Sexual orientation and gender identity
For some parents, sexual orientation and gender identity may be tough topics to discuss with their teen. Showing support and openness is a good place to start. Here are some tips to help you be a part of the conversation.
Sexual Orientation
Sexual orientation is defined as a person’s romantic, sexual, or attraction towards those of the same sex (homosexuality), the opposite sex (heterosexuality), or somewhere in between (bisexuality, pansexuality, asexuality, and many more), regardless of their sexual behaviours.
Gender Identity
Sexual identity is the intimate and personal experience in which a person considers themselves to be a woman, a man, or a combination of both. It is a way of identifying themselves, whether or not that corresponds to the biological sex registered for them at birth.
A common misconception is that a person’s biological sex at birth is either male or female, yet nuances do exist. Some people are intersex, meaning they are born with different sex organs.
Gender identity may or may not align with a person’s gender expression, which refers to the ways someone is feminine, masculine, or both at once. It is important to understand that gender refers to societal criteria that dictates what is considered masculine or feminine. A person can express their gender through appearance, clothing, behaviours, activities, or the name they go by, for instance.
