"Sexual orientation" is increasingly used as a prohibited ground for discrimination. The aim of this thesis is to show that this notion is being challenged both at the theoretical and implementation level. As a ground, "sexual orientation" ought to be replaced by "sex", as meaning the social construction of biological sex, in other words, "gender". / First, this thesis exposes the history of "sexual orientation", and then the problems faced by Canadian and international courts when trying to implement it. "Sexual orientation" is then analysed within the broader perspective of the traditional liberal discourse on minorities. That perspective shows that LGBT communities are submitted to criteria established by the majority, therefore regulating their existence. / Finally, the thesis draws on the analysis of scholars who think that those criteria are, in fact, part of a broader discourse aiming at perpetuating the domination of "male" over "female" and that discrimination of LGBT communities is in fact motivated by "gender".

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Toronto, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 131-142).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--York University, 2005. Graduate Programme in Psychology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 163-209). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:NR19819

Thesis (Ph. D.)--UCLA, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 144-154).

Thesis (M.S.)--Eastern Illinois University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 33-36).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2004. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-72). Also available on the Internet.

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on Feb 11, 2010). The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Dissertation advisor: Dr. Debbie Parker Oliver Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--UCLA, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 196-207).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2004. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-72). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.A.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2003. / Bibliography: leaves 108-119.