LGBT Clients and Dealing with LGBT Persons - Essay Example

It is important for a person handling LGBT clients to understand and use acceptable language among LGBT people. This is important considering language has a history of being used to oppress and discriminate against the LGBT community. Moreover, every person has a right to live an entirely functioning and emotionally healthy life regardless of his or her gender identity and expression.

The importance understanding the terminologies to use when addressing an LGBT client not only shows respect but also contributes to the LGBT client’s self acceptant and Council’s competence in handling LGBT clients. There are several advantages to understanding the language and terminologies of an LGBT counselor. The first advantage is that such knowledge help in creating a welcoming environment for LGBT persons and people close to them by establishing a counseling space that affirms an LGBT person’s identity (Burnes et al, 2009). For example, a counselor may intentionally have an LGBT-positive magazine in his or her counseling office and waiting rooms.

The second advantage could be acceptable language to help achieve an open, informative, and fruitful discussion with a client on their experience. By doing so the counselor can assist the client to overcome any potential inbuilt negative attitudes toward themselves and their loved ones. The third advantage is that the constant use of acceptable language ensures that the counselors’ perception or knowledge about LGBT does not interfere with his or their work. Lastly, understanding the LGBT languages makes it possible to acknowledge the diversity among LGBT people. For example, LGBT persons from different races, ages, or religions will use different terminology to refer to the same thing.

There are several terms that LGBT persons generally prefer being referred to and those they term abusive. The first term one should avoid when referring to LGBTs is homosexuals, instead, use words such as gay people, lesbians, or gay man. This is because homosexual is a clinical term that tends to suggest being attracted to the same sex is a psychological disorder. The second term is referring to LGBT couples as homosexual couples instead of gay couples or just a couple like any other. The third offensive term is a gay lifestyle instead of gay lives or lesbian lives. Referring to being gay as a lifestyle suggests that gay life is a choice that can be cured. The fourth term that needs to be avoided is admitted homosexual, in place of, openly lesbian, bisexual, or gay. Lastly, one should avoid referring to rights associated with LGBT persons as special rights but equal rights (The Military Outreach Committee, n.d).

In conclusion, this paper portrays a clear picture of the need to understand the right terms to use when dealing with LGBT persons. By understanding these terminologies an individual canto acknowledges that, like any other person, LGBT people have the right to live an entirely functioning and emotionally healthy life regardless s their gender identity and expression. Al, so it is clear that being gay or lesbian is neither a lifestyle nor a disorder. Read More