DEFINITIONS OF SEXUALITY-RELATED TERMS
 

"How we use language shapes how we think"

The definitions of the words given below are not standardized and are used differently by different individuals and in different parts of the world. The meanings of words also change over time. Concepts and attitudes toward gender identity and sexual identity are changing in the society as a whole, as well as within the sexual minority communities. Therefore, the meanings of these words will continue to change as well. (Most of the 'definitions' are modified/adapted from the websites - www.siecus.org, www.biresource.org andwww.gendertalk.com)

Male: An individual's biological status as male or female. A label used to signify a "human sex," the biological designation based on genitalia. Can also be a socio-political term, used by an individual to label their gender identity. (Note: In this paper, the term 'male' used to denote individuals who are born with male genitalia, irrespective of the gender identity)

Man: A term referring to someone who identifies as such, who may often exhibit masculine or male characteristics (see masculine and male). Popularly understood within a binary gender system to refer to someone who is male-bodied. (Note: In this paper, the term 'man' is used to denote the gender and 'male' to denote individual's biological status)

Masculine: An often ambiguous term that refers to self-expression, performance, actions, behaviors, dress, grooming, adornment, and speech popularly associated with someone who is male-bodied within a binary gender system. People of all genders can self-identify as masculine or as having masculine characteristics.

Feminine: An often ambiguous term that refers to self-expression, performance, actions, behaviors, dress, grooming, adornment and speech popularly associated with someone who is female-bodied within a binary gender system. People of all genders can self-identify as feminine or as having feminine characteristics.

Men who have Sex with Men (MSM): This term is used to denote all those men who have sex with other men regardless of their sexual identity. This is because a man may have sex with other men but still consider himself to be a heterosexual or may not have any specific sexual identity at all. This means one has to concentrate on behavior, in addition to the sexual categories, in the area of HIV/STD prevention.

Males who have sex with Males (MSM): This is used as an umbrella term under which all biological males who have sex with other males are included, regardless of their sexual/gender identity. Thus literally it also includes transgender/transsexual (male to female) persons since they are actually biological males. 
[Note: Some transgendered/transsexual persons (male to female) don't want themselves to be included under this term, even though this term mainly serves as a working definition. To denote such persons, recently, the term "Transgender persons who have Sex with Men" (TSM) has been introduced.]

Men who have sex with Men and Women (MSMW): This denotes those men who have sex with men as well as women regardless of their sexual identity. This too, denotes just their behavior.

Gay: One who has significant (to oneself) sexual or romantic attractions primarily to members of the same gender or sex, or who identifies as a member of the gay community. One may identify as gay without identifying as a member of the gay community and vice versa. Though 'gay' is a common term for male and female homosexual persons, these days it is mainly used to denote homosexual man. Self-identified gay men do not necessarily have sex only with men, but occasionally may engage in sex with women. 
(Note: In this paper, 'gay' refers to "any person (man) who is conscious of his erotic attractions/sexual behavior towards persons of same gender/sex (i.e., other men)". Thus, the term 'gay' need not necessarily indicates 'gay identity' in this paper).

Lesbian/Lesbian woman: A girl or woman who has significant (to oneself) sexual or romantic attractions primarily to members of the same gender or sex, or who identifies as a member of the lesbian community. In India, this term is used to indicate bisexual women also.

Heterosexual (n., adj.): 1. Sexual or romantic behavior between a member of one sex and a member of another gender or sex. 2. One whose significant (to oneself) sexual or romantic attractions are primarily to members of another gender or sex. 
(Note: Heterosexual persons are sometimes referred to as "straight". In this paper, most often the term 'heterosexual' is used as an adjective rather than as a noun).

Homosexual (n., adj.): Individual with a primary sexual and affectional orientation or emotional attraction toward persons of the same sex. Male homosexuals are often referred to as 'gay', where as female homosexuals are referred to as 'lesbians'. A term often viewed as negative, overly clinical, or disempowering by members of GLBT/Sexual minority community.
(Note: The word 'homosexual' is most often used as a label and it may not be an identity. Also, this term is sometimes considered derogatory and not preferred by persons with same-sex behavior. In this website, mostly it is used as an adjective rather than as a noun).

Bisexual adj., n.: One who has significant (to oneself) sexual or romantic attractions to members of both the same gender and/or sex and another gender and/or sex, or who identifies as a member of the bisexual community. People who are attracted to members of both genders or sexes may be monogamous, polyfidelitous or nonmonogamous. (Note: In this website, mostly the term 'bisexual' is used as an adjective rather than as a noun)

Gay community: The group of people who are conscious of their erotic attractions/sexual behavior towards persons of same gender/sex or who identify as members of the gay community. One may identify as gay without identifying as a member of the gay community and vice versa. Lesbians and bisexual men and women often do not feel included by this term. 
These days, the terms 'Gay communities' or 'Gay populations' are used to stress that, like the people they comprise, these communities or populations are diverse.

