American youth uninf...
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HOW THE MEDIA HAS HELPED CHANGE PUBLIC VIEWS ABOUT LESBIAN AND GAY PEOPLE.

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Few changes in public opinion in the United States and elsewhere have been as swift and pervasive as those regarding views toward lesbian women and gay men. In our latest work, we examine how the media has aided in this significant transformation. Our study demonstrates that the media can influence political opinions toward sexuality and minorities generally on a global scale, particularly those of more impressionable, younger people. Virtual Contacts with Gays and Lesbians The flow of information through the media, including television, movies, music, books, and many other platforms, promotes interaction and conversation among groups and even across international borders. Gordon Allport, an influential psychologist, is often cited in scholarly research for his contact thesis – which, put simply, says that under the right conditions, interpersonal contact is one of the best ways to reduce prejudice between majority and minority groups. Using this as a foundation, we contend that "...
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Issues the Global LGBTQ+ Community Is Still Fighting

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As Pride Month ends, remember that the fight for LGBTQ+ rights globally must continue. These victories demonstrate the effectiveness of lobbying as Global Citizens call on political decision-makers to defend the rights of LGBTQ+ persons, but there is still much to be done. Join us in extending your support for the LGBTQ+ community past June and acknowledging the areas where more work needs to be done in order to advance equity and justice for all. Here are six issues the global LGBTQ+ community is still fighting in their quest for equal rights. 1. The Ugandan Parliament passed the Sexual Offenses Bill, further criminalizing same-sex sexual acts. Both in terms of its laws and the overall attitude of its government officials, Uganda has remained adamantly homophobic. Uganda receives a score of 11% on the Franklin & Marshall Global Barometer of Gay Rights, which gauges how well nations safeguard the rights of LGBTQ+ persons. This means that the country persecutes people because of th...
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LGBTQ slang: Exploring outdated & modern queer slang.

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Queer slang has a long and colorful history, evolving as society and its attitude towards the community changes. Take a trip down history as we explore outdated and modern LGBTQ slang. As times change, so does language. With new generations come new words, phrases, and slang. This is especially evident in the LGBTQ community, where terminology evolves to better represent and encompass the queer experience. In this post, we’ll explore some of the outdated and modern queer slang terms used by LGBTQ people. Note that this short and incomplete list mostly covers American LGBTQ slang. Many countries around the world have their own version of queer slang, from British gay slang derived from the rhyming slang Polari to beki – the Philippines’ queer language that borrows from a slew of sources, including pop culture, Japanese, Spanish, and the country’s local languages. While these gay slang terms and languages deserve just as much attention, one article wouldn’t be enough to cover everything....
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Letter to South African Authorities Regarding LGBTI Murders and Assaults

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  January 18, 2022 Deputy Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development Honourable Deputy Minister John Jeffery, MP Greetings Honorable Deputy Minister John Jeffery, We hope this finds you in good health. We are writing to express our concern about the number of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) individuals killed and violently assaulted over the past year in circumstances that suggest their sexual orientation or identity was the reason that they were targeted, and to request information about steps that you and other members of the National Task Team on Gender and Sexual Orientation-based Violence Perpetrated against LGBTI Persons (NTT) have taken or are planning to take to address this scourge. As noted by the Justice and Correctional Services Minister at the LGBTIQ+ Inclusion and Empowerment Workshops at Constitution Hill on October 14, 2021, and as documented by journalists on MambaOnline , at least 20 LBGTI individuals were killed across South Afr...
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BEST LGBTQ+ MOVIE OF ALL TIME

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--LGBTQ movies have had a huge few year. Carol received six Oscar nods in 2016, and Moonlight became the first LGBTQ+-themed film to win Best Picture the following year. Olivia Colman won the Best Actress Oscar at the 2019 Oscars for her portrayal of The Favourite's lesbian queen Anne, defeating Melissa McCarthy, who portrayed lesbian writer Lee Israel in Can You Ever Forgive Me? Pain and Glory by Pedro Almadóvar and Portrait of a Lady on Fire, a romance that has received some of the best reviews in recent memory, both made an impact on the awards scene in 2020. Love, Simon, on the other hand, made history in 2018 as the first widely distributed, mainstream adolescent rom com to center on a gay character. Watch: Cinematographer James Laxton breaks down the swimming lesson from  Moonlight Read: Critic Ian Thomas Malone on seminal trans film  A Fantastic Woman Read: Critic Manuel Betancourt on seminal LGBTQ+ comedy  The Birdcage Read: Critic Valerie Complex on  Pariah ...
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