#INCLUDING the statistics for being gay and lgbt

[absentmoon]

i think my old hs principal has tried to out me from beyond the grave

[letters-to-lgbt-kids]

My dear lgbt+ kids, 

Did you know the practice of meditation can have side effects? Some people experience adverse reactions to meditation, such as heightened anxiety or depression or even delusions and hallucinations. 

What does that have to do with being lgbt? Well, nothing - but meditation is often seen as one of those “healthy things everyone should do”, something that just has so many benefits and doesn’t require you to take anything or undergo any kind of surgery, something that it’s widely recommended and accepted as healing… and even THAT super great thing has some people who will regret doing it. 

Not a perfect comparison, nothing ever is, but you see the analogy coming: Transition (social or hormonal or surgical) is super beneficial to many people. And there are also some people who will regret it. 

Any kind of health decision - and really any decision at all - can end with you regretting it. That’s a part of life. 

“Protecting people from making a decision they might regret” sounds like such a noble goal. We want to live in a world where people can make informed decisions. Education, including on risks and side effects, is something to strive for. But it’s important to remember that we can not live in a world where nobody ever regrets anything. 

People can regret getting their ears pierced. People can regret buying a car. People can regret going to university. People can regret having sex with someone. People can regret marriage. People can regret moving to a different state. People can regret coming out as gay. People can regret hip replacement surgery. And yes, people can also regret transitioning. 

If we seriously wanted to protect people from ever regretting anything, we would need to just take any deciding power away  (and then who would we give it to? Whoever makes our decisions for us then, they could also make a decision they end up regretting!). 

Another reason why this analogy works: I told you meditation has side effects and people regret it - but I pretty conveniently left out that it’s pretty rare for that to happen. Meditation is generally very safe and has a really low regret rate. Plus, people who regret it may not regret that they choose to meditate all together but rather report that they regret a specific experience (such as choosing silent meditation over guided meditation or going on a meditation retreat that lasted multiple days). 

Similar to that, transition also has a low regret rate (statistically much lower than tattoos or hip replacement surgery for example!) - and people who regret it may not actually be a case of “I regret it because I realized I’m not transgender”, even if that’s what transphobes tell you. Some people still identify as transgender but regret their surgery because they experienced complications (as they can arise from any kind of medical procedure). Some people regret it because they lost friends or family or job opportunities after coming out. And so on. 

The topic of regret is much more complicated than “meditation is actually bad” or “they woke up one day and realized they were brainwashed into believing they were trans”. And it’s unfair to not only the ones who will never regret it but also to the ones who do regret it to reduce their stories to a cautionary tale meant to stop people from making a decision over their own body.

“We need to protect people from making decisions they might regret” just isn’t a good argument. 

With all my love, 

Your Tumblr Dad 

[lowresolutioncryptid]

I’ve been seeing a lot of terfs deny the very clear link between trans exclusionism and nvzism/white supremacy simply because they do not understand the history behind it. ignorance is not a legitimate excuse to perpetuate systems of white supremacy. And it is further testament to the harm that banning critical race theory and queer studies in schools is doing to y’all’s brains. Because if I’m being completely honest, I’m seeing an alarming amount of self-identified terfs and radfems who are legit STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL. YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE. My blog is 18+, not for children, anyone under 18 gets immediately blocked. Anyway…

Transphobia and anti-blackness are historically linked and continue, to this day, to be overlapping forms of systemic oppression. Black trans women, specifically, have higher murder rates than any other group. Both trans and black people statistically face more medical discrimination than cis and white people, respectively. The combination of both of these marginalized identities forms a particular and very sinister intersection of oppression.

Not only do both of these systems of privilege work to uphold the social and structural power of cis people and white people.. biological essentialism and transphobia also, historically, were used to define the beliefs of white supremacy and race essentialism. Race essentialism is the false belief that it is “natural order” for whites to oppress other races. For centuries, white “philosophers” made up a whole list of pseudoscientific “reasons” WHY they believed racism was “natural”. One of them was the idea that “distinct and separate biological sexes were the mark of a more evolved race-“ meaning the white race.. they compared European patriarchal sex roles and gender roles to the matriarchal cultures and gender variance that they observed in communities of color.

I have seen terfs accuse people who bring up this historical fact of “masculinizing” black women and women of color, which is a very real issue, but in this case and with historical context, that is a misunderstanding and most of the time is being said by people who want to silence trans people and shut down any criticism of terfism.

Acknowledging the thousands of years of acceptance of gender variance and third/fourth gender categories within pre-colonial African, Indigenous, Latin, Asian, & Middle eastern cultures, is not to blame for the masculinization of women of color, and as a matter of fact: the invention and enforcement of Eurocentric gender roles REQUIRES and RELIES on the masculinization of women of color in order to uphold white women’s place within white supremist systems as the “ideal of femininity” that they can then weaponize against women of color when they do not adhere to those Eurocentric standards.

During times of enslavement and segregation, black women were forced, legally and socially, to conform to very strict Eurocentric femininity standards in order to avoid harassment and violence, and if they deviated from these norms and codes they were dehumanized, masculinized, and were “made into examples” of white femininity being “superior”. Gender roles and biological essentialism do not exist in a vacuum outside of the white supremist systems that they were created within and invented to maintain. To imply that all women share the same experiences within these systems is akin to saying “I don’t see color”.. it’s denying the lived experiences of people of color.

