The LGBTQ+ community has been a prevalent topic in modern society; Whether it's the rights of these members or the hate crimes against them, there's often a story on the news about the community. However, these stories are exclusive to a select few members of the community – while there is nothing wrong with that, there is much more to the LGBTQ+ community. Growing up in a conservative Filipino family, heteronormativity crept into our daily lives and I found myself growing up around phrases like “that toy is for boys!” and "this is gay, don't do it". I remained ignorant about the LGBTQ+ community until my sophomore year of high school, where I met more people who fell into in-between categories, people I didn't even know existed until that year, and my ignorance about them was no coincidence — the modern media has purposely ignored them. For them, explaining what these gray areas were was a waste of time, too complicated to consider, and this is exactly why I decided to research the lesser-known gender and orientation spectrums. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay My goal was to erase the stigma that individuals should be exclusively one or the other, in terms of gender identity and orientation. As society perpetuates heteronormativity incessantly, I hoped to not only combat it, but also spread the opposite concept to my colleagues. In conducting my research, I had few general questions; most of my research was conducted based on prior knowledge. However, I had a question that turned out to be the focal point of my research: What did the media so insist on ignoring? Why was the non-binary community so intimidating that they had to be removed? While researching, I referred to information provided on sites focused on the LGBTQ+ community, as well as the personal experience of a good friend of mine and several articles. As I gathered sources for my research article, I looked for articles that talked about heteronormativity in the media, hate crimes faced by queers in America, and the concept of “corrective rape.” As a result of my research, I found myself solidifying my knowledge, gaining a proper understanding of the issues experienced by queers, and understanding why society refused to let these issues see the light of day. What does non-binary mean? Getting Started To understand this community, one must approach gender as an abstract idea based on self-image. Society exists within the boundaries of the genders “man” and “woman,” yet there are many who consider themselves outside or in the center of these boundaries. These people constitute queer and may experience identities often grouped into three categories: genderqueer, multigender, and genderless (“Too Queer for Your Binary: Everything You Need to Know and More About Non-Binary Identity”). according to Kaylee Jakubowski, “they can have any gender identity,” but their method of expressing this gender identity can be described as “non-cisheteronormative.” This term also serves to act as a “catch all” for non-binary people, although the many individuals who fall into this category do not all identify with the same gender; they identify as genres that "[do] not have a traditional niche within our society." Defining every single possible identity under the umbrella term queer would be a difficult undertaking considering the diversity underlying the term, but there are some terms that serve as a starting point for understanding the terminologybehind the area outside the gender binary. First, there is the idea of ​​being demigender, which includes demigirl/boy identities. These refer to someone who was assigned a female/male gender at birth, but experiences only a slight association with their assigned gender. This dissociation is not enough to cause dysphoria, in which the discrepancy between one's gender identity and biological sex causes extreme stress and anxiety. Demigender can also refer to someone who was assigned one gender at birth and associates more with the opposite gender, but not strongly enough to justify identifying as inherently “male” or “female.” Demigender is both an umbrella term and an identity in itself, intended as an identity for someone who only partially identifies with the concept of gender. The second is trans* identity. While this term includes those who identify as transgender/transsexual, there is much more behind it than is known to modern society. People who identify as trans* may also identify as transmasculine/feminine, as they are strictly dissociated from the gender designated at birth – this is where the demigender identity ends. Although demigender people can dissociate from their birth gender, this is not sufficient to identify as “male” or “female.” It is important to realize that the terms transgender and transsexual are not the same thing; when someone identifies as a gender that does not match their “assigned birth sex,” they are transgender. Likewise, when someone is born into a body they don't believe is "correct" and makes an effort to change it (for example, through body modification surgery), they are transsexual - the main difference between the two is "if the 'emphasis depends on an individual's gender, or birth sex.' When used as a generic term, it refers to those who identify as “something other than their assigned birth sex” and it is crucial