Sexuality is a central aspect of being human throughout life and encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and reproduction. Sexuality is experienced and expressed in thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviours, practices, roles and relationships. While sexuality can include all of these dimensions, not all of them are always experienced or expressed. Sexuality is influenced by the interaction of biological, psychological, social, economic, political, cultural, ethical, legal, historical, religious and spiritual factors.

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) Draft working definition, October 2002

The label or name one uses to define and identify their sexuality. One’s sexual identity does not have to match their sexual behaviors; one may engage in homosexual behaviors, but still identify as heterosexual; one may engage in only lesbian behaviors but identify as bisexual.

Our sense of ourselves, who we are, and our character, culture, values, lifestyle and personality.

“The sense, and continuity of self that develops first as the child differentiates from parents and family and takes a place in society. Neo-Freudian theorist, Erik Erikson, has proposed that there is a crisis of identity during adolescence. It is at this stage of development that a young person searches for an identity, trying out different friendship groups, different lifestyles, different career plans… In Erikson’s view, therefore, identity forms as a result of social interaction, and problems with identity occur if the adolescent feels alienated from society through, for example, [sexuality,] ethnic differences or unemployment.”

Source: Jary & Jary (2000) Collins Dictionary of Sociology, 3rd Ed.

People whose sexual and romantic feelings are primarily for the same sex and who identify primarily with those feelings. In Australia, both men and women identify as gay, however it often refers mainly to homosexual men.

Women whose sexual and romantic feelings are primarily for other women and who identify with those feelings.

Refers to people whose sexual and romantic feelings are for both men and women and who identify with these feelings. Many people may engage in bisexual behaviours but not identify as bisexual. See also pansexual or omnisexual.

Refers to people whose sexual and romantic feelings are for all genders; this rejects the gender binary of male/female and asserts that there are more than two genders or gender identities. ‘Pan’ and ‘Omni’ mean ‘all’. These are inclusive terms that consider the gender diverse community.

Someone whose sexual identity is asexual may lack interest in or desire for sex. They may or may not engage in sexual activity and they may not experience sexual arousal at all.

People whose sexual and romantic feelings are primarily for the same sex and who identify primarily with those feelings. People who feel this way often identify as gay or lesbian.

People whose sexual and romantic feelings are primarily for the opposite sex and who identify primarily with those feelings.

The direction of one’s sexual and romantic attractions and interests towards members of the same, opposite or both sexes, or all genders. Similar to ‘Sexual Preference’.

The attitude or belief that heterosexuality is more 'normal' or superior to other kinds of sexualities. It is heterosexist to assume that people are straight unless otherwise specified, or that you can 'tell' if someone is gay.

An individual’s or society’s misunderstanding, fear, ignorance of, or prejudice against gay, lesbian and/or bisexual people. ‘Homophobia’ is often also used as an umbrella term to include transphobia, biphobia and heterosexism.

An individual’s or society’s misunderstanding, fear, ignorance of, or prejudice against people who experience transsexualism or identify and Trans*.

An individual’s or society’s misunderstanding, fear, ignorance of, or prejudice against bisexual and/or pansexual people.

Stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, intersex, and queer. Also, LGBT, GLBT, GLB or LGB are used.

Stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, intersex, queer and questioning.

Men who have Sex with Men. This is an inclusive term that includes gay and bisexual men, but most importantly, includes men who do not identify as gay, bi or homosexual, but are having homosexual sex (these men may be straight and in opposite sex relationships too). This term has been developed as this group of men are particularly difficult to reach for health promotion aimed at preventing HIV/AIDS as their homosexual sexual relations are so hidden and do not correlate with their sexual identity.

The FBI Model is a model for understanding diverse sexuality. It breaks sexuality down into three aspects: Feelings/fantasies, Behaviour & Identity. Each of these aspects exist on a continuum (For more information go to the Sexuality Info Page);

Feelings/Fantasies

same sex -------------------------------------- opposite sex

Behaviour

same sex -------------------------------------- opposite sex

Identity

Gay/Lesbian ---------------------------------------- straight

queer/pansexual/bisexual

This can mean something different to everyone. Coming out to yourself has to do with developing an awareness that you are LGBTQ. Coming out to others involves disclosing your LGBTQ identity. Coming out to others may be an ongoing process throughout life, though when it’s talked about, for example, as “when did you come out?” it refers to when you first disclosed your LGBTQ identity to family and friends. Some people choose to come out only to specific people in their life.

How a person, thinks, acts, dresses and speaks which distinguishes them as masculine or feminine. The sociological construction of one’s masculinity or femininity. One’s gender can be masculine, feminine and/or androgynous.

“Gender refers to the economic, social and cultural attributes and opportunities associated with being male or female.”

Source: Transforming health systems: gender and rights in reproductive health. WHO, 2001.