Information and Resources
If you (or someone you know) are questioning or exploring your sexual or gender identity, you are not alone. People are becoming more aware that sexual orientation and gender identity is more complicated and involves more than just the categories of either gay or straight, or male or female. Also, there is greater understanding that someone’s gender may or may not match biological sex. As you or someone you know starts to explore and express a new gender identity externally, it is possible that there will be challenges from others. Of course, reactions will be different depending on the environment and some may not cause any concern at all, but it’s good to be aware of situations that others have found difficult. These resources may help sort through some of the ideas related to sexual and gender identity.
Adopted from www.us.reachout.com
- Kids Help Phone, Sexual orientation
- Reachout.com LGTBQ: Sexuality and Gender Identity
- The Trevor Project: Crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth
- Centre for Disease Control and Prevention: Resources for LGBT youth and their friends
Other resources about gender identities:
- Exploring Gender Identity. Learn more
- Debunking LGBTQ Myths and Stereotypes. Learn more
- LGBT Canadians share their stories for the It Gets Better Project, including Rick Mercer, Rex Harrington, Diane Flacks, Tommy Smythe, Enza Anderson, the cast of MTV’s 1g5g, Joeffer Caoc, David Dixon, Deb Pearce, Peter Fallico and many more. Learn more
This refers to the internal sense of being male, female, both, or neither.
This refers to a person whose internal gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth.
This refers to someone who expresses gender identity in a wider and more flexible manner, sometimes changing from day to day. Someone who identifies as gender fluid may at times feel male and at other times feel female, or may not feel either.
*Adopted from us.reachout.com