What does it mean to live authentically as an LGBTQ person?
26 Answers
Last Updated: 03/23/2020 at 4:41am


Moderated by
Richard Manson, BSW,CAP
Drug & Alcohol Counselor
Compassionate, non-judgemental and experienced substance abuse therapist driven to helping guide clients to overcome issues relating to abusing drugs and/or alcohol.
Top Rated Answers
It can mean anything you want :) Being LGBTQ doesn't define you as a person, it is just one aspect of who you are. Being open with people and not hiding your sexuality could be considered living "authentically" as a LGBTQ person, but in the end there is no one way to fit in to this category. We are all just normal people, and a hugely diverse subsection of society. You and another person of your orientation may have nothing more in common than that. Don't feel that if you don't conform to a stereotype, you aren't part of the community, because that isn't the case. Just be you. Hope that helped.
It means to just be you. There's no requirement to date someone of the same sex or anything, just be you
It just means being true to yourself, and following your heart! There is no "good" or "bad" way to be LGBT. There is only what makes you feel happy and free, and that is your path to a fullfilling, authenic life. Everyone walks their own path and lives sexuality/gender identity in the way that most fits their inclinations and desires. What makes us a community is the mutual respect for every individual way to live one's own nature, and the genuine support for one another. So even if someones doesn't adhere to the stereotypical "models" of LGBT people, they're just as authentic, as lloved and supported, because being true to ourselves is what is all about.
Live as you are. If you identify as any sexuality or gender other than straight or cisgender, you are living authentically. You do not have to do anything special, just exist and behave in a way that feels right. Be true to yourself.
Today's society places a lot of emphasis on your status as an LGBTQ person (perhaps rightly so, since we're still fighting for equality). But I would say living authentically simply means being true to yourself: not hiding traits that you're ashamed of, or that you think don't fit with how others see you. Don't hide something about yourself regardless of whether it's an LGBTQ stereotype or not - just be yourself!
Anonymous
February 17th, 2015 12:51am
Being in the realm of LGBTQ does not change the fact that you are human like everyone else on Earth. Just embrace yourself and live your life the way you want to without worrying about labels. Now that is living authentically.
To live authentically as a LGBTQ person means whatever it means to you! If you feel like your life would best be spent as a social advocate for our community, then do so! If you want to live quietly as an LGBTQ person, go for it! There are no "right" or "wrong" ways to be an LGBTQ person. Live however you want to, and live authentically for you.
I believe that one lives authentically as an LGBTQ person by seeking out the method of living that is most attuned to one's personal understanding of happiness, given the limits of one's available environment. It is not possible to be safely open about all aspects one's identity in all contexts. An unfortunate truth of the contemporary world is that for an LGBTQ person, many situations demand caution, and there are times when openness can not only be perceived as an invitation for all manner of abuse, but even endanger one's life. To exercise caution in revealing these aspects of one's identity in potentially dangerous situations is no less authentic than openly expressing them, and need not be perceived as a source of shame, or a sign of disingenuous behaviour.
Anonymous
April 24th, 2015 10:19pm
There is no legitimate authenticity of being in the lgbtqia+ community. All you really have to do is be someone who is in the lgbtqia+ community, that's it.
I would guess as a Bisexual person, that as long that you're some how in the LGBTQ category, you live the life. No need to change your life style in anyway, just keep on living
There is no wrong way to live as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. If anything, the fight for equality demonstrates the diversity of human beings that deviate from the stereotypical or conventional. With this movement, new facets of the community are revealed, and sometimes the only thing they share in common is that one label, with every single other thing unique to them and them alone. It all depends on how you choose to express yourself.
Generally this means being open about one's sexuality but not obsessively. Being honest with those who need to know about one's sexuality and comfortable discussing it or openly dating. Living authentically as an LGBTQ person is really more like simply being one's self.
It means to just be yourself. Don't try to "fix" yourself or change who you are. Learn to love yourself the way you are.
If you are living authentically as an LGBTQ+ person, you are embracing how you were born and how you were brought up. When you're living authentically as an LGBTQ+ person, you are proud of who you are, despite the ridicule that you receive, and despite some cruel judgements you might experience. You love who you please, and you express yourself how you please.
In order to live authentically as an LGBTQ person, all would be necessary is to have..
*(Feeling) sexual/romantic attraction to the same sex
*(Feeling) sexual/romantic attraction to both sexes
*Not fitting in comfortably with your birth sex
It means being who you are! who you was born to be! Living your life to the max and not letting the fact you're part of the LGBTQ community stop you from doing what you want... YOU ROCK!
Anonymous
March 22nd, 2016 1:17am
Everyone's authentic self is different from person to person. Many LGBTQ people live authentically as in being who they truly are 100% of the time without hiding or pretending they're cisgender and/or heterosexual.
It means to be who you are and don't hide anypart of who you are due to the fact of hate or other peoples opinions
To live authentically as an LGBTQ person is to be true to yourself and to do things that keep yourself safe and happy!
Someone who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or anything else that falls under the wide spectrum of gender and sexual identity/orientation
To be an LGBT person means accepting yourself and not being ashamed. It means to be part of a community, in which we help each other and fight for our rights and freedom. It does not mean it's the only think important to you, as you have a life which is not directed by your sexuality, but it does mean it's something you should care about and fight for, until we reach a time when there will be no need to be coming out, as it will be as common as dying your hair or just listening to music.
Anonymous
March 28th, 2017 10:40am
Being LGBTQ in a way that feels right to you like other questions you will have to answer for yourself. It is your life and at the end of the day. Maybe it means outing yourself to your entire family at your school and workplace. Or actively supporting you local community and so on. But it is not a must.
To live. To be authentically you. To succumbed to the pressure to be as respectable and appealing to cisgender or heterosexual people, though many of us have to for safety. To respect and love other LGBT people and our own selves.
don't hide who you are. if you don't like guys : don't date them! if you don't like girls : Don't date them! if you like everyone date who you want. don't let others tell you who to be.
To live authentically as an LGBTQIA+ person, it means that you are honest with yourself and who you are. Accepting others is important, but accepting yourself can be one of the most valuable skills.
For me that means being honest about who I am, and what I represent. It means dealing with any internalized homophobia, transphobia, biphobia, etc that you may have. It means having the firm conviction that there is nothing wrong with how you identify or who you love. It doesn't necessarily mean being out to everyone, or having everyone know how you identify, rather it just means living your truth as you are. I don't have to let everyone know that I am trans, but I let people know my pronouns and that i expect them to respect them, and I will respect them. It means being firm in what I stand for and acting with integrity. It means not allowing myself to internalize any negative messages about my identity, but rather to affirm myself in the truth of who I am.
Related Questions: What does it mean to live authentically as an LGBTQ person?
How do I come out as nonbinary?I've just come to terms with being transgender. How do I come out to my girlfriend of many years?How do I tell my boyfriend that I'm transgender?Is there any chats/groups/forums specifically for Transgender teens 18 and under?What does it mean to be Queer? I'm love with my best friend, but she's straight. What do I do?How do I come out to my parents?How to deal with falling in love for your best (and straight) friend?How can I explain homosexuality to my parents?Hi. I’ve had trouble with my family lately. My mom says she supports me-being an enby but won’t call me by my pronouns. And got angry at me now I’m in trouble. Please help?