Happy Pride Month!

Happy Pride Month! The summer is just around the corner and today is the first day of pride month. Pride month occurs during the month of June each year. It is a specific time to celebrate and bring awareness to individuals who are part of/associate with the LGBTQIA+ community. Pride was established in June to remember the Stonewall Riots that occurred in 1969, a prominent event in the fight for freedom and equality amongst LGBTQIA+ individuals in the United States and around the globe. Pride in the United States was only first celebrated on the last Sunday, but eventually, it grew into the month-long celebration we know today.

According to the Library of Congress, "Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.”

Whether you are officially out or not, remember Love is Love. Be Proud of Who You Are!!

LGBTQIA+: Defining Who You Are

Provided below is the meaning of each letter in the acronym of LGBTQIA+, definitions are from the Trevor Project. These classifications listed below are not mandatory by any means, they, however, are and can be useful tools to many.

Lesbian

Lesbian: Commonly used to describe people who identify as women or feminine of center, whose attractions are to some other women. Some nonbinary people who were assigned female at birth use this term to describe their attraction to women, despite not identifying or not solely identifying as women.

Gay

Gay: An identity term for someone who experiences same-gender attraction, and sometimes refers to someone who only experiences same-gender attraction. Commonly used to describe people who identify as men or masculine of center who are attracted to some other men. Not all people who use this term are men, though the term historically has been used as such; it is now often used to describe any same-gender attraction, and is also used by women and nonbinary people.

Bisexual

Bisexual: A term commonly used to describe an individual who is physically, romantically, emotionally, and/or spiritually attracted to more than one gender. These people need not have had equal sexual or romantic experience with multiple genders; in fact, they need not have had any sexual experience at all to identify as this. Historically framed as being attracted to “both” genders, bisexuality has been reframed as referring to people who are attracted to one’s own and other genders, including those outside the gender binary.

Transgender

Transgender: People whose gender identity differs from the gender they were assigned at birth. Transgender can be both a standalone identity or an umbrella term that encompasses many different gender identities, including nonbinary and gender-expansive identities. “Trans” is often used as shorthand for transgender.

Queer

Queer: An umbrella term used to describe people who are not heterosexual and/or cisgender. “Queer” has been reclaimed by LGBTQ communities since its historical use as a slur against LGBTQ people and is now widely used among LGBTQ people and in institutional and formal settings. Some colleges have programs in Queer Studies, where students can learn about the history, culture, and advancements of LGBTQ+ people. Many people appreciate the way that queer can be used a term to include everyone in the LGBTQ+ community, without listing letters of the acronym (LGBTQ), which leaves key groups of people unlisted.

Intersex

Intersex: An umbrella term used to describe someone born with internal and/or external sexual anatomy that doesn’t fit the typical expectations of the male/female binary. People who are intersex may hold any number of identities with regard to their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.

Asexual

Asexual: Someone who does not normally experience sexual attraction, but does experience it sometimes; a person who is gray-a may enjoy and desire sex but generally only under specific and limited circumstances.

Plus (+)

Nonbinary: Anything that falls outside the binary system. Intersex, gender-queer, and bisexuality are all examples of nonbinary identities.

Demisexual: People who only experience sexual attraction once they form a strong emotional connection with another person.

Grey-A: People who identify somewhere between sexual and asexual.

Queerplatonic: People who experience a type of non-romantic relationship where there is an intense emotional connection that goes beyond a traditional friendship.

This is only a brief list of classification/terms that are out there. Happy Pride Month Everyone!!

The Queer Life Coach specializes in working with LGBTQIA+ femme identify individuals during all facets of life, especially those who come out later in life. Working towards the life of dreams can be long and daunting, but when you are able to put in the work and truly embrace your authentic self, it is worth it.

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LGBTQIA+ Resources:

Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/lgbt-pride-month/about/

United States Census: https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/lgbt-pride-month.html

Human Rights Campaign: https://www.hrc.org/resources/coming-out

The Trevor Project: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

Planned Parenthood: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/sexual-orientation/sexual-orientation/whats-coming-out

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