to remember that the term transsexual is often considered a slur by some members of the trans* community (Terminology | The Safe Space Network).Being multigenderMultigender is used as an umbrella term for people who describe their relationship with gender as "experiencing multiple genders or pieces of many genders." Most of those who experience multiple genders explain that they “feel masculine/manly some days and feminine/feminine other days” (Jakubowski), but each individual has their own way of expressing their identity. As with other non-binary people, pronouns for those who are multi-gender are difficult to explain; the most important thing to remember, both for your convenience and the individual's comfort, is to ask up front what pronouns you want and make an effort to remember to use them correctly. Multigender people can also experience genders simultaneously, and their expression of this is no different than the expression of those who are genderqueer. This term encompasses a wide range of gender identities, some of which are polygender, bi/trigender, and genderfluid. Someone who identifies as polygender may experience multiple gender identities and may express them simultaneously or vary between them. These identities are not limited to male or female, as polygender individuals can experience male, female, and/or non-binary identities. They may identify as multigender, non-binary and/or transgender, as well as genderfluid. These individuals can have any gender expression possible, but most prefer to maintain their androgynous presentation and/or change it to be more masculine or feminine depending on which identity they feel comfortable with. Gender fluidity can be seen as an identityitself. This is when someone feels like they fluctuate between gender identities, depending on time, circumstances, and/or situations. A genderfluid person's expressions may change gradually or rapidly; I personally identify as genderfluid, although the scope of my expression is different from that of others. Even though I often dress and act "feminine," there are days when I wake up in the morning and feel like expressing my gender identity in this way would be wrong. Gender fluidity varies in speed, and genderfluid people may express themselves in a certain way for weeks or months, then have a desire to change. Bi/Trigender encompasses two or three genders, and you generally don't identify as bi/trigender if you feel you have more than two or three gender identities. Someone who is bigender may feel like they simultaneously, or consecutively, have two genders in one body. While these genders are typically masculine or feminine, this is not always the case. These people may express two different personalities, one distinctly “male” and one distinctly “feminine,” but many other gender configurations exist. Trigender covers two different circumstances; those who identify as trigender may feel neither male nor female, but not to the point of identifying as androgynous or agender, constructing their gender identity as they see fit. The term can also refer to someone who moves between three genders, simultaneously or consecutively. Being genderless Not all non-binary individuals see themselves as having more than one gender identity: this is a "complete inverse", where people see their relationship to the concept of gender as being "completely null" ( Jakubowski). This can be described as an absence of attachment to one gender or another, or as the entire concept of gender being inherently foreign and intangible. The most common identity that falls into this category is agender, where an individual identifies as having no gender and/or feels as if they have no gender. While expression for the previous two categories could be explained to some extent, for genderless people, gender expression is a unique challenge, both to describe and perform. Jakubowski says one source described that, each morning, they made a "conscious decision... about the type of gender expression that will be enacted," keeping in mind the different social interactions that would go hand in hand with dressing a certain way. Ultimately, the expression of genderless individuals varies, adopting “queer aesthetics.” While this term typically calls to mind “brightly dyed hair” and “genderqueer clothing combinations,” all queer aesthetics really imply whatever an individual finds aesthetically appealing, without paying attention to whatever their apparent “marketed demographic group”. for pronouns, genderless people more often than not prefer to be referred to using gender-neutral pronouns, which isn't a big surprise if you really think about it. Some of these include “they/them/them,” and some even forgo pronouns altogether and prefer to be referred to by their name. Is the term “nonbinary” gender exclusive? The term, while it may refer to gender expression, is non-gender exclusive; can also refer to orientation. It is important to realize that there is a difference between being sexually attracted to someone and being romantically attracted to someone, and this difference is not difficult to understand: you can be in love with another person, but not want to experience the sexual intimacy with her. . This can also be applied in reverse; although one may feel the desire to besexually involved with someone, may