LGBTQ Resources | Learn With Us!

Many people refrain from talking about sexual orientation and gender identity or expression because they are afraid of saying the wrong thing. At Big Brothers Big Sisters, we are working to educate ourselves as well as others.

Our Bigs receive access to LGBTQ Training thanks to our partnership with our friends at Side by Side. Now we want to bring it to everyone. It’s important that we open the door to better conversations. 

SOGIE (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity & Expression) refers to characteristics common to all human beings because everyone has a sexual orientation and a gender identity.

• Sexual Orientation: An inherent or immutable enduring emotional, romantic or sexual attraction to other people. For example: straight, gay, lesbian, pansexual or bisexual.
  

• Gender Identity: One's innermost concept of self as male, female, a blend of both or neither – how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. One's gender identity can be the same or different from their sex assigned at birth.
  

• Gender Expression: External appearance of one's gender identity, usually expressed through behavior, clothing, haircut or voice, and which may or may not conform to socially defined behaviors and characteristics typically associated with being either masculine or feminine.
  

Using Pronouns helps to normalize the sharing of one's gender identity. Even if you are not likely to be misgendered, think about adding your pronouns to your email signature, social media profiles, and business cards!

• She/Her/Hers
• He/Him/His
  
• They/Them/Theirs
  

Thank you for learning with us!

​Big Brothers Big Sisters

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