Bi(sexual) community n.: The group of people who are conscious of their erotic attractions/sexual behavior towards persons of either gender/sex or who identify as members of the bisexual community. One may identify as bisexual without identifying with the bisexual community or vice versa. 
These days, the terms 'Bisexual communities' or 'Bisexual populations' are used to stress that, like the people they comprise, these communities or populations are diverse.

LesBiGay: Short form for Lesbians, Bisexuals and Gay people.

MSM community/population: This term is used to denote the population of men who have sex with men who may or may not have 'gay, bisexual or any other identity'. Though they are fragmented and isolated in the general population because of their commonalties they form a 'community'. 
These days, the terms 'MSM communities' or 'MSM populations' are used to stress that, like the people they comprise, these communities or populations are diverse.

GLBT community: This represents the community of Gays, Lesbians,Bisexuals and Transgendered/transsexual persons. These groups often jointly fight against discrimination and stigmatization based on one's sexual orientation and/or gender identity and thus identify as a common community. Also used as a term to denote the entire community of sexual minorities irrespective of identities (Note: In this paper, the term 'GLBT community' is used interchangeably with the term 'sexual minorities' or 'sexual minority community'). 
These days, the terms 'GLBT communities' or 'GLBT populations' are used to stress that, like the people they comprise, these communities or populations are diverse.

Sex: 1. A term used historically and within the medical field to identify genetic/biological/hormonal/physical characteristics, including genitalia, which are used to classify an individual as female, male, or intersexed person. 2. A person's biological or anatomical identity as male, female or intersexed person. 3. Activity engaged in by oneself, with another, or others to express attractions and/or arousal. (also see sexuality, sexual behavior)

Sexuality: Human sexuality encompasses the sexual knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, values, and behaviors of individuals. Its dimensions include the anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry of the sexual response system; identity, orientation, roles and personality; thoughts, feelings, and relationships. The expression of sexuality is influenced by ethical, spiritual, cultural, and moral concerns.

Same-sex sexuality: Currently, this term is being used as an alternative to the term 'homosexuality' (though some would like to use only this term instead of the term 'homosexuality'). Similarly, the term 'homosexual behavior' is being replaced by the terms - same-sex behavior, same-sex sexual behavior, same-gender sexual behavior. (Note: In this document the terms 'homosexuality' and 'homosexual behavior' are used because of their 'familiarity' and without any negative connotations).

Sexual Orientation. One's erotic, romantic, and affectional attraction. It could be to people of the same sex, to the opposite sex, or to both sexes.

  • Heterosexuality. Erotic, romantic, and affectional attraction to people of the opposite sex.
  • Bisexuality. Erotic, romantic, and affectional attraction to people of both sexes.
  • Homosexuality. Erotic, romantic, and affectional attraction to people of the same sex.

[Neither the term heterosexuality nor the term homosexuality existed before 1890. The terms 'homosexual' and 'homosexuality' may have the connotation that same gender attractions are a mental disorder (medical term: homophilia), and are therefore distasteful to some people. Also see - Same-sex sexuality]
 

Prejudice: A negative prejudgement of a group and its individual members.

Stigma: experience of others' negative attitudes.

Discrimination ("enacted" stigma): Unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group or its members.

Homophobia (n.): [Gr. homo (man) + phobia (fear).] 1. An irrational hatred and fear of lesbian and gay people that is produced by institutionalized biases in a society or culture. 2. A term for all aspects of the oppression of LesBiGays. (Seeheterosexism, biphobia.)

Biphobia (n): The oppression or mistreatment of bisexuals, either by heterosexuals (often called homophobia if it does not target bisexuals separately from lesbians and gay men), or by lesbians or gay men.

Internalized homophobia/biphobia (n.): The internalized oppression of LesBiGay people. This includes the often-conflicting feelings that we are bad at the core; that the entire world is unsafe, that we can only trust other members of our own group; that members of our group are untrustworthy; that for safety we must stay in hiding; that for safety we must come out everywhere, all the time, that our love is bad, or is not the same as other people's love.

Transphobia (also genderphobia): The irrational fear or hatred of those who are perceived to break or blur stereotypical gender roles. Expressed as negative feelings, attitudes, actions, and institutional discrimination. Often directed at those perceived as expressing or presenting their gender in a transgressive way, defying stereotypical gender norms, or who are perceived to exhibit "non-heterosexual" characteristics - regardless of individuals' actual gender identity or sexual orientation. (Also see - homophobia.)

Sexism: 1) an individual's prejudicial attitudes and discriminatory behavior toward people of a given sex, or 2) institutional practices (even if not motivated by prejudice) that subordinate people of a given sex.

Heterosexism/ist (n): The oppression of LesBiGay people. The assumptions that identifying as heterosexual and having sexual and romantic attractions only to members of another gender or sex is good and desirable, that other sexual identities and attractions are bad and unacceptable, and that anyone whose sexual identity is not known is heterosexual. Usually coupled with both unconscious and willful "blindness" to the existence and concerns of LesBiGay people (Also see - homophobia, biphobia). A heterosexist is one who practices heterosexism.

Stereotype: A belief about the personal attributes of a group of people. Stereotypes can be overgeneralized, inaccurate and resistant to new information.

