So I don't know if you notice my song choices (I can be a little Britney and Madonna heavy at times, and the 80's are my passion) and my tendency for excessive flair, but I am a gay man, and as such, I have a lot of friends in the LGBT community from all different walks of life and with so many different needs, so I wanted to make a post to emphasize that some people may have needs during disasters that are not immediately apparent. Sexual orientation and gender identity are very complex concepts, so always be sure to be accepting, affirming, and ask questions about preferred pronouns if you are unsure!
While I would hope that everyone is accepting and supporting of everyone they meet, this is something that can be particularly important during a disaster, when shelters may not necessarily have forms labeled to be accepting of those who don't identify within a restrictive gender binary, or recognizing same-sex partnerships when states may not legally allow partners of the same sex to marry. Many older people who identify within the LGBT spectrum are more likely to have a higher degree of isolation, so please check on your fabulous elderly neighbors in the event of a power outage or other emergency or disaster situation!
The concerns I highlighted above, along with many more, are explained in further detail in this short document from The National LGBT Health Education Center in Boston, Massachusetts. While I am a part of this community and have many friends within it, I know that the majority of people here in Charlotte probably do not, and while we should certainly be inclusive and accepting of all, especially in times of disaster, these are definitely some issues which might not necessarily occur to the typical Charlottean until it is too late to be able to revise policies and practices in a response situation.
I do hope you will take a couple minutes to read the material, even if just to learn about some of the issues facing the LGBT population in a disaster situation. And if you're involved in disaster response and recovery efforts, please read and share with your colleagues! There is a lot we can do to help these people feel warmth and acceptance in times of high stress, and sometimes it really is just as simple as asking for preferred pronouns! In case you missed the link above, feel free to click here to access the document!
And as always, stay safe, y'all, and let's all make an effort to be respectful today.
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