Sexual Orientation, Gender, and Other Terminology

Gender Identity

This term refers to the concept of the self and how one perceives themselves. Examples, which are non exhaustive, include female, male, neither both nor other. Gender identity may be the same or different than what one’s assigned sex was at birth.

Gender Expression is how a person wishes to express themselves, with common ways being clothing, voice, hairstyle, behaviors and/or characteristics which may be associated as masculine or feminine.

Transgender is when one’s gender expression or identity is different from their assigned sex at birth and the gender typically differs from one’s own cultural expectations.

Gender Transition is when one aligns their outward appearance with their internal knowledge of their own gender. Ways to align or connect the internal and external self include the use of pronouns, names, clothing, or medical interventions for physical transitions.

Sexual Orientation

Describes your emotional or sexual attraction to others. Gender identity and sexual orientation are not the same thing. How you describe your sexual attraction or emotional attraction towards others is known as your sexual orientation. This attraction can be fluid and change overtime, or it may be stable throughout your lifespan.

Sexual orientations differ from person to person. Being attracted to someone of the opposite sex, either emotionally or sexually, is known as straight or heterosexual.

Lesbian( Some women may identify as being gay) refers to a woman who is attracted to another woman.

The word gay is used to describe people who are attracted to people of the same sex or gender (Commonly used for a man attracted to another man).

Bisexual can be used for people who are attracted to both men and women

Pansexual refers to a person  who is attracted to any sex or gender

Asexual is when a person is not sexually attracted to other people, and they may or may not be emotionally attracted to others as well.

There are many more terms to describe sexuality and gender. If you’re interested in learning more about this topic the following resources from the reference list are helpful.

References

www.hrc.org/resources/sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-terminology-and-definitions

https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Alberta/Pages/sexual-orientation.aspx

https://www.thetrevorproject.org/