Basic terms, used in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity.
A
Ally
A (typically straight and/or cisgender) person who supports and respects members of the LGBTI community. We consider people to be active allies when they act in support and show publicly respect.
Androgynous
A gender expression that has elements of both masculinity and femininity.
Aromantic
A person who experiences little or no romantic attraction to others. Not to be confused with asexual.
Asexual
A person who has limited or no sexual feelings or desires.
B
Biological sex
Often referred to as simply “sex,” “physical sex,” “anatomical sex,” or specifically as “sex assigned at birth.” In other words, this is the anatomy of an individual's reproductive system, and secondary sex characteristics.
Bifobia
Prejudice or discrimination against bisexual people.
Bisexual
A person who is not sexually attracted exclusively to people of one particular gender; attracted to both men and women.
C
Cis(gender) person
Describes a person whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth – e.g. a person who was assigned male at birth, was raised as a man and considers himself a man.
Cissexism
The belief or assumption that cis people's gender identities, expressions, and embodiments are more natural and legitimate than those of trans people.
Closeted
An individual who is not open to themselves or others about their sexuality or gender identity. This may be by choice and/or for other reasons such as fear for one’s safety, peer or family rejection or disapproval and/or loss of housing, job, etc. Also known as being “in the closet.” When someone chooses to break this silence they “come out” of the closet. (See coming out)
Coming out
1. The process by which one accepts and/or comes to identify one’s own sexuality or gender identity (to “come out” to oneself). 2. The process by which one shares one’s sexuality or gender identity with others (to “come out” to friends, etc.). This is a continual, life-long process. Everyday, all the time, one has to evaluate and re-evaluate who they are comfortable coming out to, if it is safe, and what the consequences might be. Not to be confused with outing.
Conversion therapy
Attempts to change people’s sexual orientation or gender identity in order to make them heterosexual or cisgender. Disavowed and considered an abusive practice by every global medical authority, but still often practiced by faith groups and dubious therapists.
Cross-dressing
Wearing clothes, accessories, or make-up typically associated with another sex, for many different reasons.
D
Demisexual
A person who isn’t sexually attracted to anyone unless they have formed a deep emotional or romantic connection with them.
Drag culture
In drag culture people are using drag clothing and makeup to imitate and often exaggerate female gender signifiers and gender roles for entertainment purposes. Historically, most drag queens have been men dressing as women.
Drag Queen
A person, usually male, who dresses in clothing more conventionally worn by women and acts with exaggerated femininity and in feminine gender roles for entertainment or fashion.
Drag King
A person who dresses in clothing more conventionally worn by men acts with exaggerated masculinity and in masculine gender roles for entertainment or fashion. Less common than Drag Queens.
F
Femininity
A set of attributes, behaviors, and roles generally associated with girls and women, which is socially constructed, and is not the same as female sex assigned at birth.
Fluid(ity)
Generally with another term attached, like gender-fluid or fluid-sexuality, fluid(ity) describes an identity that may change or shift over time between or within the mix of the options available (e.g., man and woman, bi and straight).
G
Gay
An individual who is emotionally, physically, and/or sexually attracted primarily to members of the same sex and/or gender. More commonly used when referring to men who are attracted to other men, but can be applied to women as well. 2. An umbrella term used to refer to the queer community as a whole, or as an individual identity label for anyone who does not identify as heterosexual.
Gender
Gender is the state of being male or female in relation to the social and cultural roles that are considered appropriate for men and women. You can use gender to refer to one of a range of identities that includes female, male, a combination of both, and neither.
Gender dysphoria
The discomfort felt when a person’s assigned sex does not match with their gender identity. A diagnosis of gender dysphoria is often required before a trans person can access any form of medical transition.
Gender expression
The external display of one’s gender, through a combination of dress, demeanor, social behavior, and other factors, generally made sense of on scales of masculinity and femininity. Also referred to as “gender presentation.”
Gender fluid
Gender fluid is a gender identity best described as a dynamic mix of boy and girl. A person who is gender fluid may always feel like a mix of the two traditional genders, but may feel more man some days, and more woman other days.
Gender identity
The internal perception of one’s gender, and how they label themselves, based on how much they align or don’t align with how their gender is defined by their biological sex. Common identity labels include man, woman, genderqueer, trans, and more. Often confused with biological sex, or sex assigned at birth.
Gender non-conforming
1. A gender expression descriptor that indicates a non-traditional gender presentation (for example, masculine woman or feminine man); 2. a gender identity label that indicates a person who identifies outside of the gender binary.
