Glossary of Terms

All the terms listed below are only designed to give an indication of what something means. Sexuality is a very difficult thing to define as it is very individual.

Bisexuality
This is a term used to describe the sexuality of people who are attracted to both men and women. However, it is important to remember that this does not necessarily mean someone having sex with both men and women will identify as bisexual.

Heterosexuality
Often refered to as 'straight', this term is used to describe the sexuality of someone who is attracted to members of the opposite sex.

Homophobia
See LGBT Info

Homosexuality
Homosexuality is used to describe the sexuality of someone who is attracted to members of the same sex. The term 'lesbian' refers to women who are attracted to other women and the term 'gay' is used to describe men who are attracted to other men. However, the term 'gay' can also be used to describe women attracted to other women too.

Intersexuality
See Intersex

Transsexuality/Transgenderism
While transsexual usually refers to individuals who have undergone medical treatment to make the body correspond to the person's perception of themselves as male or female, either by cosmetic or hormonal therapy, transgender usually refers to those who refuse or disrupt the cultural norms of masculine or feminine appearance or behaviour and their assumed correspondance to pre-existing biological maleness or femaleness. See Trans