LGBT Center staff member answers questions about dealing with negativity and if someone's sexuality can change over time.
How do you cope with negativity often directed at LGBT people?
This question is extremely dependent on each individual's ability to cope with stress as well as the support group they have in their life. Many LGBT people have the love and support of friends and family to help cope with the violence and negativity directed at our community. Unfortunately, this is not the case for all LGBT people, which is why our community has disproportionately high rates of suicide and depression. I believe finding a community of LGBT individuals and allies can help people become proud of themselves. However, I am only one LGBT person, so while being in an LGBT community has supported me, I am not representative of all queer people and others may have found other ways to obtain a positive outlook.
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Can a person's sexual preference change over time?
Absolutely! Gender and sexuality are often described as falling on a spectrum, quite fluid and difficult to pin down. To have your sexuality change over time is not strange at all, and it happens to many people through a lifetime of experiences. The important thing is to be true to yourself and find a supportive network of people who will love you no matter how you identify.
Sarah Grote is a staff member for the LGBT Center at Ohio University. Do you have a question relating to the LGBT community? Email them to lgbt@ohio.edu or oulgbtcenter@gmail.com, tweet @oulgbtcenter with #qaqueer, tumblr at oulgbtcenter or post/message to the center’s Facebook page, oulgbtcenter. Individuals who submit questions will appear anonymously in our responses. All questions are welcome!