Most gays are familiar with the symbol of the pink triangle, the badge worn by LGBT victims of ww2 concentration camps, but the transgender victims are often overlooked..

“Hitler’s Nazi government, however, brutally targeted the trans community, deporting many trans people to concentration camps and wiping out vibrant community structures.” - Museum of Jewish Heritage.

The US holocaust memorial museum that holds remembrance vigils for the victims persecuted by the nazis, under the Obama administration, included both gay men and transgender people in their list of victims. However, under the Trump administration this was changed to only include gay men. When asked about this change one of the museum’s head curators responded that because trans people were viewed by the nazis as indistinguishable from gay men that they are “included” with the definition. This is an obvious cop-out. The other reason that they gave was that the term “transgender” was only officially coined in the 1980’s, despite the thriving population of German trans people and gender-nonconforming subcultures that pre-date the nazi control of Germany.

Ancient Judaism recognizes at least six (6) distinct sex categories and gender roles, our women fulfilling “traditionally masculine” roles and vice versa.. this is a direct threat and opposition to nazism which relies on Eurocentric patriarchal gender roles. White women serve one purpose within nazi ranks: BIOLOGICAL incubators for white babies. If you don’t have 1) European genetic material 2) biological capabilities of reproduction (vagina, womb, mammaries) to be exploited for domestic labor, you are not considered a “true” woman by nazis. “Woman” being defined within nazism by biological, reproductive traits is so eerily similar to terf’s definition of woman that the only explanation for still perpetuating these ideas that I can think of, other than apathy or being full blown nazis, would be ignorance and historical illiteracy. The systemic eradication and erasure of trans and gender-nonconforming people by the nazi party was essential in maintaining these standards at a structural level, as well as the reinforcement of these false beliefs within popular culture. In order to maintain that false image of “dominance” “supremacy”, they had to invent a subclass that was then deemed “inferior” by their own standards.

When trans people of color and trans Jews are explicitly telling y’all that the harmful rhetoric you spread about trans people has DIRECT historical links to white supremacy and nazism, and (whether intentionally or unintentionally) upholds these systems that are killing us, it’s not your place to dig your heels into the ground and come up with excuses. It’s your place to listen and reevaluate your views.

[fandomhop]

hello friend, what is fable? you seem to like it a lot and i gotta be honest i dont know the first thing about it. now,, i COULD ask google but i think that you could explain it better mhm mhm

[Oh boy! /affectionate]

[So, in a general, overall statement, Fable is a series of games from the 2000's-2010's. It's a quintessential bit of adventure fantasy, and totally progressive of its time.]

[Fable, as a whole, is about making your own sort of path within the story, and having your actions reflected on the world and yourself. It has a cool morality morphing system where, when you do something good or bad, not only does it affect the funny lil' NPCs around you, but it also reflects on your body. Do enough good actions, your complexion becomes glowing and you have a halo, do enough bad and you become more demonic looking.]

[There's actually both a deep and semi-shallow amount of lore. The first game was deffo built upon the bending and twisting of stories and folklore- you know, fables- and the games after followed along centuries after that, showing a world trying to grow past it's story built roots, but not being completely rid of them, even as technology grows and advances.]

[It's also British as hell. But, like, in a fun way! There's a fun and wonderful mix of light and darkness, sincerity and satire, sadness and humour. There's these beasties called Hobbes that are these sorta ugly things that act silly in and out of combat, but they also eat human flesh and are rumored to turn children into them. Some of them turn into kamikazes and they like teddy bears.]

[Also you can kick chickens (they're fine, don't worry about it, they have reinforced feathers)]

[Your character is a Hero (with the capital H), a person who is born to be able to deal with the struggles of protecting or commanding respect of the common man. You can wield and utilize Strength, Skill and Will, the trio of combat skills. The combat is a bit simple, but it's also fun and easy to get into. You can also upgrade with experience points to get better with your weapons and will powers.]

[I think the story, world, and characters of Fable: The Lost Chapters are extremely iconic, but the character building and development starts to really shine in the later games. All the games have wonderful setting appearance, though. Looking at pictures of Fable are these beautiful settings and desktop/screen background worthy scenes. The people look a bit silly, though.]

[Also? This game series is also progressive bc of its LGBT+ rep. The first game got called out for letting the male only player Hero marry a man, so the next game include bisexuals. Fable 3 lets you adopt children, regardless of your spouse's gender. There's a potion that lets you trans your gender (available only once in a quest after the main quest) and no one bats an eye to it (if you have a straight spouse, they won't immediately divorce you as long as you treat them well, but they won't have sex either.) There's a quest where you help out a guy find a suitor who is secretly gay, and the end of the quest is him coming out to his dad and being accepted. You can wear clothes of either gender, and get tattoos, hair, and facial hair regardless of your sex. (there is a cross-dressing statistic, but the Brits love a bit of cross-dressing humour.)]

[Now, I will not lie and say that they are perfect games, there are some flaws with them, and Fable 3 gets a bit of a bad rap for it's heavy streamlining, but I can genuinely say that these games are cherished a lot. Fable 2 is my go-to favourite game ever, and every once and a blue moon, I will be revitalized with a longing for the series. If you wanna get into it, I think it's a fun time for an old-ish game, and I really hope the new one that's coming out in {*looks at wrist*} the-yet-to-be-announced-future will be as cherishable, even if it's slightly different.]