even have no desire to pursue a romantic relationship. The umbrella term for these individuals is “queer,” which encompasses a wide range of sexualities. The most commonly known of these sexualities is asexuality/aromanticism. Asexual/Aromantic An asexual person is someone who “does not experience sexual attraction” – note, however, that asexuality is not the same as celibacy, as people who are celibate experience sexual attraction and choose not to act on it, while asexuals view their sexuality as “an intrinsic part of who they are.” (Asexuality.org) As with gender identities in the community, asexual people express and experience their sexuality differently; some individuals “may or may not masturbate, have sex, form relationships, or have the same definition of asexuality.” Likewise, an individual who considers themselves aromantic experiences a lack of romantic attraction and/or a lack of interest in romantic attraction. While asexuality and aromanticism typically coexist within an individual, they are not codependent: someone can be asexual, but still experience romantic attraction, and vice versa. Pursuing a relationship with someone who is asexual is not a doomed relationship. Commonly, people believe that a healthy relationship must include sexual intimacy and believe that an asexual's lack of sexual attraction means that a relationship with them would not be satisfying or fulfilling. However, asexual people experience attraction, but do not feel the desire to manifest this attraction through sexual intercourse, instead working on their lack of sexual attraction and getting to know their partner through other means. There is also a subcategory of asexuality, known as Grey/Grey-A. Those who identify as Grey-A typically do not experience sexual attraction but; may experience it at times, experience sexual attraction with incredibly low sexual desire, experience sexual attraction and possess adequate sexual desire but not enough to desire the act itself, or even enjoy and desire sex, but only in specific circumstances. Despite the wide variety of people who consider themselves nonbinary in terms of gender identity, orientation, or both, the general consensus among the public outside of the nonbinary community is that members within the community have no idea what they are talking. I've been told that if I "keep filling my head with nonsense," I won't get anywhere in life, leading me to wonder if success is determined by whether someone is cisgender. Are there successful non-binary people? Not many people recognize the existence of non-binary individuals, whether by choice or lack of knowledge, but among those who do, some dismiss the idea of ​​“non-binary” as a pubescent phase. These people see the non-binary community as a group of millennials who are still becoming adults and/or simply want to be “unique.” Many who are cisgender tend to create outrageous names and claim they are "gender/sexuality non-binary" for the sake of ridicule. Contrary to popular belief, there are a number of very successful celebrities who identify as non-binary, both in terms of gender identity and orientation. One is Laverne Cox, a transgender actress best known for her role as Sophia Burset on Orange is the New. Black. She is the first openly transgender person to be nominated for an Emmy in acting and the first to be nominated for the Emmy Award since 1990. She was recognized by Time magazine and Madame Tussauds, becoming the first openly transgender person to appear on the cover andfirst transgender woman to have a wax statue modeled after her. She actively uses her success to advocate for the acceptance of transgender people in the United States and expresses self-love for herself and others. Cox has also won awards for her work on social issues: In May 2016, Cox received an honorary doctorate from the New York School for her work fighting for gender equality. The impact it has on the media has led to discussions about how being transgender "intersects with one's race and identity." Another is Anna Paquin, known for her role as Rogue in X-Men, who came out as bisexual in 2010. She has experienced a number of different instances of discrimination, something she reiterated in an interview with Us Weekly - she stated that "Bisexuality is not about being greedy or numerous other ignorant things I've heard at this point." She also took shots at Larry King when he asked her if she was a "non-practicing bisexual" since she is married to a man, saying "it doesn't work that way." His participation in the Give a Damn campaign and his response to questions about it demonstrated the passion he has for the cause itself; the actress, when asked about her participation in the video, responded that "it was a cause that she cared about and supported privately, but that she had never had the opportunity to talk about in a way that would be helpful." Jaden Smith also created a stir in the media for his fashion choices throughout 2016. He was pictured wearing various skirts and dresses, outfits typically seen as girls' clothes. In an interview with GQ Style, she said, "I don't see men's clothes and women's clothes..." Smith also shared her opinion on gender norms and their relationship to clothing, saying she feels like whether “people are a little confused about gender.” norms… [they] don't really