Definitions
Sexual Orientation:
• an enduring emotional or sexual attraction to another person
• exists along a dynamic continuum from exclusive LGBT feelings, identity, and behaviors to bisexuality to exclusive heterosexual feelings, identity, and behaviors
• has nothing to do with gender roles or identity.
Homophobia
• unrealistic fear or discomfort with LGBT people and feelings
• often leads to intolerance, bigotry, and violence toward anyone not acting within heterosexual norms
• Riddle Scale
Heterosexism
• belief in the inherent superiority of one form of loving (heterosexuality)
• discrimination by neglect, omission, and/or distortion
Heterosexual Privilege
• the privileges given to every assumed heterosexual person that allows them not to question their normalcy or sexuality
Transgender:
• individuals whose behavior and appearance does not conform to the cultural “norm” for their assigned sex
• they view gender on a continuum rather than as an either/or concept