Glossary Disclaimer
This glossary is intended to provide an introductory look at words used to talk about LGBTQ+ identities, experiences, events, theory, and more.
Content Warning: Some words included in this list may be considered offensive (homophobia, queerphobia, transphobia, sexism and any kind of discrimination). Please be aware that this is a page directed at educating everyone about language that describe queer experiences are dictated by an environment of cisheteronormativity. Because of this, the words we have aren't perfect, so language that describes queer experience is constantly changing and evolving.
This glossary is neither perfect nor comprehensive. These definitions are neither binding nor prescriptive.
When it comes to identity terms, use the words that an LGBTQ+ person uses for themselves. Have awareness that some words may have multiple meanings and individuals may have their own definitions or associations for certain words. For example, some LGBTQ+ people reclaim historically derogatory terms, whiles others do not.
Thank you for being a proactive ally/accomplice, and taking the initiative to start learning about LGBTQ+ language. If you are ever unsure or confused about a word an LGBTQ+ person uses, it is okay to respectfully ask for context or clarification.
A
AFAB and/or AMAB Assigned female at birth or assigned male at birth respectively. These terms refer to what gender you were assigned at birth and are important because many trans people use them as a way to talk about their experience.
AGAB Assigned gender at birth, which is usually based on genitals. It is assumed that our identities should and will match this assignment but this isn’t the case for most trans people.
Agenda, Gay/ Homosexual There isn't one. Notions of a so-called "homosexual agenda" are rhetorical inventions of anti-LGBTQ extremists seeking to create a climate of fear by portraying the pursuit of equal opportunity for LGBTQ people as sinister.
Agender Some agender people would define their identity as being neither a man nor a woman while others would define agender as not having any gender.
Ally A person who may not be LGBTQ, but who supports sexual and gender diversity and challenges homophobic, transphobic and heterosexist remarks and behaviors.
AMAB/MAAB Assigned male at birth and male assigned at birth respectively. These terms refer to what gender you were assigned at birth (in this case male, thus society expects you to be a boy/man), and are important because many trans people use them as a way to talk about their experience.
Androgynous Having neither a clearly masculine or feminine appearance or blending masculine and feminine.
Anti-Discrimination Laws Federal, state, and local laws that prohibit the government and/or private organizations from discriminating against someone based on certain personal characteristics, such as race, religion, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.
Aromantic An adjective used to describe people who do not experience romantic attraction (For more information, visit asexuality.org.)
Asexual An adjective used to describe people who do not experience sexual attraction (e.g., asexual person). A person can also be aromantic, meaning they do not experience romantic attraction. (For more information, visit asexuality.org.)
B
Ball Culture/Ballroom Ball culture, drag ball culture, the house-ballroom community, the ballroom scene or ballroom culture and similar terms describe a young African-American and Latin American underground LGBTQ+ subculture that originated in New York City, in which people "walk" (i.e., compete) for trophies, prizes, and glory at events known as balls. Ball culture consists of events that mix performance, dance, lip-syncing, and modeling. Events are divided into various categories, and participants "walk" for prizes and trophies. As a countercultural phenomenon, ball culture is rooted in necessity and defiance. Beginning in the late nineteenth century, members of the underground LGBTQ+ community in large cities began to organize masquerade balls known as "drags" in defiance of laws which banned individuals from wearing clothes associated with the opposite gender
bhatobyanjuanaka One of four genders in Buddism. Originally referred to intersexed individuals. However, it’s now become an umbrella term for a range of gender expressions/attributions including intersexed, effeminate gay men and male-to-female transgender individuals.
Bigender/Trigender/Pangender People who feel they are two, three, or all genders. They may shift between these genders or be all of them at the same time.
Binarism Erasing, ignoring or expressing hate towards people who identify outside of the gender binary. Also supporting the incorrect idea that the only legitimate genders are man and woman, and ignoring all others.
Binding The process of tightly wrapping one’s chest in order to minimize the appearance of having breasts. This is achieved through use of constrictive materials such as cloth strips, elastic or non-elastic bandages, or specially designed undergarments.
Biological Essentialism A belief that biological influences precede social and cultural influences. In effect, it understands gender and sexuality as a biologically determined.
Biphobia Antipathy, intolerance, bias, or prejudice towards people who are bisexualoften based on stereotypes, including inaccurate associations with infidelity, promiscuity, and transmission of sexually transmitted infections.
Biromantic romantically attracted to/desires romantic relationships with multiple genders
Bisexual Erasure Bisexual erasure or bisexual invisibility is the tendency to ignore, remove, falsify, or re-explain evidence of bisexuality in history, academia, news media and other primary sources. In its most extreme form, bisexual erasure can include denying that bisexuality exists. It is often a manifestation of biphobia, although it does not necessarily involve overt antagonism.
Bisexual A person who has the capacity to form physical, romantic, and/ or emotional attractions to those of the same gender or to those of another gender. People may experience this attraction in differing ways and degrees over their lifetime. Bisexual people need not have had specific sexual experiences to be bisexual; in fact, they need not have had any sexual experience at all to identify as bisexual.
Boi A type of gender expression that abstracts cultural stereotypical ideas of male gender and masculine gender expression while not identifying as male. Also used as an identy term. Originating in Black American culture.
