HomosexualityAttraction between people of the same sex or genderSymbols of homosexualityViolence against LGBTQ peopleLGBTQ people experience violence directed toward their sexuality, gender identity, or gender expression. This violence may be enacted by the state, as in laws prescribing punishment for homosexual acts, or by individuals. It may be psychological or physical and motivated by biphobia, gayphobia, homophobia, lesbophobia, and transphobia. Influencing factors may be cultural, religious, or political mores and biases.
LesbianHomosexual woman or girlTwo lesbians holding a lesbian pride flag at the 2022 Fierté Montréal marchSymbol for female homosexuality consisting of two intersecting female symbolsA lesbian is a homosexualwoman or girl. The word is also used as an adjective for women in relation to their experiences, regardless of their sexual orientation; or as an adjective relating to female homosexuality.
Sexual orientationSexual orientation is an enduring personal pattern of romantic attraction or sexual attraction (or a combination of these) to persons of the opposite sex or gender, the same sex or gender, or to both sexes or more than one gender. Patterns are generally categorized under heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality, while asexuality (experiencing no sexual attraction to others) is sometimes identified as the fourth category.
Hate crimeUsually violent, prejudice-motivated crimeIn criminal law, a hate crime is a standard offence (such as assault or murder) with an added element of bias against a victim (individual or group of individuals) because of their physical appearance or perceived membership of a certain social group.
Gay menMen attracted to other menA gay couple at a pride eventTwo interlocked Mars symbols representing male homosexuality.
Minority groupThe term "minority group" has different meanings, depending on the context. According to common usage, it can be defined simply as a group in society with the lowest number of individuals, or less than half of a population. Usually a minority group is disempowered relative to the majority, and that characteristic lends itself to different applications of the term minority.
Southern Poverty Law CenterAmerican civil rights organizationThe Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights and public interest litigation. Based in Montgomery, Alabama, it is known for its legal cases against white supremacist groups, for its classification of hate groups and other extremist organizations, and for promoting anti-bias education.
Federal Bureau of InvestigationU.S. federal law enforcement agencyLaw enforcement agencyThe Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. An agency of the United States Department of Justice, the FBI is a member of the U.S. Intelligence Community and reports to both the attorney general and the director of national intelligence.
Non-heterosexualNon-heterosexual is a word for a sexual orientation or sexual identity that is not heterosexual. The term helps define the "concept of what is the norm and how a particular group is different from that norm". Non-heterosexual is used in feminist and gender studies fields, as well as in general academic literature, to help differentiate between sexual identities that are chosen, prescribed, or simply assumed, with varying understandings of the implications of those identities.
AntipathyAntipathy is a dislike for something or somebody, the opposite of sympathy. While antipathy may be induced by experience, it sometimes exists without a rationalcause-and-effect explanation being present to the individuals involved. Thus, the origin of antipathy has been subject to various philosophical and psychological explanations, which some people find convincing and others regard as highly speculative.
BisexualitySexual attraction to more than one genderBisexual flag, designed by Michael Page in 1998Bisexuality is defined as having romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior towards more than one gender or attraction that is not limited by sex or gender.
HomophobiaRelated word or term.heterophobiaRelated word or term.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.