Sex, Gender & Orientation – Christian Gays Articles & Resources

Straight, Gay or Lesbian, Bisexual, Pansexual or Asexual
Includes concepts of sexual attraction, sexual behaviour, romantic attraction, and sexual identity

Sex, Gender & Orientation Definitions of Terms – LOTS

Abortion	The termination of a pregnancy before the fetus is viable. It can be either a naturally occurring event, or a medically induced procedure. Most people outside of the medical professions use the term to refer to terminations at any stage of pregnancy
Abstinence	Not engaging in any sexual behavior with another person
Aceflux/aroflux	Romantic or sexual attraction changes over time
AFAB	Assigned Female At Birth
Agender	describes those who don’t identify with any gender or can’t relate to gender terms or labels at all. Sometimes people assume those who identify as agender also identify as asexual, but this isn’t true. Agender people can have any sexual orientation. Individuals may seek to look androgynous, and they may appear neither male nor female. Other terms are Genderfree and Neutrois
Akioromantic/akiosexual	does not desire their romantic or sexual feelings to be returned
Ally	A heterosexual identified person who affirms LGBT equality and works for LGBT inclusion
Ambisexual	An uncommon synonym for bisexual
Anatomical Sex	The gender of a person, based on the shape and functioning of their sexual organs
Androgyne	A person appearing and identifying as neither man nor woman, presenting a gender either mixed or neutral.
Anorgasmia	A sexual dysfunction in which the individual is not able to have an orgasm
Aphrodisiac	A food, drink, medication, or sometimes a thought that intensifies sexual desire
Aromantic	A person who has little or no romantic attraction to other people. Rather than be involved in one or more romantic relationships, they are often satisfied with friendships or similar relationships
Asexual	A person devoid of sexual drive, attractions, feelings or desires. They typically have little or no interest in sexual activity. Some do engage in sexual activity out of a sense of duty, to procreate, or to please one's partner. Some consider asexuality a fourth sexual orientation, along with heterosexual, bisexual and homosexual orientation.
Assigned Gender	The sex (female or male) that is assigned to a newborn and recorded on their birth certificate
Autoeroticism	Scientific term used to describe masturbation, the stimulation of the genital organs to achieve orgasm
Barebacking	Anal intercourse without protection by a condom
BDSM	Bondage and Domination, Domination and Submission, Sadism and Masochism. It typically involves the use of physical restraints that limit a person's range of motion, the infliction and reception of pain, and the play-acting of submissive and dominant roles in a safe manner by a consenting couple. This can be a very unsafe activity. To increase safety, most couples use a "safeword" so that the person in the submissive role can stop all activity. They also discuss in advance what they both agree to be limits on their behavior.
Bestiality	Sex between a human and an animal
Bigender	A person who identifies as either male or female at any given time (in contrast to gender fluid). They have two sexual identities and will feel and behave like one or the other depending on the circumstances at the time. The shifts between genders could last from hours to years. People born with male and female genitalia (intersex) identify as bigender.
Biromantic	Romantic feelings for males and females
Bisexuality	Sexual attraction to persons of both sexes
Butch	Often refers to a lesbian (but can be used for a gay man) who exhibits masculine traits
Castration	The surgical removal of a man's testes
Celibate	Living under a vow not to marry or to engage in sexual re- lations
Chastity	A synonym for abstinence or responsible sexual behavior
Circumcision	In males, removal of the foreskin. In females it comprises partial or total removal of the female external genitalia - also known as female genital mutilation
Cisgender	Complementing Transgender, a Cisgender person identifies as someone who feels that their gender assigned at birth, their body, and their personal identity all match. Their gender identity is the same as their biological sex.
Cohabitation	A live-in sexual relationship between two persons who are not married to each other
Coitus	Penile-vaginal intercourse
Come	A slang term 1. To have an orgasm (verb) 2. Ejaculated sperm (noun)
Coming-Out	Acknowledgment that a person has an orientation which is not heterosexual
Conception	when the male sperm fertilizes the female egg
Concubine	A woman who cohabits with a man but is not his wife, usually in polygamous culture
Condom	A flexible sleeve, used to cover an erect penis to prevent conception
Contraception	The use of mechanical devices, foams, medication and/or creams to prevent pregnancy
Copulation	Penile-vaginal sexual activity - making love
Cross-Dress	Wear the clothing of the other sex for any variety of reasons
Cum	See "Come"
Cunnilingus	A form of oral sex involving the stimulation of a woman's clitoris, typically by another person's tongue
Demiromantic	Only feels attraction after a close emotional bond has formed
Demisexual	A person who does not normally have feelings of sexual attraction towards anyone, but can develop such feelings if a romantic and/or emotional bond is first established
