LMSW LGBTQ+ Population

Cisgender

a person whose gender identity aligns with the sex assigned to them at birth

Gender-Affirming Surgery (GAS)

Surgical procedures that help people adjust their bodies to match their innate gender identity more closely.

Gender Identity

How individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves

Gender Dysphoria

The distress caused when a person’s assigned sex at birth and assumed gender is not the same as the one with which they identify.

Gender non-confirming

A broad term referring to people who do not behave in a way that conforms to the traditional expectations of their gender, or whose gender expression does not fit neatly into a category.

Genderqueer

people who typically reject notions of static categories of gender and embrace a fluidity of gender identity and often sexual orientation.

Intersex

a person is born with sexual and or reproductive anatomy or chromosomal patterns that don’t fit the standard binary categorization of male or female bodies.

sexual orientation

a person’s identity in relation to the gender(s) to which they are emotionally, romantically and/or sexually attracted.

Transgender

an umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or expression is different from cultural expectations based on the sex they were assigned at birth.

Conversion therapy

a dangerous and unethical practice that holds the goal of changing a person’s sexual orientation, attempting to “convert” them from gay/bisexual to straight

Navigating the process if “coming out”

can look different for everyone depending on their stage of life.

• how will it affect their relationships with others, is it safe for them emotionally/ physically

• prepare for possible changes by others

• process potential internal and external homophobia

risk factors

greater risk for discrimination, verbal abuse, physical assaults, violence, suicide and even childhood sexual abuse

working with couples where one person has not come out

• support both clients

• respect the other person’s decision to com out (or not) on their own term

• other member may not feel like they are able to live freely due to the SO choice