Gender Identities
Most views and opinions concerning gender are learnt; but should not be the measure used to
define who we are
EXCEPTIONAL AND DIVERSE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY
All about the X
As the world has become more aware of gender identities, salutations and terms have also evolved. Mx has become the salutation for those unable to identify with the traditional Mr, Ms or Mrs. The word to describe women has become womxn, replacing the name section that includes men. The changes reflect that many of the traditional salutations are gender-specific and play to outdated definitions
Most of what we know and understand about gender is from what we are taught. The teachings will vary by society, country and continent; however, many still use outdated definitions and stereotypes of what it means to be male or female. As new generations are born and grow up, they begin questioning stereotypes, continually changing and evolving the definitions of what gender means. You only have to look at what was socially accepted in the past and how many are now frowned upon and condemned today
Historically there were only three pronouns used, he, she and they. Each of those pronouns has specific associations relating to gender and creates issues when a person cannot identify with either gender or have a gender identity that is fluid. Changing how you address a person not only shows support but also that you respect who they are or want to be
Throughout history, people have adapted and changed to their environment. Typically, evolving through learning and understanding more about the world around them. Gender views in the 2nd century are different from now, so adapting and updating gender definitions is just part of things’ natural order. Remembering that LGBTQIA+ individuals with diverse gender identities or expressions are just looking to live a life true to how they think and feel
Objections have been raised relating to LGBTQIA+ individuals using bathrooms or restrooms relating to their gender identity. The subject is often emotive; however, there is no evidence or statistics to support the argument that LGBTQIA+ people affect the safety of cis-gendered people in bathrooms/restrooms; instead, they form the group most likely to suffer abuse and discrimination when using public bathrooms
There are only 70 genes that determine a baby’s sex. Before week 7 of the pregnancy, all fetuses are the same during a period known as the genital ridge. After week 7, the Y-chromosome present for male fetuses will signal the start of testosterone and begin the forming of male genitalia
LGBTQIA+ COUNTRY & REGION GUIDES
Many will share similarities and even unite within the common cause for equality and legal recognition. However, how a person chooses to identity can be very different depending on the country, society and culture that they live within. The pride-in series will help them connect with their community and provide many reasons to be proud, regardless of how they choose to identify or love. Whether a person is straight, gay, transgender or cisgender, the pride-in series is for everyone and highlights that we are all unique and special.
Acceptance and coming to terms with how a person chooses to identify or love, especially accepting it themselves, is hard. The process of self-discovery and acceptance is often the most significant and challenging step for anyone from the LGBTQIA+ community. The acceptance process can be complex and can be made worse when we might not be able to connect with or identify others similar to ourselves. Failing to find positive representation can make a person feel disconnected, alone and isolated.
The reality is that once a person is aware that there are others out there who think and feel as they do, even in part, it can be liberating. Often, it will help them feel represented and reassure them that they are not alone. No one is the same, and if a person cannot identify with a group, it does not mean that there are not others out there that think and feel in a similar way to them. Sexualities, identities, age, and circumstances are not always easy to group, define, or even be fluid.
Being different from the majority is not always easy. Understanding and accepting who they are often takes immense courage, especially given the risks many will likely face. Positive representation and education can help, giving them a platform to take pride in who they will or have become. There is no right or wrong, normal or different, just unique people with common goals and with aspirations to be free, loved, and safe.
Learn more about the extensive resources available on Gayther, taking pride in all of the groups that form the global community, including those from conventional identities and sexualities. Ultimately, remembering that we are all unique and special and how we identify and choose to love is part but not the only thing that defines who we are as individuals. Love is love, and accepting those different to us is crucial in a free and fair society.
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Home| GAYTHER LGBT
Accessibility Statement
- gayther.lgbt
- October 4, 2024
Compliance status
We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level. These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML, adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email info@gayther.com
Screen-reader and keyboard navigation
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements, alongside console screenshots of code examples:
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Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website. In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels; descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups), and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology. To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
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Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
- Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
- Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
- Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
- ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
- Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
- Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
- Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
- Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
- Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
- Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
- Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
- Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
- Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to info@gayther.com