Sex Orientation

This refers to the gender(s) a person is attracted to in a sexual context.

Gender Identity

This is how a person perceives their own gender, which can include being agender (having no gender).

Cisgender

A person whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth.

Transgender

A person whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.

Gender Dysphoria

This refers to a strong conflict between a person’s experienced or expressed gender and the sex they were assigned at birth. It is important to note that this is not a mental illness.

Sexual/Gender Minorities

“Sexual/Gender” encompasses a range of identities, including fluid and diverse ones. Historically, “sexual minorities” included gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender people, and intersex individuals. Recently, the term “Sexual/Gender Minorities” has evolved to include both sexual minorities and gender minorities.

LGBT

LGBT is an acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender. Additional letters like Q, I, A, and P may be included to represent Queer, Intersex, Asexual, Allies, and Pansexual, respectively. The acronym LGBT or LGBTQA+ may not cover all sexual orientations and gender identities, so “LGBT+” is often used to include other sexual/gender minorities.

Genderqueer

Genderqueer refers to individuals who do not conform to traditional binary concepts of male or female. They may identify as both male and female, neither, or somewhere in between. This term includes anyone who identifies as non-cisgender.

Intersex

Intersex individuals are born with physical sex characteristics that do not fit typical definitions of male or female. This can include having both male and female genitalia or atypical chromosomal patterns (e.g., variations beyond XX/XY). Some intersex traits are noticed at birth, while others may only be identified during puberty.

Pansexual

Pansexuality indicates that a person’s romantic and/or sexual attraction is not limited by the gender of their partner. Pansexual individuals can be attracted to people of any gender.

Asexual

Asexuality is a sexual orientation where a person does not experience sexual attraction to others. Asexual individuals may still desire romantic relationships and can experience sexual pleasure. Those who are not romantically attracted to others are referred to as aromantic.

Nonbinary

Nonbinary individuals do not identify strictly as male or female. Each nonbinary person may define their gender identity differently. Unlike genderqueer individuals, nonbinary people do not identify as any specific gender.