A   C o m p r e h e n s i v e   M a n u a l

are transsexual, people who are into

reinforce stereotypes.  This notion of the

"gender bending," drag queens, and so

 good  gay person must be challenged.

on.  In short, many who do not fit within

the rigid confines of our society s gender

The same types of issues may arise con 

norms consider themselves transgender.

cerning bisexuals.  Many lesbians and

Transgender issues can bring up all kinds

gay men do not understand bisexuals.

of feelings for people who have never

Try to keep your group from categorizing

encountered these issues and who don t

too much.  Be inclusive of everyone.

understand them.  However, it is impor 

Most of all, try to create a group norm

tant to bring up them because, especially

where it is possible to listen and ask ques 

tions so that you can better understand

the needs of individuals in your group.  

One of the most significant internal issues

in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgen 

der community is our differing degrees of

outness.  Many psychologists have

described the various stages of coming

out, from intense denial and self hatred to

openness and pride.  It is easy to see that

someone just coming out will have dif 

ferent needs and a different perspective

from someone who s been out for 5 years.

Do you make assumptions about people s

degree of outness or comfort with being

gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender?

Photo   1995 Alex Zaphiris

Someone just coming out may not feel

in lgbt groups, issues will arise and it is

comfortable with the "campy style" or

our responsibility to educate the members

"playful cruising" that goes on in some

of our community.  We often categorize

lgbt groups.  On the other hand someone

ourselves into subgroups based on gender

who s been active in "ACT UP" may feel

(e.g., a lesbian rap group or a support

put off by the low key approach and

group for gay and bisexual men).  What

"secretiveness" of some other groups.

happens to the individual who feels, for

instance, that he is a woman trapped in a

WHY?

man s body?  Does this person categorize

himself as a woman or a man?  As you

The second thing for any group to under 

can see, the issues can become quite com 

stand after "who" is WHY?  Why does

plex.  The best thing to do is to try to

this group exist?  What needs does it

understand what the person is experienc 

meet?  The raison d etre of your group

ing, and try to meet the individual s needs

may be directly tied to the make up of the

in whatever way possible.  

members of the group.  It is possible that

you will find that you are a group of new 

Often our communities try to distance

ly out students who need support to feel

themselves from the transgender commu 

good about yourselves.  It is a small leap

nity because they feel transgender people

to understanding, then, that the reason for

D e f i n i n g   Y o u r   G r o u p

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