LGBTQ+ terminology

LGBTQ+ people face many adversities including, but not limited to, discrimination, stigma, and mental and physical health disparities. These adversities are even greater for transgender, non-binary, and LGBTQ+ people of color (glaad.org). Additionally, many LGBTQ+ people struggle to find providers who are open, willing, and humble enough to engage in affirming care. Even when cisgender heterosexual mental health providers are well intentioned in their approaches, many unspoken pressures are put on the client to educate the provider about the challenges they face. Cisgender heterosexual providers must educate themselves on the proper terminology as well as the obstacles faced by those in the LGBTQ+ community.

GLAAD's accelerating acceptance initiative has been instrumental in highlighting the discrimination and stigma experienced by the LGBTQ+ community. This video highlights the study and also includes LGBTQ+ people.

Unsplash: Alessandro Bianci

Did you know?

When working with LGBTQ+ clients, it is imperative that cisgender heterosexual mental health providers are cognizant of LGBTQ+ identities and experiences. As a reminder, you should be familiar with these terms as guidelines, but it is best practice to go by what your client prefers. Let us first take a look at LGBTQ+ identities and their meaning in the infographic below.