Down-Low	Or DL - A term to refer to closeted gay men, usually in the African American community, who regularly engage in sexual relations with other men.
Drag	The wearing of exaggeratedly feminine clothing by a man, or male clothing by a woman, often for entertainment purposes
Drag King	An entertainer - generally a lesbian or transgendered man who dress in clothing normally associated with men
Drag Queen	An entertainer - generally a gay man or transgendered woman who dress in clothing normally associated with women
Dyke	A slang term for a lesbian. Originally it was a derogatory label for a masculine or butch woman, and this usage still exists. However, it has also been re-appropriated as a positive term implying assertiveness and toughness, or simply as a neutral synonym for lesbian.
Effeminate	A male exhibiting behavior seen most commonly in women
Ejaculate	1. The act of expelling semen from the penis (verb) 2. Semen itself (noun)
Emergency Contraception	Also known as the "morning after pill" - to prevent pregnancy up to 5 days after unprotected sex
Endometrium	The lining of the uterus (a.k.a. womb). When a pre-embryo implants itself in the endometrium, pregnancy begins, according to the medical definition of "pregnancy." According to common conservative Christian belief, pregnancy starts during the process of fertilization, continues during implantation, and ends at birth, miscarriage, or abortion.
Erection	The growth in length, diameter and rigidity of a penis, as caused by sexual excitement. Sometimes used to refer to the swelling of a woman's clitoris or nipples by persons of either sex.
Erotica	Sexually themed works, such as books or sculpture, deemed to have literary or artistic merit
Escort	Euphemism for a prostitute who advertises by print, word of mouth, or the Internet
Eunuch	A man who has been castrated, especially (in the past) one employed to guard the women's living areas at an oriental court
Exhibitionism	The act of exposing in a public or semi-public context those parts of one's body that are not normally exposed – for example, the breasts, genitals or buttocks
Fellatio	Oral sex involving the stimulation of a penis with a mouth and/or tongue. Slang term: "blow job" and "BJ."
Female-to-Male Transsexual (FTM, F2M, F->M)	Someone who was born female and transitions to a male gender identity
Femme	Usually refers to lesbians (but can be used occasionally for gay men) who exhibit feminine traits
Fetish	A form of sexual desire in which gratification is linked (to an abnormal degree) to a particular object, item of clothing, or part of the body
Fetus	A form of life with human DNA between the ninth week after conception, and birth.
Fornication	Sexual intercourse between two people who are not married to each other. Surveys say that about 95% of the population has engaged in fornication before marriage.
Frot	Slang for Frottage
Frottage	Rubbing of genitalia between two consenting people, either same gender or different gender. This would be voluntary, as opposed to "frotteurism". Frottage is common among men and teenage boys, either as sexual foreplay or an alternative to anal or oral sex. Slang words are frot and swordplay. Similar practice is humping, which generally means rubbing the penis on the partner's buttocks or groin but not entering the rectum.
Frotteurism	A disorder in which a person derives sexual pleasure or gratification from rubbing, especially the genitals, against another person, usually in a crowd. The person being rubbed is a victim.
Gay	Generic term for homosexual people. Usually referring to men but can also include women
Gay Bashing	Assault perpetrated against homosexuals because of their orientation
Gaydar	The ability to recognize gay people on the basis of appearance and behaviour
Gender	Refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women. Once thought to be just male and female, it is now recognized that there can be any number of genders. See Sex, Gender & Orientation articles.
Gender Blind	See Pansexuality
Gender Dysphoria	A medical condition in which a person's sex and gender identity are not aligned. In 2007, the condition was said to affect one in 500 people, but before that it was said to affect one in 1,000, and before that one in 30,000. Many used to consider it a mental disorder
Gender Expression	How a person behaves, appears or presents oneself with regard to societal expectations of gender
Gender Fluid	Those who identify as gender fluid have a shifting gender identity. They may identify, by their interests and clothing, behaviour and physical characteristics, as female, or at other times, male, or neither, or both. Gender Fluid is not so much gender identity as gender expression. Their sexual identity can be constantly in flux.
Gender Free	See Agender
Gender Identity	the gender that a person claims for oneself, which may or may not align with his or her gender assigned at birth. It is how you see yourself socially: man, woman, or a combination of both. One may have a penis but prefer to relate socially as a woman, or one may have a vagina but prefer to relate as a man. One might prefer to be fluid, relating sometimes as a man and sometimes as a woman. Or one might not identify as either one, relating androgynously.
