Homosexual

a person who is emotionally, physically, and/or sexually attracted or committed to members of the same sex.

Heterosexual

a person who is emotionally, physically, and/or sexually attracted or committed to members of the other sex.

Lesbian

a common and acceptable word for female homosexuals.

Gay

a common and acceptable word for male homosexuals, but used for both genders.

Transgender

a common, umbrella term for individuals who consider themselves to have some characteristics of the opposite gender. Includes transsexuals, transvestites, cross-dressers.

Bisexual

a person who may be emotionally, physically, and/or sexually attracted or committed to members of either sex.

Queer

a historically negative term meaning homosexual; currently used by members of the "queer" community, the term has a positive and/or political connotation.

Homophobia

the irrational fear of homosexuals, homosexuality, or any behavior, belief, or, attitude of self or others which doesn't conform to rigid sex-role stereotypes. It is the fear that enforces sexism and heterosexism. The extreme behavior of homophobia is violence against homosexuals.

Heterosexism

discrimination and/or prejudice against those who are not heterosexual. The systematic oppression of lesbian, gay and bisexual persons is directly linked to sexism.

Internalized Oppression

the process by which a member of an oppressed group comes to accept and live out the inaccurate myths and stereotypes applied to the group.

Coming Out

to "come out" or to publicly declare and affirm one's homosexual identity, sometimes to one person in conversation, sometimes by an act that places one in the public eye. It is not a single event but instead a life-long process. In each new situation a lesbian or gay man must decide whether or not to come out.

In the Closet

to be "in the closet" means to hide one's homosexual identity in order to keep a job, a housing situation, friends, or in some other way to survive. Many homosexuals are "out" in some situations and "closeted" in others.

Adapted from Western Michigan University's "Safe on Campus" Program and the University of Southern Maine's "Safe Zone Project" by Gregory M. Weight, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Office, University of Delaware, March 2000