Sexual Identity And Ideas Of Gender Identity

From the beginning of time, “gender” was and is still known as the physiological sex of self, which is male or female. Males are expected to be masculine and females feminine. However, during different cultural times “gender” took on a new meaning, one that is attributed to a controversial issue today, known as “gender identity.” Historical antecedent can be traced before 1500 B.C., however the most significant time period was long after, during the late 1800’s the notion that “gay” and “lesbian” represented a newly discovered biological specimen, which represented a third sex (Houston, 2017). Today, the term “gender identity” has broaden and serves as an umbrella to various sexual orientations that one identifies themselves, such as bisexual,

According to research, “gender identity” is not fixed at birth; both physiologic and social factors contribute to the early establishment of a core identity, which is modified and expanded by social factors as the child matures (Troute-Wood, 2015). It also relates to how one feels inside, and their sexual orientation, that is who one is attracted to and also one’s current gender presentation, which is how he or she identifies. Additionally, parents have always taught sex-appropriate behaviors to their children from an early age and these behaviors are reinforced as the child grows older and enters a wider social world (Troute-Wood, 2015). How these behaviors are changed or acted upon depends solely on the Zeitgeist of the time and what they are willing ot

Gays and lesbians had taken more of a stance on who they were and they were “coming out.” During WWII, a large group of men coming together to fight for their country took the opportunity to join forces in what they believed, forming a stronger community (Diamond, 2004). However, they continued to face persecution, “gays” and “lesbians” were discharged from the military and policy-makers agreed to diagnosed them as “psychopaths”, “undesirables” and they were given a new identity known as “homosexuals.” Over 100,000 individuals were discharged from the army because of their sexual orientation (Brasell, 1989). Despite their challenges during this time, World War II set the precedence for change for the LGBT community. Those who began to think of themselves as “homosexuals” was afforded the opportunity to meet other as themselves while at war (Bartlett & Seinfeld, 2004). However, the most significant change was the Stonewall Riot, 1969 this initiated a radical movement, customers of the gay bar retaliated against the police, sparking three days of rioting across New York. This riot was credited for the liberation of the Gay community. The shame reactions, such as being looked down on, gazed at, were seen among culture and civilizations in the world all over, but had taken a