LGBT
LGBT or GLBT is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the term is an adaptation of the initialism LGB, which was used to replace the term gay in reference to the LGBT community beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s. Activists believed that the term gay community did not accurately represent all those to whom it referred.
The initialism has become mainstream as a self-designation; it has been adopted by the majority of sexuality and gender identity-based community centers and media in the United States, as well as some other English-speaking countries. The term is used also in some other countries, particularly those which languages use the initialism, such as Argentina, France and Turkey.
The initialism LGBT is intended to emphasize a diversity of sexuality and gender identity-based cultures. It may be used to refer to anyone who is non-heterosexual or non-cisgender, instead of exclusively to people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender To recognize this inclusion, a popular variant adds the letter Q for those who identify as queer or are questioning their sexual identity; LGBTQ has been recorded since 1996.[7] Those who wish to include intersex people in LGBT groups suggest an extended initialism LGBTI.[8][9] This initialism is used in all parts of "The Activist's Guide" of the Yogyakarta Principles in Action.[10] Some people combine the two acronyms and use the term LGBTIQ.
What is LGBT?
Whether or not LGBT people openly identify themselves may depend on local political concerns and whether they live in a discriminatory environment, as well as on the status of LGBT rights where they live] Some research, conducted anonymously and online and including the 'Q' category, found that more adolescents and young adults identified as 'Q' (questioning) compared with other LGBTQ categories. That may reflect the uncertainty and external pressures surrounding human sexuality.
LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and along with heterosexual they describe people's sexual orientation or gender identity. These terms are explained in more detail here.
Lesbian
A lesbian woman is one who is romantically, sexually and/or emotionally attracted to women. Many lesbians prefer to be called lesbian rather than gay.
Gay
A gay man is one who is romantically, sexually and/or emotionally attracted to men. The word gay can be used to refer generally to lesbian, gay and bisexual people but many women prefer to be called lesbian. Most gay people don't like to be referred to as homosexual because of the negative historical associations with the word and because the word gay better reflects their identity.
Bisexual
A bisexual person is someone who is romantically, sexually and/or emotionally attracted to people of both sexes.
Transgender or Trans
Is an umbrella term used to describe people whose gender identity (internal feeling of being male, female or transgender) and/or gender expression, differs from that usually associated with their birth sex. Not everyone whose appearance or behaviour is gender-atypical will identify as a transgender person. Many transgender people live part-time or full-time in another gender. Transgender people can identify as transsexual, transvestite or another gender identity.
Gender Identity
One's gender identity refers to whether one feels male, female or transgender (regardless of one's biological sex). Gender expression refers to outwardly expressing one's gender identity.Transsexual people live or wish to live full time as members of the gender other than that assigned at birth. Transsexual people can seek medical interventions, such as hormones and surgery, to make their bodies fit as much as possible with their preferred gender. The process of transitioning from one gender to another is called gender reassignment. Biological females who wish to live and be recognised as men are called female-to-male (FTM) transsexuals or trans men. Biological males who wish to live and be recognised as women are called male-to-female (MTF) transsexuals or trans women. Transvestite or cross-dressing individuals are thought to comprise the largest transgender sub-group. Cross-dressers sometimes wear clothes considered appropriate to a different gender. They vary in how completely they dress (from one article of clothing to fully cross-dressing) as well as in their motives for doing so. A small number can go on to identify as transsexual.
Gender Reassignment
Gender Reassignment also called transitioning, is the process of changing the way someone's gender is lived publicly and can be a complex process. People who wish to transition often start by expressing their gender identity in situations where they feel safe. They typically work up to living full-time in a different gender, by making gradual changes to their gender expression. Connecting with other transgender people through peer support groups and transgender community organisations is also very helpful for people when they are going through the transition process. Transitioning typically involves changes in clothing and grooming, a name change, change of gender on identity documents, hormonal treatment, and surgery.
Coming Out
Coming Out is the term used by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people to describe their experience of discovery, self-acceptance, openness and honesty about their LGBT identity and their decision to disclose, i.e. to share this with others when and how they choose.
Sexual Orientation
Sexual Orientation refers to an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions to men, women, or both sexes. Sexual orientation also refers to a person's sense of identity based on those attractions, related behaviours, and membership in a community of others who share those attractions. Three sexual orientations are commonly recognised - heterosexual, homosexual (gay and lesbian) and bisexual.
Homophobia
Homophobia refers to fear of or prejudice and discrimination against lesbian, gay and bisexual people. It is also the dislike of same-sex attraction and love or the hatred of people who have those feelings. The term was first used in the 1970s and is more associated with ignorance, prejudice and stereotyping than with the physiological reactions usually attributed to a ‘phobia'. While homophobic comments or attitudes are often unintentional, they can cause hurt and offence to lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
Transphobia
Transphobia refers to fear of or prejudice and discrimination against people who are transgender or who are perceived to transgress norms of gender, gender identity or gender expression. While transphobic comments or attitudes are often unintentional, they can cause hurt and offence to transgender people.
How LGBT adults see society and how the public sees them
As the Supreme Court readies its long-awaited ruling on same-sex marriage, two Pew Research Center surveys this spring — one of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender adults and the other of the American public — found a common thread: that society as a whole has become more accepting of gays and lesbians.
