What is Sexual Orientation?
Sexual orientation is one component of a person's identity, which is made up of many other components, such as culture, ethnicity, gender, and personality traits. Sexual orientation is an enduring emotional, romantic, sexual, or affectional attraction that a person feels toward another person. Sexual orientation falls along a continuum. In other words, someone does not have to be exclusively homosexual or heterosexual, but can feel varying degrees of attraction for both genders.* Sexual orientation develops across a person's lifetime—different people realize at different points in their lives that they are heterosexual, gay, lesbian, or bisexual.

Sexual behavior does not necessarily equate to sexual orientation. Many adolescents—as well as many adults—may identify themselves as homosexual or bisexual without having had any sexual experience. Other young people have had sexual experiences with a person of the same gender, but do not consider themselves to be gay, lesbian, or bisexual.

Information from the American Psychological Association
www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/publications/justthefacts.html

*The WRC recognizes that there are more than two genders and sexes.
**Definitions of sexual orientation vary and are constantly evolving.

Resources: University of New Mexico

Women's Resource Center has postings of local events, a library, and is a safe space to just hang out. Check the WRC Calendar of Events for specific programs. Phone (505) 277-3716

UNM Queer Straight Alliance.
Meets every Wednesday at 8pm in Santa Anna B room(3rd floor) in the SUB.

University of New Mexico Feminist Research Institute Dedicated to the production of scholarship on women, gender and sexuality and to the creation of intellectual community among feminist scholars at UNM. UNM has a large number of feminist faculty and graduate students, and the Institute offers an opportunity to meet and work with others both within and across disciplines. www.unm.edu/~femresin/index.htm

Resources: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Albuquerque Pride http://abqpride.com/

Albuquerque Under 21 Queer Youth Group meets every Friday night. http://members.aol.com/commnbond/under21.html

Common Bond Common Bond is responsible for the most in-depth informational services in the Albuquerque LESBIGAY Community members.aol.com/gayinformation/

Equality New Mexico is a membership organization that uses the political process to guarantee full equality and justice for LGBT and allied communities in NM. http://www.eqnm.org/

Fire All Womyn Dance Party. Produced by Alma Rosa http://firewomyn.com/

PFLAG Albuquerque (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination, and to secure equal civil rights. PFLAG provides opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society, that is healthy and respectful of human diversity." Helpline (505) 873-7373 www.pflagabq.org

Safe Zone Project has been in operation in Albuquerque public middle and high schools since the fall of 2001. At least one volunteer on each campus (a full-time counselor, social worker, or teacher) is available to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth to help address harassment against these students and to ensure their physical and emotional well being. (505) 889-2515 (leave message).

WIMIN brings quality women's cultural events to New Mexico. http://www.nmwimin.org/

Metropolitan Community Church of Albuquerque (MCC) - (505) 268-5252. www.mccabq.org/

Resources: National

GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. www.glsen.org/templates/index.html

HRC (Human Rights Campaign) national political issues affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans www.hrc.org/

NGLTF(National Gay and Lesbian Task Force) is the national progressive organization working for the civil rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people. www.ngltf.org/

SIECUS (Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S.)develops, collects, and disseminates information, promotes comprehensive education about sexuality, and advocates the right of individuals to make responsible sexual choices. www.siecus.org/