Gender Non-Conforming	A gender non-conforming person does not conform to the typical gender-based stereotypes for their assigned biological sex. For example, a boy who wants to take ballet, wear pink, and play primarily with girls is gender non-conforming. Gender non-conforming children may become gender normative over time, or their style of expression may continue to defy gender expectations as adults. Some children grow up to be gay, lesbian or bisexual, and some grow up to be heterosexual. Some are, or will become, transgender. Some transgender individuals will identify as gender non-conforming before transitioning. Gender non-conforming can also be called gender variance.
Genderqueer	a term for people whose identities are outside of gender binary, so those who do not exclusively identify with either male or female, OR a person born with male, female or intersex physiology, choosing to identify as genderqueer rather than male or female. Genderqueer individuals may identify as having two or more genders or having no gender, or moving between genders. In terms of sexual orientation they may not identify as either heterosexual or homosexual. Another term for this is non-binary.
Gender Role	The expression of gender identity in social behavior
Gigolo	A male prostitute, usually younger, hired by an older woman
Gonads	An organ in the body that produces gamates (a.k.a. reproductive cells) and sex hormones. In cisgender women, these are ovaries which produce human ova and estrogen. In cisgender men, these are testes (a.k.a. testicles) which produce spermatozoon and testosterone.
Grayromantic/graysexual	Experiences romantic or sexual attraction rarely or at very low intensity
Harry Benjamin's Syndrome	A biological condition in which a person's brain develops as one sex, but the rest of the body takes on the physical attributes of the other sex. This appears to be caused by an interruption to the sexual differentiation processes which normally happens in early pregnancy. This syndrome has been renamed Transgender. It commonly causes severe emotional distress, called Gender Dysphoria.
Hebephilia	A condition in which an adult or older teen, almost always male, is sexually attracted to young persons who are going through puberty - typically 10 to 14 years-of-age. The older person may or may not act on their feelings.
Hermaphrodite	implies that a person is both fully male and fully female. This is a physiologic impossibility, therefore stigmatizing and misleading. See Intersex.
Heteronormal	The opinion that only heterosexual sexual orientation is normal, natural, and potentially moral
Heterosexism	Discrimination or prejudice against homosexuals on the assumption that heterosexuality is the normal sexual orientation
Heterosexual	A person who is sexual attracted to others of the opposite sex
Hijra	A term given to eunuchs, intersex people, and transgender people in South Asia. They are also known as Aravani, Aruvani or Jagappa
Homophobia	Fear or hatred, overt or implicit, of homosexuals
Homosexual	A person who is sexual attracted to others of the same sex
Hooking Up	Uncommitted sexual intimacy with an acquaintance
Humping	Rubbing the penis on the partner's buttocks or groin but not entering the rectum. See also Frottage.
Hustling	A synonym for prostitution, usually referring to a youth or young man trading sex for money or drugs with an older man. Not to be confused with people who play pool or cards for money.
Hypersexuality	Excessive sexual desire or behavior
Incest	Sexual behavior between two persons who are closely related genetically - typically parent-child or brother-sister.
Infantophilia	Synonym: "Nepiophilia." An individual, typically male, who is 16 years or older and who is sexually attracted to very young children ages 0 to 3. The older person may or may not sexually abuse the child.
Infertility	Inability (of a man, woman, or couple) to achieve pregnancy
Intercourse	Penetration of the penis into the vagina (vaginal intercourse) or anus (anal intercourse)
Internalized Oppression	A process by which people come to accept and internalize the inaccurate myths and stereotypes they have been exposed to
Intersex	describes those who are born with mixed sex characteristics. They may have some sex/reproductive organs associated with both female and male sexes; or they may have other discrepancies among chromosomal or hormonal markers of sex. Typically physicians decide at birth which "sex" is more surgically or aesthetically viable. The assigned gender may, or may not, match the person's gender identity. Many intersex people are angry that these decisions were made without their awareness or consent, and for, essentially, cosmetic purposes. Intersex activists wish to prevent this from happening to other infants and children. The previous term "Hermaphrodite" is no longer considered acceptable.
Intimacy	The sense of connectedness in an established relationship
Jealousy	Fear that a partner may be sexually or emotionally unfaithful
Lesbian	A female who is sexually attracted only to other women
LesBiGay	Term sometimes used instead of LGB
Libido	Also known as sex drive, is a person's overall sexual drive or desire for sexual activity. Sex drive is influenced by biological, psychological and social factors
Lust	Very strong sexual desire - often confused with love, it is purely physical attraction and has no lasting effect
Male to Female Transsexual (MTF, M2F, M->F)	someone who was born male and transitions to a female gender identity.
Masochist	A person who derives sexual gratification from their own pain or humiliation
