Understanding misconceptions about the LGBTQ+

You may have someone close to you who's apart of the LGBTQ+ community. The LGBTQ+ community might be something you don't exactly look fondly upon, or have differing views on. This resource is directly aimed at those who may have been raised with negative beliefs about LGBTQ+ individuals or are encountering these perspectives for the first time. I aim to not just tell you to support LGBTQ+ individuals, but show you why the community exists and how individuals simply seek to life and have comfort of life. 

The resource I'm presenting is an interview with a member of the LGBTQ+. We talk a lot about the LGBTQ+ experience, how your upbringing can shape a lot of your views, how being an LGBTQ+ member affects your life, and how misconceptions can be damaging to LGBTQ+ individuals.

According to "Structural stigma and LGBTQ+ health; a narrative review of quantitative studies", stigma increases the risk of poor health among LGBTQ+ individuals, specifically mental, behavioral, and physical health.  Therefore, it's important that we're able to best address the stigma as best as we can with education surrounding misconceptions. 

My resource may be useful for parents struggling to accept or understand their child coming out, or a friend whose had someone close to them come out. The interview is framed in a way that explores the past and lets the person discuss and freely share their thoughts and hopefully provide some insight against some strong misconceptions about LGBTQ+.