Identity 101
A person can be transgender and also be straight, gay, bisexual, etc.
Fact
Gender identity and sexual orientation are independent.
Pride began as a protest movement, not just a celebration.
Fact
Pride has roots in resistance and activism.
If you mess up pronouns, a quick correction and moving on is usually best.
Fact
Brief correction centers the other person and keeps it moving.
You can’t reliably “tell” someone is LGBTQ by looking.
Fact
Appearance doesn’t reliably signal identity.
Gender-affirming care is mostly surgery.
Myth
Often includes social support, counseling, and non-surgical care
Sexual orientation and gender identity are the same thing.
Myth
Orientation = who you’re attracted to; gender identity = who you are.
LGBTQ people have always existed; only labels have changed over time.
Fact
People existed; language and visibility changed.
If someone comes out to you, it’s okay to share if you mean well.
Myth
Don’t share without explicit consent.
It’s appropriate to ask a coworker their “real name.”
Myth
“Real name” can be invalidating; use the name given.
For teens, care is typically gradual and carefully evaluated.
Fact
Common framing: gradual, cautious, evaluated.
Nonbinary means “confused” or “undecided.”
Myth
Nonbinary is a valid identity, not indecision.
Stonewall is widely seen as a turning point in modern U.S. LGBTQ activism.
Fact
Stonewall is widely recognized as catalytic.
Avoiding LGBTQ topics entirely is the best way to be inclusive.
Myth
Inclusion isn’t silence; it’s respect + belonging.
If someone doesn’t correct me, I’m probably using the right pronouns.
Myth
People may not correct others for safety/fatigue reasons.
Kids routinely get irreversible treatments right away.
Myth
Careful, staged approaches rather than "right away".
Pronouns are only relevant if someone is transgender or nonbinary.
Myth
Everyone has pronouns; normalization reduces assumptions.
The rainbow flag was always the only Pride flag.
Myth
Multiple Pride flags/variations exist.
You can support LGBTQ inclusion even if you’re not LGBTQ.
Fact
Allyship is actions anyone can take.
Confidentiality matters: someone’s LGBTQ identity isn’t yours to share.
Fact
Outing can cause harm; privacy is essential.
Gender identity is a brand-new “trend.”
Myth
Gender Identity is persistent across history.
A person’s identity is best determined by how they look or sound.
Myth
You can’t determine identity from appearance/voice.
LGBTQ history is only about tragedy.
Myth
LGBTQ history includes joy, community, creativity, and progress (not only tragedy).
If you hear a biased comment, you only have one option: confront publicly in the moment.
Myth
Options include redirecting, asking a clarifying question, setting a boundary, or following up privately.
Inclusive language is a “nice-to-have,” not a workplace standard.
Myth
Inclusive language is baseline professionalism, not “extra.”
Gender-affirming care is completely separate from “regular” healthcare.
Myth
There is overlap with other healthcare tools such as hormones and counseling.