Welcome to the LGBT Resources page on "John's Life Space!
It is time to provide a helpful resource towards the LGBTQIA+ community and helping better understand LGBTQIA+ matters.
Welcome to "John's Life Space"- a blog devoted towards topics regarding various life issues. This page you landed on regards LGBT resources. Though this category involves many different acronyms, I will just keep it simple as "LGBT" or even "LGBT+." Just go with me on "LGBT" even though this category involves a lot more than just LGBT. Now follow my lead as I discuss LGBT.
WARNING: The following topic may not be suitable for all audiences. Due to the subject matter of this topic, viewer discretion is advised. Parents of younger children will need to restrict or limit younger viewers from viewing this material. Otherwise, you are reading this material at your own risk.
LGBT at a Glance.
LGBT matters have really taken form and evolved stemming from the late 2000s to even the 2010s. Understanding everything there is know about LGBT can be confusing and very convoluted. Regardless of whether or not you accept for like anyone who is any denomination of LGBT, this page is provided as a resource page to help you better understand the realm of LGBT. Therefore, I decided to make a resource page where those either into the LGBT community, LGBT allies, or even anyone wanting to learn more about LGBT types in general can look to this page for some advice. It is imperative that I make this accessible to a general audience. Because LGBT can concern a vast audience, I have to provide resources regarding LGBT for children up to adults.Why even care about the LGBT community? Please note this page is not a platform of debate regarding LGBT people. Many people equate LGBT persons to being monsters, diseased, or anything like that. Some people are annoyed by anyone who is in any category of LGBT. LGBT has become more acceptable of late, and more people are feeling more confident expressing themselves as members of the LGBT community. It is now no longer a joke or anything comical to be LGBT. However, there are still a lot of rights and liberties LGBT types are still trying to vie for. Some people are not as fond of LGBT persons for whatever reasons. Some even go as far as religious connotations regarding LGBT. It is also less comical to be LGBT these days compared to in the 1990s or earlier. I mean that in the sense of... males having "bromances" females having "woman crushes," or something like men dressing up in feminine clothes because of something like losing a bet.
LGBT has taken on a number of strides in defining today's culture. Many people think one of the defining moments of LGBT history was the Stonewall Riots between June 27 through June 29 in 1969. This was where many people of LGBT were raided on by police at Stonewall Inn in New York City, New York, USA. In 2013, the United States Supreme Court has ruled against marriage as being only heterosexual. This has led to LGBT couples to marry. In other words- you can be a male marrying another male, or you can be a female marrying another female. Some countries and cultures are not as accepting to LGBT types. In fact, you could face prosecution in some countries for being LGBT. In some other countries, you could even face the death penalty for being LGBT. So that is why some people who are LGBT migrate to more accepting countries and cultures.
In regards to gender, LGBT lately has made people ranging from children to adults to question and change their gender. A number of people have gone the route of being transgender or even changing their gender pronouns. That's right- even children can feel they were born in the wrong body or feel as if they are different from what their birth gender is. Some of those feelings can originate from boys playing with girls' toys or wearing girls' clothing. This can also be girls playing with boy toys or wearing boys' clothes. People who feel they want to be part-time members of one's opposite gender may opt to be male-to-female or female-to-male transgenders. There are also people who crossdress for entertainment, especially actors and drag queens. Some others, however, permanently want to change their gender by taking part in various (and often times expensive) medical procedures and therapies meant to help transition properly. Because these procedures can be costly, not every transgender can properly remove all of their different organs. Some popular transgenders include Candis Cayne, Laverne Cox, Jazz Jennings, and "Gigi Gorgeous."
Some people don't identify as any specific gender because they do not feel exclusively masculine or exclusively feminine. Therefore, such individuals may identify as non-binary and often use the pronouns "they/them/their." Some such celebrities who changed up their gender identity include Miley Ray Cyrus and Demi Lovato among others.
For a complete history of key LGBT moments, visit: LGBT Rights Timeline in American History.
So let me begin the process! But first...
Disclaimer...
I am not an expert regarding any LGBT matters. I, myself do not identify as someone LGBT; however, I do support the LGBT community. I encourage my loyal audience to help correct me on certain things I may have provided misinformation about. I want to make this a viable resource for everyone, and I need your help to make this happen. All material provided in this Resources page are for educational purposes.Want to Provide LGBT Resources?
If you have any LGBT-relevant resources to share with me, please Contact Me via E-Mail regarding LGBT resources. I will review each resource to make sure it is relevant and that my viewers could benefit from it. My decision will be provided in E-mail replies.Accuracy Information.
