LGBT Community: Understanding Diversity and Promoting Inclusion

This article discusses the LGBT community, their diversity, and the need for inclusion. It explores the different terms used to describe sexual orientation and gender identity, and the discrimination faced by the LGBT community. The article also highlights the importance of promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace and beyond, and suggests ways in which organizations can support the LGBT community.

Running Head: LGBT COMMUNITY 1
LGBT Community
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LGBT COMMUNITY
LGBT community is also referred to as the Gay Community. They are categorized grouping of
Lesbians, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender. They are unified by common social activities and
culture. (Mezey, 2014)They recognize and celebrate common features such as individuality,
sexuality, diversity and pride. The word gay is used to identify the LGBT Community. Not all
people who are gay are in LGBT Community. LGBT Community is composed of gay student
groups in schools and universities, LGBT religious groups, gay employees groups at different
organizations, the gay villages and gay rights groups. (Gibson, 2013) LGBT is usually
symbolized with the rainbow flags, the Greek lambda symbol which stands for liberation, the
Leather Pride Flag and the Bear Pride Flags .There is also the triangle which symbolizes the gay
community. The triangle also represents the homosexuals who were murdered because of the
German strict laws on LGBT. Black triangle represents the Lesbians. The other one is the gay-
teen suicide awareness ribbon. (Weinberg, 2015)
There are approximately, nine million LGBT people in America.3.5% of the United States
population are identified as lesbians, gay or bisexual and 0.3% adults are transgender. Bisexual
comprises of ¾ of the lesbian and bisexual population among women. Similarly, gay men
comprises of ¾ of gay and bisexual men. An estimated of 19 million Americans say they have
engaged in same sex and almost 25.6 million Americans accept of having same-sex attractions.
(Singer & David, 2017)
Definition of terms
Sexual orientation refers to a pattern of romantic, emotional and sexual attraction of women to
men or men to women (heterosexual) or both sexes (bisexual) or men to men or women to
women (homosexual). (Russell & Stacy, 2017)On the other hand, transgender refers to people

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whose gender identity does not confirm to sex which they were given at birth. They are not
identified as men or women. Transvestites are people who like to dress like members of the
opposite sex. Transsexuals are those who feel that their sex does not match their gender.
Bigender refers to those people who have behavioral and cultural features associated with both
male and female gender.
Interaction with the LGBT community brought much information about them. Most of them said
that the society has now started to accept them compared to the past years. Despite that, most of
them said they have ever been victims of discrimination such as other members of the society
making fun of them and referring to them in an abusive language. Others said they suffered
rejection from members of their families. Most of them also said religious institutions were
unfriendly to them. They claimed that they always feel unwelcomed in religious institutions.
LGBT Community needs to be diversified and included in all aspects of the society. For
instance, in work places, the organization should develop anti-harassment policies for the gay
community. Organizations should make it known of equal employment opportunities for all
people. Organizations should also create discussion groups to solve issues related to LGBT. No
gay community member should undergo harassment or bullying of any kind. Instead, they should
be given equal chances in all aspects of life. LGBT Community should not face violence, torture
or execution because of who they love or how they look. They are just human beings like the rest
of the people. Laws and policies should be put in place to protect their rights and freedom.
(Alderson, 2016)
There is a lot of diversity and differences among the LGBT people. For instance, gay are men
who are sexually attracted to men, lesbians are women who are attracted sexually to women.
Generally, both men and women can be referred as gay. Bisexual are people who are sexually

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attracted to both men and women. A bisexual woman and a lesbian are attracted to women but
bisexuals are attracted to both women and men. Transgender are a bit different when it comes to
sexuality. Transgender are those people who claim to have a different gender other than the one
they were given at birth. For example, someone born male may come one day and claim to be
female. A transman may be attracted to both men and women or both or neither. Transgender are
a little complicated when it comes to sexuality. Moreover, there are asexual people who are
neither attracted to men or women. They have the sex drive but they are just not attracted to
people.
I chose LGBT group as my group of discussion for the purpose of creating awareness on the
need to have a diversified society where everyone is treated equally. My concerns were also to
put across advantages of having a diversified community in relation to creating peace and
harmony between people in the society.
Diversity of the LGBT can be promoted by organizations supporting local events and sponsoring
events such as National Coming out Day. Moreover, they should develop supportive initiatives
for LGBT workers such as conferences and seminars. At places of work discrimination should
not be accepted rather organizations should establish anti-discrimination policies.
However, despite the denial of LGBT Community in most parts of the world, I foresee a bright
future for them where they will be accepted as the full members of the society. Their marriage
which is still illegal in most countries shall be legalized. There will be no more discrimination of
the LGBT Community at religion centers, at working centers and in all sectors. It will be
understood globally that people are born with different sexuality and that the only better way is if
we all accept our differences and live together in peace and liberty.

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References
Alderson, D. (2016). Sex, need and queer culture:from liberation to the postgay. London: Zed
Books.
Gibson, M. A. (2013). Finding out- sn introduction to lgbt studies. Sage Publication Inc.
Mezey, N. J. (2014). LGBT families. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publication,Inc.
Russell, S. T., & Stacy, H. S. (2017). Sexual Orientation,gender identity and schooling. Oxford
University Press.
Singer, B., & David, D. (2017). LGBTQ STATS. New York The New Press.
Weinberg, T. S. (2015). Selves, symbols and sexualities:an interaction anthology. Thousand
Oaks, Calif.