[Also? Like, every time I (re)enter an interest/fixation, I make a little Fable AU in my head to consider what kind of heroes the characters might be.]

[thebanishedreader]

Book Bans in California

As of June 2023

This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson

Banned from libraries and classrooms as of September 2022.

Synopsis from BookTrust.org

"Following her previous book Being a Boy, young adult author and former PSHCE teacher Juno Dawson offers up a funny, frank look at all things LGBT in this intelligently-written non-fiction book. 

Including testimonials from people across the gender and sexual spectrums, this is an accessible and inclusive take on what it's like to grow up LGBT, addressing all the worries and anxieties young people may have about this topic - whether or not they are questioning their own sexuality. Dawson writes responsibly and sensitively about her subject, but has plenty of fun along the way - and Spike Gerrell's irreverent illustrations add an extra dose of humour too.

A fantastic book for classrooms and school libraries, This Book is Gay is a must-read for teachers and parents, as well as teens themselves."

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Blackwell's (UK)

Statistics Source: Pen America

Support the American Library Association!

[meirimerens]

as a simple pole it brings me so much joy that you had fun on your holiday. think most of my fellow polish elgebeetees can relate when i say i've got a complicated relationship with the country and due to the Horrors i often forget how much good is there too.... you're making me want to go to warsaw so bad. pozdrawiam + miłego dnia + daję ci pączka

i so get it darling i was hanging out with polish elgeebeetees the whole time [that's just how it turned out] and we discussed this here and there. other poles have mentioned how my Whimsical polishposting allowed them to see their country through my eyes and maybe see it wasn't just The Horrors as you've mentioned and it's an experience i've lived [in different circumstances] about mine. i needed to travel to see the beauty of my own country back home, and also hearing people experience it as something new re-opened my eyes to things i am so accustomed to and take almost for granted.

i was also telling them how i've seen more pride flags in warsaw than i have anywhere in my Statistically-Less-Homophobic country, including in the capital, and we have the same reasoning that because the homophobic voices (whether they be a minority, a majority, a median, whatever it is it's Loud) are so loud in the country, the resistance must be even louder. there are pockets of resistance, of lgbt+ poles being loud and happy and standing their ground about it, or heterosexual allies who are willing to be louder than the inactive compliance of Not Showing.

on that topic, the sitting room closest to the bar in Same Fusy tea room has a bunch of stickers on the wall that are Explicitly lgbt+ affirming, and while i personally don't care too much because I'll Go Where I Damn Please [i enter churches with glee and whimsy, and i know the position of the church on homosexuals like me, but i am of the belief that If They're So Mad About It They Can Take It Up With Customer Service [the Big Guy]] it did feel good. it did feel nice. as i've said, i haven't seen that many in my country except in explicitly lgbt-centric/inclusive spaces because the general consensus is that acceptation is like Implicit (now whether or not that's actually done. well i shan't speak) so it felt even more like. an Act Of Going Forward. meeting me [gay] where i stand, and not trying to bait me into stepping forward... you know what i mean?

in the capitals as always it will be more accepting because More People esp. More Young People but you know. was a homosexual in the polish countryside was a homosexual holding the polish bees and scratching the beautiful polish foal and mare. there are pockets of resistance like pockets of air underwater where you see people and meet people you recognize and see eye to eye and go places where people will make bluntly sure to show you you're wished here. the horrors might be prolific. but baby we have to serve. we have to keep on serving. we find each other.

bons baisers + you too darling + accepting the pączek ravenously and with great enthusiasm

[hellomynameisbisexual]

Through the years, the term ‘bisexuality’ has undergone a series of redefinitions, and for many bisexuals it holds a deeply personal meaning that has taken years for them to work out. Terms like pansexual and omni-sexual are often included under the umbrella of bisexuality and certainly carry similar aspects. Bisexuality doesn’t have to be limited to being attracted to both men and women, bi advocate and author Robyn Ochs defines bisexuality as “the potential to be attracted — romantically and/or sexually — to people of more than one sex and/or gender,” and includes those who fall on different parts of the gender spectrum.

New terms like bisexuality+ and bi+ have popped up to include the attraction of sexual identities beyond the L and G, including those who are gender queer, fluid, or trans, as well as cisgendered male and females. Bisexuality, simply, is a much more open term for anyone who isn’t attracted to just one gender.

It is a common myth that bisexuals are the least stigmatised of the LGBT+ community. That to be bisexual you can simply date a straight person to camouflage into the heteronormative landscape and thereby escape a lot of the problems associated with being LGBT+. According to GLAAD, bisexuals have higher rates of anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders compared to gays, lesbians and heterosexuals. The Office for National Statistics has found that bisexual woman are twice as likely as their straight counterparts to experience domestic abuse from a partner. While bisexual men are disproportionally affected by HIV and STIs, according to a study from the American Journal of Preventative Medicine – many have blamed biphobia and the stigma against bisexual men, as many bisexual men are too ashamed to seek out proper healthcare.

