Staying on the September theme of Sexual Health, we must respect others’ decisions in life, as well as how they choose to be spoken to. There a plethora of words that can be demeaning, discriminatory, and just plain hurtful to the LGBTQ+ community. Such words should never be used and should be the start of an educational conversation.
DISCLAIMER: I will be using very vulgar and nasty words in this blog post. Again, these words should never be used and may make you feel uncomfortable. If you do not feel comfortable being uncomfortable or reading such words, I would recommend not reading this post. Do keep in mind that this is meant to be educational and enlightening, not a means to disrespect anyone. As always, I appreciate your support, and completely understand if you choose not to continue reading. Thank you for understanding!
!!!WARNING: THIS IS YOUR Last chance to exit the blog post!!!
NEVER, EVER, EVERRR USE: Fag, faggot, dyke, cunt, twat, pussy, bitch, whore, slut, tranny/transvestite, ho/hoe, he-she, she-man, and sometimes queer (even though some say it has been reclaimed in the LGBTQ+ community). UGH! Even typing these words makes me feel disrespectful… Let me stress this again, THESE WORDS SHOULD NOT BE USED AT ALL IN ANY CONTEXT, “except in direct quotes that clearly reveal the bias of the person quoted” (https://www.glaad.org/reference/offensive). Some words I do not know or remember, but these are the “popular” words that ignorant people love to throw around.
The reasons why we do not want to use these words are because they are demeaning, disrespectful, demoralizing, defamatory, dehumanizing, and any other “de-” word you can think of. In essence, these words make people feel less human and take away their identity, and without an identity, people can become miserable, depressed, and feel worthless. Imagine feeling worthless? Feeling without worth, value, or use…a terrible thought and sensation that people live with (simply because of others’ own bias).
To add insult to injury, there are also statements and questions that people ask someone in the LGBTQ+ community that are not okay to state or ask. Try and do your best to avoid these statements/questions, because they do carry underlying implications. These include: “No homo, that is so gay, bisexuality does not exist, you are too femme/butch to be…, you do not look like a woman/man, what is your real name?, what are you really?” (https://lgbtqia.ucdavis.edu/educated/words).
From the website glaad.org: “The notion that being gay, lesbian or bisexual is a psychological disorder was discredited by the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association in the 1970s. Today, words such as ‘deviant,’ ‘diseased’ and ‘disordered’ often are used to portray LGBT people as less than human, mentally ill, or as a danger to society.” The statements/questions/words above relay the message that people in the LGBTQ+ community are less than human, which is simply not true. No one is less or more human than the other person. We are all equal and all deserve the same rights as anyone else.
Listen, I will be the first to admit that I do not know everything about LGBTQ+, and with changes happening every day, it is hard to keep up with what is okay and not okay. This does not mean, however, that I choose to remain ignorant or have a warped sense of perspective. It simply means that I must educate myself and those around me. We are all still learning, and it can be confusing to someone who has not experienced what the LGBTQ+ community has endured. It can be confusing but it is not difficult, and if you choose not to educate yourself and remain bias, then you are falling into the “ignorance pile.”
The lists are as large as the bias people have. We must be conscious of the words we choose, whether we understand it or not. Words carry more weight than people realize. This is crucial for people who are exploring their sexuality and want nothing more but to feel safe, comfortable, respected, and seen as human. Why does it matter what the other person chooses? How does that affect your life? It does not. Simple. Let people be free and live their life the same way you do. They deserve it, it is their right, it does not affect you, and to be honest, it is none of your business.
Mindful,
E.
References: https://www.glaad.org/reference/offensive | https://lgbtqia.ucdavis.edu/educated/words
#TheFWord #SexualHealth #MentalHealth #LGBTQ+ #LGBTQ+Community #SelfIdentity #EducateYourself #LoveIsLove #LoveWins #Equality #EqualRights #MindYourBusiness #GLAAD #UCDavis
thEEsmilE 