sexual minority

American  

[sek-shoo-uhl mahy-nawr-i-tee, -nor-, mi-] / ˈsɛk ʃu əl maɪˈnɔr ɪ ti, -ˈnɒr-, mɪ- /

noun

1. a member or members of the LGBTQ+ community, used especially in the context of discrimination against or advocacy for a minoritized sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

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Etymology

Origin of sexual minority

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

More than 900,000 people in Nepal identify as a sexual minority, according to the leading rights group the Blue Diamond Society.

From Barron's • Jan. 26, 2026

Beach is the prime investigator for Project Recognize, which aims to improve data collection for asexual and sexual minority identities.

From Salon • Mar. 16, 2024

The unanimous decision was the first time the court has ruled on workplace conditions for a sexual minority and could set a precedent for rulings relating to other public offices and private companies.

From New York Times • Jul. 11, 2023

Among the respondents, 81% were between the ages of 25 and 54, 57% were women, 28% were people of color, and 21% identified as a gender or sexual minority.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 28, 2023

Researchers surveyed 1745 academic scientists in 2016, 1093 of whom identified as a sexual minority, asking them questions about their publishing history and openness in the workplace.

From Science Magazine • Mar. 2, 2022