LGBT

LGBT or Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender is a term that represents a broad array of individuals who identify with non-heteronormative sexual orientations or gender identities. The term is often used to encompass a community of individuals who share common experiences related to their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Sexual Orientation

Sexual orientation refers to an individual's enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions to men, women, both genders, or none. It also refers to a person's sense of identity based on those attractions, related behaviors, and membership in a community of others who share those attractions.

Lesbian

A lesbian is a woman who is attracted to other women. This attraction can be emotional, romantic, or sexual in nature. The term is used to express a woman's sexual identity or sexual behavior regardless of sexual orientation.

Gay

Gay is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term was originally used to mean "carefree", "happy", or "bright and showy". In modern usage, gay has come to be used as an adjective, and as a noun, referring to the people, especially to gay males, and the practices and cultures associated with homosexuality.

Bisexual

Bisexual individuals are attracted to both men and women, and may alternate between gender preferences in their attractions. Bisexuality is one of the three main classifications of sexual orientation, along with a heterosexual and a homosexual orientation, all part of the heterosexual–homosexual continuum.

Gender Identity

Gender identity is the personal sense of one's own gender. Gender identity can correlate with a person's assigned sex at birth or can differ from it.

Transgender

Transgender people have a gender identity or gender expression that differs from the sex that they were assigned at birth. Some transgender people who desire medical assistance to transition from one sex to another identify as transsexual.

LGBT Rights

LGBT rights vary greatly by country or jurisdiction — encompassing everything from the legal recognition of same-sex marriage to the death penalty for homosexuality. Notably, as of 2021, 29 countries recognize same-sex marriage.

Health Issues

LGBT individuals encompass all races and ethnicities, religions, and social classes. Sexual orientation and gender identity questions are not asked on most national or State surveys, making it difficult to estimate the number of LGBT individuals and their health needs. Research suggests that LGBT individuals face health disparities linked to societal stigma, discrimination, and denial of their civil and human rights.

See Also

• Homosexuality
• Bisexuality
• Transgender
• LGBT rights by country or territory
• LGBT social movements
• LGBT culture