27 LGBTQ2IA
Supporting Ontogenic and Cultural Compassion Building for the LGBTQ2IA Community
Abstract
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, two-spirit, intersex, asexual, and aromantic (LGBTQ2IA) people are often targets of direct oppression at both the systemic and interpersonal level. While many non-LGBTQ2IA individuals may not engage in direct acts of aggression toward LGBTQ2IA people, they often benefit systemically from their place in an oppression hierarchy, and thus may not engage in anti-oppressive behaviors, even if they hold anti-oppressive values. We posit that to build compassion for LGBTQ2IA people involves direct, active behavior on the part of non-LGBTQ2IA people. However, anti-oppressive appearing behaviors may be engaged in which do not actually result in consequent liberation or movement in the direction of liberation. We posit that anti-oppressive action of non-LGBTQ2IA people must be LGBTQ2IA led, grounded in mutual aid, and moving in the direction of interlocking liberation for all oppressed peoples and classes.
Keywords
LGBTQ2IA
Lesbian
gay
bisexual
transgender
queer
questioning
two-spirit
intersex
aromantic
asexual
sexual biology
self-identity
phylogenic selection
cisgender
allosexual
alloromantic
liberation
genital mutilation
coercive sterilization
rape
Conversion therapy
medical care
colonization
reproductive justice
anti-oppressive behaviors
Behavior Analytic Saviorism
oppressive norms
replacement behaviors
discomfort
feedback
About
Worner Leland
MS, BCBA, LBA
Worner Leland is a researcher and educator at Upswing Advocates and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst at Empowered: A Center for Sexuality. For the past several years, Worner has also served as a sex educator with a focus on expanding affirming sexual education, consent education, and education on sexuality and data collection, and their research has focused on intimacy-related behaviors in the queer community. Worner is also a Past President and the current Research and Dissemination Liaison of the ABAI Sexual Behavior Research and Practice SIG. Their other education passions include neurodiversity affirmation, harm reduction, and restorative justice.
August Stockwell
PhD, BCBA-D
August (they/them) is a teacher, researcher, and coach with a passion for transgender health and well-being and powerful, accessible mental health interventions. Their research has focused on topics including gender, sexual behavior, communication in relationships, BDSM, polyamory, mindfulness, and effective skill-building strategies. As a queer, nonbinary trans person, August has a vision of using precise measurement and an individualized approach to support and strengthen the LGBTQIA community. August is also the Associate Director of Research in the Applied Behavior Analysis Department at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
Janani Vaidya
MS, BCBA
Janani Vaidya (they/them) is a BCBA, researcher, writer, and editor. Their background in behavior analysis is working on skill-building with disabled and/or neurodivergent adults and training staff working with them. Their current focus is on research, specific to gender and sexuality focus on identity conceptualizations and language development, implicit bias, sensitivity training, harm reduction, consensual non-monogamy, transgender issues, racial and reproductive justice, disability justice, access equity, and asexual/aromantic issues. They are also a member of the Association for Contextual Behavior Science (ACBS), the Sexual Behavior: Research and Practice (SBRP) Special Interest Group affiliated with ABAI, and the Louisiana Contextual Science Research Group. Currently in India, they are working with local organizations and mental health practitioners to develop communication networks, provide education on various aspects of the LGBTQIAP+ community, and creating a digital media platform for the trans community with other organizers. You can find them on Twitter: @JananiVaidya and Instagram: @janani.vaidya.