LGBTQ+

Overview

LGBTQ+ Definitions

LGBTQ+ is an acronym that encompasses many gender identity and sexual orientation terms. LGBTQ+ specifically stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer. The "+" represents the limitless gender identity and sexual orientations used (1).

For a full list of terms and definitions please see Glossary of Terms - Human Rights Campaign (1) and The Center: Lesbain, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center website: Defining LGBTQIA+ (2).

Gender Identity

Gender identity is an individual's concept gender: male, female, a combination of both, or neither. An individual's gender identity can be the same or different from their sex assigned at birth (1).

Sexual Orientation

Sexual orientation is

a romantic or sexual attraction to other people. An individual’s sexual orientation is independent of their gender identity (1).

LGBTQ+ Inequality in America

Health

LGBTQ+ people experience a high amount of discrimination and disparities in the healthcare system. A long with this they are at a greater risk for certain condition and health outcomes. The increased risk of physical health problems tend to come from a lack of gender and sex specific health care and adequate training on the specific needs of the LGBTQ community. These issues lead to the discrimination and increase risk and occurrences of disease (3).

Workplace

A lot of LGBTQ+ people face workplace discrimination while working or even during the hiring process. They often report harassment and being treated unfair at work based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Many people are also fired or not even hired due to their identity (4).

Education

A large proportion of LGBTQ students feel unsafe at school due to discrimination and harassment. Many experience harassment from online bullying to physical violence and others face discrimination with dress codes. Federal civil rights laws do not protect students from discrimination based on their perceived or actual sexual orientation or gender identity. The discrimination and harassment can affect their education as well as mental and physical health (5).

Housing

One of the earliest ways people discriminated against LGBTQ people is housing. Housing discrimination can be hard to identify because you could be told your lease has ended prematurely or be given and eviction notice for no specific reason. Your rental application can also be denied without explanation. Sexual orientation and gender identity were only recently protected under the Fair Housing Act(6).

Municipal Equality Index

"Human Rights Campaign Logo." Human Rights Campaign, https://www.hrc.org/about/logo. 11/29/2022.

The Municipal Equality Index is a measure of the LGBTQ+ inclusivity of the laws, policies, and services of cities. Cities are rated on five categories: Non-Discrimination Laws, Municipality as Employer, Municipal Services, Law Enforcement, and Leadership on LGBTQ+ Equality (7).

How Does Dayton Score? (8)

Non-Discrimination Laws

Measures whether discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is prohibited by the city.

Includes non-discrimination laws regarding employment, housing, and public accommodations.

Total: 30/30

Municipality as Employer

Measures the offering of equivalent benefits and protections to LGBTQ+ employees.

Includes non-discrimination in city employment, trans-inclusive healthcare benefits, non-discrimination ordinance, and inclusive workplace.

Total: 26/28

Leadership on LGBTQ+ Equality

Measures the commitment of city leadership in fully including and advocating for LGBTQ+ equality.

Includes the city human rights commission, non-discrimination enforcement, and LGBTQ+ liaisons in city executive office.

Total: 7/8

Law Enforcement

Measures the fair enforcement of laws preventing LGBTQ+ hate crimes and respectful engagement of LGBTQ+ community.

Includes LGBTQ+ liaison/task force in city police department and reported hate crime stats to the FBI.

Total: 22/22

Municipal Services

Measures the efforts of the city in ensuring LGBTQ+ residents are included in city services and programs.

Includes the leadership's public position on LGBTQ+ equality and their pro-equality policy efforts.

Total: 12/12

What Does this Mean?

Dayton has baseline legal protection and inclusion for LGBTQ+ individuals, only falling slightly short of perfect in two categories. However, their flex score for the Municipality Equality Index, which measures more comprehensive efforts for protection and inclusion, was only a 4/21. This shows that while Dayton is meeting the basic standards for LGBTQ+ protection and inclusion, there is still progress to be made.

For more information about the city of Dayton's LGBTQ+ resourses, visit their website at https://www.daytonohio.gov/169/LGBTQ-Resources

Recent Events In Dayton

Dayton LGBT Film Fest

17th annual film festival took place at The Neon on October 17th-20th. The fest has showcased over 200 LGBTQ centered feature films (9).

Local Dayton Organization Billboards in 15 states

"Have A Gay Day" a non-profit located in Dayton placed billboards in over 15 states to spread the message of equality and support for LGBTQ youth (10).

To see examples of the billboards and read more click here

Dayton Gay Men Chorus

The DGMC are preforming two free shows for the holiday season to give back to the community. Shows will take place on December 3rd at the Westminster Presbyterian Church (11).

