Gender and Sexual Orientation

We are one for all in Albemarle.

It’s our ongoing commitment to recognize, educate and break down barriers of inequity and exclusion regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, culture, gender, sexual orientation, ability/disability, socioeconomic status, and more.

The 21-Day Equity Challenge is designed to bring awareness to the challenges and opportunities of equity for groups within our community. Thank you for exploring this topic!

You'll find the Watch/Read/Visit resources below. Not sure where to start? Spin the wheel!

Challenge Items

Terms to Know

Gender is the socially constructed ideas about behavior, actions, and roles of a particular sex (APA, 2021b).

Sexual Orientation and Identity refers to an “enduring disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions to men, women, nonbinary people, and so forth. It also encompasses an individual’s sense of personal and social identity based on those attractions, behaviors expressing them, and membership in a community of others who share them.” (Brief for American Psychological Association et al., as Amici Curiae supporting petitioners, Obergefell v. Hodges, 2015, p. 7)

Gender Equity removes the obstacles to progress that are inherent in our society and it is the bridge to treating all people fairly, whether they are male, female, transgender, or nonbinary. It solves problems with our labor force by providing more opportunities for women to excel in professions currently dominated by men. It allows all genders to express a thought without fear of bias or bigotry, which increases collaboration in families, communities, work, and politics. Gender equity reduces crime and violence against women and makes communities safer on all levels. (United Way of National Capital Area, 2022)