[00:00:00] The public and professionals find it challenging to keep up with the different ways LGBTQ people identify themselves. Researchers compared how millennial and generation z queer communities refer to their gender identity, what gender they see themselves, and sexual identity to whom they respond sexually. They collected online surveys from 800 young adults 18 to 35 years who identified as LGBTQ in their gender and sexual identities. 40% of the sample endorsed being sexually responsive outside the norm, asexual not experiencing any sexual attraction toward people, pansexual, experiencing sexual or romantic attraction toward people regardless of sex or gender, and queer, not confined to society's heterosexual norm. Additionally, 34% of the sample endorse an expansive gender identity, identifying as transgender different from the birth gender or genderqueer non binary identifying as a different gender that does not conform to conventional gender distinctions. Younger generation z were more likely to report an expansive gender and sexual identity compared to older millennials. Generation Y with society's more acceptance and openness, the younger generation z seems more comfortable exploring and revealing options. Yet it still takes courage to reveal one's gender or sexual orientation. Let's learn, accept differences, and be compassionate.
