GLBT Definitions

• Bisexual: A bisexual person is someone who is sexually and/or emotionally attracted to people of all genders.

• Closeted: Description of an individual who does not disclose their sexuality. "Coming out" refers to "coming out of the closet"; disclosing one's sexuality.

• Cross-dressing: Dressing/displaying as the opposite gender.

• Drag King/Queen: Crossdressing with performance aspect.

• FTM: Female-to-Male trans individual; an individual who was born female but who is now trans.

• Gay: Men who are gay are sexually attracted to and fall in love with other men.

• Gender: The physical display and behaviors which relate to masculinity and femininity.

• Gender Identity Disorder/ Dysphoria: Medical condition found the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Characterized by the desire to be another gender than that which matches one's biologic sex.

• Gender Queer: Individual who views the two-gender (masculine and feminine) system as limiting. Gender queers usually place themselves outside of such a system. May also identify as trans, and may also describe themselves as lacking gender entirely.

• Gender Spectrum versus Gender Camps: Ways to view sexuality. The Gender Spectrum was developed of Kinsey in the 1950's to describe the variations in human sexuality; allows for bisexuality. Gender Camps states that one is either straight or gay with no variation in between.

• Intersexed: Formally referred to as hermaphrodites, intersexed individuals may be born with both sets of genitalia, or may not have corresponding chromosomes and genitalia.

• Lesbian: Women who are lesbians are sexually attracted to and fall in love with other women.

• MTF: Male-to-Female trans individual; an individual who was born male but who is now trans.

• Orientation versus Preference: Preference indicates choice. Orientation indicates natural positioning.

• Queer: Umbrella term for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Trans, Intersexed, and Questioning which is gender neutral.

• Sex: The biological aspect to what makes one male or female. Primary sex characteristics include genitalia and secondary sex characteristics include facial hair and body structure.

• Sex Reassignment Surgery: Surgery designed to construct genitalia.

• Straight: People who are straight are sexually attracted to and fall in love with the opposite sex.

• Transgender: An umbrella term encompassing other terms defined below. It refers to anyone who is “crossing gender” in any way. Add the “ed” at the end when referring to people. Trans is a more modern term used as a synonym for transgender.

• Transitioning: Period of time / Process describing the transition from one gender to another.

• Transsexual: A person who wishes and seriously acts upon the sense of having the wrong gender body, often—though not always—culminating in sexual reassignment surgery.

Source: Rainbow Resource Center "Resources"

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