understand. Smith's breakdown of gender roles is an example of a “queer aesthetic,” where people don't see gender in clothing; all they see are attractive pieces. Despite the success of these celebrities, the media still tries to erase the possibility of not only more young people discovering that they are non-binary, but also the possibility of currently non-binary people feeling the same as them. it can also be successful. Heteronormativity in the Media The media is the main information hub for today's society and is the driving force behind the spread of heteronormativity. Adults often have a clear idea of ​​the LGBTQ+ community, and the media serves as a means to shape the opinions of younger people. There are two media that are typically always heard or seen in daily life: television and toys. From targeting certain toys to different demographic groups to erasing LGBTQ+ characters in popular television shows, mainstream media does its best to perpetuate heteronormative culture. Since the days of Barbie and Hot Wheels, children's toys have always been designed for girls and boys. This plants the idea in children's minds that they are only allowed to interact with certain toys; it not only limits their freedom of choice as they grow older, but also prohibits children from being children. There are toys that tell boys they will “make important discoveries… and have an impact on the environment…” and toys that tell girls they will “focus on attracting boys.” Children comply with these gender roles early, but as they get older, there may be confusion about why they don't fit these roles. Lori Day asks, “what are we so afraid of?” (“How Highly Gendered Toys Present Children with an Exclusively Heterosexual Worldview”) Instead of being afraid that their children won't fit in, kidsParents should realize that causing stress to their children will only harm them as they grow older. Television Witnesses Direct Queer Erasure – TV shows often only depict healthy straight relationships. On the off chance that a healthy queer relationship is depicted on television, the depth of their storyline is superficial compared to that of their straight counterparts. The media monitoring group GLAAD reported that "4.8 percent of characters in the 2016/2017 television season are LGBTQ," and while this percentage is up from previous years, it pales in comparison to the 95.4 percent heterosexual characters in the same season. Perhaps the most criticized example of erasure is Commander Lexa's death in The 100; Megan Townsend explains that “queer characters…end up being killed off or dying in some way…often to further the development of the more central, usually straight, cisgender character” (“The ‘record number’ of LGBTQ characters on TV remains depressingly low ).The media's contempt for queer people helps spread heteronormative culture. As more and more children grow up learning that the only correct way to live is to be cishet, children experience isolation and confusion about what they look like. they feel about themselves face a greater risk of bullying from their peers Violence and danger for queers Hate crimes fueled against queer communities are not foreign: over the years, there have been countless reports of violence with. openly queer victims, some even seen with their partners Although there are countless queerphobic people, only a handful have the courage to be violent; as small as this handful may be, however, it doesn't erase the danger queer people face. There is also the idea of ​​“corrective rape”. Julie Decker, an asexual activist and blogger, has openly admitted to being sexually assaulted when she was 19, saying she "talked a lot about [her] sexuality" with a friend, only to have him try to kiss her even after she had refused his kiss. advances, to which he stated, “I just want to help you.” Decker also says that since coming out as asexual, he has "received death threats" and messages saying he "just needs a 'good rape'." When they hear that someone is asexual, some see it as a challenge, thinking that "you really want to have sex but don't know it yet" and that their victims will "thank them for it later." This not only perpetuates rape culture, but also fuels the isolation asexuals feel in their community. These are people who will grow up thinking they are broken and that their decision to come out as asexual was wrong. Religion has always been a major factor in the spread of queerphobia, due to the idea that “God forbids men to sleep together “the same way they do with women” – this is an incorrect basis, as the Bible forbids such things as tattoos (“You shall not make any cuts in your flesh for the dead, nor shall you make any marks on yourselves…” [Leviticus 19:28]) and to remarry after a divorce (“Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery..." [Mark 10,11-12]). Fred Phelps is a prime example: an “anti-gay church leader” who puts up signs at funerals and gay rights events reading “Thank God for AIDS” and “Fags are dying, God laughs ”; perhaps the most disturbing of all is "Matthew in Hell", referring to Matthew Shepard who was murdered for being openly homosexual ("Reclaiming Queerness"). This not only leads religiously religious and queerphobic people to believe they are right in their spiteful actions, but also demonstrates another method to.