Blog Post 10

 LGBTQ+ Gender and Coming Out

I listened to episode three from the Gender Reveal Podcast (Woodstock, 2018). This was a very interesting listen, as I’ve never heard a story like Carlos’. Many things stood out to me about their story, from their stand-up comedy stories to their take on what gender means (2018). However, the way Carlos started experimenting with more feminine fashion is what stood out to me. They accidentally wore their sister’s jeans and this led to wearing their girlfriend’s clothes. Personally, this story made me feel happy and inspired. I love the way Carlos’ feminine journey was kind of an accident, but once they realized they liked this look, they followed what felt right. The most notable similarity between Carlos’ story and Lefevor’s article (2019), is that of intersectionality. Lefevor (2019) discusses how intersectionality for genderqueer people influences how they navigate “complex structural dynamics of oppression (e.g., White supremacy) and privilege (e.g., social class advantage)” (para. 6). This is relatable to the podcast (Woodstock, 2018) because Carlos talks about his experience being colored and queer.

I listened to Sam’s story from the Coming Out Stories podcast (Goswell, 2021). The thing that stood out the most to me about Sam’s story is how long it has taken her to come out to her family, especially that she still has not come out to her son. While I know there’s no timeline or rush to come out, it does make me sad that her son doesn’t know. Sam seems like a happy, content woman, though, so I am happy that she is happy. The research article by Trujillo and Mendes (2020) discusses stigma in coming out and being a member of the LGBTQ+ community in general. This is discussed by Sam; even though her mom was supportive, she still felt the stigma of not being straight. Sam expresses having felt this stigma for decades, which played a role in her coming out.

Carlos and Sam both faced their own challenges concerning their identity. Carlos is Black and queer, which has made people less intimidated by him. They explain that people are typically afraid of blacks, but because Carlos paints their nails and wears makeup, people are less intimidated. This, I would assume, would have an interesting impact on their mental health. Being Black brings more mental stress, as does being queer. Because Carlos is a part of two minorities, he is probably dealing with more mental strain than most people. Carlos doesn’t directly talk about if they were supported in coming out, but they do talk about being inspired by the many women in his life while growing up. Sam also has her own challenges. She is a lesbian, but does not spend time discussing intersectionality. However, we know being a woman in a man’s world is difficult, as is being a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Sam is probably battling mental strain like Carlos. Unlike Carlos, she does talk about the support she had while coming out. Sam’s mother was very supportive of her and has been there for her along her journey, which has had positive impacts on Sam’s mental wellbeing.

While I knew being a member of the LGBTQ+ community brought about stress and could be a confusing journey, the material for this week has helped me have a better grasp on what it means to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community. The stress of coming out to family and friends can be enormous, even if you know they will support you. I also learned more in depth about how individuals can change their identity as time passes and what feels right to them. Another thing I learned is the strength it takes for LGBTQ+ members to be themselves is inspiring. In the face of discrimination and biases, these people are courageously staying true to themselves.

References

Goswell, E. (2021, July 21). Coming out stories: Sam on Apple Podcasts. Apple Podcasts- Coming Out Stories. Retrieved March 18, 2022, from https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sam/id1436044250?i=1000529556748 

Lefevor, G. T., Boyd-Rogers, C. C., Sprague, B. M., & Janis, R. A. (2019). Health disparities between genderqueer, transgender, and cisgender individuals: An extension of minority stress theory. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 66(4), 385–395. https://doi-org.ezproxy.lib.purdue.edu/10.1037/cou0000339 

Trujillo, M. A., & Mendes, W. B. (2020). An ignored minority status: Consequences for sexual minorities living in a biased society. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 15(10). https://doi.org/10.1111/spc3.12638 

Woodstock, M., & Carlos. (2018, January 15). Gender reveal - episode 3: Carlos the Rollerblader. Gender Reveal. Retrieved March 18, 2022, from https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9nZW5kZXIubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M/episode/NzU2MjZlY2RmMDgwOGQ0ZDMyYTk1OGIwNjQ5ZWQxMGM?sa=X&ved=0CA0QkfYCahcKEwjY2cqdvND2AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ 

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