Further studies have found that 37.3 percent of bisexual adults have reported experiencing depression, compared to 17.2 percent of heterosexual adults. While according to the Pew Research Center, Only 28% of bi or pan people ever feel safe enough to come out to their friends and family. Human Rights Campaign have found that bisexual people face "minority stress," and are more likely to engage in self-harming behaviours and attempted suicide than gay, lesbian, or heterosexual adults. This correlates with a study in the Journal of Adolescent Health, which has found that bisexual and questioning females are at a higher risk of depression or suicide than any other sexual denomination.

“Identifying as bisexual often feels like you're stuck in limbo — not “gay” enough for some, and not “straight” enough for others.”

Many have argued these problems are exasperated because bisexuality is often ignored by the media, academics, and society at large. This is the crux of ‘bi-erasure’, which is defined by GLAAD as “a pervasive problem in which the existence or legitimacy of bisexuality (either in general or in regard to an individual) is questioned or denied outright.”

“Identifying as bisexual often feels like you're stuck in limbo — not “gay” enough for some, and not “straight” enough for others,” writes Kyli Rodriguez-Cayro for Bustle. “While bi people make up 52 percent of the LGBTQ community, they are sometimes excluded from the narrative at Pride festivals and LGBTQ celebrations because of biphobia and bi erasure. Bi erasure is a serious problem that isn't just promoted by straight people, but on occasion, by the non-bi queer community as well.”

“Bisexuals cop biphobia from all sides, from our own community and from straights."

Elizabeth Sutherland writes for SBS about her struggles with occupying both straight and queer spaces and feeling ostracized by both. “There is a privilege in passing as straight, but there is a cost, too. The knowledge that you’re only being treated well, or equally, because part of your self is concealed is a difficult burden to carry… Bisexuals are seen as predatory, promiscuous, untrustworthy, adulterous and confused. We’re vilified as fence-sitters, or just plain greedy. In my line of work I’m in contact with young people all day. It’s easier to reassure colleagues and parents that I’m respectable when I’m seen as a lesbian in a steady relationship. But if I try to describe myself as bisexual—well, for starters, it sounds more sexual.”

Rebecca Dominguez, president of Bisexual Alliance Victoria, explains that “bisexuals cop biphobia from all sides, from our own community and from straights... the reason it’s easier to identify as lesbian than bisexual is that lesbians don't get any homophobia from within the LGBTI communities.”

Unfortunately, the bisexual community oftentimes isn’t united enough to combat these struggles as effectively as the gay and lesbian communities have. Lewis, 26, explains to the Huffington Post: “bisexuals are often invisible from each other. The UK has no mainstream bisexual magazines for us to discuss our issues in. We have no apps to connect us. We have no venues to meet others like us and make friends. I’m one of the most profiled bisexual men in the country yet sadly I’ve never been in a room with even 10 other bisexual men my age. It’s a lonely sexuality, I have no one to talk to that understands some of the unique bi issues I face.

“Another thing that isn’t talked about is the attacks on our straight partners. My girlfriend and I have been together for 18 months, in that time I’d say she has received more abuse than me. People don’t think twice about telling her that I’m going to cheat on her, that she’ll never be enough for me, that’s she’s going to catch HIV. These people have never met me yet they feel it’s fine to cast doubt in my girlfriend’s mind. They’d be perfectly happy for my girlfriend to dump me because of my sexuality and what’s worse is they’d feel the world was back in balance.”

Rob, 41, puts it succinctly enough for the Huffington Post: “Bi-erasure may seem like a small problem but it is thought that bi-invisibility is one of the reasons that, according to several reports, bisexuals have higher rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide than straight, gay and lesbian people.”

The problems bisexuals face are too dangerous to continue being ignored by the LGBT+ community. If you dismiss a bisexual person as simply going through a phase, not being truthful, after attention, or just being promiscuous then you are part of the problem. Bisexuals make up most of our community and their plight is the same as ours. Standing together and acknowledging the disproportionate mental health issues and discrimination they face, as well as the biphobia within our own community will only strengthen us. Besides, with more young people identifying as queer than ever before, bi-erasure might rapidly become a thing of the past.

[fortressofserenity]

Hell on Earth?

The reason why I'm putting out these prophecies because very soon Philippine television will openly air something blatantly Satanic in the coming hours, where we're going to see Pentagrams, Satanic rituals and the like. This will also include LGBT and polyamory to be more inclusive, but that's what the Devil really wanted: he wants to corrupt the Philippines and he'll actually do this! It's going to be aired on Philippine television, pentagrams and all.

But that's not all since in the following months we'll have more blatantly Satanic programmes every week, coupled with inclusivity that it seems the Devil's out to ruin Philippine people and he'll succeed at just that. More and more Filipinos will turn against the Church for being corrupt and behind the times, then openly practising the occult as a way to reclaim their roots and fight oppression where they see fit.

This is something a lot of Philippine youths will be doing, because they think their parents are oppressive so they'll openly turn to Satanism to remedy this. Since the Devil delights in sin and disobedience, this will really be the case in the very near future. As rebellion and witchcraft are related or similar, many Philippine youths wouldn't just rebel against their parents but also the church.

So they'll turn to Wicca, Satanism and any other form of occultism in addition to LGBT and polyamrous activism to fight back against colonial and Christian norms, because they'll be seen as outdated and oppressive. They'll even pressure the Congress to legalise gay marriage and Satanism, which they'll succeed at those two. But this only sets up for the Philippines to get conquered by China.

