Understanding and Challenging Stigma toward ... - Pact Cambodia

Information
Sheets
Gender identity is the concept of maleness or femaleness. It is the sense of oneself as
male or female and does not necessarily refer to one’s sexual orientation or gender
expression.
Gender role refers to the behaviors that are viewed as masculine or feminine by a
Particular culture.
Heterosexual or straight is physical, emotional and/or sexual attraction to persons of the
opposite sex.
Homosexuality is physical, emotional and/or sexual attraction to persons of the same sex.
In the closet describes a person who is not open about his or her sexual orientation or
gender identity.
Intersex is a general term used for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with
sexual organs that do not fit the typical definitions of female or male. For example,
a person might be born appearing to be female on the outside, but having mostly
male-typical anatomy on the inside. Another example is a person who is born with
genitals that seem to be “in-between” the usual male and female types. Intersex people
may later grow up to have gender identities that are the opposite of the sex assigned to
them at birth and have feelings similar to transgender individuals. Approximately 1 in
every 2,000 people is born intersex.
Lesbian is the term for women who identify as gay. ”Gay” has largely been associated
with men, so many women wanted a separate term that applied specifically to women’s
sexual orientation.
Lifestyle is how a person chooses to live and behave and is sometimes defined by the
type of social life. Being LGBTI is not a choice, and therefore is not considered to be a
lifestyle. To call it a lifestyle is incorrect and offensive to LGBTI people.
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