Abstract
Having multiple identities, in this case gifted and LGBTQ+, that deviate from a student's school population majority and their community's majority can bring compounded challenges. Two goals of those working with gifted LGBTQ+ youth should be to recognize the challenges they face and help these youths “in building positive social supports that can serve as a buffer when difficult experiences occur” by creating a culture of belonging in their gifted program and classroom. Strategies for an inclusive classroom are provided, meeting the needs of LGBTQ+ and gifted LGBTQ+ students (Cross & Cross, 2015, p. 169).
TopIntroduction
The following chapter provides background on gifted and talented LGBTQ+ youth and practical implications in the classroom. The chapter first begins with definitions and acronyms commonly used in conversation and literature. Then, the chapter examines concerns regarding the social and emotional health of being a gifted and talented LGBTQ+ youth. Finally, the authors provide resources for parents, teachers, and caregivers to assist in building an inclusive environment for gifted and talented LGBTQ+ youth.
During reading, the following questions will be examined:
- 1.
How does one respectfully acknowledge gifted and talented LGBTQ+ to create an environment of support?
- 2.
What are the social and emotional implications of being gifted and talented LGBTQ+ in our schools?
- 3.
What resources are available for caregivers, teachers, and parents to assist the gifted and talented LGBTQ+ population?
TopDefinition And History Of Lgbtq+ And Giftedness
One of the first steps in building understanding is to make meaning of the explored words or concepts. Giftedness has already been defined and explored in previous chapters of this book. LGBTQ+ is an evolving acronym that strives to be inclusive to all identity types. In media and organizations, LGBTQ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. In educational and youth support contexts, the Q also stands for questioning. The + sign is often added to the end to recognize all non-straight, non-cisgender identities (GLAAD, 2022). The acronyms LGBT, LGBTQ, and LGBTQ+, are all recommended by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) in their Media Reference Guide (2022), while the American Psychological Association (2021) also use these acronyms in their resolutions and policy statements.
Educators, administrators, and others who work with LGBTQ+ youth should understand that gender identity, gender expression, biological sex, and sexual orientation are all categories of self-identity that are represented on a continuum. None of the categories are binary. Sam Killermann, the founder of Hues, a social justice collective, developed a graphic called Genderbread that visually explains these categorical continuums of self-identity. Table 1 is not an exhaustive list of definitions but may be helpful to those who need to become more familiar with the terms.
Table 1. | Term | Definition |
| Lesbian | A woman whose enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction are to other women |
| Gay | An adjective used to describe a person whose enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attractions are to people of the same sex |
| Bisexual | An adjective used to describe a person who has the potential to be physically, romantically, and/or emotionally attracted to people of more than one gender, not necessarily at the same time, in the same way, or to the same degree |
| Transgender | An adjective to describe people whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth; also known as trans |
| Queer | An adjective used by some people, whose sexual orientation is not exclusively heterosexual |
| Questioning | An adjective used by some people who are in the process of exploring their sexual orientation and/or gender identity |
| Nonbinary | An adjective used by people who experience their gender identity and/or gender expression as falling outside the binary gender categories of man and woman |
| Pansexual | An adjective used to describe a person who has the capacity to form enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attractions to any person, regardless of gender identity |
| Cisgender | A person whose gender identity and expression are aligned with the gender they were assigned at birth |
| Two-Spirit | A term used by some Native American and Indigenous communities to describe a person with both male and female essences, or spirits |
Sources: (GLADD Media Reference Guide, 2022; Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Educator Network (GLSEN) Key Concepts and Terms, n.d)
Key Terms in this Chapter
Heteronormativity: The assumption that heterosexuality is the normal or preferred sexual orientation.
Gender attribution: The perception of how a person's gender is perceived by others
Gender Expansive: This is used as an adjective to describe a person with flexible gender identity.
Inclusive Language: -The languages that avoids using words and phrases that discriminates against people on the basis of race, gender, socio-economic status. and ability. It also avoids using words and phrases that exclude certain groups of people.
Gender Expression: This is how a person displays their gender, which includes how one talks, their mannerisms, clothing styles, hairstyles, and how one interacts with others.
Androgynous: Having characteristics or natures of both male and female that can be expressed in gender identity, gender expression, sex, or sexual orientation
Gender Identity: This is how a person identifies and sees themselves.
Cisnormativity: The assumption that all humans have an identity and gender that matches their birth sex.