Basic Concepts - Sexuality
A core aspect of human life, encompassing gender, gender roles, sexual orientation, gender identity, desire, pleasure, intimacy, and reproduction.
A person's enduring pattern of emotional and/or sexual attraction toward people of the opposite sex, the same sex, or both.
Emotional and/or sexual attraction to people of the opposite sex.
Emotional and/or sexual attraction to people of the same sex. Homosexuality is a naturally occurring phenomenon that has existed across cultures and historical periods. Homosexual individuals may be male (gay men) or female (lesbians), and like everyone else, they have diverse personalities, interests, and lifestyles.
The capacity to be emotionally and/or sexually attracted to both same and different genders. Bisexual individuals may experience different degrees of attraction to men and women and may have varied preferences in intimate or sexual relationships.
Also known as "fluid sexuality", this refers to individuals who are still exploring and have not yet fully defined their sexual orientation or gender identity. It may also refer to those whose orientation or identity is fluid and not fixed.
A classification based on physical and biological traits such as chromosomes, internal and external reproductive organs, and hormones. It is not determined by external genitalia alone.
Also known as “Social Gender”, this refers to socially or culturally constructed characteristics, behaviors, norms, and roles typically associated with being male or female within a particular society.
A person’s internal, psychological sense of being male, female, or another gender.
How a person outwardly expresses their gender identity through behavior, clothing, hairstyle, voice, or physical characteristics.
A term for people whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth. For example, someone who identifies as a woman and was assigned female at birth is a cisgender woman. The opposite of cisgender is transgender.
A broad term referring to individuals whose gender identity or gender expression does not align with their sex assigned at birth.
- Transgender Men, also known as “Trans men” are individuals assigned female at birth but identify as male.
- Transgender Women, also known as “Trans women” are individuals assigned male at birth but identify as female.
A also known as “Genderqueer”, this refers to individuals whose gender identity does not conform to the traditional binary of male and female.
is an evolving term with multiple meanings, representing a challenge to traditional gender and sexual orientation norms, as well as an affirmation and celebration of diverse identities.
- People who have undergone or plan to undergo medical procedures (such as hormone therapy or gender confirmation surgery) to align their physical body with their gender identity.
Psychological distress resulting from a mismatch between one’s gender identity and assigned sex at birth. Formerly known as "Gender Identity Disorder," it was renamed to reduce stigma—now termed "Gender Dysphoria" in the DSM-5 (2013) and "Gender Incongruence" in the ICD-11 (2019).
The process through which a person changes from their assigned sex to their affirmed gender. It may include social transition and/or medical transition.
Living in a role that aligns with one’s gender identity, which may include changing clothing, name, pronouns, and using gender-affirming facilities (e.g., bathrooms).
A period during which a transgender person lives in their identified gender role in everyday life. This experience helps the individual and clinicians assess readiness for further medical transition and was formerly called the "Real-Life Test."
Also known as “Gender confirmation surgery” / “Gender-affirming surgery”, this procedure alters a person’s physical sexual characteristics (e.g., chest or genitalia) to better match their gender identity and societal expectations.
A medical treatment for transgender individuals that induces physical changes to align the body with their gender identity by administering estrogen or testosterone.
People born with physical sex characteristics (such as reproductive organs or chromosomes) that do not fit typical definitions of male or female.
A person who dresses in clothing traditionally associated with the opposite gender. This does not necessarily reflect their gender identity or sexual orientation.
Non-cizgender/non-heterosexual persons disclose their gender identity/ sexual orientation to others.
Negative attitudes, feelings, or actions toward homosexual individuals, including aversion, contempt, hatred, prejudice, or discrimination. It may be influenced by religion, cultural norms, or social values.
Negative reactions, ignorance, misunderstanding, or discrimination toward transgender individuals, including fear, rejection, violence, and exclusion—especially toward those who do not conform to gender expectations.
Discrimination, prejudice, or stereotypes based on gender or gender identity. It includes individual and systemic bias.
The belief that heterosexuality is superior or the default, leading to the marginalization of other sexual orientations. This assumption can be held by individuals of any orientation, including non-heterosexual people.
