Definitions
LGBT, or Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender is an acronym referring to two separate entities; sexual orientation and gender identity. Even though they are grouped in this way it is critically important to understand the distinction between the two. Sexual orientation refers to the gender or genders one is attracted to; while gender identity refers to the gender or genders we are. We all have a sexual orientation and a gender identity and knowing one does not predict the other. Further, we live in a culture that has a view that you are either male or female, either heterosexual or gay/lesbian when in fact these are really on a continuum with many points in between:
[+] Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, & Biological Continuum
[-] Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, & Biological Continuum
Sexual Orientation Continuum:
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Heterosexual Bisexual Gay/Lesbian
Gender Identity Continuum:
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Masculine Transgender Gay/Lesbian
Biological Continuum:
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Male Intersexed Female
[+] Sexual Orientation = an enduring emotional, romantic, sexual, erotic, affectional and/or spiritual attraction to individuals of a particular gender or genders.
[-] Sexual Orientation = an enduring emotional, romantic, sexual, erotic, affectional and/or spiritual attraction to individuals of a particular gender or genders.
Heterosexual = is a sexual orientation where one is attracted to persons of the opposite sex.
Gay = is a sexual orientation where one is attracted to persons of the same sex. This term can apply to both men and women but is most often used to refer to men.
Lesbian = is a sexual orientation where a women is attracted to other women.
Bisexual = is a sexual orientation where one is attracted to all genders.
Pansexual = is someone who is attracted to people regardless of their gender identity or biological sex. Thus, the gender or sex of a person is viewed as an insignificant or irrelevant in determining their attraction.
Homosexual = refers to persons who are gay or lesbian. It is associated with its historical use as a diagnostic term however so many persons find it offensive.
The next letter âTâ for Transgender refers to gender identity.
[+] Gender Identity = our personal perception and sense of being male or female or blended.
[-] Gender Identity = our personal perception and sense of being male or female or blended.
Transgender = An umbrella term used to describe all persons who do not fit neatly into the binary (male-female), socially constructed categories of sex and gender.
Intersexed = a person born with ambiguous genitalia and/or hormone production levels atypical for either gender.
Transsexual = someone whose biological sex differs from their gender identity. For example, a biological male.
Transvestite = a cross-dresser. Someone who wears the clothing of another gender on occasion but does not wish to change their gender. Often receives psychosocial comfort or sexual pleasure in doing so.
Drag King/ Drag Queen = cross-dressing, often with exaggerated cultural gender characteristics for entertainment/performance, social gatherings and/or personal satisfaction.
Androgyny or androgynous = having high levels of both masculine and feminine characteristics; blended.
Gender-bender =an androgynous person; someone who expresses and presents merged masculine and feminine characteristics or mainly neutral characteristics. May express a dual gender identity.
Bi-gendered = a person who identifies as both/all of the culturally defined genders and this may shift over time- more fluid category.
[-] Other Terms:
Sex = the biological aspects of being male and female including chromosomes, gonads, hormones and genitalia.
Gender = the behavioral, psychological and social characteristics of male and female.
Femininity = the ideal cluster of traits that society attributes to females.
Masculinity = the ideal cluster of traits that society attributes to males.
Queer = this is a term that can be used to refer to sexual orientation as well as gender identity. Someone who defines their gender identity or expression as queer typically is one who does not identify with a binary view of gender; male or female. This term is sometimes also used to refer to persons with a sexual orientation other than heterosexual.
Asexuality = often refers to an enduring lack of sexual desire, but can also refer to a lack of maleness or femaleness.
Gender Reassignment Surgery (also sex reassignment surgery) = Aanatomical surgery to change genitalia/breasts on a transsexual.
Bi-gendered = a person who identifies as both/all of the culturally defined genders and this may shift over time- more fluid category.
Gender = the behavioral, psychological and social characteristics of male and female.
Gender-bender = an androgynous person; someone who expresses and presents merged masculine and feminine characteristics or mainly neutral characteristics. May express a dual gender identity.
