LGBTQ+ population Flashcards
A term used to describe a person whose gender identity aligns with the sex assigned to
them at birth.
Cisgender
Surgical procedures that can help people adjust their bodies to match their innate gender
identity more closely. Used interchangeably with gender affirmation, gender
confirmation, and gender-confirming surgery. Not every transgender person will desire or have resources for gender-affirming surgery. Use this term in place of the older term ‘sex
change’. Also sometimes referred to as gender reassignment surgery, genital
reconstruction surgery, or medical transition.
The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) advises
mental health screenings and recommends therapy prior to surgery
Gender-Affirming Surgery (GAS)
One’s innermost concept of self as male, female, a blend of both or neither – how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. One’s gender identity can be the same or different from their sex assigned at birth.
Gender Identity
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. According to the American Psychiatric
Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the term
“…is intended to better characterize the experiences of affected children, adolescents,
and adults.”
Gender Dysphoria
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. While someone who is gender non-conforming many also identify as
transgender, not all gender non-conforming individuals identify as transgender. It can
help to view gender in a continuum that exists with infinite possibilities outside of the binary that is common in our society.
Gender Non-conforming
People who typically reject notions of static categories of gender and embrace a fluidity
of gender identity and often (though not always) sexual orientation. People who identify as “genderqueer” may see themselves as being both male and female, neither male nor
female, or as falling completely outside these categories.
Genderqueer- AKA gender fluid? nonbinary?
This term refers to a variety of conditions where 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. That is, they possess biological
characteristics for both ‘male’ and ‘female’ anatomy and biology. For example, someone
who has both testicular and ovarian tissue.
Intersex
A person’s identity in relation to the gender(s) to which they are emotionally, romantically,
and/or sexually attracted. Note: an individual’s sexual orientation is independent of their gender identity.
Sexual Orientation
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. Being transgender
does not imply any specific sexual orientation. Therefore, transgender people may
identify as straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, etc.
Transgender
sometimes known as “reparative” or “sexual reorientation” therapy – is a
dangerous and unethical practice that holds the goal of changing a person’s sexual orientation, attempting to “convert” them from gay or bisexual to straight.
It violates the NASW Code of Ethics and is therefore unethical to practice as a social worker. It is illegal in some states, but not all.
Conversion Therapy
- Navigating the process of “coming out.” This can look different for everyone at any
stage during a person’s life. It’s important to hold the complexities of the coming out
process including:
○ how this will affect their relationships with friends and family and whether this is
safe for them physically and emotionally at this time
○ preparing for potential changes in how they are viewed by others
○ processing potential internalized and externalized homophobia
● Risk factors: LGBTQ+ people are also at 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. In this case we need to
support both clients. Something to consider here is that when one person is not out
oftentimes their partner might feel like they aren’t able to live as openly or freely. With
that in mind, we still need to respect the other person’s decision to come out (or not) on
their own terms.
● Pronouns: It’s important to ask about pronouns when beginning work with clients (this
can be part of your intake assessment) and to put clients’ pronouns on paperwork. It’s
important to remember that while some of these themes may be true for many clients,
everyone’s individual experiences will vary, and it’s important to listen to the themes that show up for each individual client
Considerations When Working With the LGBTQ+ Population
