What is Gender and Sexual diversity ?

What is gender and sexual diversity?

Gender identity and sexuality are unique to each person. Some key concepts that can help us understand gender and sexual diversity are gender identity, expression, biological sex, and sexual orientation.

Gender Identity

How a person chooses to identify based on their sense of self. Examples of gender identity include male, female, neither, or along a spectrum. A person’s gender identity may not align with the sex assigned at birth.

Gender Expression

How a person chooses to publicly express their gender. For example, name choice, pronoun use, and clothing can all contribute to how someone expresses their degree of femininity and/or masculinity.

Biological Sex

This refers to the sex someone is assigned at birth based on their reproductive and physical characteristics.

Sexual Orientation

This refers to someone’s physical, romantic, and sexual attraction towards others of the same and/or opposite sex or gender.

The Genderbread person is a visual tool that can help us better understand gender and sexual diversity.

Image Source: https://www.itspronouncedmetrosexual.com/2018/10/the-genderbread-person-v4/

Support services and resources

Illustration showing people holding hands

Wîchihîwâuwin Helpline

ᐐᒋᐦᐄᐙᐅᐎᓐ

The Wîchihîwâuwin Helpline provides a safe space for people who need to talk on the phone about any difficult situation concerning their well-being

Emergency Numbers

Phone numbers to call in a health-related emergency.

Resources outside Eeyou Istchee

LGBTQ Youth Phone Line | Phone: 1-800-268-9688 | Text: 647-694-4275

Youth Line offers confidential and non-judgemental peer support through our telephone, text and chat services. Get in touch with a peer support volunteer from Sunday to Friday, 4:00PM to 9:30 PM.

Hope for Wellness Help Line | Phone: 855-242-3310

Hope for Wellness Helpline is available 24/7 to all Indigenous people across Canada. Whether you prefer to talk to someone on the phone or online, Hope for Wellness is there to support you anytime.

Kids Help Phone | Phone: 1-800-668-6868 | Text: 686868

Kids Help Phone e-mental health services are available 24/7 across Canada. This means that we’re here for kids, teens and young adults from coast to coast to coast.

Celebrating Pride in Eeyou Istchee

Many of the communities in Eeyou Istchee organize Pride activities during Pride month in June. Please consult with local events calendars for more information.