LGBT101 - A beginner's guide - part I
This guide was created in collaboration with LGBT students from LGBT & Friends Society at the University of Essex, as part of LGBT* History Month 2015.
This page wishes to give you a crash-course in LGBT issues and terminology, in layman's terms. This should familiarise anyone with important topics like sexuality, gender identity, non-binaries, transitioning etc.
Part I focuses on sexuality. Part II focuses on gender. To read part II, click gender101 on the left (or here).
This page wishes to give you a crash-course in LGBT issues and terminology, in layman's terms. This should familiarise anyone with important topics like sexuality, gender identity, non-binaries, transitioning etc.
Part I focuses on sexuality. Part II focuses on gender. To read part II, click gender101 on the left (or here).
Some initials...
Many people are now aware of the name LGBT: this stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender. However, it's commonly used as an umbrella term (a catch-all phrase) to describe anybody whose sexuality or gender identity doesn't conform to the majority of society.
Of course, there is more to the LGBT community than just L, G, B and T! The full name would be something like LGBTTQQIIAAP, and even then you can keep adding letters. Some people use GSM (Gender & Sexuality Minorities), others use LGBTQ or LGBTI, and others will use LGBT and add a plus sign (LGBT+) or an asterisk (LGBT*) in order to convey the non-exhaustive diversity of genders and sexualities.
Throughout our website, we use LGBT - however, we are aware and inclusive of all genders and sexualities that are within or outside the spectrum.
Of course, there is more to the LGBT community than just L, G, B and T! The full name would be something like LGBTTQQIIAAP, and even then you can keep adding letters. Some people use GSM (Gender & Sexuality Minorities), others use LGBTQ or LGBTI, and others will use LGBT and add a plus sign (LGBT+) or an asterisk (LGBT*) in order to convey the non-exhaustive diversity of genders and sexualities.
Throughout our website, we use LGBT - however, we are aware and inclusive of all genders and sexualities that are within or outside the spectrum.
Sexuality
Sexuality, or Sexual Orientation describes the pattern of someone's sexual attraction and/or romantic attraction to others. They might not always match! (This is explained more in detail in gender101.)
Sexual attraction towards someone is when you wish to have sex with that person.
Sexual attraction towards someone is when you wish to have sex with that person.
Monosexuality
Monosexuals are those whose sexual attraction are towards only one gender. In this category we have homosexuals and heterosexuals. Heterosexual people experience sexual attraction towards people of the opposite gender. Homosexual people experience sexual attraction towards people of the same gender.
Gay
Neil Patrick-Harris, Frank Ocean, Stephen Fry, Ian McKellen
A gay person is a male homosexual who experiences sexual and/or romantic attraction to other men.
Lesbian/Gay woman
Ellen Page, Ellen Degeneres, Raven Symoné, Jane Lynch
A lesbian is a female homosexual who experiences romantic love or sexual attraction to other women.
Polysexuality
Polysexuals are those whose sexual attraction are towards more than one gender. For example, bisexuals and pansexuals.
Bisexual
Billie Joe Armstrong, Freddie Mercury, Drew Barrymore, Angelina Jolie
Bisexuals are those that are attracted to both men and women, or to their own gender and people of another. Some bisexuals class this as being attracted to more than one gender, rather than strictly two.
Pansexual (Omnisexual)
Mary Gonzalez, Dreya Weber, Nayland Blake, Angel Haze
Pansexuals are people that are attracted to anyone regardless of gender identity and expression. They reject the gender binary (the idea that there are only two genders). The prefix pan- comes from an Ancient Greek term meaning "all" or "every."
Asexuality
Tim Gunn, Edward Gorey, Valeriya Novodvosrkaya, David Jay
Asexuals are those who experience no sexual attraction to anyone. It is a very complex thing, with many subcategories. But it it just as valid as an identity as any sexuality listed before.
Queer
This is an umbrella term that covers all identities. It is often used by people who do not want to label themselves with any other identity for various reasons.
It is however also used as a slur. While some have reclaimed the word for themselves, others may become offended if called queer.
It is however also used as a slur. While some have reclaimed the word for themselves, others may become offended if called queer.
Questioning
Questioning can include anyone that is unsure of their identity relating to sexual and/or gender identity. You could also choose to use ‘questioning’ if you were hesitant to use one of the other labels.