Masturbation	Sexual self-stimulation
Menstruation	The process in a woman of discharging blood and other materials from the lining of the uterus at intervals of about one lunar month from puberty until menopause, except during pregnancy
Metrosexual	An urban male with a heterosexual orientation who rejects many macho attributes often linked to masculinity. He adopts many traits often associated with heterosexual females and gay males - e.g. expensive hair care, stylish clothes
Miscarriage	An embryo or a fetus before the 25th week of gestation, dies from natural causes and is expelled from the woman's body
Monogamy	An exclusive sexual relationship between two persons
Monosexual	A person with romantic or sexual attraction to members of one sex or gender only. A monosexual person may identify as heterosexual or homosexual. In discussions of sexual orientation, the term is chiefly used in contrast to bisexuality, or pansexuality and various other gender-inclusive or gender-neutral identities.
Morning After Pill	See Emergency Contraception
Nepiophilia	Synonym: "Infantophilia:" An individual, typically male, who is 16 years or older and who is sexually attracted to very young children ages 0 to 3. The older person may or may not sexually abuse the child.
Neutrois	Neutrois is a gender identity generally meaning gender neutral. It is different from agender or gender-less, which typically mean 'without a gender', whereas neutrois people are considered to have a gender - a neutral gender.
Non-Binary	Non-binary (or genderqueer) is a catch-all category for gender identities that are not exclusively masculine or feminine‍ - identities which are outside the gender binary and cisnormativity. Genderqueer people may express a combination of masculinity and femininity, or neither, in their gender expression
Omnisexual	Omnisexual and Pansexual are REALLY similar, almost the same. But there is a difference: Pansexuals can be called "gender-blind", they do not see or think about gender, they only are attracted to the person. Omnisexuals, however, notice the person's gender, they recognise it and are attracted to ALL genders.
Open Marriage	A committed relationship of two persons in which both are free to a have sexual relations with others
Oral Sex	The use of the mouth and/or tongue to stimulate another person's genitals
Orgasm	The sudden discharge of accumulated sexual excitement during the sexual response cycle, resulting in rhythmic muscular contractions in the pelvic region characterized by sexual pleasure. Experienced by males and females, orgasms are controlled by the involuntary or autonomic nervous system.
Orgy	Sexual activity involving a group of more than two persons, usually in the same room
Outercourse	Refers to sex that isn't intercourse and doesn't involve penetration. It can include kissing, touching, erotic massage and using sex toys. No semen, vaginal fluids, or blood is shared between partners.
Ovum	The female reproductive cell. Plural form: ova
Pansexual	Greek prefix "pan" means "all. Sexual attraction, sexual desire, romantic love or emotional attraction toward persons of all gender identities and biological sexes.
Paraphilia	A type of mental disorder characterized by sexual arousal by an object or activity that most people don't consider sexually stimulating, such as feces or making obscene telephone calls, pedophilia, sadomasochism, or exhibitionism - where the sexual behavior patterns may interfere with the establishment of normal sexual relationships.
Pederasty	Pederasty or paederasty is a (usually erotic) homosexual relationship between an adult male and a pubescent or adolescent male. NOTE: This should not be confused with pedophilia, which is attraction to children not yet in puberty. Pederasty was once considered "normal" among males in ancient Greek, Roman and other cultures. Today, many of us consider it in negative terms because it sometimes involves an older man coercing or bribing a youth, sometimes crossing the line into rape. (Wikipedia)
Pedophile	An adult or older youth who has "recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors involving sexual activity with a prepubescent (pre-13 yr) child. Some pedophiles prefer males, others prefer females, and some are aroused by both males and females." Pedophiles do not necessarily act on their desires.
Plural Marriage	Synonym for polygamy. Typically, one husband shares many wives; each wife sometimes has a separate living space.
Polyamory	The practice of, or desire for, intimate relationships with more than one partner, with the knowledge of all partners. It has been described as "consensual, ethical, and responsible non-monogamy.
Polyandry	One woman with more than one husband
Polyfidelity	A form of polyamory where all members are considered equal partners and agree to be sexually active only with other members of the group.
Polygamy	The concept of more than one spouse at the same time - encompasses both polyandry and polygyny
Polygyny	Refers to one man with multiple wives
Pornography	Material (such as art, writing, photographic images, and film) that is intended to be sexually arousing. Also called porn or porno
Prepubescent	An ambiguous term used to refer to a child who has not reached puberty or to a child who is close to attaining puberty
Procreation	Production of offspring
Prostitution	Sexual activity in exchange for payment - sometimes referred to as hooking or commercial sex
