G-Squared^© and G2^©

These are terms I use to refer to people who identify as both gifted (as evaluated in school or by other testing) and as members of gender or sexual minorities: gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, questioning/queer, or intersex. There are more identities being defined as time goes by, and some intersect, so G-Squared and G² are umbrella terms in this context.

Gifted + Gay = G2 or G-Squared

(I realize this is not, strictly speaking, mathematically correct….)

This site exists to provide resources and suggestions for:

• youth
• parents
• family members
• educators
• other supporting adults

The combination of “gifted and gay” can be challenging. But finding out more about it can help young (and sometimes not so young) people and those who care about them achieve greater understanding and self-esteem.

My decision to launch this site grew from the fact that increasing numbers of parents and educator groups are reaching out to me for help with their children and students. They know that I have studied this area extensively, and I am glad to consult with them.

Please scroll down this page to get a little background on terms, challenges, and characteristics.

A note about acronyms/terminology

• In most parts of the country, LGBTQ+ is commonly used now, in references to the gender/sexual minority community.
• G/SM (gender/sexual minority) is also used sometimes, because it doesn’t require that people categorize themselves.
• Some people just use the word queer, because it also enables fluidity in both sexuality and gender. But that usage is still considered to be insider language, so please use it only if it includes you.
• More letters show up all the time, to include allies, intersex people, and beyond; but the longer the acronyms get, the more explaining they require.
• G/T and g/t are shorthand for “gifted and talented.”

For the purposes of this website, I will generally stick with LGBTQ+: lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and questioning or queer.

What do I mean by “gifted and/or talented”?

There are several definitions of gifted out there, and not everyone who works with gifted/talented students agrees on the best one. My favorite is this definition:

Giftedness is asynchronous development in which advanced cognitive abilities and heightened intensity combine to create inner experiences and awareness that are qualitatively different from the norm. This asynchrony increases with higher intellectual capacity. The uniqueness of the gifted renders them particularly vulnerable and requires modifications in parenting, teaching, and counseling in order for them to develop optimally (The Columbus Group, 1991, as quoted in Stephanie Tolan’s essay, “Giftedness”).

In my estimation, being gifted is not all about great grades, a high IQ, and high test scores. In fact, some of the most brilliant kids don’t test well, don’t conform to classroom expectations, and often don’t care if anyone sees how smart they are through whatever products of academic efforts they generate.

Gifted is a state of being, not the ability to produce outputs or behave according to prescribed guidelines.

Some of the challenges faced by gifted-LGBTQ+ youth

• LGBTQ+ teens in the US are 2 times more likely than their heterosexual peers to be assaulted at school and twice as likely to be threatened or injured with a weapon at school (Human Rights Watch, 2016)
• Nearly one quarter of LGBTQ+ students miss between 2 and 6+ days of school each month (GLSEN, 2021). These levels of absenteeism result in GPAs that are up to one-half point lower (on average) than students who feel safe and do not miss school—critical for g/t students!*
• Between 20 and 40 percent of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ+, resulting in part from 26 percent of teens getting kicked out of the house by parents after coming out; they face tremendous, ongoing crises from risky sexual behavior, substance abuse, mental health issues, and victimization (University of Chicago, 2017)
• G/T students often experience the effects of overexcitabilities/hypersensitivities (Dabrowski/Piechowski), which can result in rapid escalation of perceived or actual injustices, slights, and/or bullying. See below for more information on overexcitabilities (OEs, for short).
• Role models can be difficult to find for youth who are both gifted and LGBTQ+. One facet or the other may be seen in prominent people, but the combination is not always apparent.

*Often, college is the first environment where gifted students find true peers. Given the competitive nature of college admissions, a lower GPA (one that does not reflect the teen’s true abilities) can be a roadblock to getting into a school that would be a great fit.

Research by GLSEN has found that LGBTQ+ students who experience harassment in middle and high school are less likely to go on to higher education than students who feel safe at school. This is a tragic waste of potential, and it can be the cause of further difficulties throughout adult life.

It is worth noting that, though some gains have been made in equity, these statistics have not improved much since I began serious research into conditions for LGBTQ+ youth in 2009. In fact, recent legislative initiatives engaged in by ultra-conservative groups and politicians have led to a series of anti-LGBTQ+ (and particularly anti-trans) bills being passed across the country. Many of these are being challenged in the courts, but the process to prevent damage—or fix that already done—is a slow one.

Overexcitabilities

People who are highly sensitive to certain types of stimuli are said to possess overexcitabilities (OEs), a term rather loosely translated from the research done by the Polish psychologist, psychiatrist, and physician, Kazimierz Dabrowski. He developed the Theory of Positive Disintegration, which suggests that people who are more sensitive and reactive to their surroundings have greater potential to experience creativity and more profound levels of cognitive and emotional awareness.

Several researchers (Tolan, Roeper, Jackson, and others) in the area of gifted psychology have found that these OEs occur among the gifted population at higher rates than they do among people of average intelligence.

The infographic below provides some basic details. If you want to learn more, read works of Michael Piechowski, who studied and worked with Dabrowski. See the Resources for titles.

If you have questions about the information you see on this site, please go to the Contact Me page and get in touch.