Negative Stereotypes about the LGBTQ+ Community

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The LGBTQIA+ community as a whole has many harmful stereotypes put on to them daily. These stereotypes are portrayed in shows, movies, books, and are even talked about in public.

Stereotypes can be very harmful to both the members of the community and their sense of self, as well as young minds witnessing them wherever they are portrayed. These stereotypes can lead to members of the community doubting the way they portray themselves, sometimes leading to a difference in appearance or how one acts. Kids and younger minds are more susceptible to believe these portrayals: for instance, in shows and movies, because they are regularly portrayed to them and are talked about by others surrounding them. It is important to remove these bias surrounding the LGBTQIA+ community to stop stereotypes from furthering within future generations, as well as the harm it carries into the present day.

This can making the straight, cisgendered society think negatively of queer individuals and continuing to push these stereotypes onto LGBTQIA+ members. While the media can utilize these stereotypes for content at times, it deeply impacts those of the LGBTQIA+ community and how the world utilizes what they think they believe to be true. This pushes the assumptions, or "implicit biases" deeper into people's minds and impacts their overall view on the LGBTQIA+ community.

Listed below are some of the common assumptions based around the community.

1.) Gay men are always overly feminine.

This assumption, according to BestLife, utilizes the word "gay." To date back to the old perception of the word, it usually translates and adheres to a overly-feminine, flamboyant homosexual man. This is a common misconception that allows many people to believe that when they see a feminine man that they are usually gay. This is not always the case, as there has always been more feminine-men. With trends on the rise such as men wearing nail polish, rings, and even presenting themselves in makeup, this does not necessarily categorize that man as "gay." Some gay men enjoy presenting themselves as feminine, yes, but a lot of trending clothing and outerwear for men are inherently feminine.

2.) Transgender and nonbinary individuals are mentally ill.

It is particularly hard in terms of health care and gender-affirming surgeries for transgender and nonbinary individuals to get this help, and a lot of this can contribute to the factor that many think there must be a medically-induced illness that plays a factor in this. Mental illness actually becomes a leading factor for when people do not feel comfortable in how they present themselves. We have seen this with the republican Governor Glenn Youngkin in Virginia, who has made it particularly difficult for transgender individuals in public schools to use their preferred name and pronouns without parental permission. There are many leading factors that CAN lead to mental illness, however, that does not mean that they are mentally ill because of their dysphoria.

3.) Lesbian women 'just have't met the right guy.'

This is commonly believed by non-members of the community and told to lesbians frequently. As a lesbian myself, I have been told this numerous amount of times even while being out as a lesbian. It was a constant to be told that there would be a guy that I would find eventually that would be the right "fit" for me, but this was never the case. Lesbians are typically erased and overseuxalized to the point where a lot of people do not believe that they even exist, leading to many to then say that they haven't found the right man.

4.) Bisexuals don't exist, you can't like both.

Bisexuals who are in a relationship with the opposite sex are commonly equated to heterosexuality, and while dating the same sex can be put into the homosexual umbrella. This is a form of bisexual "erasure," or the idea that bisexuals do not exist at all. Undermining bisexuality is also another for of erasure, as well as saying that they are just confused sexually. It is unfair to those who like anybody, and there does not need to be a set "ratio" on how much someone likes men/women/trans/nonbinary people.

Overall, these stereotypes continue to harm the LGBTQIA+ community in a negative light. It is beneficial to many to deflect these stereotypes in order to flourish in a more positive aura. The community is none of these aspects and it is difficult for us as a unit to continue to have implicit biases. Restructuring these thoughts and ideas will not only benefit the LGBTQIA+ community, but it will also help in the world's understanding of queerness and how we should be heard and seen as equally as our straight, cisgendered peers.

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