Queer	Historically the term has been used to denigrate sexual and gender minorities but more recently it has been reclaimed by these groups and is increasingly used as an expression of pride. Queer can be a convenient, inclusive term when referring to issues and experiences of GLBT's. Because it is still used to demean lesbian, gay, bisexual, two-spirit and trans people, those who do not identify as queer are urged to use the term with caution, or not at all.
Questioning	A person who is exploring their sexual orientation or expressing curiosity in alternative sexual expressions
Rape	A type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration carried out against a person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority, or against a person who is incapable of giving valid consent
Reciproromantic/reciprosexual	Someone who is only attracted to the other person after that person is attracted to them first.
Sadomasichism (S/M)	The infliction and acceptance of pain or humiliation as a means of sexual arousal
Sadist	A person who derives pleasure, especially sexual gratification, from inflicting pain or humiliation on others
Same Gender Loving	Same-gender-loving, or SGL, a term coined for African American use by activist Cleo Manago, is a description for homosexuals and bisexuals in the African American community. It emerged in the early 1990s as a culturally affirming African American homosexual identity
Safe Sex	Sexual activity that is completely free of risk for STD. It is non-existent
Safer Sex	Sexual activity in which the risk for STD has been greatly reduced to a low level.
Serial Monogamy	The concept of having multiple sexual partners over a lifetime, in a sequence of committed and sexually exclusive relationships
Sex	1. The biological and physiological characteristics that define men and women (noun) 2. Sexual feelings and behavior (verb)
Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS)	Sex reassignment surgery or SRS (also known as Gender Reassignment Surgery, Gender Confirmation Surgery, Genital Reconstruction Surgery, Gender-Affirming Surgery, or Sex Realignment Surgery) is the surgical procedure (or procedures) by which a transgender person's physical appearance and function of their existing sexual characteristics are altered to resemble that socially associated with their identified gender.
Sex Reassignment Therapy	The use of hormones and perhaps sex reassignment surgery to help a transgender person or transsexual change their appearance from the sex that they were identified with at birth to more closely match the opposite sex that they feel they truly are.
Sex Worker	A person who engages in prostitution, pornography, or other sex-related occupation.
Sex-reassignment therapy	The use of hormones and perhaps sex reassignment surgery to help a transsexual change their appearance from the sex that they were identified with at birth to the opposite sex that they feel they truly are
Sex Addiction	The idea that a person may be addicted to certain forms of sexual behavior, by a mechanism similar to that of substance addiction
Sexual Identity	An individual's overall feelings including their sexual orientation (heterosexual, bisexual, homosexual), their genetic gender (male, female, or intersexual), gender role (masculine or feminine), and gender identity (male or female)
Sexual Orientation	A person's enduring emotional, romantic, sexual and relational attraction to someone else, which is different from an innate sense of gender - i.e. it is the sex of the person you find erotically attractive: opposite (hetero), same (homo), or both (bi).
Sexuality	The feelings, behaviors, and identities associated with sex
SGD - Sex and/or/Gender Diverse	an umbrella term used primarily in Australia to replace "transgender" in a more inclusive fashion. It celebrates the diversity in sex and gender identities, rather than defining particular categories of people. The term includes intersex, transexed, transsexual, transsexual, transgender, androgynous, without sex, gender identity, and cross dressers. Other phrases that have been used in the past to label SGD people include transgender, transsexual, pan-gendered, androgynous, intersex, intergender, sistergirl, and brotherboy. (from Wikipedia)
Socialization	The effect of social influences such as family, education, peer groups, and the media on the development of psychological or behavioral traits
Sodomite	1. Inhabitant of Sodom 2. A word derived from the biblical town of Sodom, heavily laden with connotations of homosexual immorality
Sodomy	Obsolete term for anal sex, or for any homosexual contact. As a legal term it may refer to a variety of prohibited sex acts.
Sperm	Male reproductive cells. Single: spermatozoon
STD / STI	Acronym for Sexually Transmitted Disease / Infection: Any infection transmitted by bacterium, fungus, parasite or virus primarily during sexual contact.
Stillbirth	An event in which a fetus after the 24th week of gestation, dies from natural causes and is expelled from the woman's body
Straight	Colloquial for heterosexual. Straight has connotations of "unadulterated," "pure," and "honest," and some members of the sexual identity community find distasteful the implication that one who is not straight is "bent," "adulterated," "impure," or "dishonest." Straight also has connotations of "narrow," "straight-laced" or "conservative," and some heterosexual people find that distasteful.
