professional considerations
Remember that gender & sexuality are NOT the same thing. They are related, but one does not imply the other.
It is a terribly common practice to use the acronym LGBT (and others) to discuss topics related specifically to sexual orientation. If the situation at hand does not concern gender, do not include T. Just say LGB. Including the T at improper times perpetuates the confusion about T being about gender NOT sexuality.
When you are educating about or even simply discussing gender topics/issues, PLEASE INCLUDE TRANSGENDER PEOPLE IN YOUR DISCUSSION. Transgender people are rarely, if ever, included in gender discourse. They are only mentioned when people focus on sexual orientation, which again perpetuates confusion.
Respect trans* people's gender pronouns. It is extremely rude and can be very traumatizing for a trans* person to be called the wrong pronouns (e.g. calling someone "she" when their preferred pronoun is "he"). Just think - how can you have rapport with a client when you disregard a salient part of their identity?
Don't ask a trans* person what name they were given at birth, what surgeries they have/plan to have, if they are a "real" male/female, etc.
It is a terribly common practice to use the acronym LGBT (and others) to discuss topics related specifically to sexual orientation. If the situation at hand does not concern gender, do not include T. Just say LGB. Including the T at improper times perpetuates the confusion about T being about gender NOT sexuality.
When you are educating about or even simply discussing gender topics/issues, PLEASE INCLUDE TRANSGENDER PEOPLE IN YOUR DISCUSSION. Transgender people are rarely, if ever, included in gender discourse. They are only mentioned when people focus on sexual orientation, which again perpetuates confusion.
Respect trans* people's gender pronouns. It is extremely rude and can be very traumatizing for a trans* person to be called the wrong pronouns (e.g. calling someone "she" when their preferred pronoun is "he"). Just think - how can you have rapport with a client when you disregard a salient part of their identity?
Don't ask a trans* person what name they were given at birth, what surgeries they have/plan to have, if they are a "real" male/female, etc.