If you want to know more about the lives of LGBTQ people, reach out and get to know them, beyond their sexuality and/or gender. Make an effort to educate yourself on anything you’re curious about. Another thing you can do is avoid asking invasive questions about LGBTQ people’s sexuality or gender.A ccording to Trans Student Educational Resources, this is the identity a person feels that they are inside their mind and is not indicative of their sexual orientation, their gender expression (the way they dress/present themselves), hormonal makeup, physical anatomy, or how they are perceived by others in daily life. A heterosexual person is one who experiences only opposite-gender attraction, and the term ‘cisgender’ denotes someone who identifies as the gender they were assigned at birth.
The most basic thing you can do to foster LGBTQ pride in your community starts inside your mind: don’t automatically assume everyone is heterosexual and cisgender. Small, daily efforts can go a long way toward combating discrimination and fostering a community where LGBTQ people can be open and proud of their identities. The good news is that there is plenty that you can do in your community to create a positive and accepting atmosphere for LGBTQ people. This isn’t surprising, considering how recent these positive cultural changes have occurred. However, discrimination is still widespread. In June of 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that state bans on same-sex marriage were unconstitutional and the LGBTQ community celebrated nationwide.
And changes are being made in the government to make sure that these folks are treated with equality.
Their representation in media has increased according to GLAAD, “The overall percentage of LGBT regular characters on scripted broadcast series is 4%, an increase of one-tenth of a percentage point since 2014.” In addition to the growing number of LGBTQ folks represented in the media, almost every major city in North America hosts a pride festival, parade, or other event. Our society has made a lot of progress in accepting the LGBTQ community in the last ten years, but more needs to be done.
It was a fun evening, but in the midst of the hilarity and raucousness, the seriousness of the occasion was not lost. In the spirit of a mardi gras parade, marchers flung cheap yet colorful beads into the crowd as well as t-shirts and condoms. Some people dressed in costumes…the mo st memorable being two women in wedding dresses who held hands and walked together to make a point about gay marriage. The non-uniformed marchers were in various states of dress and undress…with men in speedos seductively dancing getting the most cat calls. Particularly impressive was the sight of Austin Chief of Police Art Acevedo marching with his gay police men and women and Austin Fire Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr, one of only 30 women fire chiefs in the nation, marching with her gay fire men and women. Some marched, some rode in cars or trucks, and some rode on cheesy (and definitely not Rose Parade material) floats. As for every gay pride parade (per my friends), it was kicked off by the “dykes on bikes.” What followed was a 1.5 hour procession of people from church groups, clubs, arts groups, bands, restaurants, bars, retail stores, and miscellaneous organizations. The crowd roared when the parade wound its way through the streets of downtown to where we were standing and sitting. A lot of these people stared blankly as they walked by, not comprehending what they were seeing. And of course the rest of the hetero crowd that came down to check out the action, but wasn’t out to find “love” for the evening. Their male dates in sloppy shorts, Birkenstocks, and shirts that hung over their beltless pants. A rowdy but controlled crowd of people of all ages, sizes, and looks.Īnd then there were the usual Saturday night Austin club hoppers…the 20-something women in 5-inch heels, short tight skirts, skin-tight tops, and tons of makeup. Men with bare chests and tight leather pants.
Tranvestites…men dressed as women…with full makeup, hair, and dresses.