��ɫ��Ƶ

• Log in to student email through My��ɫ��Ƶ portal
• Go to the gear in the top, right corner (under profile picture) to access account settings
• Select "Accounts" from the top tabs
• Under "Send Mail As" section, select "Edit Info" next to your ��ɫ��Ƶ student email address
• Type preferred name into the empty box and select this option
• Save

If you're just starting to learn about the LGBTQ community, there are hundreds of questions you may have. Below are a few of the most frequently asked questions that people ask as they start on their journey of acceptance.

You may be experiencing a range of emotions, including grief, guilt, confusion, or denial, and you may find yourself facing new questions about your relationship with your LGBTQ+ loved one. Whatever your reaction, remember that they are sharing one part of who they are with you. At their core, they are still the same person they were before; someone who continues to need your love, respect, and support.

No one knows exactly how sexual orientation or gender identity is formed. However, experts agree that both are shaped by a complex combination of genetic, biological, psychological, and social factors. For many people, sexual orientation and gender identity begin to take shape at an early age. Although research has not identified a single cause, being any one sexuality or gender identity is not the result of any one factor, such as parenting, upbringing, or past experiences. It is never anyone’s “fault.”

If you find yourself asking why you or your loved one is LGBTQ, it may be helpful to consider a different question: Why does the answer matter? Does your response to an LGBTQ person depend on knowing the reason? Regardless of cause, LGBTQ people deserve dignity, fairness, and equal rights.

No. LGBTQ+ people have existed across cultures and throughout history. Being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or any other identity is not an illness or disorder— a position affirmed by both the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association. Homosexuality was removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) decades ago. Likewise, being transgender or gender diverse is not a disorder.

Sexual orientation and gender identity are part of the natural diversity of human experience. They are simply aspects of who a person is, not something that is wrong, broken, or in need of fixing. There is nothing wrong with being LGBTQ; in fact, there is much to value, affirm, and celebrate. What is harmful are the discriminatory laws, policies, and attitudes that persist in schools, workplaces, places of worship, and communities. These barriers can cause real pain and injustice for LGBTQ people and for those who love and support them.

No. Efforts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity are not only unnecessary— they can be harmful.

Some religious and secular organizations promote campaigns or studies that claim LGBTQ people can or should change because something is “wrong” with them. These claims are rooted in ideology rather than credible, peer-reviewed scientific evidence. Research does not show that such efforts lead to lasting change in a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, and many reported “successes” reflect changes in behavior or outward expression, not a person’s authentic identity.

Major medical and mental health organizations, including the American Psychological Association, have warned that so-called reparative or conversion therapy is ineffective and can cause significant emotional and psychological harm. LGBTQ identities do not need to be fixed; what people need is understanding, affirmation, and support.

Some people say they have felt different or recognized from a very young age that they were attracted to people of the same sex. Some transgender people describe knowing early on that their gender identity did not align with the expectations placed on them by family or society. Others may not come to understand their sexual orientation or gender identity until adolescence or adulthood.

For many people, it can take time to find the words or labels that best reflect their experiences, and for some, those understandings may evolve over time. Exploring and understanding sexuality and gender can be a lifelong process, and there is no need to rush into labeling oneself before feeling ready.

In most cases, it is best not to directly ask someone, “Are you gay?” or make assumptions about their sexual orientation or gender identity. A person’s identity may not be visible to others, and only they can decide if, when, and how to share that part of themselves.

Rather than pressuring someone to disclose personal information, a more helpful approach is to create an environment of trust, safety, and acceptance. One of the best ways to do this is by openly expressing your support for LGBTQ+ people and making it clear that you are an ally. Whether or not your friend or loved one is LGBTQ+, letting them know you are a safe, affirming, and respectful person can make a meaningful difference.

There are many important questions to consider before coming out. Are you feeling comfortable and grounded in your sexual orientation or gender identity and expression? Do you have trusted people who can support you? Are you prepared to be patient with yourself and others? What are your family’s or friends’ views about LGBTQ people? Are you financially or otherwise dependent on your family?

Before deciding to come out, take time to think through your situation, make a plan, and identify supportive people and resources you can turn to. Coming out is a personal decision, and your safety and well-being should always come first. Just as self-acceptance can be a process, family members and loved ones may also need time to move through their own stages of understanding and acceptance.

Yes! LGBTQ people can and do have families. Same-sex and queer couples form loving, committed relationships, and many choose to build lives together through marriage, partnership, and shared community. Many LGBTQ people are also raising children through adoption, foster care, surrogacy, co-parenting, or other paths to parenthood.

Family can take many forms. Some LGBTQ people are supported by the families they were born into, while others create chosen families with partners, friends, and loved ones who offer care, connection, and belonging. What makes a family is not one specific structure, but the love, commitment, and support people share with one another.

This can be a difficult and deeply personal question. For some people, learning that they or a loved one is LGBTQ+ may feel challenging if they believe it conflicts with their faith tradition. At the same time, being LGBTQ+ does not diminish a person’s capacity to live a moral, spiritual, and faithful life any more than being heterosexual or cisgender does. Many LGBTQ+ people are people of faith and are active members and leaders within their religious communities.

Reconciling faith with sexual orientation or gender identity often takes time, reflection, and honest exploration. For some, this may mean revisiting long-held beliefs, seeking guidance from affirming faith leaders, or learning how others have navigated similar questions. For others, it may mean working for greater inclusion within their faith community or finding a new spiritual home that fully affirms LGBTQ+ people.