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Culture and Sexual Orientation 215

educators and health professionals who will work with the community. We have
included a table of definitions for the key terms in this chapter to enhance the reader ’ s

knowledge and understanding of the LGBT community (see Table 12.1 ). We hope this
information will assist in decreasing the common confusion surrounding terminology
for this culture.

TABLE 12.1. Definitions of Key Terms.

Bisexual A man or a woman with a sexual and emotional orientation toward
people of both sexes (U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services [USDHHS], Offi ce on Women ’ s Health, 2000).

Coming out The process by which LGBT people acknowledge that they are not
exclusively heterosexual. It may involve two phases, coming out to
oneself and then coming out to others. This may occur over a short,
intense period or gradually over time. Coming out is extremely
infl uenced by the person ’ s comfort level and both internal and
external infl uences.

Gay Most commonly refers to men whose primary emotional and sexual
attraction is to men, but may also be used to refer to a homosexual
person of either sex. Some lesbians identify as gay (Gay and Lesbian
Medical Association [GLMA] et al., 2001).

Gender identity A person ’ s sense of self as being either male or female. Gender
identity does not always match biological sex. Unlike sex,
which is biologically determined, gender is considered a social
construct (USDHHS, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration [SAMHSA], 2000; Peterkin & Risdon, 2003).

Heterosexism Belief that heterosexuality is the only “ natural ” sexuality and that
it is inherently healthier than or superior to other types of sexuality
(Shankle, 2006).

Homophobia Irrational fear or hatred of lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender
people (GLMA et al., 2001).

Homosexual An outmoded term used primarily for diagnostic purposes, meaning
same - sexual (Peterkin & Risdon, 2003).

(continued)

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