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Glossary of Terms
Many Americans refrain from talking
about sexual orientation and gender expression identity because it
feels taboo, or because they’re afraid of saying the wrong thing.
This glossary was written to help give people the words and meanings
to help make conversations easier and more comfortable.
bisexual – A
person emotionally, romantically, sexually and relationally attracted to both men and women,
though not
necessarily simultaneously; a bisexual person may not be equally attracted to both
sexes, and the degree of attraction may
vary as sexual identity develops over time. coming out – The
process in which a person first acknowledges, accepts and appreciates his or her sexual orientation
or
gender identity and begins to share that with others. gay – A word describing a
man or a woman who is emotionally, romantically, sexually and relationally attracted to members of
the same sex. gender expression – How a
person behaves, appears, or presents him- or herself with regard to societal expectations of gender.
gender identity – The gender
role that a person claims for his or her self — which may or may not align with his or her physical
gender. gender queer – A word people
use to describe their own nonstandard gender identity, or by those who do not conform to traditional
gender norms. homophobia – The fear and
hatred of or discomfort with people who love and are sexually attracted to members of the same sex.
internalized homophobia –
Self-identification of societal stereotypes by a GLBT person, causing them to dislike and resent their
sexual orientation or gender identity. intersex – one having both male
and female sexual characteristics and organs; at birth an unambiguous assignment of male or female cannot
be made. lesbian – A woman who is
emotionally, romantically, sexually and relationally attracted to other women. lgbtqi – An acronym for “lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, and intersex.” Sometimes referred to as LGBT and/or GLBT.
lgbtqi – An acronym for “lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, and intersex.” Sometimes referred to as LGBT and/or GLBT.
living openly – A state in which
GLBT people are open with others about being GLBT how and when they choose to be. outing – Exposing someone’s sexual
orientation or gender identity as being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender to others, usually without
their permission; in essence “outing” them from the closet. queer – A term that is inclusive
of people who are not heterosexual. For many GLBT people, the word has a negative connotation; however,
many younger GLBT people are comfortable using it. same-gender loving – A term some
prefer to use instead of “gay” or “lesbian” to express attraction to and love of people of the same
gender. sexual orientation – An enduring
emotional, romantic, sexual and relational attraction to another person; may be a same-sex orientation,
opposite-sex orientation or bisexual orientation. sexual preference – What a person
likes or prefers to do sexually; a conscious recognition or choice not to be confused with sexual
orientation. straight supporter – A person who
supports and honors sexual diversity, acts accordingly to challenge homophobic remarks and behaviors and
explores and understands these forms of bias within him- or herself. transgender – A term describing a
broad range of people who experience and/or express their gender differently from what most people expect.
It is an umbrella term that includes people who are transsexual, cross-dressers or otherwise gender
non-conforming. transphobia – The fear and hatred
of, or discomfort with, people whose gender identity or gender expression do not conform to cultural gender
norms. transsexual – A medical term describing
people whose gender and sex do not line up, and who often seek medical treatment to bring their body and gender
identity into alignment.
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Myths & Facts About
GLBT People
It’s important to remember that most
of the negative stereotypes of gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender people are based on erroneous or inadequate information.
Here are some myths and facts to help you flesh out what’s what:
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It’s
a “choice.”
Sexual orientation and gender identity are not choices, any more
than being left-handed or having brown eyes or being straight are
choices. The choice is in deciding whether or not to live your life
openly and honestly with yourself and others.
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It’s a “lifestyle.” It’s
sometimes said that GLBT people live a gay “lifestyle.” The problem
with that word is that it can trivialize GLBT people and the
struggles they face. Being GLBT is no more a lifestyle than being
straight — it’s a life, just like anyone else’s.
-
Same-sex relationships don’t last. Same-sex couples can, and do, form lasting, lifelong,
committed relationships — just like any other couple. And just like
any other couple, sometimes same-sex relationships end. The primary
difference is that same-sex couples have few opportunities to marry
or enter into civil unions or domestic partnerships.
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GLBT
people can’t have families. According to the 2000 Census, more than 1 million
children — probably many more — are being raised by same-sex couples
nationwide. The American Psychological Association and other major
medical and scientific researchers have stated that children of gay
and lesbian parents are as mentally healthy as children raised by
straight parents.
-
GLBT
people aren’t happy. In 1994, the American Medical Association released a
statement saying, “Most of the emotional disturbance experienced by
gay men and lesbians around their sexual identity is not based on
physiological causes but rather is due more to a sense of alienation
in an unaccepting environment.” What that means is that the
discrimination and stress that GLBT people face is the root cause of
a great deal of pain for many GLBT people. That pain can be
alleviated by knowing that there is a vibrant, growing community of
GLBT and straight-supportive Americans who know and care about GLBT
people and the issues they face.
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GLBT people can “change” or be “cured.”
No scientifically valid evidence exists that shows that people can
change their sexual orientation, although some people
do repress it. The most reputable medical and psychotherapeutic
groups say you should not try to change your sexual orientation as
the process can actually be damaging.
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Ten Things Every
American Ought to Know
- Same-sex couples live in 99.3
percent of all counties nationwide (2000 U.S. Census).
- The federal government could
save more than $1 billion a year by allowing same-sex couples to
marry (2004 Congressional Budget Office).
- There are more than 1 million
gay and lesbian veterans in the United States (Urban Institute).
- Sixty-one percent of Americans
believe the country needs laws protecting transgender
individuals from discrimination (2002 HRC Foundation poll).
- Nearly half of all Fortune 500
Companies offer domestic partner health benefits (2004 HRC State
of the Workplace Report).
- You can still be fired from your
job in most states, simply for being GLBT, and have no legal
recourse — because currently, no federal employment law includes
GLBT Americans.
- Eighty-four percent of GLBT
students report being verbally harassed — name-calling, threats
etc. — at school (GLSEN 2003).
- There are at least 1 million
children being raised by same-sex couples in the United States —
and probably many more (2000 U.S. Census).
- Hate crimes against GLBT
Americans are on the rise, even as other violent crimes continue
to decline (FBI Hate Crimes Statistics 2004). Current federal
hate crime laws do not protect GLBT Americans.
- In a national poll in 2006, 80 percent of
Catholics said they agree with this statement: “Marriage is
about love and commitment. Regardless of how I personally feel
about gay people getting married, I don’t think it is my place
to judge these people’s love for and commitment to each other.”
(Accredited Research by Peter D. Hart & Associates).
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