9781422283844

WORDS TO UNDERSTAND Trait: A characteristic of an individual, such as eye color or gender. Gender identity: A person’s self-image as either a female or a male, no matter what gender they were assigned at birth. Sexual orientation: A person’s physical and emotional attraction to a different sex (heterosexuality), the same sex (homosexuality), both sexes (bisexuality), or neither sex (asexuality). Hormones: Chemicals produced by the body that regulate biological functions, including male and female gender traits such as beard growth and breast development. 1 THE ORIGINS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY

Are people born homosexual? Do experiences early in a person’s life turn him or her gay? What causes homosexuality?