That finding has its caveats. While an overwhelming number (92%) of LBGT adults saw society as having become more accepting over the last decade, many reported continued discrimination, taking various forms. On the part of the general public, opposition to same-sex marriage remains substantial, and religious beliefs are a major factor. Just under half of Americans (45%) say they think engaging in homosexual behavior is a sin.
The surveys do not offer a perfect comparison. The LGBT survey included bisexuals (who comprise 40% of the LGBT survey) and transgender adults. The survey of the general public focused on views of gay men and lesbians.
But taken together, the surveys offer some commonalities in several areas: acceptance, the experience of telling friends and family, the importance of personal contact, and in the difficult terrain of religion.
Acceptance
While LGBT adults say society is more accepting, just 19% say there is “a lot” of social acceptance today and many say they have been victims of discrimination, such as being subject to slurs or jokes, or suffering rejection by a family member.
The number of Americans who had a favorable view of gay men stands at 55%, an 18 percentage point increase compared to a decade earlier; 58% had a favorable opinion of lesbians, a 19 percentage point increase over the same time span.
Personal Contact
An overwhelming percentage of Americans (87%) say they know someone who is gay or lesbian, compared to 61% who said so twenty years ago in an NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey. The survey of the general public found that 23% say they personally know “a lot” of gay or lesbian people, while 44% say they know some, and 19% have only one or two gay or lesbian acquaintances.
The survey also found that 68% of those who know a lot of people who are gays and lesbians — and 61% who have close friends or family members who are gay or lesbian — say they support same-sex marriage
adults believe that greater social acceptance has come as a result of more Americans knowing someone who is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, according to our survey. Individual relationships and the role of well-known public figures, like Ellen DeGeneres, are viewed as being the most helpful things in fostering acceptance. Seven-in-ten LGBT adults say people knowing someone who is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender helps a lot in making society more accepting, and 24% say this helps a little.
Religion
The survey of LGBT adults found that many in that community saw major religious institutions as unfriendly toward them. About three-in-ten (29%) said they had been made to feel unwelcome at a place of worship or religious organization at some point in their lives. The Muslim religion (84%), the Mormon Church (83%), the Catholic Church (79%) and evangelical churches (73%) were viewed as more unfriendly than the Jewish religion or non-evangelical Protestant churches.
While the survey of the general public found that, overall, the percentage of Americans who say homosexuality should be accepted by society increased from 47% to 60% over the last decade, opinions vary widely based on religious affiliation and practices. Among those who attend religious services once a week or more, those saying homosexuality should be accepted went from 33% a decade ago to 41% today.
When the nearly one-third of Americans who say homosexuality should be discouraged are asked in an open-ended question why they feel this way, by far the most common reason — given by 52% — is that homosexuality conflicts with their religious or moral beliefs.
Conclusion
This report identified and explored three national models for breaking the cycle of marginalization of LGBT youth in schools. These three models reflect each country’s national history and socio-cultural context, but lessons taken from each model may be valuable for advocates around the world.
Conclusion
The question at hand is whether lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered studies be incorporated into the curriculum? This is not as simple as a yes or no answer as there are multiple factors that contribute to this important issue. The reason for that is that there will be substantial push back from key individuals or groups. Regardless, there should be a focus around getting LGBT studies into the curriculum because “Studies of schools with “progressive” stances toward gender-based in school harassment show that such schools provide more positive school climates for LGBT students, but without staff development, teacher responses to the school policies and understanding of their obligation to enforcement varies in accordance with personal history”(Payne & Smith, 2011). That is why awareness of this issue is of utmost importance, without knowledge and understanding of this segment of the population, little can be done to help students who are being bullied as a result of being LGBT. Without support from the educational setting in the form of awareness or curriculum inclusion, LGBT youth will continue to be ostracised from the mainstream population. “Building a community of teachers within a school around diversity training provides the peer support needed to take risks in the classroom, address issues that feel uncomfortable, and find allies in their work to shift school culture toward greater equity (Payne & Smith, 2011).”
As stated previosuy, the Ontario Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy (2009a) requires that schools create an environment where all students, parents and other members of the school community are to be welcomed and respected. In addition, schools aim to foster a sense of belonging among students and an environment that is inclusive and contributes to every student’s sense of well-being.
“Historically, the discourse of schooling has not been kind for queer people. Fear, hiding, harassment, negotiating identities and the challenges to coming out continue to be common themes in the research on the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students “(William 2010). LGBT issues should be part of the school curriculum if schools are to meet their stated goals of creating safe schools where students feel included and are free from harassment and bullying. Including LGBT issues in the curriculum recognizes their contribution to society, challenges misunderstanding and creates a more inclusive environment for students.
The answer to the question is yes, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgenderd studies should be incorporated into the curriculum. As a progressive society we have come a long way as it relates to addressing key issues in schools like sex education, bullying and racism among others. Why not include this key issue that surrounds our LGBT youth and have them be more readily accepted by youth by showing how important this issue is and to raise the necessary awareness around it by including it into the curriculum without delay. There are other critical factors that have not been addressed which include, when should LGBT studies be added to the curriculum, what grade? Should it be included in both the public and Catholic boards? How should it be taught? What part of the curriculum should it be included into, Health and Physical Education? These are all questions that are difficult to answer, but first the decision that should be made as soon as possible is to have LGBT studies included into the curriculum and get the wheels in motion to get the awareness, inclusion and acceptance of LGBT youth in the educational system.
Reference:
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/06/25/how-lgbt-adults-see-society-and-how-the-public-sees-them/
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