These are ever evolving & important topics that have been around since ancient times. Here we’ll dive into the spectrum of identities & orientations, learn tips on being more inclusive with your language, how to support yourself or someone who is questioning, and where to find more info & support!
How I feel Inside
Our gender identity is the gender we feel ourselves to be, who we know that we are inside…
Cisgender people identify with the gender they were assigned at birth, and transgender people don’t.
Gender identities other than girl/woman or boy/man are considered to be nonbinary.
Our gender identity is internal and not visible to others.
Who I'm attracted to
Our romantic orientation is the gender/s that we are emotionally attracted to.
Our sexual orientation is the gender/s that we are physically attracted to.
Our sexual orientation is not always the same as our romantic orientation.
A person’s orientation can change over their lifetime.
My Anatomy
Sex is a medical term that describes a set of factors related to the human reproductive system.
Infants are commonly assigned a sex at birth, based on the appearance of their genitals.
Intersex is an umbrella term for people whose chromosome patterns and/or anatomy do not fit typical binary ideas of a male or female body.
How I express my gender
Our gender expression is how we publicly display our gender.
This can include our name, hairstyle, clothing, makeup, pronouns, body language, way of speaking, and more.
Your gender expression may or may not match your gender identity and/or the expectations that other people have of you.
A list of BLOOM's trusted resources to find more information and support… VIEW ALL
A non-profit organization focused on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth.
Uses innovative legal and other strategies, to advocate for the human rights of children born with intersex traits.
Working towards all minds respecting, valuing, and affirming LGBTQ+ people via support, advocacy, and education (books, films, etc.)
Provides online discussion groups for LGBTQ+ teens ages 13 to 19.
Teaches you how to challenge internalized negative messages, handle stress, build a community of support, and embrace your true self.
Written explicitly for adolescents who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, or any other unique identities.
