Glossary

An important first step in serving sexual minority youth is using sensitive language preferred by members of the gay and lesbian community. By avoiding slang, and confidently opting for the more appropriate terms defined in this glossary, adults can create safe environments for sexual minority students.

Bisexual: A person who is sexually attracted to both men and women.

Come Out/Come Out of the Closet: To publicly identify oneself as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.

Gender Identity: The gender with which a person internally identifies that may or may not be one’s biological gender.

Gay: A male who is sexually attracted to other men; often describes a person of any gender who is attracted to a person of the same sex.

Heterosexism: The belief that heterosexuality is normative behavior and superior to other forms of sexuality.

Heterosexual/Straight: A person who is sexually attracted to the opposite gender.

Homophobia: Fear or hatred of gays and lesbians or people perceived as being gay.

Lesbian: A woman who is sexually attracted to other women.

Queer: A person whose sexual identity or gender identity does not match societal norms.

Transgender/Gender Variant: One whose gender identity differs from that typically associated with their physical sex.