Swingers	Couples who agree to engage in casual sexual contacts with others
Swordplay	Slang for frottage
Third Gender or Third Sex	Third gender or third sex is a concept in which individuals are categorized, either by themselves or by society, as neither man nor woman. It is also a social category present in societies that recognize three or more genders. This applies to the Transwomen of India, Bangladesh and Pakistan who are known as hijras, also the fa'afafine of Somoa who are born male but embody feminine traits as well as masculine. The Indigienous Mahu of Hawaii considers it an intermediate state between man and woman. There can also be a fourth or fifth gender like the Dineh (Navajo) of Southwestern US who acknowledge feminine woman, masculine woman, feminine man and masculine man.
Trans	An inclusive term referring to the many people who cross socially constructed gender boundaries by adopting a gender identity, presentation, or behaviour that is not typically associated with one's assigned biological sex. This includes transwomen, transmen, drag kings and queens, genderqueer, transsexuals, transgenderists, cross-dressers and intersexed people. It can refer to anyone outside stereotypical gender expectations.
Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminism (TERF)	That group of feminists that claims that trans women aren't really women. They believe that the only real women are those born with a vagina and XX chromosomes, and that anyone born with such an arrangement is always a woman. They wish to completely enforce the classic gender binary, supporting gender essentialism and transphobia.
Transgender	Having a gender identity or gender expression that differs from their assigned sex. Transgender people are sometimes called transsexual if they desire medical assistance to transition from one sex to another.
Transgenderist	A person who lives as the gender opposite to their anatomical sex - i.e. a person with a penis living as a woman. Sexual orientation varies.
Transition	A process through which some transgender people go when they decide to live as the gender with which they identify, not the one assigned at birth. This may or may not include hormone therapy, sex-reassignment surgery and other medical components.
Transman	A transgender person who was identified as female at birth, and now identifies as a male - a female to male (FTM or F2M or F->M) transgender person
Transphobia	The negative valuing and discriminatory treatment of individuals who do not conform in presentation and/or identity to conventional conceptions of gender. Lesbians, two-spirited people, gay men, bisexuals, and trans individuals are typically the targets of transphobia. Transphobia, homophobia, and sexism are closely linked and interdependent. As with any form of discrimination, transphobia can be personal or systemic; intentional or unintentional.
Transsexual	is a person whose sexual identity is opposite to their assignment at birth. Not all TS folk undergo "sex reassignment surgery" (SRS) for various reasons, including personal preference. Sexual orientation varies.
Transvestite	a person who enjoys wearing clothes identified with the opposite gender, and who is often straight. "The most recent edition of the DSM (1994) acknowledges that some transvestites are attracted to others of the same sex and that the fetishistic aspect may diminish over time, but the clinical definition of transvestism remains a heterosexual male who has a perverse, compelling desire to dress in women's clothing because of the erotic pleasure he derives from doing so. Because 'transvestite' connotes a perversion and excludes female, gay, and bisexual male cross-dressers, as well as heterosexual men who cross-dress for non-sexual reasons, the term is rejected today by many transpeople in favor of "cross-dresser." ~ Brett Genny Beemyn, from glbtq.com
Transwoman	A transgender person who was identified as male at birth, and now identifies as a female - a male to female (MTF or M2F or M->F) transgender person
Two-Spirited	a term adopted by contemporary North American Aboriginal peoples to refer to those who embody both the male and female spirit. The term is inclusive and can refer to both sexual orientation and/or gender identity or expression. Therefore, lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, crossdressers, effeminate males, masculine females, androgynous, and heterosexual trans-people may all refer to themselves as two-spirited. Terms such as " berdache" have a colonial origin; and "gay" and "lesbian" are, to many, Eurocentric and culturally irrelevant to Aboriginal two-spirited people. They are seen as doubly blessed and are honoured, being considered more spiritually gifted than a feminine female or masculine male. They are often religions leaders. They are also considered to be under the "third gender" umbrella.
Unrequited Love	Love that is not reciprocated
Virgin	A person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. This includes about 7% of individuals when they first marry
Voyeurism	A paraphilia involving spying on persons while they are undressing, naked, or engaged in sex
Zygote	A form of human life (i.e. life containing human DNA) that had originating as a single-cell fertilized ovum, and which has not yet implanted into the inside wall of the uterus.

