Debunk the bias

There are a lot of words used to describe the 2SLGBTQI+ communities. If you’d like to read up on them, you can check out this glossary. Try to understand the meaning behind each letter and symbol. 

It may seem like the acronym keeps changing and letters keep being added, but it’s meant to represent Canada’s diversity, so everyone feels like they belong. For example, when you see “2S” at the start of the acronym, it stands for Two-Spirit. This is a term used to refer to certain Indigenous individuals whose traditions include the belief that some people have both male and female spirits. The Canadian Museum of Human Rights has more information. Starting the acronym with “2S” represents how Two-Spirit people formed the first 2SLGBTQI+ communities in Canada.

Besides using acronyms, adopting more inclusive language is also a way of making sure that everyone is represented in public language.

The needs and rights of some groups in Canada have often been pushed to the side. These groups are known as marginalized communities. Thankfully, Canadians believe in equality, and our nation has a history of creating laws to extend and protect everyone’s rights and freedoms.

As an exercise, think about a part of your identity that matters greatly to you—your cultural heritage, for example. Now, imagine if people around you had no interest in learning about that part of you and switched the topic whenever it was brought up. 

These words might seem the same, but they mean different things. Let’s look at each one.

“Sexual orientation” refers to who you’re romantically and/or sexually attracted to. A person who’s attracted to people of the opposite sex and gender will likely refer to their orientation as straight or heterosexual. People attracted to those of the same sex or gender might define their sexual orientation as gay, lesbian, or queer. People who are attracted to both sexes and/or to more than one gender could be bisexual or pansexual. Asexual people might not feel sexual attraction to any sex or gender, but could feel romantic attraction—or they might not. There are dozens of sexual orientations, so you might end up in a situation where someone defines themselves with a term you’ve never heard before. It’s okay to ask for clarification, which is a great way to learn more about 2SLGBTQI+ communities.

“Sex” can mean many things, but here, we’re talking about the biological sex of our bodies—the chromosomes, hormones, sex characteristics, and private parts we’d label as male or female. Some people are born with a mix and don’t fit neatly into any one box. For instance, someone might be born with a vulva (considered female), but their body starts making higher than average levels of testosterone (often attributed to the male sex) during puberty. These could be examples of an intersex person.

When a baby is born, gender is assigned based on biological sex. A baby born with a penis is called a boy and often raised with gender stereotypes. This baby may be dressed in blue clothes and only be given toy trucks to play with. Little boys are often encouraged to play rough, while young girls are encouraged to play in a gentle manner. Separate expectations for gender continue into adulthood. Interests, qualities, and clothing are traditionally sorted into two categories: one for men and one for women. This is called the gender binary. But here’s the thing—sex or assigned gender doesn’t say everything about a person. Everyone’s unique, and sometimes that means not identifying with the assigned gender given at birth. Instead of saying “gender,” “gender identity” is the preferred term.

“Gender identity” is how someone identifies deep down, whether that’s as a man, a woman, both, or neither. Most Canadians over the age of 15 would say that their gender identity matches their biological sex. If they were born with male genitalia, they identify as a man, and if they were born with female genitalia, they identify as a woman. These are cisgender people.

For a few people, the gender they were assigned at birth doesn’t match how they feel inside. Someone born with a vulva might realize that they’re a man. These people may consider themselves transgender, or trans. In this example, the person would be a trans man.

“Gender expression” is a term used to highlight how everyone has their own way of showing their gender. This can be through the clothes they wear, hairstyles, makeup, and more. Most importantly, anyone can dress however they want, regardless of their gender identity.  

Everyone grows up with certain ideas about gender and sex. Unlearning those ideas can take time and effort.

Try this: write down your thoughts and experiences with the terms biological sex, gender identity, and gender expression. It’s a wonderful way to reflect on your understanding and identify if there’s anything that’s unclear. 

The 2SLGBTQI+ experience isn’t limited to one group of people.

2SLGBTQI+ communities have existed around the world throughout history. Examples of diverse sexual and gender identities can be found in Indigenous communities going back thousands of years. In Canada, some of these people are referred to as Two-Spirit persons.

2SLGBTQI+ people from cultural groups that have been subjected to racism will experience their identities differently. They can face multiple forms of discrimination at the same time. For example, a Black non-binary person could experience racism, homophobia, and misogyny all at once. They could have more difficulty dealing with colleagues, friends, or institutions than a white non-binary person or a straight Black cisgender person. For example, 70% of trans youth in Canada experience some form of violence or sexual harassment, especially youth who are people of colour. The term QTBIPOC (Queer Trans Black Indigenous People of Colour) was created to highlight the uniqueness of these 2SLGBTQI+ experiences.

Discrimination, colonization, religion, and racism have often made the experiences of QTBIPOC individuals harder to see and address. A great way to support the QTBIPOC community is to make sure the people who keep their traditions alive today are given credit and celebrated.

 As a thought exercise, reflect on the people in your communities and families. Is everyone viewed the same? How are they treated? How can you help them be more included?

