LGBTQ+ Terms and Definitions You Must Know

The LGBTQ terms were created to recognize the identity of those who belong in the LGBTQ community or outside the perceived norm of society. The words and terms were popularized to show those who fell outside the criterion that they are not alone, and that there are others facing the same struggles. While these are the usual words used when discussing LGBTQ issues, they are in no way stable, fixed, or exclusive.

Here are some terms to add to your list!

The abbreviation “LGBTQ” is short for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender; Lesbian pertains to women who are attracted to other women. Gay refers to men who are attracted to men. It can also be used as an umbrella term for homosexuality. Bisexual or “bi” denotes people who are attracted to both genders. Lastly, Transgender is the general term that describes someone that do not stand for their gender identity to their constituted sex.

Sexuality

Sexuality is a category for living beings specifically related to their reproductive function. For most living creatures, there are two sexes, the male and the female. The female sex is determined by producing egg cells that are fertilized by another sex, and it bears offspring. While males, on the other hand, have sperm cells to fertilize the egg cells.

Gender

Gender is a socially learned behaviour usually associated with one’s sex. It is short for gender relations between the sexes or how males and females relate to one another. Gender is also based on how people see themselves and their tendency to act along with either the masculine or the feminine line.

Additionally, what determines one’s expected behavior is the socially established norm that will impact the typical men and women. It can sway what things are obtainable to men and women to resources, and even decision-making. In a nutshell homosexuality is where the LGBTQ belongs while heterosexual is the female and male.

Role Socialization

Gender role socialization is the one that is acquired by someone in the culturally accepted ways of acting, feeling, and thinking. It will begin as early as when one is conceived and it will continually emanate from the time that the individual will engage in the social standards set forth by the society. As socialization radically influences every part of every individual’s identity by having them constrained in terms of class, religion, gender, and educational background, female, male, and LGBTQ education exists.

Sexual Orientation

Sexual orientation covers sexual attraction, sexual behaviour, sexual fantasies, emotional preference, social preference, self-identification, and heterosexual or homosexual life. Sexual orientation involves the person to whom one is attracted and how one identifies himself or herself in relation to this attraction, which includes romantic and sexual feelings.

LATV is committed to joining the members of the LGBTQ community to proclaim the essence of health around the world, not for themselves but for the people they intend to serve.

Watch our exclusive series My Health Agenda  to stay up to date on all things health and lifestyle of the LGBTQ+ community.