All links and material featured here are as accurate as of: March 12, 2024 . This page was first worked on in November 3, 2021; and it was established on June 1, 2022.LGBT Resources: My Credentials
Before I get into some basic material regarding the LGBT realm, I want to share my credentials to show I have at least basic understanding.
My LGBT credentials originate from as far back as about 2002, when I was in an America Online (AOL) Chat room that had one person who was transgender. What we now know as LGBT was GLBT back then. I talked with her and saw her pictures. It fueled my interest in learning about the LGBT community. It was further fueled by watching episodes of "The Jerry Springer Show" whereas a number of transgenders have appeared on the sometimes controversial daytime talk show. Over time and on various social media platforms and blogs, I would get to meet a handful of other LGBT community members. Once in 2008, I noticed someone with flowing, long blonde hair who was in a men's bathroom at my community college. I got to know him a bit. Then later, I would see him... as a her. This person would be the first transgender person I've known in person. From there, I mostly educated myself on LGBT matters, primarily regarding gender and transgender issues. I even saw the first season of "I Am Jazz" on the TLC Network. That got me to learn more about one of the most popular transgender personalities, Jazz Jennings. It also helped me to know of some of what a transgender person goes through. And in her case, an LGBT teenager.
As time passed, I have become better acquainted with lots of people within the LGBT community. I have encountered LGBT persons ranging from bloggers, YouTube channels, Twitch streamers, TikTok users, and more. My education of LGBT has grown to a level to where I can better accommodate to various LGBT persons without seeming harmful or comedic. I felt like more people don't really understand LGBT rather than outright hate anyone of LGBT.
Even some of my friends in real life and online have engaged in LGBT relationships as LGBT has become better acceptable among the world. I even known some people who became transgender or may even consider themselves gender nonbinary, gender nonconforming, or even agender. Through all of this, I mostly identify as a heterosexual male.
Having learned to love and respect everyone, I became better understanding of LGBT people and LGBT matters. I even consider myself an LGBT ally. Because I have met some wonderful people from the LGBT community, I want to reflect my respect for the LGBT community by providing this page to everyone. No one should ever feel left out or disrespected for being any capacity of LGBT. Since I have a great deal of knowledge regarding LGBT, I want to pass along factual and valuable resources to everyone.
Now for some general insights on LGBT.
LGBT Resources: About This Page
Let me tell you more about this page you are looking at.
Why Did I Create This Resource Page?
I feel as if most people don't like LGBT types primarily because they don't understand the LGBT community as opposed to outright hate anyone in any capacity of LGBT. So I developed this resource page to help better educate people in regards to LGBT.My Mission(s) for This Resource Page.
I want to do the following with this LGBT Resource Page:• I want to educate people on LGBT matters. Everything I provide here is to try to give as many different resources regarding LGBT matters. You may use any of these resources for whatever you are curious about regarding LGBT.
• I want this to be a safe space for education and curiosity regarding LGBT matters. All material provided here is for educational purposes. Whether you are learning about LGBT or have had LGBT interests of late, I am here to help ease your mind and address your concerns. If you want to "come out" but lack the courage to do so, or if you fear you may lose the love of loved ones, this page will help you comfortably be able to "come out" with little or no penalty. If you are the parents of LGBT children or have a child who is transgender or queer, I want you to be able to find valuable resources to help accommodate your LGBT children. While this page has many LGBT resources I could find, this LGBT page can be overwhelming to the younger LGBT audience. Yet still, the resources are meant for almost anything LGBT.
• While this page is not really meant to celebrate the LGBT community, it is also not meant to condemn the LGBT community in any such way. I am simply here to help LGBT types and those curious about the LGBT realm to have factual resources available.
• While no topic regarding LGBT is entirely off-limits, I want to offer a respectable space regarding LGBT education. Because I feel a vast audience will be reading this, I want to provide a lot of safe-for-work material and insight. Certain other things regarding LGBT, especially of the offensive and/or derogatory level, will NOT be discussed here. Nothing regarding LGBT adult entertainment will not be discussed here.
There are still a lot of things I am learning about the LGBT community. While I have provided as many resources as possible here, I still can learn a lot. That is where I need you to help me help others in regards to LGBT issues. I want this LGBT page to be as valuable a resource as my main resources page here on "John's Life Space."
LGBT Resources: Basic Issues
The realm of LGBT entails a number of different terms and categories. In this section, I will try to share as many different terms and expressions to help you understand the LGBT community. I was going to include certain offensive terms, but I chose not to in case I have young persons viewing this page.
