Resource Guide
Vocabulary
AIDS
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
Bisexual
A person who is emotionally and physically attract-ed to both sexes.
Discrimination
Denying equal treatment to individuals or groups of people.
Diversity
Many differences.
Dyke
A derogatory term used for "lesbian."
Ethnicity
Historic origin, heritage and traditions shared by a
group of people.
Fag
A derogatory term used for "gay man"; a shortened
word for "faggot."
Gay
A person who is emotionally and physically attracted to someone
of the same sex. A term more commonly used for men.
Genocide
Deliberate, purposeful, systematic murder of a group of people.
HIV
Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
Heterosexism
The presumption that everybody is heterosexual.
Heterosexual
A person who is emotionally and physically attracted
to the opposite sex.
Homophobia
Fear or hatred of lesbian and gay people.
Homosexual
A person who is emotionally and physically attracted
to the same sex.
Human Rights
Rights that all individuals possess because they are
human beings.
Lesbian
A woman who is emotionally and physically attracted to
another woman.
Miscegenation
Two people of different races living together, marrying or having
children.
Prejudice
An unfavorable opinion about a person or group of people
formed without knowledge.
Racism
Belief that human groups have distinctive mental, personality
and cultural characteristics and that one race has a right to have power
over another; it is a policy, system of government or society based on
its beliefs that oppress and dehumanize other groups.
Scapegoat
One who bears the blame for others.
Sexism
Prejudice against someone on the basis of his or her sex; one sex,
intentionally or unintentionally, refuses to share power or distribute
resources equitably with another.
Slur
An insulting name or comment used against another person.
Society
A group of people held together by mutual interests, participation
in shared institutions and a common culture.
Stereotype
A generalization about persons based on some characteristic.
The generalization is then attributed to everyone who may fit into the
group.
Straight
Heterosexual.
Transsexual
Men or women who feel they are trapped in the bodies
of the wrong sex.
Transvestites
Cross dressing, wearing clothing of the opposite
sex, may be heterosexual or homosexual.