People are always confused when it comes to the different terminologies involving the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community. What's the difference between the four terms?
This dilemma came in the light of the murder of Jennifer Laude, the transgender woman allegedly killed by a US serviceman days ago.
We can also remember watching Kris Aquino as she looked dumb-founded when, during a TV interview, singer-actress Aiza Seguerra declared herself as a transgender man, even without the benefit of a sex change or gender reassignment.
So, how do we actually call the members of the LGBT?
Here's what we found out, so far -- courtesy of an ABS-CBN article.
"Sex refers to the classification of people at birth. It is often based on their external anatomy as well as internal reproductive organs.
Gender identity, on the other hand, refers to a person's sense of his or her own gender.
Some people feel a disconnect between their gender identity and their sex. For example, a person born female may have a male gender identity and vice-versa.
Gender expression is how a person manifests his or her gender identity whether through clothing, hair, behavior or other external characteristics.
Sexual orientation refers to a person's physical or romantic attraction to other persons.
Straight, gay, lesbian and bisexual are all terms that refer to sexual orientation.
Straight refers to someone attracted to members of the opposite sex. Gay and lesbian is someone attracted to members of the same sex.
Bisexual refers to someone capable of being attracted to both men and women.
Transgender is an umbrella term used to refer to those whose gender identity and expression may differ from the sex they were assigned at birth.
It is best used as an adjective as in "transgender man" or "transgender woman."
Transsexual refers to those who have gone through medical interventions such as surgery or hormone therapy to change their sex. Many transsexuals, however, prefer the term "transgender" so it is always best to ask."
Grey areas? Unclear definitions?
Experts in the field of medicine and psychology are still at work to best define a person according to his or her own sexual identities. They believe sexuality and gender identity are not polarities of male and female but a wide and fluid spectrum.
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