Introduction to Gender Diversity in the Workplace

The term ‘sexual minority’ has traditionally been understood and used to collectively identify lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals. In this sense, sexual minorities are groups of people whose sexual orientation or sexual characteristics are different from the majority of the population who are presumed to be heterosexual. Transgender individuals, which may include men and women who identify as the opposite gender, have also been referred to as ‘sexual minorities’, regardless of whether they have undergone any form of gender reassignment.

For example, transgender people may identify sexually as heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual or ‘trans’ (LGBT), demanding more sensitive understandings of how sexuality and gender intersect. Although LGBT individuals can suffer from different types of sexual and gender discrimination, the term ‘sexual minority’ can also be used to indicate a shared sense of discrimination among minority groups. These groups often experience rejection or ridicule simply because they differ from what is routinely experienced.