Q: Why are LGBTQ labels so important? What’s the significant behind them?
A: Pronouns and identity expression are important because it is how a person views themselves and how someone determines who they are on a much deeper and spiritual level than what is presented on the surface and to other people. To not allow someone to freely be themselves would be to take away a part of who they are and erase them as a person. It is significant because it is a part of someone’s truest self and when someone is misgendered or presumed to be an identity that they are not, it is taking away a part of them and dehumanizing them. It is always best to ask someone instead of making any sort of assumptions and to respect the identity that they choose and the language that coincides with that identity.
Q: Can you explain intersex and how it varies from person to person?
A: Generally, intersex people represent a spectrum of individuals who make up a third category or label of sex assigned at birth. Individuals with an intersex trait or with a variation in sex development can be born with external genitalia that are ambiguous, internal reproductive organs such as testicles that have not descended resembling ovaries and/or hormone imbalances. It can also be where chromosomal sex does not match the phenotype that society would identity that person as (variations of XX or XY). Intersex traits vary from person to person because the term “intersex” encompasses a wide variety of conditions and body types that do not have similarities besides being “different” than the norm.
Q: What does it mean to be pansexual?
A: The prefix “pan” is a Greek word meaning “all.” People that identify as pansexual have the capability of falling in love/being physically or emotionally attracted to someone of any gender identity or sex. Pansexual people are able to express their openness and fluidity to people of all gender identities. People that identify themselves as pansexual have often said that they “are attracted to people.” This does not mean that pansexual people are attracted to everyone, but rather, they have the ability to fall in love with anyone of any gender identity. #heartsnotparts
Cassidy Paul (she, her, hers) is the Education Coordinator at the LGBT Center as well as Women’s Affairs Commissioner for Student Senate.
Have questions? We have answers! Send your queries, quandaries, and questions: via email to lgbt@ohio.edu and/or oulgbtcenter@gmail.com and/or therainbowroomou@gmail.com; via Tumblr (oulgbtcenter); via Twitter to @oulgbtcenter with hashtag #qaqueer; or post/message to Facebook (oulgbtcenter). Questions may also be explored on our weekly radio show, the Rainbow Room, on ACRN.com.
