Note from the editor: CrossCurrents Winter 2004/05

CrossCurrents

This issue of CrossCurrents focuses on sexual orientation and gender, often-overlooked but important considerations in addressing mental health and substance use issues. The terminology used to describe the diversity of sexual orientations and gender identities is constantly evolving, which can be confusing. To clarify some of the terms used in this issue, we provide this glossary of terms from Asking the Right Questions 2: Talking with Clients about Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Mental Health, Counselling and Addiction Settings:

Lesbian: a female whose primary sexual orientation is to other women or who identifies with the lesbian community.

Gay: a person whose primary sexual orientation is to members of the same gender or who identifies as a member of the gay community. The word can refer to men or women, although many women prefer the term "lesbian."

Bisexual: a person whose sexual orientation is directed toward men and women, though not necessarily at the same time.

Transgendered: a person whose gender identity is different from his or her biological sex. Often used as an umbrella term to include transsexuals and transvestites, and two-spirit and intersex people.

Transsexual: a person who has an intense long-term experience of being the sex opposite of his or her birth-assigned sex and who typically pursues a medical and legal transformation to become the other sex.

Two-Spirit: this term reflects an effort by First Nations and other indigenous communities to distinguish their concepts of gender and sexuality from those of non-heterosexual Western communities.

Intersex: a person who has some mixture of male and female genetic and/or physical sex characteristics. Formerly called "hermaphrodites."

Questioning: a person who is questioning his or her gender identity or sexual orientation and who often chooses to explore options.

Queer: traditionally a derogatory term for non-heterosexuals. Many of these people have proudly reclaimed the word to describe their identity.

Although we believe the acronym LGBTTTIQQ (drawn from the above terms) reflects the wide range of sexual orientations and gender identities, the articles in this issue of CrossCurrents use the acronym LGBT for the sake of brevity and readability.

We hope you enjoy this issue of CrossCurrents. Send us your comments, suggestions and ideas. It is your input that furthers the dialogue around mental health and addiction issues.

Hema Zbogar
tel 416 595-6714
hema_zbogar@camh.net

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