Sexual minority - Those who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual or who have sexual contact with

persons of the same or both sexesare part of every community and come from all walks of life. They are diverse, representing all races, ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, and parts of the country. Source: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/disparities/smy.htm

Homosexual - A person who is primarily and/or exclusively attracted to members of what they identify
as their own sex or gender. Source: http://internationalspectrum.umich.edu/life/definitions

Homophobia - Thoughts, feelings, or actions based on far, dislike, judgment, or hatred of lesbians, gays
and bisexuals. Homophobia has roots in sexism and can include prejudice, discrimination, harassment, and acts of violence. Source: http://internationalspectrum.umich.edu/life/definitions

Academic performance - It refers to how well a student is accomplishing his or her tasks and studies,
Source: http://www.studymode.com/essays/Meaning-Of-Academic-Performance-1107119.html

LGBT - This acronym refers to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender.

Source: http://internationalspectrum.umich.edu/life/definitions

Academic Persistence - The "desire and action of a student to stay within the system of higher
education from beginning through degree completion" Source: Seidman (2005) (p.14)

Bisexual - A person who is emotionally, physically, and/or sexually attracted to more than one gender.
Also called bi. Sources: http://lesbianlife.about.com/od/comingoutadvice/f/LesbianorBi.htm

Transgender - of, relating to, or being a person (as a transsexual or transvestite) who identifies with or
expresses a gender identity that differs from the one which corresponds to the person's sex at birth Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transgender?show=0&t=1376237510

Lesbian - a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire
between females. Source: http://mayahuskee.deviantart.com/journal/Label-Me-Lesbian-A-Guide-to-Types-of-Lesbians214218387

Heterosexual - refers to people whose sexual and romantic feelings are mostly for the opposite
gender: Men who are attracted to women, and women who are attracted to men. Source: http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=7862

Gay

relating to, or used by homosexuals. A person who is attracted to the same sex.

Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gay

Discrimination differently

the process by which two stimuli differing in some aspect are responded to

Source: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discrimination