Definition of being gay
Glossary of Terms
Many Americans refrain from talking about sexual orientation and gender identity or expression because it feels taboo, or because they’re anxious of saying the wrong thing.
This glossary was written to help give people the words and meanings to aide make conversations easier and more relaxed. LGBTQ+ people utilize a variety of terms to determine themselves, not all of which are included in this glossary. Always hear for and respect a person’s self identified terminology.
Ally | A term used to describe someone who is actively supportive of Homosexual people. It encompasses straight and cisgender allies, as skillfully as those within the LGBTQ+ people who support each other (e.g., a lesbian who is an ally to the bisexual community).
Asexual | Often called “ace” for compact, asexual refers to a complete or partial lack of sexual attraction or lack of interest in sexual task with others. Asexuality exists on a spectrum, and asexual people may trial no, little or conditional sexual attraction.
Biphobia | The apprehension and hatred of, or discomfort with
Glossary of Terms: LGBTQ
Definitions were drafted in collaboration with other U.S.-based LGBTQ group organizations and leaders. Observe acknowledgements section.
Additional terms and definitions about gender identity and gender statement, transgender people, and nonbinary people are available in the Transgender Glossary.
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*NOTE: Ask people what terms they apply to describe their sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression before assigning them a label. Outside of acronyms, these terms should only be capitalized when used at the beginning of a sentence.
LGBTQ
Acronym for sapphic, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. The Q generally stands for queer when LGBTQ organizations, leaders, and media use the acronym. In settings offering assist for youth, it can also stand for questioning. LGBT and LGBTQ+ are also used, with the + added in recognition of all non-straight, non-cisgender identities. (See Transgender Glossary ) Both are acceptable, as are other versions of thi
What Does "Gay" Mean?
There is not one right answer
Many educators are unsure how to respond when a student asks you what does gay represent . It is better to attempt to answer than to respond with silence or evade the question.
Practice different responses with colleagues, just as you practice other things that you want to learn. Figure out what you feel comfortable saying.
Responses will vary by age and developmental stage of the student. Your comfort in answering these questions will set a welcoming tone in your class and school community.
Keep it simple
An answer can be as simple as: “‘Gay’ means two people of the alike gender who love each other – two women or two men.” Try to answer the question honestly without overloading a student with information. Throughout elementary school a student’s ability to understand what “gay” means and what your explanation means may increase with development.
Focus on affectionate and relationships
A discussion with elementary-age students about the meanings of “gay” or “lesbian” is a discussion about love and relationships. You can
Homosexuality
1. History
As has been frequently noted, the ancient Greeks did not contain terms or concepts that correspond to the contemporary dichotomy of ‘heterosexual’ and ‘homosexual’ (e.g., Foucault, ). There is a wealth of material from ancient Greece pertinent to issues of sexuality, ranging from dialogues of Plato, such as the Symposium, to plays by Aristophanes, and Greek artwork and vases. What follows is a brief description of ancient Greek attitudes, but it is important to acknowledge that there was regional variation. For example, in parts of Ionia there were general strictures against same-sex eros, while in Elis and Boiotia (e.g., Thebes), it was approved of and even renowned (cf. Dover, ; Halperin, ).
Probably the most frequent assumption about sexual orientation, at least by ancient Greek authors, is that persons can respond erotically to beauty in either sex. Diogenes Laeurtius, for example, wrote of Alcibiades, the Athenian general and politician of the 5th century B.C., “in his adolescence he drew away the husbands from th