A national Trevor Project survey of trans and nonbinary people found that being affirmed and having pronouns respected by most people in their lives dramatically reduced rates of depression, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts.
One of the most significant ways we can support LGBTQ+ community members is through effective, affirming communication. Words are incredibly powerful. Choosing our language carefully when speaking with trans and nonbinary people isn’t as difficult as many people seem to think; in fact, in many cases, it literally takes fewer words.
So, in today's episode, we go through some everyday words that when used in reference to trans experiences could be quite hurtful and disaffirming for trans people. We also cover terms that have recently been replaced, words that may once have been accepted, but are now completely outdated.
In addition, we address generational issues for certain terms, such as "sex change operation," which many trans people today would not feel comfortable with using or hearing. We’re sure you can understand why the term “gender confirmation surgery,” which is now widely used, would likely feel more accurate and affirming.
In This Episode, You'll Learn:
- How simple words can make a world of difference to someone else (4:32)
- What's wrong with the word "choice"? (6:05)
- Transition is not the same as change (7:18)
- What the word "preferred" implies when addressing a member of the LGBTQ+ community (12:23)
- Being transgender is never a "phase" (16:41)
- About the issues with the term "gender dysphoria" (24:12)
- Gender and the workplace (31:56)
Resources:
- Confronting Gendered Workspaces by Jackie Thornhill. Article
- National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 2020
- Family Acceptance Project. San Francisco State University
- Family Acceptance Project Research & Recommendations Handout
Connect with Jackie and Bridget:
- Transgender Support: Becoming a True Ally Video Course on Vimeo
- Transgender School Patreon Membership with all exclusive content
- Transgender School on Medium
- Website
- Community Facebook Group
- YouTube
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
02/07/23 • 39 min
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