Glossary Asexual A person who does not experience sexual attraction to others. Assigned sex The sex recorded when a child’s birth is registered. Usually the sex assigned at birth is also used in social interactions. Biological sex One use of the term ‘sex’ when referring to a person’s biological characteristics. These may be genetic, hormonal or anatomical and typically are used to categorise people into two distinct categories, as either male or female. The term ‘sex characteristics’ is a more precise framing of biological sex. Bisexual A person who is attracted to other persons regardless of their sex. Cisgender An opposite term to transgender. It describes people who are not transgender, because their assigned sex at birth matches their gender identity. Gay A person who identifies as homosexual. Gender expression A person’s ways of communicating masculinity or femininity (or both or neither) externally. This is done through physical appearance – including clothing, hair styles and the use of cosmetics – mannerisms, ways of speaking and behavioural patterns when interacting with others. Gender identity A person’s internal sense of being a man or a woman or a third or other alternative gender, or a combination of genders. Gender non-conforming A person whose gender identity is not limited to binary concepts of being either a man or a woman and/or whose gender expression is not limited to being either masculine or feminine. Heterosexual A person who is attracted solely to people of a different sex. Homophobia Dislike or prejudice against people because they are lesbian, gay or bisexual or are assumed to be not heterosexual. Homosexual A person who is attracted solely to people of the same sex. Intersectionality The exacerbated experience of human rights violations when based on more than one ground; for example, violations perpetrated against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people can be exacerbated by other factors, such as gender, race, ethnicity, class, economic status and religion. Intersex An umbrella term used to describe people born with sex characteristics (including genitals, gonads and chromosome patterns) that do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies. Legal sex The sex recorded when a child’s birth is registered. Usually the sex assigned at birth is also used in social interactions. Lesbian A woman who is attracted solely to other women. vii