4 myths everyone needs to stop believing about the LGBTQ community RIGHT NOW

Not everything you hear is true about them. Photo: Facebook/Delhigram

Homosexuality used to be society's well-kept secret about 50 years ago--everyone knew it existed, but kept mum about it. However, the society progressed, and we started to see openly gay celebrities, politicians, and even open representation of LGBTQ characters in the movies and books. Who can forget Ellen DeGeneres coming out on American television or Jim Parsons and Neil Patrick Harris' wonderful weddings with their same-sex partners?

While, LGBTQ people may have come out of the closet, there are some stereotypes about them, or rather myths, that still persist. And you know what's wrong with these myths? Well, not only are they false, but they are also incredibly stupid!

Also Read: 5 things that can totally cure homosexuality

Here are four stereotypes that the society needs to stop believing in.
 
Being Gay Means Hitting on Every Member of Your Sex
Fueled by homophobia, this myth is completely nonsensical. Imagine if the same was said for straight people--doesn't make sense, right?

Just like straight people have standards and preferences, so do gay people. Just because a person is attracted to members of the same sex, doesn't mean they would fall for just everyone. Yes, gay people do fall in love or develop crushes, but not for any random person.

Love or attraction works in the same way for a homosexual person like it works for a heterosexual person. Believe it!

Bisexuals are Basically Straight People Who Are Confused
Bisexuality means being sexually attracted to people of the opposite sex as well as the same sex. Neither are bisexuals half gay nor are they greedy, they can just fall in romantic love with men and women both! It is that simple.

Also Read: 4 laws that can actually benefit gay men and women in India

However, it doesn't mean that a bisexual person will experience equal attraction for the two sexes. In fact, there can degrees of attraction. That's right, a bisexual person, despite being attracted to the two sexes, can like one sex more than the other.

Gay Men Are Always "A Little Girly"
The idea that being a gay man is directly linked with femininity is erroneous. While there are of course some gay men who express themselves (via speech, dress and behaviour) in ways which are traditionally "feminine," there are many others who do not. Exactly! Gay men can be muscly too. Same goes for lesbians--not all of them are manly!

It's in fact problematic to assume that all gay men display the same type of gender behaviour.

Also Read: How to successfully spot a lesbian in a room full of women

If You Identify As a Transgender, You're Probably Gay
One thing to always remember is that gender identity is completely different from a person's sexual identity. This misconception is based on a misunderstanding of how sexual orientation, gender, and sex interplay with one another.

Sexual orientation is who you're sexually attracted to; while gender identity is how someone perceives themselves. It's really that simple! A trans woman can be attracted to a cis-female (that's a female individual whose gender identity aligns with what they were assigned at birth) or a trans woman or a trans man, and so on and so forth.

Also Read: This short film is breaking all the usual stereotypes about being a lesbian

So the next time someone passes a comment that is not only stereotypical, but also homophobic, you know what to do!