Gender and Sexual Identity
Sexual Orientation
Sexual orientation refers to the gender that a person has loving, romantic, or sexual feelings for. You can be attracted to people who are the same gender as you, the opposite gender, to both genders, or you might not be attracted to either.
There are a lot of organizations that give support to LGBTQ2S+.
LGBTQ2S+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, and Two-Spirited. The plus sign includes other forms of gender and sexual diversity of those who do not identify as cisgender or cissexual. Cisgender means that you identify with the gender that you are born with. Cissexual means that you are attracted to the opposite gender. Having a hard time understanding any of these terms? Check out this list!
Gender Identity
Each of us is “assigned” a gender at birth. A doctor, nurse, or midwife will look at your body and say that you are a boy or a girl based on whether you have a penis or a vagina. Some people are born with both genitalia (penis and vagina). When this happens, a decision about which gender you will be raised as is often made by your parents and/or medical professionals.
Sometimes a person may not identify with or feel as though they are the gender they have been “assigned”. Gender diversity is not just about the physical anatomy a person may or may not have. It is also about a person’s personality, the way the person expresses themselves, and how a person feels.
More Information About Gender Identity
Youth Line
LGBT Youth Line
1-800-268-9688,
1-647-694-4275 (by text)
Live Chat available by website
Life Voice
Trans Lifeline
Kids Help Phone
Toll free, 24/7, confidential:
1-800-668-6868
Text:
CONNECT to 686868 for text chats