What Is LGBT, Anyways?
Circa 2001, I knew it as GLBT. Later on, it became "LGBT." LBGT is an umbrella term that stands for "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender." It is a combination of terms and concepts related to same-sex or any gender-related matters.Variations of LGBT.
There are certain variations of describing all LGBT types. To make it easy, use "LGBT" or "LGBT+." Here are some other variations of the acronym:• LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex)
• LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer)
• LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer (and/or questioning), Interesex, Asexual (and/or Ally), and more...)
Should You "Come Out?"
If you want to come out, realize it is never easy. If it were easy to announce being any sort of LGBT, this would not be an issue. However, because coming out to others can provide possible damaging effects to families, friendships, and relationships; coming out takes a lot of courage. People whom you love dearly may never forgive you or want to know you once you announce you are gay or if you have certain gender issues. It helps to be understanding and helpful as best as you can. If living with family members, you may have to find another home or residence if you get kicked out of the house because you "came out" to your family.Friends of yours may be more tolerable when "coming out." However, you may lose your friends' trust if you "come out" and if they no longer accept or acknowledge you. Friendships can really be hurt if someone is not accepting of your LGBT mindset. On the other hand, it may strengthen your bonds if friends are respectful of your LGBT ways.
You may also want to "come out" if you have romantic feelings for a same-sex partner or if you secretly love a same-sex partner. This is also if you want to be with a transgender or agender partner. If someone thinks differently regarding having a same-sex relationship, you may lose the respect of someone if they object to anyone who is LGBT in any capacity.
If you "come out" to others and you are unsuccessful in maintaining relationship bonds, you may have to seek therapy from healthcare professionals or other qualified individuals to try to maintain your mental health. You do not want to do anything that may be detrimental to your health (physical and/or mental). Make sure to have a "Plan B" (or even a Plan "C") in case your "coming out" efforts fail.
What About The "T" in LGBT?
The "T" in LGBT is "transgender." In today's landscape, what defines gender is constantly being blurred. More people are beginning to accept or not accept expression of their birth gender. Some people discontent with their birth gender feel they want to live either as part-time or full-time members of their opposite gender. Some others... do not associate themselves with their birth gender. People who feel they do not fit in with what entails one gender or another often will go the route of being agender or gender nonbinary.What is surprising to a lot of people is that even children can feel they were born in the wrong body or want to undergo surgery and therapy to become their opposite gender. Even children may choose to be transgender. Or at least, identify as gender nonconforming or gender nonbinary.
The situation of gender and transgender entails a lot of things not many people are aware of or considering.
Now that you have a general idea of LGBT, I now present you with a handful of terms to help you understand this further.
LGBT Resources: Basic Terms and Expressions
I will share a variety of terms in regards to LGBT. They are not complete definitions, but they are more of terms to be aware of including various sub-categories and terms.
WARNING: This section may include terms and ideas that some people may find offensive. All of the information presented in this section are for educational purposes. Anything adult entertainment-related will not be discussed here; at least, will be kept to a minimum.
"Coming Out."
When a person "comes out," that person announces one being in any denomination of LGBT. For example, a heterosexual male may "come out" gay or transgender, breaking his silence about his LGBT interests. "Coming out" breaks the silence and admits being part of the LGBT community. While "coming out" is a healthy release, being accepted among others can be challenging. A person coming out to his/her parents could result in that child being punished by being beaten, being kicked out of the house, or anything like that. A person coming out to friends or lovers can result in permanent, irreplaceable damage to relationships. Some countries and cultures take "coming out" to serious degrees. Some countries and couples can punish you simply for being LGBT. Punishment in some countries or cultures can include detainment, imprisonment, or even the death penalty.LGBT Pride.
LGBT Pride relates to festivals celebrating and honoring LGBT heritage. These usually include festivals where various LGBT community members come together, interact, party, and have fun. Certain social media platforms even have their own programs and features to promote the LGBT community and celebrate the LGBT community. A lot of entities would use the rainbow colors to show support of the LGBT community.Lesbian.
A lesbian relationship is a romantic relationship involving two females. Lesbians romantically prefer the company of other females, rather than being with males. Lesbians are attracted to other females rather than to males. The variety in lesbians come down to various sub-terms such as lipstick lesbian and butch lesbian among other terms. "Lipstick lesbian" refers to lesbian females who are who we'd consider girly-girls, and "butch lesbians" often refer to tomboyish and boyish-looking lesbian females.Gay.
