Understanding the LGBTQIA Community: A Historical Overview

The LGBTIAQ is an acronym for the myriad of sexualities and gender expressions presented by members of communities of queer people or people who do not fall in the heteronormative paradigm. Heteronormativity as defined by Merriam Webster’s dictionary states, “denoting or relating to a world view that promotes heterosexuality as the normal or preferred sexual orientation.” (Merriam Webster , 2017)
The term LGBTQIA stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning, intersexed, asexual, as well as the ally community. The move to humanize and remove the stigma around this group of people in the United States context began in the early 1940’s. This intellectual and popular culture push by way or positive imagery paired with

human representation, i.e. coming out, began in the early 1940s and 1950s, with the adoption term gay as opposed to homosexual.
Over the course of decades, individuals who lived outside of heteronormativity asserted their need to be named individually in the LGBTIQ continuum which took strength and resilience. Of the various communities under this umbrella. Transgender individuals tend to dominate the medically underserved. The focus point of this paper will be on self- identified transgender people and their underserved medical needs. Transgender is defined as being a person whose gender identity differs from the sex the person had or was identified as having at birth. (Merriam Webster , 2017)
Historically, this transgender community is questionably the most ostracized and underserved population in medicine.

For one thing, transgender people may not seek treatment solely based on the fear and intimidation of medical staff misunderstanding them, in turn, ignoring their medical needs. “Historical stigmatization fosters a reluctance to disclose gender identity, which can have dire consequences for long-term outcome due to lack of appropriate medical history including transition-related care” (Roberts, 2014). This can have specific medical complication within itself which can lead to premature death. According to Roberts (2014), “Transgender patients face many barriers in their access to healthcare including both structural and financial barriers, and even a lack of healthcare provider experience in treating this unique

population.”
According to Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice Corporation, the transgender community faces levels and types of oppression. (Merriam Webster , 2017)
On an individual level a person that identifies as transgender can face such things as; harassment, taunting, or even assaults because they as perceived as a man in a dress.

On a cultural level, transgender individuals are depicted in the media as the comic relief or they are insane, they are often played by actors who are not themselves. On an institutional level a transgender individual would have to jump through more hoops then one who does not identify as transgender. For example, in some states, in order to change the sex category on your driver license, a person that identifies as transgender would need to present a letter from a surgeon attesting that they had irreversible sex reassignment surgery. ( Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice Corporation , 2017)
Throughout the history of being oppressed and underserved, the transgender community have proven to be determined and resilient by overcoming medical adversaries. This population continues to press forward. According to Singh, Hays, & Watson (2011) this community is constantly; evolving a self-generated definition of self, embracing self-worth, remaining aware of oppression, staying connected with a supportive community, and cultivating hope for the future medically, socially, economically, and

educationally.