100 Questions and Answers About Sexual Orientation and the Stereotypes and Bias Surrounding People who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Asexual, and of oth

This guide from the Michigan State University School of Journalism is designed to be a starting point for learning about gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual, and other sexual orientations. It answers basic questions in order to facilitate deeper conversations and has sections on terminology, identity, relationships, families, health, safety, school, work, visibility, coming out, civil rights, politics and religion.

The language of the guide is approachable and easy to understand. It is meant for both family and friends as well as for people in business, schools, places of worship, government, medicine, law enforcement, human resources and journalism. The guide suggests resources pursuing greater depth. The Bias Busters series is a great way to learn about your friends and neighbors.

Questions include:

How many sexual orientations are there?

Does everyone fit into a category?

Are bisexual and pansexual the same?

What does heteronormativity mean?

What about homonormativity?

Why do some gay people say "queer" or "faggot?"

What is intersectionality?

What percentage of Americans identify as gay?

Are gays more feminine and lesbians more masculine?

Do gay and bi people have only gay and bi friends?

Are people born gay?

Can sexual orientation change?

How is dating different in the LGB community?

This guide is one of more than a dozen cultural competence guides created through journalism classes at Michigan State University. The series editor is journalism instructor Joe Grimm, who has been working in cross-cultural communication for 25 years. The authors of this guide are Rebecca Isabelle Fadler, Alexis Stark and Caitlin Taylor. The concept of this series is to teach cultural competence by answering basic questions about a specific group or community. Ultimately, the goal is to break down cultural and socially constructed walls by opening up discussion among people. The guides have been used in diversity training in business, the health industry, interfaith work, universities and law enforcement. We approach cultural competence on the basis that questions asked out of sincere interest, even if phrased in a less than graceful manner, are the best bridges. The guides are meant to start that process and to lead to face-to-face conversations. The guides are icebreakers individuals can read on their own to make awkward conversations easier. Answers in these cultural competence guides are meant to be clear, honest and non-judgmental.

Susan Horowitz is editor and publisher of Between The Lines/Pride Source. She founded Pride Publishing, Inc., a graphic arts and publishing company and the publisher of the New York City Pride Guide from 1983 to 1999. Susan was the first executive director of the New Festival, New York's annual gay and lesbian film festival, from 1989 to 1993. She was actively involved in the New York LGBT community in the 1980s and was co-chair and grand marshal of the New York Pride March. She served on the board of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in 1983-84 and again in 1993-95. She was a board member of the Seacoast AIDS Resource Center in New Hampshire from 1992 to 1994 and was on the board of Affirmations LGBT Community Center in Ferndale, Michigan.

Dr. David P. Gushee is Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics and Director of the Center for Theology and Public Life at Mercer University. Widely regarded as one of the world's leading Christian ethicists, he was elected by his peers to serve as president of the American Academy of Religion and is past president of the Society of Christian Ethics. He is the author, co-author, editor or co-editor of 22 books. In "Changing Our Mind," published by Read The Spirit Books, Gushee describes his personal and theological journey as he changes his mind about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender inclusion in the church.