Gay relates to a romantic relationship between two males. Gay males prefer the romantic company of other males and not of females. Being gay can also relate to males who act and/or dress femininely, or they may boast feminine qualities and traits. A gay male is often more attracted romantically to other males rather than females. Some gay males even adopt traits of looking pretty and feminine. A lot of gay males often identify as male even if they express themselves as female.Bisexual.
Being bisexual means a male or a female romantically prefers the company of both males and females. A bisexual has a number of options as far as whom to be romantically involved with. Bisexuals are often equally attracted romantically with males and females. In practice, a bisexual should have little or no problems because they prefer the romantic company of both males and females.If someone is bi-curious, he/she/they identify as heterosexual in terms of sexual orientation, but they are willing and accepting of wanting to take part in a same-sex relationship. Many people feel everyone is naturally bisexual and perhaps bi-curious as well if the situation arises.
Transgender.
A transgender is someone who lives as a member opposite of one's birth gender. Being transgender entails many subcategories. A crossdresser or transvestite is someone who lives as a member of one's birth gender. Common examples of transgenders are drag queens or female impersonators. A closet crossdresser is someone who dresses up as a member of one's opposite gender privately. Closet crossdressers usually look like their opposite gender but do not leave the house or go out in public. A sissy crossdresser dresses up in feminine clothes to be dominated by others. A fetishistic crossdresser primarily crossdresses for sexual thrills.Some effeminate males identify as femboys. A femboy is a male who often dresses up as and acts as a female, but they do not usually identify as females, nor do they intend on going through surgery or treatment to become full-time members of a certain gender. Such femboys prefer being the "best of both worlds"- having proper synergy of being both masculine and feminine at the same time while still being male.
Transsexual.
Transgender types who are going through therapy or surgery usually fall into two categories- pre-op TS (pre-operation transsexual), in which a person is transitioning to become transsexual, and post-op TS (post-operation transsexuals) whereas a person has completed all the needed surgery and taken all the therapy to properly transition to one's new gender. Transgender types can range from M2F (male-to-female) or F2M (female-to-male). Depending on who you ask, post-op can relate to having full surgery to replace all of their masculine/feminine body parts with (respectively) feminine/masculine ones.The process of becoming transgender can be rather expensive as well as potentially life-threatening. For those seeking surgery to become a full-time member of one's opposite gender, a number of measures are taken. One such method is hormone replacement therapy (HRT). HRT helps transitioning individuals develop more feminine attributes. After a number of months, one begins to see results in HRT. Some transgender types often take pictures of themselves going from (in the case of M2F transgenders) male to female.
Intersex.
Some people often think transgender and intersex are the same thing. They are NOT. Intersex means someone was born with an unusual number of chromosomes that do not make someone exclusively male or female.Queer.
If one is queer, the person is completely unsure about his/her/their sexual orientation.Gender Dysphoria.
If someone has gender dysphoria, the individual is unhappy with his/her/their gender. Anyone who experiences gender dysphoria may consider going through some transitions and therapy to change genders.Cisgender.
Someone who is cisgender identifies as and relates to their birth gender. In other words, a cisgender male born as a male identifies and acts as a male. A cisgender male identifies with the pronouns of "he/his/him." A cisgender female born as a female identifies and acts as a female. A cisgender female identifies with the pronouns "she/her."Genderqueer.
A genderqueer individual does not follow any sort of gender norms or belong to a specific gender. Being genderqueer entails a number of different terms. Such terms include the following:• The opposite of cisgender is gender nonconforming, whereas a person identifies as their birth gender but expresses oneself as the opposite gender. Most gender nonconforming types are not romantically involved with same-sex partners or prefer a same-sex partner. So a male who is gender nonbinary identifies as male but expresses himself as a female.
• Many people believe there are only two genders- male and female. Those who are gender nonbinary do not feel they belong in either a male or female gender. Most gender nonbinary types use the pronouns "they/them." While it is unusual for a single entity to use pronouns for multiple entities, gender nonbinary types do not identify exclusively as male nor female.
• Someone who is genderfluid blurs the lines between male and female. This can relate to a male who has an androgynous appearance, being a male but dressing femininely. Such types usually do not identify as their opposite gender. Or they may go the route of "they/them/their." Most who do the genderfluid still identify by their birth gender.
• Someone who is agender does not identify either as male or female regardless of their birth gender. Agender types do not feel they are exclusively masculine or feminine. So in the case of an agender person, agenders identify as "they/them/their."
