FAQ

What are some small acts of kindness that I can do to make my loved one feel more comfortable?

 

Loved ones going through the process of coming out can often feel vulnerable and unsure as to where they stand with their family. You can help lessen their stress in many ways such as the suggestions below. When reading these suggestions please keep in mind that every individual is different and thus requires different levels of support. It never hurts to ask your loved one how you can best support them if you are still unsure after reading these suggestions. 

 

First, ensure that your family member knows that they are loved and accepted. For many individuals, identifying themselves to family members is the hardest and scariest part of coming out for a variety of reasons. If an individual breaks through this fear and does come out, one of the most significant actions you can take is telling them you love them, are proud of them, explaining to them that this changes nothing, or simply giving them a hug and kiss. An example of something simple you could say is “Thank you for sharing with me. I support and love you so much, no matter what.”. 

 

Secondly, build trust. Over the next few days, and the rest of your life, encourage dialogue by asking non-confrontational questions to show your loved one you support their choices and want to learn more about their identity in order to become an ally. Furthermore, learning about the LGBTQ2S+ community can prevent you from making diction mistakes. By being up to date on their new community and using their chosen pronouns and name, you will show your loved one that you respect their identity. To get a jump start on this, look at our definitions and vocabulary pages!

 

Lastly, stay involved in their life. If your loved one is in school you can do this by advocating for a gay sexuality alliance (GSA) club and a more inclusive sexual education curriculum. If not, you can do this by celebrating pride or just talking about their new community. The most important parts of this suggestion are to ensure your loved one feels supported, and look out for bullying which may be happening. Just because your family accepts them, it does not mean that all of society will. By staying involved in their life you will be in a better position to identify any unacceptable behaviour which may be occurring, and take action prior to serious consequences. 

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What do all the letters in LGBTQ2S+ stand for?

 

LGBTQ2S+ is an acronym that broadly refers to the multitude of identities within its community. 

L - lesbian

G - gay

B - bisexul, bicurious, biromantic

T - trans

Q - queer, questioning

2S - two spirited

+ - all of the other identities possible, see our definitions page for more!

 

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What is the difference between sexual and romantic orientation?

 

Sexual orientation is about who you’re attracted to and want to have relationships with. Sexual orientations include gay, lesbian, straight, bisexual, and asexual. This depicts who you are sexually attracted to, and does not have to align with romantic orientation 

People who identify as asexual don’t really feel sexual attraction towards anyone. They may think other people are physically attractive, or they may want to be in romantic relationships with people — but they’re not interested in having sex or doing sexual things with other people. Asexual people sometimes use the word “ace” for short. Asexuality has nothing to do with romantic attraction. Many asexual people feel romantically attracted to people — so they may identify as asexual, and also as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or straight. They just don’t feel any desire to act on these feelings in a sexual way.

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Romantic Orientation – Describes an individual’s pattern of romantic attraction based on a person’s gender(s) regardless of one’s sexual orientation. For individuals who experience sexual attraction, their sexual orientation and romantic orientation are often in alignment (i.e. they experience sexual attraction toward individuals of the same gender(s) as the individuals they are interested in forming romantic relationships with).

 

Examples of Romantic Orientations (not an exhaustive list):

• Aromantic: individuals who do not experience romantic attraction toward individuals of any gender(s)

• Biromantic: romantic attraction toward males and females

• Heteroromantic: romantic attraction toward person(s) of a different gender

• Homoromantic: romantic attraction towards person(s) of the same gender

• Panromantic: romantic attraction towards persons of every gender(s)

• Polyromantic: romantic attraction toward multiple, but not all genders

• Gray-romantic: individuals who do not often experience romantic attraction

• Demiromantic: an individual who does not experience romantic attraction until after a close emotional bond has been formed. People who refer to themselves as demiromantic may choose to further specify the gender(s) of those they are attracted to (e.g. demi-homoromantic).

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What is the difference between sex and gender?

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While sex and gender are often used interchangeably in everyday conversations, they mean different things. Sex refers to the different biological and physiological traits of males and females. For example, males and females have different reproductive organs, chromosomes, gene expressions, and hormone levels. Gender, on the other hand, refers to the socially constructed traits, roles, expectations, behaviors and identities of males, females, and other gender diverse people. This includes the underlying historical, hierarchical, contextual, relational, and institutional elements of gender. Often, these elements are determined by the standards that a culture sets for how people should behave according to their gender; as such, gender identity can vary based on the cultural context. 

 

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What is pride?

Pride is the promotion and encouragement of the dignity, equality, and increased visibility of LGBTQ2S+ people as a social group. It stands as an antithesis to the social shame and stigma historically experienced by members of the LGBTQ2S+ community, and thereby advances greater rights for this group. Common symbols of the Pride movement include the rainbow flag which is also known as the pride flag.

Pride events are often held during Pride season. In Canada, this is a period of time between June and September where LGBTQ2S+ people and allies unite at different times throughout the summer to build and bolster this community. The most notable Pride event is the annual Pride Parade hosted in various Canadian cities over the summer.