Supporting a LGBTQIA+ young person cont.
Note that sex and gender are not the same. A person’s ‘sex’ generally refers to their biological and physiological characteristics such as chromosomes, hormones, and reproductive organs. Gender identity refers to a person’s internal and individual experience of gender (such as the way they present themselves, their personal relationship with gender and gender roles, and desired usage of gendered language for themselves). Someone’s gender is not always the same as the sex that person was assigned at birth (137). When supporting a young person, do not make assumptions about: – The young person’s sexuality or gender identity based on the way they look, act, talk, dress, who their friends are, or whether they have children – The way the young person is likely to behave or think based on your knowledge of the young person’s LGBTQIA+ experience – The young person’s sexuality based on their gender identity, and vice versa If you identity as LGBTQIA+, you should not make assumptions based on your own experience. LGBTQIA+ terminology It can be difficult for a young person to disclose their sexuality or gender identity. This can be because of the language people may use around them. Many assumptions that people make, and terms people use, are based on the cultural norms of heterosexuality and cisgender (cisgender means people who describe themselves as the sex they were assigned at birth) experiences, e.g., asking a woman if she has a boyfriend or husband.
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