• Someone who identifies as pangender identifies as all genders, including one's birth gender. They may say they use all pronouns.
Asexual.
Someone who is asexual is not attracted romantically to males, females, transgenders, or anyone. People who come out as asexual are often called "ace" or "aces."Pansexual.
A person with pansexual romantic preferences prefers the romantic company of all genders. They are equally attracted romantically with males, females, transgenders, etc. One person I talked to said being pansexual is like being bisexual, but without a preference.Demisexual.
A person who identify romantically as demisexual are not attracted to anyone of any gender unless emotionally attracted to them.There are many more terms involved with the LGBT community, ranging from common terms to more derogatory terms. I only explained some of the more common terms here. Now that you know about LGBT from here, let me provide you resources in case you need help with anything related to LGBT.
For a better understanding of LGBT, including some entertainment, try visiting the LGBT Info Wiki.
LBGT Resources: Links
Please find various LGBT-related topics and resources on any number of topics here. I will try to update this section with as many useful resources as possible. Contact me if you would like to suggest your own resources my readers and visitors may be interested in.
NOTE: Some resources may appear in multiple categories.
Understanding LGBT+.
If you simply don't understand any such concept of LGBT+, I have included these resources for which you can get a better understanding of this community and its people. Take a look:• Glossary: LGBTQ+ Terms|Identiversity
• A Mini Dictionary of LGBT* terms - QUEERENBY
• Glossary of Must-Know Gender Identity Terms
• LGBTQ+ :: Swarthmore College
LGBT+ Issues.
READ MY BLOG POST ON OR RELATED THIS TOPIC: "LGBT Issues" (John's Life Space)
Those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender in any capacity suffer issues that impact their lives. So this section includes various resources to help LGBT individuals feel better about themselves. This includes all aspects of LGBT, including the likes of intersex, genderqueer, pansexual, and other aspects of the LGBT community.
LGBT+ Resources: LGBT Issues in General.
This subtopic involve LGBT types in general:• GLAAD and GLAAD Resources
• It Gets Better
• The Trevor Project - meant for LGBT issues involving youth
• Human Rights Campaign
• True Colors Fund | Home
• LGBT Spiritual Resource Center | Unity
• LGBTQ Youth Resources
• LGBT Youth Resources (American Psychological Association)
• Resources for Parents - Trans Youth Equality Foundation
• Improving LGBTQ+ Inclusivity in the Classroom resources Guide | American University
• Trans Student Educational Resources
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• Pride Houston, Inc. - LGBT Community in Houston - LGBT resources for the greater Houston area.
• LGBT Nonprofits and Social Organizations in Houston
• Lesbian, Gay, Bi, and Transgender (LGBT) Center of Houston
• Human Rights Campaign
• aauw.org
LGBT+ Resources: Addiction.
This section relates to issues related to various forms of addiction among the LGBT+ community.• LGBTQ+ Drug Rehab Center in Houston, TX - Magnolia City
LGBT+ Resources: Drug and Alcohol Abuse.
This section relates to drug and alcohol abuse among the LGBT+ community.• LGBTQ+ Community Resources for Substance Abuse
• LGBTQ+ Addiction Treatment Program in Portland- Crestview Recovery
• Information on LGBTQ+ Drug Rehabs
• Substance Use Resources for Historically Marginalized Groups
LGBT+ Resources: Financial Health.
Any issues regarding financial health among the LGBT+ community is discussed here.• Equal Pay: The Employer's Guide to Solving Gender Equality
LGBT+ Resources: Mental Health.
Mental health is a serious topic. So to that end, here are resources for all things mental health among the LGBT+ community...-
• Treatment For Co-Occuring Disorders | Orlando Recovery Center
LGBT+ Resources: Transgender and Intersex Issues.
This subtopic relates specifically to issues involving transgender and intersex individuals. There is a difference between the two, so that is why I am including both here:• National Center for Transgender Equality
• Susan's Place Transgender Resources - a site and forum to address transgender issues.
LGBT+ Children Issues.
• TransKids Purple Rainbow Foundation (TKPRF)LGBT+ Youth Issues.
• LGBTQ Youth Resources• LGBT Youth Resources (American Psychological Association)
• Resources for Parents of Transgender Youth
• Improving LGBTQ+ Inclusivity in the Classroom resources Guide | American University
• Trans Student Educational Resources
• Coming Out - The Trevor Project
Remember- if you have any resources you want to suggest that may benefit my readers/visitors, please contact me. I will need to review each resource prior to accepting them into my resources list. I want to make this resource page as useful as my main page.
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