Sexual Orientation vs Gender Identity vs Sexual Identity

Sexual orientation, gender identity, and sexual identity are independent of each other. A person may express any variation of each of these in any combination. To discourage the free expression of identity and orientation by an individual is to impose a damaging burden of conformity.

Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity And Intersex Conditions

Question: I don't know whether it's just reconciling being gay and Christian but I've always felt like I'm between two worlds, not fitting into being fully male or fully female. My mom informed me a few years ago that when I was born I was taken back into surgery to remove an extra set of genitalia. She didn't say anything more and I have wondered recently if there might have been a decision made at that time as to what sex I was going to be? Any insights to offer?

Answer: Your question actually involves three different things:

           1) sexual orientation;
           2) gender identity;
           3) intersex conditions.

Sexual & Gender Identity, Orientation Symbols, Flags & Hankie Codes

The Pink Triangle

The pink triangle, now a gay pride and gay rights symbol, was originally used to denote homosexual men as a Nazi concentration camp badge.

The pink triangle, (German: Rosa Winkel), was sewn onto the clothes by the Nazis before and during World War II (1939-45) to identify male prisoners in concentration camps who were sent there because of their homosexuality. Every prisoner had to wear a triangle on his or her jacket, the color of which was to categorize him or her according "to his kind." Jews had to wear the yellow badge, and "anti-social individuals" (which included vagrants, "work shy" individuals and often, but not exclusively, lesbians), the black triangle.

Sex, Gender, and Sexuality - Explained

Why is Gender Identity so Important? | Rikki Arundel | TEDxWarwickSalon

10 Gender Identities Beyond Male And Female

Incidence, Frequency, and the Kinsey 0-6 Scale of Homosexuality

Soon after Alfred Kinsey began tabulating the sex data he was collecting in the 1940's it became obvious that several new modes of analyzing it would be necessary, both for clarity and to avoid confusion. For instance, to show how easy and feasible homosexual contacts are for "the human animal" as Kinsey liked to say, it was necessary to determine their incidence -- that is, how many people's sex histories contained at least one such experience to the point of orgasm.

