Questioning (sexuality and gender)

The questioning of one's sexual orientation, sexual identity, gender, or all three^[1]^[2] is a process of exploration by people who may be unsure, still exploring, or concerned about applying a social label to themselves for various reasons.^[3]^[4] The letter "Q" is sometimes added to the end of the acronym LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender); the "Q" can refer to either queer or questioning.^[5]^[6]

Sexual orientation, sexual identity, or gender does not always coincide with one other; meaning for example, if an individual identifies themselves as a heterosexual, they may not only be attracted to someone of the opposite sex and have sexual interactions with someone who is of the same sex without necessarily identifying themselves as bisexual.^[7] The understanding that one does not need to apply any type of gender or sexuality label to oneself is relatively publicly and socially prominent in the modern day, along with gender and sexual fluidity, which is also more openly discussed and accepted in today's society.^[8] Individuals who do not identify themselves as male, female, transgender, heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, asexual or feel their sexuality is fluid, may refer to themselves as gender neutral, genderqueer, non-binary, or agender.^[9]

^ Webber, Carlisle K. (2010). Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Teen Literature: A Guide to Reading Interests. Libraries Unltd Inc., ISBN 978-1-59158-506-0
^ Bahrampour, Tara (April 4, 2005). Silence Speaks Volumes About Gay Support. Washington Post
^ Martin, Hillias J.; Murdock, James R. (2007). Serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning teens: a how-to-do-it manual for librarians. Neal-Schuman Publishers, ISBN 978-1-55570-566-4
^ How to Cope With Your Sexual Identity, TeenIssues
^ Grisham, Lara (June 1, 2015). What does the Q In LGBTQ stand for? USA Today
^ Petrow, Steven (May 23, 2014). Civilities: What does the acronym LGBTQ stand for? Washington Post
^ Spinelli, Ernesto (2014). "Being Sexual: Human Sexuality Revisited" (PDF). Existential Analysis: Journal of the Society for Existential Analysis. 25 (1): 17–42. Gale A361352864.
^ Diamond, Lisa M.; Butterworth, Molly (September 2008). "Questioning Gender and Sexual Identity: Dynamic Links Over Time". Sex Roles. 59 (5–6): 365–376. doi:10.1007/s11199-008-9425-3. S2CID 143706723.
^ Gevisser, Mark (23 March 2015). "Engendered". The Nation.

[webber2010-1] Webber, Carlisle K. (2010). Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Teen Literature: A Guide to Reading Interests. Libraries Unltd Inc., ISBN 978-1-59158-506-0

[Bahrampour-2] Bahrampour, Tara (April 4, 2005). Silence Speaks Volumes About Gay Support. Washington Post

[martin2007-3] Martin, Hillias J.; Murdock, James R. (2007). Serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning teens: a how-to-do-it manual for librarians. Neal-Schuman Publishers, ISBN 978-1-55570-566-4

[4] How to Cope With Your Sexual Identity, TeenIssues

[Grisham-5] Grisham, Lara (June 1, 2015). What does the Q In LGBTQ stand for? USA Today

[Petrow-6] Petrow, Steven (May 23, 2014). Civilities: What does the acronym LGBTQ stand for? Washington Post

[:32-7] Spinelli, Ernesto (2014). "Being Sexual: Human Sexuality Revisited" (PDF). Existential Analysis: Journal of the Society for Existential Analysis. 25 (1): 17–42. Gale A361352864.

[8] Diamond, Lisa M.; Butterworth, Molly (September 2008). "Questioning Gender and Sexual Identity: Dynamic Links Over Time". Sex Roles. 59 (5–6): 365–376. doi:10.1007/s11199-008-9425-3. S2CID 143706723.

[Gevisser2015-9] Gevisser, Mark (23 March 2015). "Engendered". The Nation.

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