This document discusses sexual orientation, gender identity, and the stigmas faced by those who do not identify as heterosexual or cisgender. It defines key terms like sexual orientation, gender identity, homosexuality, bisexuality, pansexuality, asexuality, transgender, cisgender, non-binary, intersex, third gender, and gender fluidity. It also notes that coming out can be difficult due to fears of not being accepted. Finally, it outlines some of the stigmas non-heterosexual/non-cisgender individuals face from society, including being seen as unnatural or acting against religious beliefs.

1. Sexual Orientation & Stigmas
Kirkland Arjun
Noorshifa Arssath
Nicolas Barrios
Martin Charles
Michal Davydov
Health Band 3

2. Helpful Websites http://www.sexualityandu.ca/sexual-health/sexual-orientation-and-coming-out
http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/feelings/sexual_orientation.html
http://www.yoursexualorientation.info/Obstacles_LGB_Acceptance.php
WHAT IS SEXUAL ORIENTATION?
Sexual orientation refers to the gender that a per- son is sexually and/or physically attracted to, whether it be the same gender or the opposite. There are many different sexual orientations such as :
Heterosexuality– when a person in exclu- sively attracted to the opposite gender
Homosexuality– when a person is exclusive- ly attracted to the same gender
Bisexuality– when a person is attracted to both males and females
Pansexuality- a person who experiences sexual, romantic, physical, and/or spiritual attrac- tion for members of all gender identities/ expressions
Asexuality– when a person doesn’t feel at- tracted to anyone
The coming out process is a very difficult thing for non-heterosexuals. Coming out is when a person tells others about their sexuality. This is difficult because they often fear not being accepted and being seen as different.
WHAT IS GENDER IDENTITY?
A person’s gender identity is how they internal- ly perceive their gender, and how they la- bel themselves. Gender should not be con- fused with sex. They are two different things. Gender is a social construct whereas sex is a biological disposition.
A transgender person is a person who iden- tifies as the gender opposite their biological sex. They feel that they were born in the wrong body. A cisgender person is a person who identifies as their biological sex.
People also identify other ways:
Non-binary: blanket term for a per- son who neither identifies as male or fe- male
Intersex: a person who has both mas- culine and feminine characteristics (i.e. male genitalia and female breasts)
Third gender: a person who identifies as a gender other than male or female
Gender fluidity: when a person’s gender identity fluctuates between multiple genders
Agender: a person who doesn’t iden- tify with any gender
STIGMAS IN SOCIETY
Non-heterosexual/non-cisgender individuals are often type-casted as being “unnatural”. They have to endure several other stigmas that society places on them. Certain religions tell them that they aren’t acting according to the will of God and tell them that the expression of their sex- uality/gender identity is immor- al. A leading cause of society’s lack of acceptance for homopho- bia (the fear of non- heterosexuals)