Likewise, an accumulative incidence figure was needed to indicate what percentage of the histories reflected at least one such homosexual experience by each age (a gradually rising curve since additional individuals each year "come out" or try out such activity). These group data also made it possible to draw a curve that would accurately estimate how many subjects would eventually have at least one overt homosexual experience. As Kinsey put it, "at least 37% of the male population has some homosexual experience between the beginning of adolescence and old age.... This is more than one male in three of the persons that one may meet as he passes along a city street."

60 Minutes: Science or Stereotypes?

Gay men are limp-wristed and may have a Queen Gene, according to a controversial segment on CBS's 60 Minutes, "The Science of Sexual Orientation." The show suggests that gay men are prissy and prance and wear lavender pants while they lisp and dance. Which can certainly be true, in some cases, but is this just crass stereotyping masquerading as science?

Differences Between Men And Women’s Sexual Arousal

The article Men Know When They're Aroused, Women May Not by Jeanna Bryner, highlights a very interesting phenomenon that deserves to be repeated in other studies to see how valid and reliable the findings of this study are. Here is an excerpt from this article:

When it comes to sexual arousal, a woman's mind and body are less in sync than a man's, a review of research finds.

Men who reported feeling turned on tended to also sport an erection, while a matchup between the mind and body wasn't so consistent for women, according to the review published online Jan. 4 in the journal Archives of Sexual Behavior.

A Cure For What Fails Ya: The Legacy of Sexual Orientation Change Therapies

April 6, 2017 - The Rise and Fall of the Ex-Gay Movement

A little over a century ago, the nascent science of psychology took an interest in the origin of same-sex desire. Up until that point homosexual sex was seen as a vice to which a person might be habituated for any number of reasons. Psychologists, however, construed it as a mental disorder which had roots in early childhood development. Both the notion of a sexual orientation itself, and the idea that sexual orientation could be altered by treating childhood trauma, originally derived from this foundational supposition.

These new trends in the research, coupled with changing social mores and pressure from gay-rights organizations, caused the APA to remove homosexuality from the Diagnostic Standards Manual in 1973. Being gay was no longer seen as a mental illness.

Except in Christian circles.

See the whole article on Patheos

Insufficient Evidence That Sexual Orientation Change Efforts Work, Says APA

Press Release - Aug 5, 2009

Practitioners Should Avoid Telling Clients They Can Change from Gay to Straight

TORONTO -The American Psychological Association adopted a resolution Wednesday stating that mental health professionals should avoid telling clients that they can change their sexual orientation through therapy or other treatments.

The "Resolution on Appropriate Affirmative Responses to Sexual Orientation Distress and Change Efforts" also advises that parents, guardians, young people and their families avoid sexual orientation treatments that portray homosexuality as a mental illness or developmental disorder and instead seek psychotherapy, social support and educational services "that provide accurate information on sexual orientation and sexuality, increase family and school support and reduce rejection of sexual minority youth."

Using Theory to Understand Gay and Lesbian Identity Development

There are several theories that describe the sexual orientation development of gay and lesbian individuals. Because people are unique and everyone has his or her own story, no one theory describes all people. Some of the factors that influence development, and which are not yet accounted for by theory, include race, religion, culture, gender, and ability. So please be prepared for differences among students. Theory does however provide one explanation of students' identity development and helps us predict some of the development they have ahead of them.

Think About It by C. Ann Shepherd

1. Even though current research indicates that sexual orientation is fixed and unchangeable, some still insist that homosexuals could change if they wanted to. - Could you change your sexual orientation on demand? - Would you want to? - Why or why not? 2. Many people assume that homosexuality is a choice, and that gay people have made the decision to be gay. - If you assume that homosexuality is a matter of choice, do you assume that heterosexuality is a matter
of choice also? - When did you choose your sexual orientation?

LGBTQIA Safe Sex Guide

LGBTQAI Guide To Safe Sex

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