H
Heteronormativity
The assumption, in individuals or in society at large, that everyone is heterosexual (e.g. asking a woman if she has a boyfriend) and that heterosexuality is superior to all other sexualities. Leads to invisibility and stigmatizing of other sexualities. Heteronormativity also leads us to assume that only masculine men and feminine women are straight.
Heterosexism
Behavior that grants preferential treatment to heterosexual people, reinforces the idea that heterosexuality is somehow better or more “right” than queerness, and/or makes other sexualities invisible.
Heterosexual
A person emotionally, physically, and/or sexually attracted primarily to members of the opposite sex. Also known as straight.
Homophobia
An umbrella term for a range of negative attitudes (e.g., fear, anger, intolerance, resentment, erasure, or discomfort) that one may have towards members of the LGBTI community. The term can also connote a fear, disgust, or dislike of being perceived as LGBTI. Homophobic is a word used to describe an individual who harbors some elements of this range of negative attitudes towards gay people. May be experienced inwardly by someone who identifies as queer (internalized homophobia).
Homosexual
A person emotionally, physically, and/or sexually attracted primarily to members of the same sex/gender. This rather medical term is considered stigmatizing (particularly as a noun) due to its history as a category of mental illness, and is discouraged for common use (use gay or lesbian instead). Until 1973 “Homosexuality” was classified as a mental disorder in the DSM Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. This is just one of the reasons that there are such heavy negative and clinical connotations with this term.
I
Intersex
Term for a combination of chromosomes, gonads, hormones, internal sex organs, and genitals that differs from the two expected patterns of male or female.
L
LGBTQIA
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex and Asexual. Sometimes the sign plus is used at the end of this abbreviation to show that there are a lot of other identities in the spectrum.
Lesbian
Women who are attracted romantically, sexually, and/or emotionally to other women.
M
Masculinity
A set of attributes, behaviors, and roles generally associated with boys and men, which is socially constructed, and is not the same as male sex assigned at birth.
Metrosexual
A man with a strong aesthetic sense who spends more time, energy, and/or money on his appearance and grooming than is considered gender normative.
Misgendering
Refer to (someone, especially a transgender person) using a word, especially a pronoun or form of address, that does not correctly reflect the gender with which they identify.
MSM
Men who have sex with men, who may not necessarily identify as gay or bisexual.
N
Non-binary
A person with a gender identity that is not exclusively male or female. See also: Gender queer.
O
Outing
Involuntary or unwanted disclosure of another person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or intersex status.
P
Pansexual
A person who experiences sexual, romantic, physical, and/or spiritual attraction for members of all gender identities/expressions. Often shortened to “pan.”
Polyamorous
A person who has open sexual or romantic relationships with more than one person at a time.
Q
Queer
Used as an umbrella term to describe individuals who don’t identify as straight. Also used to describe people who have a non-normative gender identity.
Questioning
An individual who is unsure about or exploring their own sexual orientation or gender identity.
S
Sexual orientation
The type of sexual, romantic, emotional/spiritual attraction one has the capacity to feel for others, generally labeled based on the gender relationship between the person and the people they are attracted to.
T
Trans
An umbrella term covering a range of identities that transgress socially defined gender norms.
Trans(gender) person
An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from what is typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth. People under the transgender umbrella may describe themselves using one or more of a wide variety of terms - including transgender. It is important to underline that a transgender identity is not dependent upon physical appearance or medical procedures.
Trans(gender) Man
A man who was born was assigned-female-at-birth, but has a male gender identity. Trans men are sometimes referred to as FtM (female-to-male)
Trans(gender) Woman
A woman who was assigned male at birth, but has a female gender identity. Trans women are sometimes also referred to as MtF (male-to-female).
Transition
Altering one's birth sex is not a one-step procedure; it is a complex process that occurs over a long period of time. Transition can include some or all of the following personal, medical, and legal steps: telling one's family, friends, and co-workers; using a different name and new pronouns; dressing differently; changing one's name and/or sex on legal documents; hormone therapy; and possibly (though not always) one or more types of surgery. The exact steps involved in transition vary from person to person. Avoid the phrase "sex change".
Transphobia
The fear or hatred of trans people, often in the form of verbal or physical attacks (assault, insults, confrontation).
Transsexual
Transsexual people experience a gender identity that is inconsistent with their assigned sex, and desire to permanently transition to the sex or gender with which they identify, usually seeking medical assistance (including sex reassignment therapies, such as hormone replacement therapy and sex reassignment surgery) to help them align their body with their identified sex or gender. Many transgender people do not identify as transsexual and prefer the word transgender. It is best to ask which term a person prefers.