It's no different from God allowing Babylon to conquer Judah for the same reason and circumstance, it's going to happen as a sign of his judgement and indignation towards the Philippines for being rebellious and disobedient that he's going to allow China to conquer the Philippines forever. You get what you deserve. What goes around, comes around and what goes up must come down.

The Philippines is very hardhearted and rebellious, but it will repent under Chinese occupation even if it can't entirely escape the consequences of its actions where it's be totally Sinicised forever. This is something Filipinos should care about because we're becoming rebellious and we're backsliding faster than the Europeans and North Americans have.

It will officially be so when it comes to statistics come 2025 and this is where God is telling me this, that's why Filipinos should take heed of this because worse times are coming and it's all our fault why China conquered us, because we're disobedient and foolish deep down inside. So repent Philippines, repent.

[vishwal12santosh]

what percentage of the population is lgbt

When we talk about the LGBT population, we’re referring to individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Understanding the size of this community can help in creating a more inclusive and supportive society. So, what percentage of the population is LGBT? Let's dive into the numbers and their significance.

The Numbers Behind the LGBT Population

The percentage of people who identify as LGBT can vary depending on the source and methodology of surveys. However, a commonly referenced statistic comes from the Gallup Poll, which has been tracking LGBT identification in the United States for several years. According to their 2021 data, about 5.6% of U.S. adults identify as LGBT.

Also Read: https://digizidoc.com/

This number has been steadily increasing over the years, likely due to growing social acceptance and more people feeling comfortable to self-identify. It's also worth noting that younger generations, particularly Gen Z, show higher percentages of LGBT identification compared to older generations.

Global Perspective

The percentage of the LGBT population can differ worldwide due to cultural, social, and legal factors that affect self-reporting. For instance, a 2020 survey by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) suggested that LGBT identification in various countries ranges from 1% to 10%.

In countries with more progressive attitudes towards LGBT rights, such as those in Western Europe, the numbers tend to be higher. Conversely, in regions where there is significant social stigma or legal repercussions for being LGBT, such as parts of Africa and the Middle East, the reported percentages are lower.

Also Read: Boost Your SEO Strategy with SWOT Analysis

Factors Influencing LGBT Identification

Several factors can influence the percentage of people who identify as LGBT:

Social Acceptance: In more accepting societies, individuals may feel more comfortable coming out. Acceptance can be fostered through education, representation in media, and supportive policies.

Legal Protections: Places with strong anti-discrimination laws and protections for LGBT individuals often see higher rates of self-identification. Legal recognition of same-sex marriages and protections against hate crimes contribute to a safer environment for coming out.

Survey Methodology: The way questions are asked can impact responses. Anonymity and the framing of questions play crucial roles. Surveys that assure confidentiality and use inclusive language tend to yield more accurate representations.

Also Read: AI Evolution How Intelligent Machines Are Shaping Our World

Why These Numbers Matter

Understanding the percentage of the population that is LGBT is crucial for several reasons:

Policy Making: Governments can create better policies to protect LGBT rights, such as anti-discrimination laws, and health and social services that cater to the needs of the LGBT community.

Healthcare: Tailoring healthcare services to meet the specific needs of LGBT individuals, including mental health support and specialized medical care, is essential for their well-being.

Social Support: Enhancing support systems in communities, schools, and workplaces can lead to more inclusive environments where LGBT individuals feel valued and accepted.

Moving Towards Inclusivity

Recognizing the diversity within our communities is the first step toward inclusivity. Whether the percentage is 5.6% or varies across different regions, every individual’s identity is valid and deserves respect. Here are some steps to foster inclusivity:

Education: Educating the public about LGBT issues can reduce stigma and promote understanding.

Representation: Increasing LGBT representation in media, politics, and other public spheres can help normalize diverse identities.

Support Networks: Creating and supporting LGBT groups and networks within communities and workplaces can provide a sense of belonging and safety.

Challenges and Considerations

While understanding the percentage of the LGBT population is important, it's also crucial to recognize the challenges faced by this community. Many LGBT individuals experience discrimination, mental health issues, and lack of access to appropriate healthcare. By addressing these challenges, society can better support the LGBT community.

Conclusion

The percentage of the population that identifies as LGBT might seem like just a number, but it represents real people with unique experiences and needs. By understanding these numbers, we can work towards a society that is more accepting, inclusive, and supportive of all its members.

Remember, the journey towards inclusivity starts with awareness and education. Let's continue to learn and grow together, embracing the diversity that makes our communities richer and more vibrant.

Also Read: Boost Your Rankings with SEO Experts

[andrewsoc438]

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Families

In 2016, a research article on LGBT Families was published and it addresses different ways there are to create a family for a queer person. As well as the various struggles they may encounter when creating their family. The article also goes over how these families go through a lot from the planning stages of having children to having their children and any other discrimination they may face as a family by being queer parents. A key point of the article is how a healthcare provider should properly be familiar with all types of families including queer families. As looking for a healthcare provider that accepts and is welcoming to queer families is vital when in the process of starting a queer family.

In the research article done by Cecil R. Webster MD and Cynthia J. Telingator MD, they created a vignette of a same-sex couple of color that are looking for a doctor for their son and their new child whom they are expecting. The authors also use quantitative measures as data collection and statistics as their main research methodology to back up their findings.

