Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ)
The usual issues that all college students have to deal with can be more difficult if you are trying to develop a positive gender identity, sexual orientation or coping with discrimination because you are part of a minority group in our society. The specific issues that you might encounter if you identify as LGBTIQ may include, depression/anxiety, guilt, substance abuse, relationship/intimacy issues, heterosexism, homophobia, and transphobia. There may be a huge strain on you if you feel that you cannot be yourself and have to always decide what you can or cannot reveal about yourself.
Coming Out
For lesbian, gay, bisexual, intersex and transgender people, coming out is a process of understanding, accepting, and valuing your sexual orientation/identity. Coming out includes both exploring your identity and sharing that identity with others. It also involves coping with societal responses and attitudes toward LGBITQ people as you move toward self acceptance. For many students, coming out at college is seen as an opportunity to be open about their sexuality and fully be who they are.
Hints on Coming Out
- You can come out just to yourself. Do not let others pressure you into coming out
- You can tell someone else. Pick someone you know is open minded and caring. Make sure you have a supportive person to turn to if it goes badly. A college counsellor can be very helpful in this situation
- It’s ok not to be "out" everywhere
- You can start living openly by bringing your partner with you to events or dressing in the clothing that most fits your gender or sex identity.
- You can write a letter which gives the person you are coming out to time to digest the information
- Talk to the other person honestly and tell him/her why it is important for you to come out to them. Listen to what the other person has to say
- Be prepared for a negative reaction from some people
- Remind them that you are still the same person they knew yesterday
- Consider connecting with the Pride Club at the college for support, friendship and information. Also consider contacting community resources
- Remember there are college resources to assist you if you encounter discrimination or harassment. Counselling Services offers a LGBTIQ positive space for students and will help with advocacy, support, information and referrals
Some definitions
Bisexual: A person who is attracted to both genders. Sometimes it is referred to as omnisexual or pansexual
Coming out: Refers to the process of discovering and identifying oneself as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered
Cross Dressing/Transvestite: Wearing the clothes of the "opposite" sex for comfort, preference, or sexual encounters
Dyke: This used to be a derogatory slang word for a lesbian but lesbians are taking ownership of the word and using it as a proud and positive word with which to identify themselves
Gay: This usually refers to homosexual men but is often used as an umbrella term to describe the whole LGBT community
Heterosexual: A person who is sexually attracted to a person of the "opposite" sex
Heterosexism: Refers to discrimination or prejudice against lesbians or gay men by heterosexual people
Homophobia: Is an irrational fear of or discrimination against homosexuals
Intersexed: This refers to a person born with ambiguous genitals. Most intersexed people do not possess both sets of genitals but a mixture of both. Formerly they were called hermaphrodites
Lesbian: A woman who is attracted to other woman
LGBTIQ: The initial letters of - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer
Rainbow Flag: This is a flag designed by Gilbert Baker and adopted by the LGBTIQ movement as a symbol of gay identity
Queer: This was once a derogatory slang word used to identify gay people. The LGBT community has since reclaimed the word as a positive word and use it to describe themselves
Sexual Orientation: This refers to whether one is attracted to people of the same sex, the opposite sex or to both
Straight: A person who is sexually attracted to the opposite sex
Transgender: This term is used in two ways:
- It describes people whose psychological self or gender identity differs from the social expectation for the physical sex they were born into.
- It is an umbrella term to describe those who view gender and biological sex not as polar opposites but as a continuum. They include cross-dressers, masculine woman, feminine men, those who undergo hormone treatment and those who have sex reassignment surgery. It is not a sexual orientation
Transphobia: This refers to discrimination against transsexuality and transsexual or transgendered people
If you are a registered student with Mohawk College and would like to talk with a counsellor about this issue, please contact Counselling Services at your campus:
- Fennell Campus (905) 575-2211, The Square – Student Services, Room C102
- IAHS Campus (905) 540-4247 ext 26750, Room 303
- Brantford Campus (519) 758-6014, Room A102
- STARRT Institute (905) 575-1212 ext 2538, Room A111A