Identity: How one thinks of oneself, as opposed to what others observe or think about one.

Sexual Identity: An inner sense of oneself as a sexual being, including how one identifies in terms of gender identity and sexual orientation. Some believe that sexual identities should never be assigned or ascribed, but only self-reported, with meanings determined by the person assuming that identity.

Gender n.: One's personal, social, and/or legal status as a male or female. Words that describe gender are feminine and masculine.

Gender role: It is how one appears/behaves in relation to social/cultural expectations or perceptions of how a man or woman should look/behave (i.e., how "masculine" or "feminine" an individual acts.) Society commonly has norms regarding how men and women should behave, although the argument is made that dominant normative behavior is a dynamic, often evolving, process (Also see - Gender-variant).

Gender-variant: Displaying gender traits that are normatively more typical of the opposite biological sex, within a given. "Feminine" behavior or appearance in men is gender-variant as is "masculine" behavior or appearance in women. Gender-variant behavior is culturally specific (Also see - Gender role).

Gender expression or Gender statement: The public expression/statement of one's gender identity. Gender expression/statement is external or socially perceived. It refers to all of the external characteristics and behaviors that are socially defined as either masculine or feminine, such as dress, mannerisms, speech patterns and social interactions.

Gender identity n.: Person's internal, deeply felt sense of being either man or woman, or something other or in between. Gender identity does not always match biological sex; for example, a person may be born biologically male yet identify as a woman. Because gender identity is internal and personally defined, it is not visible to others. In contrast, a person's "gender expression" is external and socially perceived.

Transgender(ed) person: A term used to describe those who transgress social gender norms; often used as an umbrella term to mean those who defy rigid, binary gender constructions, and who express or present a breaking and/or blurring of culturally prevalent/stereotypical gender roles. Transgendered persons usually live full or part time in the gender role opposite to the one in which they were born. In contemporary usage, "transgender" has become an umbrella term that is used to describe a wide range of identities and experiences, including but not limited to: pre-operative, post-operative and non-operative transsexual people; male and female cross-dressers (sometimes referred to as "transvestites", "drag queens", or "drag kings"); intersexed individuals; and men and women, regardless of sexual orientation, whose appearance or characteristics are perceived to be gender atypical. 
(A male-to-female transgendered person is referred to as 'transgender woman'and a female-to-male transgendered person is referred to as 'transgender man').

Transsexual: Individual whose gender identity is that of the opposite gender (sex). There are male-to-female and female-to-male transsexuals. A transsexual may or may not have had sex reassignment surgery and thus could be 'pre-operative' transsexual, 'post-operative' transsexual and 'non-operative' transsexual. (A male-to-female transsexual person is referred to as 'transsexual woman' and a female-to-male transsexual person is referred to as 'transsexual man').

Intersex(ed) persons: Persons who have the characteristics of both male and female biological organs and/or genitalia. (Formerly called as 'hermaphrodites').

Eunuchs: In India, this term is commonly used to denote Alis/Hijras (who come under transgender/transsexual category). Originally, this term is supposed to have referred to males who have undergone emasculation not by choice, but by accident, coercion or as a punishment. E.g., In ancient times, some males were emasculated to serve as guards in royal harems.

Sexual minorities or Sexual minority community: Refers to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered/transsexual persons as well as persons with other identities (such as Kothis and Alis/Hijras) as a minority group in a predominantly heterosexual total population. (Sometimes referred to as 'sexuality minorities'). 
These days, the terms 'Sexual minority communities' or 'Sexual minority populations' are used to stress that, like the people they comprise, these communities or populations are diverse.
(Note: In this paper, the term 'GLBT community' is used interchangeably with the term 'sexual minorities' or 'sexual minority community').

"Come out"(of the closet): 1. To disclose one's own sexual identity to another person. [I came out to my mother] 2. (come out to oneself) To discover that one's own sexual identity is different than one previously assumed. [I came out to myself three months ago.] 3. To be open about and deal with one's own and others' reactions to the discovery or disclosure of one's sexual identity. [I am out to my mother.] [I am out at work.] 4. (come out for) To disclose another person's sexual identity to a third person with the second person's permission or at their request. [I asked my mother to come out to my grandparents for me.] 5. May be generalized to disclosure of any information about oneself, not just one's sexual identity.

Important point:
Though it may seem logical to equate Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) with gay men and Men who have Sex with Men and Women (MSMW) with bisexual men, strictly speaking it is not so. In this website, the term 'MSM' is used to include MSMW also, unless otherwise specified.

Acknowledgement:
This webpage is based on the 'definitions' section in the following article:
Venkatesan Chakrapani, Ashok Row Kavi, L Ramki Ramakrishnan, Rajan Gupta, Claire Rappoport, Sai Subhasree Raghavan. HIV Prevention among Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) in India: Review of Current Scenario and Recommendations. Background paper prepared by Solidarity and Action Against The HIV Infection In India (SAATHII) working group on 'HIV prevention and care among Indian GLBT/Sexuality Minority communities', Revised Draft, April 2002.
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