Barriers that hinder queer parents can often be facing stigmatization from their own families or any outsiders which could have them possibly reconsider even becoming parents. They also need to think of their future children when they get older as well because while we do live in a more progressive time there still are bigoted people and bigoted people make bigoted children; so these queer parents have to worry as well if their child will be bullied or made fun of for having queer parents. While this article did have its limitations from the lack of data for gay fathers and transgender parents. I believe that future research could benefit them by conducting their own research to get more diverse results.

[leiajoydesign]

5th January 2023 - Research

LGBTQ+ Facts & Statistics

At Work

More than a third of LGBT staff (35%) have hidden that they are LGBT at work for fear of discrimination.

Almost two in five bi people (38%) aren’t out to anyone at work about their sexual orientation, compared to seven per cent of gay men and four per cent of lesbians.

One in four trans people (26%) aren’t open with anyone at work about being trans. This number increases to about two in five non-binary people (37%) who aren’t out at work.

Almost one in five LGBT staff (18%) have been the target of negative comments or conduct from work colleagues because they’re LGBT.

Almost one in five LGBT people (18%) who were looking for work said they were discriminated against because of their identity while trying to get a job.

At University

Two in five LGBT students (42%) have hidden their identity at university for fear of discrimination.

More than a third of trans students (36%) and seven per cent of lesbian, gay and bi students who aren’t trans faced negative comments or conduct from university staff because they’re LGBT.

Almost half of LGBT disabled students (47%) have been the target of negative comments or conduct from other students.

More than a quarter of LGBT students (28%) say they were excluded by other students for being LGBT.

Students intend to be more open about their sexual orientation and gender identity in higher education, with overall levels of openness increasing from 64% at school to an expected 82% at university or college.When researching university choices, around a third (31%) of LGBT+ students paid specific attention to LGBT+ services. These included mental health support services (47% extremely interested) and university or college reputation in equality and diversity (46% extremely interested). 30% were extremely interested in LGBT+ societies and 21% were extremely interested in support networks for LGBT+ students.

Education

42% of LGBT+ school pupils have been bullied in the past year, double the number of non-LGBT+ pupils (21%).

48% of pupils have had little to no positive messaging about being LGBT+ at school in the last year. However, pupils whose schools had positive messaging about being LGBT+ also had reduced suicidal thoughts and feelings – regardless of whether they are LGBT+ or not.

Half of LGBT pupils hear homophobic slurs 'frequently' or 'often' at school.

Seven in ten LGBT pupils report that their school says that homophobic and biphobic bullying is wrong, up from half in 2012 and a quarter in 2007. However, just two in five LGBT pupils report that their schools say that transphobic bullying is wrong.

Just one in five LGBT pupils have been taught about safe sex in relation to same-sex relationships.

Two in five LGBT pupils (40%) are never taught anything about LGBT issues at school.

Almost nine in ten secondary school teachers (86%) and almost half of primary school teachers (45%) say that pupils in their schools have experienced homophobic bullying.

Almost all teachers – 96% in secondary schools and 91% in primary schools – who have addressed lesbian, gay or bisexual issues or different families received no complaints from parents for doing so.

[thebanishedreader]

Book Bans in Massachusetts

As of June 2023

This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson

Banned pending investigation as of October 2022, based on a formal challenge.

Synopsis from BookTrust.org

"Following her previous book Being a Boy, young adult author and former PSHCE teacher Juno Dawson offers up a funny, frank look at all things LGBT in this intelligently-written non-fiction book. 

Including testimonials from people across the gender and sexual spectrums, this is an accessible and inclusive take on what it's like to grow up LGBT, addressing all the worries and anxieties young people may have about this topic - whether or not they are questioning their own sexuality. Dawson writes responsibly and sensitively about her subject, but has plenty of fun along the way - and Spike Gerrell's irreverent illustrations add an extra dose of humour too.

A fantastic book for classrooms and school libraries, This Book is Gay is a must-read for teachers and parents, as well as teens themselves."

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Blackwell's (UK)

Statistics Source: Pen America

Support the American Library Association!

[the-witchhunter]

The issue with "no explicit evidence" is that there's usually not explicit evidence that shows the character is straight either

All canon "straight" relationships show is that the character is attracted to the opposite gender, but does not exclude same gender attraction.

but the thing is, unless it's actually relevant to the story sexuality is rarely actually brought up. Every "straight" character doesn't actually say they are straight, and it's just an assumption based on the expectation that they are straight

like fine, it's okay to think characters are straight, but having it as a rule is wild. "character's are always straight unless they say otherwise" just assumes that straight is the default that you're poorly trying to use statistics to support. In Danny Phantom, sexuality is never brought up, so by that rule "straight until proven otherwise" literally every character is straight in the show

And what do statistics actually say about that?

Statistics would actually imply that a percentage of all the characters are gay, bi, trans, etc and as such implies there are more characters that fall under the queer umbrella than are actually explicitly being stated as such.

but yeah as halfagone said his existence as a half ghost in the show actually maps very well to being a queer allegory. There's similar experiences that many LGBT+ folk have to deal with including hiding what you are from openly bigoted parents

Is it bad that I don’t necessarily agree with what seems to be a lot of people’s headcanon of Danny not being straight? Obviously people can headcanon whatever they want, but I myself strictly adhere to the rule that if there is no explicit evidence or implications from canon that prove otherwise, that I just assume a character is straight since that’s statistically what is most common?

