Gender Matters: The Perceived Role of Gender Expression in Discrimination Against Cisgender and Transgender LGBQ Individuals

Abstract

Although violation of gender norms has been discussed as a fundamental component of and underlying foundation for anti-queer discrimination, less research has directly attended to how lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ) individuals interpret the role of gender expression in discriminatory experiences. Based upon a racially diverse national sample of 138 cisgender and transgender LGBQ individuals, I discuss results from a content and thematic analysis of discrimination narratives. Findings reveal the centrality of gender expression—how one embodies masculinity and femininity—within participant stories. While gender expression was central to meaning-making among all participants, the type of discrimination experienced and participants’ interpretation of the events depended on whether their gender expression “revealed” or “concealed” their queerness. Race and gender identity also informed participants’ interpretations, underscoring the need for greater attention to how gender norm expectations are racialized and cisnormative. These findings challenge the conceptualization of sexual orientation as an “invisible” identity and the notion of “passing” (i.e., being perceived as straight) as a uniform privilege for some LGBQ individuals. Instead, these results situate the perception of sexual orientation as context-dependent and highlight the need for advocacy efforts that identify and challenge strict gender ideologies, in particular gender binaries.