What do you know gay and lesbian

Some people engage in sexual activity (with same-sex and/or other-sex partners) before assigning a clear label to their sexual orientation.

Understanding sexual orientation and

People may experience this attraction in differing ways and degrees over their lifetime. There is no specific way that a gay or lesbian person acts, dresses, or speaks—a person's sexual orientation does not correlate with their gender expression.

Do not confuse having an intersex trait with being transgender. None of these terms mean exactly the same thing — but all speak to an experience of gender that is not simply male or female. Do gay or lesbian people have certain types of gender expression?

The adjective describes a person who does not experience sexual attraction. Intersex An adjective used to describe a person with one or more innate sex characteristics, including genitals, internal reproductive organs, and chromosomes, that fall outside of traditional conceptions of male or female bodies.

The terms we use to describe sexuality and gender are always evolving. People under the transgender umbrella may describe themselves using one or more of a wide variety of terms— including transgender or nonbinary. An adjective used to describe a person with one or more innate sex characteristics, including genitals, internal reproductive organs, and chromosomes, that fall outside of traditional conceptions of male or female bodies.

This umbrella term includes people who have nonbinary, gender-fluid, or gender nonconforming identities.

LGBTQ Terms Inclusive Glossary

Still have questions? Gay and lesbian people can form attraction and/or relationships with people of the same gender. Other terms include genderqueer, agender, bigender, genderfluid, and more. Bisexual people need not have had specific sexual experiences to be bisexual; they need not have had any sexual experience at all to identify as bisexual.

Common Identity Definitions. Learn more through our FAQs and supportive resources. Some people know that they are lesbian, gay, or bisexual for a long time before they actually pursue relationships with other people.

Intersex people are assigned a sex at birth — either male or female — and that decision by medical providers and parents may not match the gender identity of the child. Asexual The adjective describes a person who does not experience sexual attraction.

Donate Now. Join Us at Our Next Event! These terms are used to describe a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. A "Bambi" lesbian is someone who prefers to express love and affection through non-sexual means, such as cuddling, kissing, hugging, and spending intimate time together.

We look at some useful definitions and explain why our language choices matter. This term describes someone who is questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity. Some undergo surgery as well. Some lesbians may prefer to identify as gay or as gay women.

Queer An adjective used by some people whose sexual orientation is not exclusively heterosexual or straight. But not all transgender people can or will take those steps, and a transgender identity is not dependent upon physical appearance or medical procedures.

An adjective used by some people whose sexual orientation is not exclusively heterosexual or straight. The adjective describes a person whose gender is not male or female and uses many different terms to describe themselves. Sometimes lesbian is the preferred term for women.

Some transgender people are prescribed hormones by their doctors to bring their bodies into alignment with their gender identity. Nonbinary The adjective describes a person whose gender is not male or female and uses many different terms to describe themselves.