You had me in the first part but you lost me in the second, unfortunately. You said it yourself, people can headcanon whatever they want. If you prefer him being straight, then that's really up to you! But that last line you just said is a little something called 'heteronormativity' and I'm not going to explain that here.

Moreover, I would definitely say that it can be very tricky to use 'explicit evidence' for reasoning, because it's a very slippery slope.

I'll use some other childrens' cartoons as examples to make my point clear here: In The Legends of Korra, Korra dates only guys for almost the entirety of the show. But in the very last episode, she and Asami become a couple. I know a lot of people say that they just threw that out there, but if you do some research you'll find out that the showrunners fought so hard to get just that scene in the show. If they could, they probably would have added more elements to their relationship and gave them more obvious on-screen chemistry. But they weren't allowed to.

In Voltron: Legendary Defenders, we find out in Season 7 out of 8 that before the Kerberos mission, Shiro had been engaged to a man named Adam. While the two ultimately broke off their engagement because Adam didn't agree with Shiro's decision to go on the mission despite his illness, we do see in the series finale that Shiro gets married to Curtis, who was a member of the Atlas crew.

Probably one of the more famous examples, The Owl House! As we know this is a Disney channel show, but the wonderful creator Dana Terrance made it beautifully, openly queer. And Disney didn't quite like that, so they cancelled the series. After which, the showrunners essentially decided for the final abbreviated season, "Fuck it!" And did whatever they wanted, as far as they were allowed to go.

Dave Filoni has said that he shipped Ahsoka Tano and Barriss Offee and we could have seen a romance from the pair. (And yes, this does make the betrayal that much worse.) I could use Steven Universe as an example, but I think I've made this section of my point clear here.

We only see one side of the show. We get to see the finished product, not all the hard work the showrunners and writers and artists and producers put into getting what queer representation they could. We probably wouldn't have seen any of this from Danny Phantom as a show, because we all know Butch Hartman is homophobic as fuck, but that doesn't mean there was nothing there that we as a fandom couldn't have taken to mean something else.

In the episode, "One of a Kind", there's a scene where Danny and Tucker are seen cuddling comfortably in each other's embrace. Of course friends can do this too. Hell, they can even be in something called a ✨ queerplatonic relationship ✨ but that is still queer. Even still that can easily be argued that Danny is just as attracted to guys as he is to girls. You never see Danny act like that around Paulina or Valerie while they were dating.

In "Fanning the Flames", Sam kisses Dash to break Danny out of his mind control. Except... This episode's summary explicitly states, "Danny and Sam find their platonic relationship turned forcibly romantic through the powers of Ember..." Over the show's seasons, we do get bits and pieces of evidence that Sam had a crush on Danny, but it's not until "Frightmare", episode 9 of the last season, that we get a scene where Danny realizes he might have a crush on Sam. I'm sure there are other bits and pieces of evidence, Jack had a ring for some reason in "Girls' Night Out". But "Frightmare" is where we get the first evidence of a possible relationship from them, which is a huge deal because this show is primarily from Danny's perspective.

But that is, quite literally, two seasons apart. So who is to say that- that first time Sam kissed Dash- Danny wasn't jealous of Dash but he was jealous of Sam. Here's what I'm talking about: in "Frightmare" we see in Danny's dream sequence that he wanted to be friends with the A-Listers and that's probably primarily because he likes the idea of being popular, yet in that episode and "Attack of the Killer Garage Sale" it's always Dash that Danny wants to impress and please. In the latter's episode's case almost if not equally as much as Danny did with Paulina, a girl he freely shows his crush on. And yet this is the same guy that makes Danny's school life hell and whom Danny antagonizes on many occasions. This could easily be a case of 'pulling someone's pigtails' and considering Dash's admiration of Phantom, that's not hard to believe on his side of things either.

In general, Danny's entire secret identity can just as easily be a symbolism for queer identity. All of Danny's Rogues know who Danny is, what he is, where he lives, and where he goes to school. And yet it's his parents he has to hide himself from. If you switched out the word 'ghost' for 'gay' or 'queer' in some of the Fentons' anti-ghost rhetoric, it would have been unabashed hate speech.

The Danny Phantom phandom has a lot of queer folks. We've done polls, I've seen the numbers. You said it yourself, anyone is free to headcanon what they want. But considering the community, I am not surprised that Danny being anything but straight is so commonly headcanoned. And maybe that's still not for you, but it's not as shocking as you might expect it to be.

Danny is only 14 years old at the start of the series. While we don't know the exact timeline of the series, and how long it's been when the shows ends, we can comfortably put Danny at 15 or even 16 years old at most. But there are plenty of people who don't realize they're gay or lesbian or bi or ace until they're much, much older. Yeah, we didn't get to see that in canon for obvious reasons, but who's to say we can't show that instead?

[newsfromstolenland]

I read an headline where apparently Dave Chapelle said some homophobic nonesense about monkeypox and gay people. It’s like when people dehumanized queer people during the Aids crisis, it’s happening all over again.

