Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation

Gender fluid: Gender identity can be fluid, meaning that over a person's lifetime, gender identity can change depending on a variety of circumstances ⁽¹⁰⁾. There are many different gender identities that people identify with so it is always best to ask them the terms they prefer ⁽¹¹⁾. Listed below are some of the more common ones:

• Cisgender: Applies to individuals whose gender identity corresponds to the sex that they were assigned to at birth ⁽¹⁰⁾
  
  
• Transgender: When an individual has a different gender identity than the one assigned at birth - people who feel this way may identify themself as “Transgender” or “Trans” ⁽⁹⁾.
  
  
• Agender: Refers to individuals who identify as having no gender (10). Some people who identify as being agender may also refer to themselves as being gender neutral ⁽¹⁰⁾.
  
  
• Gender Neutral: Refers to individuals who do not identify with a gender ⁽¹⁰⁾.
  
  
• Genderqueer: Someone who does not identify with the common gender identities and roles ⁽¹⁰⁾
  
  
• Non-Binary: When a person may identify as neither male nor female - in this case they may identify as being “non-binary” ⁽¹¹⁾.
  
  
• Two Spirit: is a term used for Indigenous individuals who spiritually identify as both feminine and masculine
  
  

Determining your gender identity and figuring out who you are as an individual is a normal part of life ⁽¹¹⁾. If you are questioning your gender identity, it may be helpful to find professional support and talk to someone you can trust ⁽¹¹⁾.

Sexual orientation is very personal and different for everyone. Not everyone fits into the same common categories:

• Queer is a broad term used to describe sexuality as a large range of different sexual orientations. It is a term used to recognize individuals whose sexual orientation is unique ⁽¹²⁾
  
  
• Bisexual is when a person is attracted to people of more than one gender, for example cis men and cis women ⁽¹²⁾
  
  
• Asexual describes people who do not experience sexual attraction to other individuals ⁽¹²⁾
  
  
• Pansexual is when a person is attracted to people with a range of gender identities including cis women, cis men, trans women, trans men, and non-binary people ⁽¹²⁾
  
  

• LBGTQIA2S + is an acronym that represents people who identify with different gender identities and sexual orientations. It stands for: Lesbian Bisexual Gay Transgender Queer or Questioning Itersex Asexual 2-Spirit +
  The + represents the many gender identities and sexual orientations that exist but are not included in this acronym.⁽¹²⁾
  
  
• Questioning: A term used when an individual is curious and explores their own gender or sexuality.⁽¹²⁾
  
  
• Closeted: is a term used for people who identify as part of the LBGTQIA2S+ community when some individuals decide to keep this information private ⁽¹²⁾
  
  
• Coming Out: is a process about “being open” to others about your gender and sexuality. It happens when individuals decide to share experiences and talk about their own sexual orientation or gender identity with others- this is the process known as Coming Out. ⁽¹²⁾. The experience of coming out is different for everyone and can be difficult and extremely emotional ⁽¹²⁾
  
  

  Deciding to come out, and when to do so, is an extremely personal choice. If you are thinking of coming out, learn more here:

  • https://www.strongfamilyalliance.org/
  • http://www.glnh.org/
  • Talk to a health care provider or a trusted adult