- Sex type: Male (XY) or female (XX); the innate, immutable, genetically-determined condition of being male or female. The anatomical, physiological, and genetic characteristics associated with being male or female
- Sexual orientation: An emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction to another person.
- Gender identity: The psychological sense of being male or female
- Social gender role: The cultural norms that define feminine and masculine behavior.
- Sexual behavior: An individual’s choice to interact with others through intimate actions.
- Heterosexuality: The attraction of male and female individuals for one another, in accordance with reproduction design in nature.
- Homosexuality: The attraction of individuals of the same sex for one another. Also known as Gay (males attracted to males) or Lesbian (females attracted to females).
- Bisexuality: The sexual attraction of an individual for both males and females.
- Homophobia: There is no mental disorder by this name. The term “homophobia” is often used by activists to describe anyone who objects to the homosexual lifestyle on moral, psychological or medical grounds. Technically, a “phobia” is an irrational fear of an object, activity or situation. Therefore, “homophobia” could describe an “irrational fear of homosexuality.” The term “homophobia” can not accurately be used to describe principled disagreement over the issue of homosexuality.
Sexual orientation exists along a continuum that ranges from exclusive heterosexuality to exclusive homosexuality and includes various forms of bisexuality. Bisexual persons experience sexual, emotional and affectional attraction to both their own sex and the opposite sex. Persons with a homosexual orientation are sometimes referred to as gay (both men and women) or as lesbian (women only).
Sexual orientation is different from sexual behavior because it refers to feelings and self-concept. Persons may or may not express their sexual orientation in their behaviors.