Sexual minorities

A sexual minority is a group whose sexual identity, orientation or practices differ from the majority of the surrounding society. It can also refer to transgender,genderqueer (including third gender) or intersex individuals. The term is primarily used to refer to LGB individuals, particularly gay people. More recently, the catch-all terms GSM ("Gender and Sexual Minorities"),GSRM ("Gender, Sexual, and Romantic Minorities"), and GSD ("Gender and Sexual Diversity") have been proposed.

The term sexual minority was coined most likely in the late 1960s under the influence of Lars Ullerstam's ground breaking book "The Erotic Minorities: A Swedish View" which came strongly in favor of tolerance and empathy to uncommon varieties of sexuality, such as paedophilia and "sex criminals". The term was used as analogous to ethnic minority.

Scientists such as Ritch Savin-Williams support using the term in order to accurately describe adolescent youths who may not identify as any common culturally-defined sexual identity label (lesbian, gay, bisexual, et cetera) but who still have attractions towards those of the same anatomical sex as themselves.

Social issues may lead to possible health and psychological issues, especially in youth. It has been found that sexual minorities face increased stress due to stigmas. This stigma-related stress creates elevated coping regulation and social and cognitive processes leading to risk for psychopathology.

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