I have so much anger over how monkeypox is being handled, and I'm gonna turn this into an educational opportunity

first of all, it's not a sexually transmitted infection. it just isn't. it causes lesions and scabs that can present anywhere on a person's body, and spreads through contact with said lesions and scabs. it can also spread through respiratory particles, and body fluid contact. which yes, includes semen, but also includes blood and saliva. however, it can spread through anyone's semen, not just gay men. (edit: my phrasing implies that it always causes lesions and scabs which is not the case, here is a list of symptoms)

now that we've disproved that, let's talk about why it is being talked about as a "gay disease". the testing standards in the states only apply to those who have had direct contact with an infected person, and men who have sex with other men. if most of the people you test are gbt+ men, most of the cases you find will be gbt+ men. it skews the statistics.

now onto why this misinformation is so dangerous. the association of a disease or infection with a marginalized group always leads to hate crimes against said group. we saw this during the AIDS crisis against lgbt+ people, and with ebola against black people, and again with COVID against asian people who were perceived as chinese (the latter example is ongoing). people are going to get hurt. people are going to die. I can't understate how much this is going to lead to a spike in homophobic hate crimes.

and if we learned anything from the AIDS crisis, it's that the medical system has no problem denying care to marginalized groups, especially for something that is heavily associated with said groups.

lastly, there is a monkeypox vaccine! research sites near you and go get it as soon as you can.

TLDR: monkeypox is not a "gay disease", it is not an STI/STD, and the framing of it from governments and the media is going to lead to hate crimes. also, get vaccinated against it.

[orionsangel86]

Watching The Sandman again for the hundreth time and I know everyone always loves to focus on Dreamling, but can we talk about Rose Walker for a moment?

The Sandman is often applauded (and complained about) for being an extremely gay show, but I particularly love how even the characters who aren’t canonically gay come across as extremely gay.

Take Rose Walker. The main character of The Doll’s House story. Neither the show nor the comics ever give Rose a sexuality, but there are some very glaring factors that heavily support her being queer.

The first time we see Rose is in episode 5 24/7. Judy, the lesbian at the diner who has had a fight with her girlfriend Donna, calls Rose and asks if Rose knows where Donna is. We know that Rose considers both Judy and Donna close friends and has a picture of Judy in her apartment.

Rose’s only other friend that we know of besides Lyta Hall (who she got to know via proximity since they were neighbours) is her friend Carl who she clearly is close enough with to let him house sit for her (even though he has sex with The Corinthian on her bed!).

So her closest friends are a lesbian couple and a gay man. I know I know straight people can be friends with queer people but statistically speaking queers flock together. Its more likely that Lyta is the token straight in the friend group than Rose AND Lyta both being straight.

I also question her choice of seeking out accomodation in Cape Kennedy. Isn’t it interesting how she ends up in a very strange B&B also managed by a gay drag artist and filled with colourful characters including Chantal and Zelda (I know their relationship is supposed to remain ambiguous but imo the show also leans more into them being lesbians due to Chantal’s dream where she calls them “soul sisters” and “gothic brides” and I dunno I just think the fact she refers to them as brides is pretty telling!)

Of all your accomodation choices in Florida, this in particular seems like the kind of place one would go to if they were specifically looking for somewhere advertised as “LGBT friendly”. All the characters staying at the B&B are either canonically queer or heavily queer coded.

Gilbert/Fiddlers Green isn’t technically human, but his whole aura is distinguished older gay man - he’s played by Stephen Fry after all!

Also I could go on about Barbie (who I theorise found the accomodation for her and Ken) but without revealing any comic spoilers, she also later surrounds herself with basically all queer people. I know in the comics she is strictly heterosexual, but nah she dreams like a queer theatre kid on speed or something lmao. That girl is a bisexual disaster all the way and yeah I may be projecting on her as a fellow blonde overly dramatic dreamer and disaster bisexual but I claim her for my own okay just let me have this.

So yeah, the queer friendship groups, the specific seeking out of an LGBTQ friendly b&b in Florida, and the fact that she literally wears rainbows in her hair and I think its clear enough that that girl is a baby queer if ever I saw one.

Due to the merging of Rose and Lyta’s stories in the Netflix show, we should actually get to see more of Rose in future seasons. In the comics, after the Dolls House book, she doesn’t appear again (unless she turns up in the Wake since I haven’t read that far ahead), but by making her Lyta’s companion in the show, we know she will appear again since Lyta and the baby (Daniel not that he has been named yet in the show) are reoccuring characters throughout the entire Sandman comic run.

Maybe I just crave more lesbian and bisexual women rep in my fave shows, but sitting here watching this show again it just tickles me that in the entirety of season 1, it is so easy to view practically every major female or female presenting character as queer. Joanna Constantine and Rachel, Judy and Bette, Lucifer and Mazikeen (bring on the make out scene in season 2!), Chantal and Zelda, and in my opinion, Rose Walker, Barbie, Lucienne, and Gault are all queer coded WLW.

(Lucienne and Gault is just a ship I love okay but you can’t deny there was some flirting in episode 10!)

It’s been such a crappy year for lesbian rep with lesbian shows getting cancelled left right and centre. I just think lesbians should therefore claim the Sandman as theirs. if nothing else, claim it out of spite. It’s a fantasy show with a pathetic wet cat emo boy as a main character who literally surrounds himself with lesbians, is probably in love with his best friend, and considers a slutty gay serial killer with teeth for eyes his greatest ever creation. It just seems to me like the kind of show that should appeal heavily to WLW okay! Plus there are more lesbians coming in season 2! Encourage your lesbian and bisexual friends to go watch The Sandman now!