Glossary of Terms

There are many good LGBT glossaries online. Below we cap some of the most commonly misunderstood terms and provides links to those other glossaries:

Asexual - a person who has no attraction to either gender

Bisexual - a person who is sexuality attracted to both sexes

Coming Out (of the closet) - To disclose one’s sexual orientation or identity. Most GLBT people are “out” in some situations and “closeted” in others. This is a lifelong process. see History of the phrases Closet and Coming Out

Gay - A Homosexual person

Gender Dysphoria - see Gender Identity Disorder

Gender Identity Disorder - A condition in which a person has been assigned one gender, but identifies as belonging to another. In essence, transsexuality.

GLBT - Literally refers to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender; this is an umbrella term used to refer to the gammet of gender identity and sexual orientation; often seen as LGBT; sometimes include Q for questioning

Heterosexism - Bias against non-hetrosexuals based on a belief in the superority of heterosexuality. Unlike homophobia, heterosexism doesnt not imply violance and hatred. A simple question such as “Does he have a girlfriend?” is a display of heterosexism.

Homophobia - unreasoning fear of or antipathy toward homosexuals and homosexuality

Homosexual - A person who has a sexual attraction towards other persons of the same sex

Intersex - One who is born with genetalia and/or secondary sex characteristics determined as neither exclusively make nor female, or which combine the traits of both sexes. Not all intersex conditions result in atypical genital appearance.

Lesbian - a female homosexual

Sexual Orientation - one's natural attraction to members of the same or opposite sex, emotional, romantically, sexually and relationally

Transphobia - Fear or hatred of transgendered people

Transexual - a person having a strong desire to assume the physical characteristics and gender role of the opposite sex.

Other Online Glossaries

GLSEN's Glossary
HRC's Glossary
Trangender Glossary