![straight gay definition straight gay definition](https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/5a84532c1e00002c007abb16.jpeg)
Gender expression | External appearance of one's gender identity, usually expressed through behavior, clothing, haircut or voice, and which may or may not conform to socially defined behaviors and characteristics typically associated with being either masculine or feminine. Gender-expansive | Conveys a wider, more flexible range of gender identity and/or expression than typically associated with the binary gender system.
Straight gay definition manual#
According to the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the term-which replaces Gender Identity Disorder-"is intended to better characterize the experiences of affected children, adolescents, and adults." Gender dysphoria | Clinically significant distress caused when a person's assigned birth gender is not the same as the one with which they identify. Gay | A person who is emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to members of the same gender. This glossary was written to give people the words and meanings to help make conversations easier and more comfortable.Īlly | A person who is not LGBTQ but shows support for LGBTQ people and promotes equality in a variety of ways.Īndrogynous | Identifying and/or presenting as neither distinguishably masculine nor feminine.Īsexual | The lack of a sexual attraction or desire for other people.īiphobia | Prejudice, fear or hatred directed toward bisexual people.īisexual | A person emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to more than one sex, gender or gender identity though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way or to the same degree.Ĭisgender | A term used to describe a person whose gender identity aligns with those typically associated with the sex assigned to them at birth.Ĭloseted | Describes an LGBTQ person who has not disclosed their sexual orientation or gender identity.Ĭoming out | The process in which a person first acknowledges, accepts and appreciates their sexual orientation or gender identity and begins to share that with others. Overall, it's the self-identification of being "gay" that is the most accurate.According to the Human Rights Campaign, many Americans refrain from talking about sexual orientation and gender identity or expression because it feels taboo or because they're afraid of saying the wrong thing. In other words, correctly identifying someone as "gay" is as often a personal choice as much as it is a textbook definition. According to, an international charity, these things are:įor example, a person may feel same-sex sexual attraction but not identify as "gay" whereas another person who behaves sexually towards men and women may identify as "gay." Moreover, it is not uncommon for people to identify as "gay" at some times in their lives, while straight (not gay) at other times. Gay is a term that is not gender specific so men or women can be termed "gay." When identifying people as gay though, it's important to consider three things.
![straight gay definition straight gay definition](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ImHoriKelyVo_MRWB3YKeSnmzrQ=/0x113:1100x732/1600x900/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/28890221/brianolsenturin.0.jpg)
It may have come from a nineteenth century French slang word, "gaie." What is Gay? The term "gay" was initially a slang term developed to overcome some of these negative associations. Homosexuality is still the correct term clinically, but even though homosexuality is no longer considered immoral, some people feel there are still negative overtones to the word given its origin. The term "homosexuality" 1 was first used by Victorian scientists who considered same-sex sexual attraction and behavior a "moral deficiency." 2
![straight gay definition straight gay definition](https://www.sheknows.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/flrfu6ye91pi8d4cqrlr.jpeg)
Homosexuality is considered to be same-sex sexual attraction and behavior and "gay" is a synonym of homosexuality. While "gay" can be thought of as a synonym to "homosexual," there is more to the meaning of gay than that. The term "gay" may be confusing and even foreign to some, forcing people to ask, "What is gay?" or " Am I Gay?" And while some might think the definition of "gay" is simple, to many, it actually isn't.