LGBT

Are you feeling attracted to people of the same sex as you? Do you feel differently from the way people expect people of your sex to feel? Everyone discovers their own sexual orientation at different stages of their lives, but adolescence is often the time when we are developing our self-awareness. Some people may find that they are emotionally and physically attracted to people of the same sex, or to both sexes. Some people feel differently about their bodies to the way other people may expect them to, for example a boy with male genitals may feel emotionally like a girl.

You may feel worried and concerned that you feel different to your peers, or you may just have some questions and are not sure who to talk to. You may not know anyone else who is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender that you could talk to and ask for help. This can be a lonely, confusing and isolating time. Please remember that your feelings are quite natural and many people share your experiences.

Different cultures have different understandings of what being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender means.

Here are some definitions that may be helpful:

Straight (heterosexual) - attraction to someone of the opposite sex
Gay - attraction to someone of the same sex, such as a man to another man, or a woman to another woman. This term can be used by both men and women
Lesbian - attraction of a woman to another woman
Bisexual - attraction of a person to both men and women
Transgender – In Scotland, it is currently common to use the terms transgender people or trans people as ‘umbrella’ terms to cover the many diverse ways in which people can find their personal experience of their gender differs from the assumptions and expectations of the society they live in.

A male-to-female (MTF) transsexual woman (trans woman) is someone who was labelled male at birth but has a female gender identity, and therefore transitions to live completely and permanently as a woman.

A female-to-male (FTM) transsexual man (trans man) is someone who was labelled female at birth but has a male gender identity, and therefore transitions to live completely and permanently as a man.

Intersex people - Sometimes a baby’s external genitals, their internal reproductive system or their chromosomes are in between what is considered clearly male or female. People born with these kinds of variations are often referred to as intersex people and there are many different intersex conditions

People (usually males) who call themselves cross-dressing or transvestite people, dress as the opposite gender for emotional satisfaction, erotic pleasure, or just because they feel more comfortable doing so. They feel a strong recurring desire to cross-dress but are generally happy with their birth gender and have no wish to permanently alter the physical characteristics of their bodies.

Often the cross-dressing provides a pleasant outlet for them to explore feelings and behaviours associated with the opposite gender and therefore they frequently use opposite gender names and pronouns while cross-dressed.

Realising that you may be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender can be a confusing time for some people, or, for some just a time which throws up new questions.

Some agencies that provide support and information:

• http://www.lgbtyouth.org.uk/

• http://www.lgbtyouth.org.uk/forth-valley.htm

• http://www.lgbthealth.org.uk/

• http://www.tht.org.uk/

• http://www.stonewall.org.uk/

• http://www.lesbianhealth.org.uk/

• http://www.positivelywomen.org.uk/

• http://www.lesbian-mothers-scotland.org.uk/

• http://www.ilga.org/

www.gmh.org.uk - Gay Men's Health

www.healthygayscotland.com - Promotes positive sexual health for gay and bisexual men living in Scotland.