You may have noticed that more and more workplaces are having Pride celebrations, asking employees to add pronouns to email signatures, or creating 2SLGBTQI+ committees. If you’re not part of 2SLGBTQI+ communities, you may wonder why your workplace has established these activities. These celebrations and measures are in place to make sure that everyone feels comfortable and safe in their workplaces.

Not long ago, 2SLGBTQI+ individuals were barred from government jobs. From the 1950s to the early 1990s, the Canadian government targeted its own employees, including those in the foreign service, military, and RCMP. People were investigated, forced to declare their sexual orientation, then fired because some thought that being gay was a “character weakness” that threatened national security.

On November 28, 2017, the Canadian government apologized for hurting and mistreating 2SLGBTQI+ communities. Parliament also passed Bill C-66 in 2018, to establish a procedure for expunging certain historically unjust convictions. Both were big steps towards rebuilding trust between these communities and the government. Even still, 2SLGBTQI+ workers are three times more likely than straight workers to be in an unstable employment situation.

Some 2SLGBTQI+ individuals may avoid conversations about their personal lives, hide parts of themselves, or even avoid coworkers due to fear, judgment, or discrimination. Imagine being scared of violence or retaliation for sharing news about your wedding or feeling uncomfortable when someone refers to you incorrectly based on your gender identity.

Research by Chartered Professionals in Human Resources Canada has shown how important it is for workplaces to create Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion policies and stick to them. A more inclusive environment helps businesses and organizations be more productive and innovative. Everybody can benefit from an inclusive culture. If people are comfortable enough to be themselves at work, they’ll spend less time worrying about how they’re perceived and more time tackling the challenges at hand.

Try this: take an aspect of your background (like your ethnicity, religion, or language) and imagine yourself working in an environment where that aspect had once been illegal. Would you feel safe freely sharing your personal information? How could your employer or colleagues make you feel safer to share more openly? 

Trans and non-binary people often face a lot of personal questions when they first meet others. Some questions like “Have you had surgery?” or “What was your name before?” are too personal. It’s like asking someone you’ve just met whether they’re on medication or if their childhood was happy. Instead, start with questions like “What kind of books do you like to read?” or “Have you been to any great restaurants lately?” When in doubt, keep it light.

When it comes to questions about their past, let trans people get comfortable with you and bring up those topics themselves. But it’s important to know that some trans people will never share that part of themselves with you—and that’s OK! It doesn’t necessarily mean anything about your relationship with that person, it just means it’s not something they want to talk about. 

Try this: think of a time when someone asked you a question that you felt was too personal and list some of the ways the question made you feel. 

Visiting a doctor or dealing with a professor may feel uncomfortable because someone you don’t know is evaluating you. This uncomfortable feeling can make you look for service providers with whom you share similarities, like having the same sexual orientation or gender identity. Remember, every professional is trained to provide services based on their job’s guidelines. They strive to do a good job, regardless of their identity or views—and that includes if they’re 2SLGBTQI+.

It’s also important to have service providers who are part of 2SLGBTQI+ communities. A survey from 2020 found that many trans and non-binary people in Canada had unmet healthcare needs, and some (12%) even avoided going to the emergency room because they were worried about being mistreated.

It’s a good thing that more professionals are offering services specific to the 2SLGBTQI+ experience, so that everyone can get the care they deserve.

Here’s another helpful thought experiment: think of any concerns you may have with a service provider who’s a member of 2SLGBTQI+ communities. Now, challenge those concerns. Are they based on facts or is this a bias? 

Trusting someone you don’t know very well to care for a family member can be uncomfortable.

This might make you extra cautious and more easily influenced by bias. One common bias is the idea that 2SLGBTQI+ people want to impose their own personal views or agendas and may attempt to persuade your family member to agree with those views or receive treatment they may not need. When your family member is with a 2SLGBTQI+ professional—whether they’re a camp counsellor, coach, or doctor—their focus will be on helping your family member, not on discussing 2SLGBTQI+ issues.

Interacting with members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities will help both you and your family member move past any bias you may have. 

Try this thought experiment: ask yourself whether you’d be less comfortable including a 2SLGBTQI+ member in one situation over another. For example, would you be fine if your doctor was 2SLGBTQI+, but uncomfortable if your child’s soccer coach was? If so, why? Is the concern valid or is it due to a bias?

Talking about issues facing the 2SLGBTQI+ communities with adults can be tricky, so it’s understandable to find it hard to discuss with kids. These topics are often linked with intimate sexuality, which isn’t kid friendly. Being 2SLGBTQI+ goes beyond intimate sexuality. It’s about relationships, families, identities, and more. When chatting with kids about 2SLGBTQI+ topics, keep it age appropriate. For example, you could talk about how some of their friends might have two moms or two dads, or how toys and clothes like trucks or dresses aren’t just for one gender—they’re for everyone.

Teaching kids to be accepting of differences and proud of who they are, no matter their own identity, is vital. It encourages acceptance and inclusivity from an early age, which will lead to a more inclusive future!

Here’s another thought experiment: are there some sports where you think a gay man would make a better coach than others? If yes, what are your reasons? Are these facts or is this a bias?