Pride Month - LGBTIQA+Inclusion

We do not choose what a gender we want to born into.  In the world we live in we speak mostly in binary terms, but it is not always true. 

Sexual Orientation: It's a relative thing. How people want to identify in relation to others. LGBTIQA+Inclusion - Let's see what they mean:

• Lesbian
• Gay
• Bisexual - Attracted to more than one
• Intersexual
• Queer/Questioning
• Pansexual
• Asexual - Not attracted to anyone at all. 

Gender Identity: Derived from the sex born during birth. It's the way a person identifies their gender. 

• Transgender - Man/Women
• Gender Queer
• Cisgender women/Men - When born, you are assigned as Man or Woman 
• Agender

The above list is not exclusive or exhaustive. 

Gender Fluid people, who feel, they cannot settle with any of the above narratives. It keeps rolling day by day.

Non Binary : They cannot say that they are male or female - they feel they are someone else. 

Pronouns  : 

• why does it matter ? 
• What are they ?
• why are they important ?
• How do I use them right ?

They is also accepted as a singular pronoun - when we do not know if the person is he or she.

If you identify as LGBTIQA+ 

❖If you think you are struggling with self acceptance, seek assistance and help.

❖If and only if you are comfortable, be out and proud at your workplace.

❖Be part of your Employee network, you may be able to bring the community perspective to the table.

If you identify as an Ally 

❖Be visible and approachable, lead by example.

❖Stand up to homophobia & transphobia at your immediate workplace.

❖Sign up in your Employee network as an Ally to the community.

Documented evidence of homosexuality is found in several hundred non human species, but homophobia is found in only ONE ! 

Hetro-normativity is all around us, in our every walk of life. It prevents one from understanding what is different from them and then teaches one to hate what they don’t understand, by unlearning and by redefining is how we get diverse and inclusive.

Why be inclusive at all ? 

❖Make everyday conversations gender neutral wherever possible. Spouse instead of wife / husband; Partner instead of girlfriend / boyfriend. 

❖Use one’s chosen name over legal names irrespective of how you perceive them. Cisgender / Transgender

❖Make them inclusive. Don’t assume an individual’s partner should be of the opposite gender. 

❖Do NOT nudge a colleague as to when they plan to get married (with the opposite gender)

❖Unlearn the inner bias, redefine what is normal and moral. Acknowledge colleagues for who they are.

❖Respect individual’s choice of pronouns, ask not assume. Some prefer They/them/their to She / He

LGBTQQIP2SAA stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, intersex, pansexual, two-spirit (2S), androgynous and asexual. Two-spirit is term used by some indigenous North Americans to describe those who fulfil a traditional third-gender ceremonial role, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Last Sunday of June, normally there is Pride march.