For more information on The DGMC and ways to get involved click here

LGBTQ+ Resources in Dayton OH

www.daytonlgbtcenter.org/

The Greater Dayton LGBTQ Center

They provide event spaces and activities, encourage advocacy and education (12).

For more information please visit their website by clicking here.

For volunteer opportunities please click here.

www.pflagdayton.org/

PFLAG Dayton

PFLAG aims to provide support to LGBTQ individuals and families, provide education to the community, and advocate for acceptance and equality in the Dayton community (13).

For more information please visit their website by clicking here.

For volunteer opportunities please click here.

haveagayday.org/

Have a Gay Day is a local organization that aims to create a safe and supportive environment for LGBTQ individuals and Allies (14).

For more information please visit their website by clicking here.

For volunteer opportunities please click here.

National LGBTQ+ Resources

www.thetrevorproject.org/

The Trevor Project

The Trevor Project is a national organization that provides free 24/7 counseling for LGBTQ+ youth and advocated at the federal, state and local level for LGBTQ+ rights (15).

For more information please visit their website by clicking here.

For volunteer opportunities please click here.

Find Your Chapter

GLSEN

GLSEN is a national organization that advocates for a safe learning environment free from bullying and harassment. GLSEN has 41 chapters in 27 states (16). Find your chapter here.

For more information please visit their website by clicking here.

For volunteer opportunities please click here.

National Center for Transgender Equality

NCTE advocates for social and political change with the ultimate goal of ending discrimination against transgender individuals and foster a society of acceptance and equality (17).

For more information please visit their website by clicking here.

For volunteer opportunities please click here.

Citations

Anon. n.d. “Glossary of Terms.” Human Rights Campaign. Retrieved November 29, 2022 (https://www.hrc.org/resources/glossary-of-terms).
Anon. 2022. “Defining LGBTQIA+.” The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. Retrieved November 29, 2022 (https://gaycenter.org/about/lgbtq/).
Hafeez, Hudaisa, Muhammad Zeshan, Muhammad A. Tahir, Nusrat Jahan, and Sadiq Naveed. 2017. “Health Care Disparities among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth: A Literature Review.” Cureus. Retrieved December 1, 2022 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5478215/).
Thisisloyal.com, Loyal |. 2022. “LGBT People's Experiences of Workplace Discrimination and Harassment.” Williams Institute. Retrieved December 1, 2022 (https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/lgbt-workplace-discrimination/).
Anon. 2022. “LGBTQ Discrimination in Schools.” Justia. Retrieved December 1, 2022 (https://www.justia.com/lgbtq/youth/discrimination-schools/).
Anon. 2022. “Housing Discrimination against LGBTQ Individuals.” Justia. Retrieved December 1, 2022 (https://www.justia.com/lgbtq/housing-discrimination/).
Anon. n.d. “Municipal Equality Index.” Human Rights Campaign. Retrieved December 1, 2022 (https://www.hrc.org/resources/municipal-equality-index).
Anon. n.d. “V. Leadership on LGBTQ+ Equality.” Human Rights Campaign. Retrieved December 1, 2022 (https://hrc-prod-requests.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/MEI-2021-Dayton-Ohio.pdf).
Anon. n.d. “Dayton LGBT Film Festival.” Dayton LGBT. Retrieved December 1, 2022 (https://daytonlgbt.com/).
Millward, Evan. 2022. “Dayton-Based Organization Spreads Love in Cincinnati with LGBTQ- Themed Billboards.” WCPO 9 Cincinnati. Retrieved December 1, 2022 (https://www.wcpo.com/community/pride/dayton- based-organization-spreads-love-in- cincinnati-with-lgbtq-themed-billboards).
Anon. 2022. Dayton Gay Men's Chorus. Retrieved December 1, 2022 (https://www.daytongaymenschorus.org/).
Anon. n.d. “Greater Dayton LGBT Center.” Dayton LGBT Center. Retrieved December 1, 2022 (https://www.daytonlgbtcenter.org/).
Anon. n.d. PFLAG Dayton. Retrieved December 1, 2022 (https://www.pflagdayton.org/).
Anon. 2022. “Have a Gay Day.” Have A Gay Day -. Retrieved December 1, 2022 (https://haveagayday.org/).
Anon. 2022. “For Young LGBTQ LIVES.” The Trevor Project. Retrieved December 1, 2022 (https://www.thetrevorproject.org/).
Anon. n.d. “Homepage.” GLSEN. Retrieved December 1, 2022 (https://www.glsen.org/).
Anon. n.d. “National Center for Transgender Equality.” National Center for Transgender Equality. Retrieved December 1, 2022 (https://transequality.org/).

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