Over the years, both through my personal life and through working with people in healthcare spaces, I’ve learned that a lot of people genuinely want to be respectful and inclusive, but feel nervous about saying the wrong thing or not fully understanding the language. That’s more common than you might think.
I know I’ve had my own learning curve too.

One of the most helpful things I learned was understanding that gender identity, gender expression, biological sex, and attraction are all separate things. They can overlap, but they are not the same.

Learning that helped me better understand people’s experiences, including some of my own, and helped me become more intentional about creating spaces where people feel safer, seen, and less judged.

As someone who identifies as bisexual while also being in a heterosexual relationship, I know what it feels like to carry parts of yourself that are not always immediately visible to other people. I also have a nonbinary child, which deepened my learning and understanding even further in ways that became both personal and important to me.

The more I learned about gender identity, expression, attraction, and the experiences many LGBTQ+ people have within healthcare spaces, the more intentional I became about creating an environment where people feel safe, respected, and able to show up fully as themselves without fear of judgment or assumptions.

One resource that really helped me better understand this was the Genderbread Person. I appreciated it because it broke things down visually in a way that felt approachable instead of overwhelming.

The Genderbread Person explains that every person has different layers to who they are:

Gender Identity

Gender identity is someone’s internal sense of who they are.
Examples:
• Woman
• Man
• Non-binary
• Genderfluid
• Agender
This is about how someone experiences themselves internally, regardless of appearance or body.

Gender Expression

Gender expression is how someone presents themselves outwardly.
This can include:
• clothing
• hairstyle
• voice
• makeup
• body language
Someone’s expression may appear masculine, feminine, both, neither, or change over time.

Biological Sex

Biological sex refers to physical characteristics someone is born with or develops over time, including anatomy, hormones, and chromosomes.
Examples:
• female
• male
• intersex
Biological sex does not automatically determine someone’s gender identity.

Attraction

Attraction refers to who someone is emotionally, romantically, or physically drawn to.
Examples:
• heterosexual
• gay
• lesbian
• bisexual
• pansexual
• asexual
Attraction and gender identity are different parts of a person’s experience.

One thing I appreciated about the Genderbread Person resource is that it also recognizes these experiences can exist on spectrums rather than rigid boxes. Language and understanding continue to evolve over time, and most people are learning as they go.

Why This Matters in Healthcare

Part of why this matters so much to me personally is because I understand what it feels like to move through the world carrying experiences people cannot immediately see.

For a long time, I kept parts of myself quiet because it felt safer or easier that way. I also know what it feels like to navigate healthcare systems while carrying invisible experiences, trauma, fear, uncertainty, or wondering whether you’ll feel accepted once you walk through the door.

That changes how you experience care.

People are far more likely to ask questions, seek support, and return for follow-up care when they feel emotionally safe and respected.

Inclusive care is not about having all the perfect words. It’s about:
• listening without assumptions
• respecting how people identify
• creating space without judgment
• helping people feel safe in their body and care experience

No one should have to explain or defend who they are in order to receive respectful care.

A Helpful Reminder

You do not need to understand every term perfectly to treat people with kindness and respect.

Most people are learning as they go. I know I still am too.

Curiosity, openness, compassion, and willingness to listen go a long way in helping people feel safe and welcomed.

Additional Resource

If you’d like to explore the Genderbread Person resource yourself, you can find it here:
The Genderbread Person v4