Bottom surgery Any of a variety of gender-related surgeries dealing with genitalia. They can include: vaginoplasty, phalloplasty, vaginectomy, metoidoplasty, orchidectomy, scrotoplasty and others.
Butch A masculine gender expression which can be used to describe people of any gender. Butch can also be a gender identity to some. Historically used to describe masculine lesbians.
C
CAFAB/CAMAB Coercively assigned female at birth and coercively assigned male at birth respectively. These terms refer to what gender intersex people are assigned at birth and reflect the specific way that intersex people are coerced into one of two limited gender categories which attempt to erase their difference.
Camp As an adjective, camp describes something that is ironcially in bad taste.
Cisgender Someone whose gender identity matches the gender they were assigned at birth, someone who is not trans. The Latin prefix cis means “on the same side of.” Cisgender is often shortened to cis.
Cisgender Privilege The privileges cisgender people have because their gender identities match their assigned gender. For example, cis people don’t have to worry about violence and institutionalized discrimination due to the fact they are cis.
Cisheteronormativity Describes a social belief that cisgender heterosexuality, predicated on the gender binary, is the default, preferred, or normal mode of sexual orientation. It assumes that sexual and marital relations are most fitting between people of opposite sex. Cisheteronormativity requires binary alignment of biological sex, sexuality, gender identity, and gender roles.
Cissexism Erasing trans people and their experiences, and/or expressing hatred and bigotry toward trans people.
Civil Union Historically used in the U.S. to describe state-based relationship recognition for same-sex couples that offered some or all of the state (though none of the federal) rights, protections, and responsibilities of marriage. While many Western countries (including the United States) have now legalized marriage for same-sex couples, others only legally recognize same-sex relationships through civil unions.
Closeted Describes a person who is not open about their sexual orientation. Better to simply refer to someone as "not out" about being LGBTQ. Some individuals may be out to some people in their life, but not out to others due to fear of rejection, harassment, violence, losing one's job, or other concerns.
Coming Out Often referred to as the process of disclosing one’s sexual orientation or gender identity to other people, Coming Out is a lifelong process of self-acceptance. People forge a LGBTQ identity first to themselves and then they may reveal it to others. Publicly sharing one's identity may or may not be part of coming out.
Cross-dresser While anyone may wear clothes associated with a different sex, the term cross-dresser is typically used to refer to someone who dresses as and presents themselves as a gender other than the one with which they typically identify. Cross dressing can be aesthetic, sexual, a facet of one’s gender identity, or have other meanings.. Cross-dressers do not wish to permanently change their sex or live full-time as a gender that isn't their AGAB.
Cyberbulling Harassment or intimidation conducted through electronic communications methods such as the internet and text messages.
Dead nameThe birth name of somebody who has changed their name. Most commonly attributed to trans people, but can be attributed to any person who has changed their name.
D
Demigirl Someone who identifies with being a girl or a woman on some level but not completely.
Demiguy/Demiboy Someone who identifies with being a boy, guy, or a man on some level but not completely.
Demisexual An adjective to describe people who only feel sexually attracted to someone when they have an emotional bond with the person. They can be gay, straight, bisexual, or pansexual (et al), and may have any gender identity. The prefix “demi” means half, which can refer to being between sexual and asexual. See asexual.
Deviant, Sexual Deviant Outdated language used to describe non-heterosexuality.
Discrimination The different and unfair treatment of certain groups of people based on specific characteristics, such as race, religion, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Disordered Outdated clinical language considered derogatory.
Drag Taking on the appearance and characteristics associated with a certain gender, usually for entertainment purposes and often to expose the humorous and performative elements of gender. See Ball Culture.
Dyadic Adjective, refers to non-intersex people.
Dyke Derogatory term for LGBTQ people, particularly gay women. Considered a pejorative term, dyke has been reclaimed by some LGBT people to describe themselves.
F
Fag/Faggot Derogatory term for LGBTQ people, particularly gay men. Considered a pejorative term, fag/faggot has been reclaimed by some LGBT people to describe themselves.
Femininity/Feminine Femininity is a set of attributes, behaviors, and roles generally associated with and assigned to girls and women. All genders can perform femininity.
FTM/F2M/female to male A term usually used to describe trans men although not all LGBTQ folks like this term.
G
Gay The adjective used to describe people whose enduring physical, romantic, and/ or emotional attractions are to people of the same sex (e.g., gay man, gay people). Sometimes lesbian (n. or adj.) is the preferred term for women. Avoid identifying gay people as "homosexuals" an outdated term considered derogatory and offensive to many lesbian and gay people.
Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) A student club for LGBTQ students and their straight allies, designed to provide a safe and supportive environment for social interaction, education, and advocacy.
Gender and Sexuality Minorities (GSM) GSM is a useful term as it is succinct and it is very inclusive, including people who are gay, queer, bisexual, intersex, pansexual, asexual, lesbians, transgender/trans, genderqueer, gender non-conforming, kink, polyamorous, and more.
Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy- Administration of hormones to affect the development of one’s secondary sex characteristics. Transgender persons who decide to undertake medical transition, may use hormone therapy as part of that transition. See also "Hormone Replacement Therapy"
Gender attribution A learned social behavior that describes the act of categorizing people we come into contact with as male, female, or unknown. Gender attribution can lead to misgendering people unintentionally because one can never know a person’s gender identity just by looking at them.
Gender binary The pervasive social system that tells us there can only be masculine cis men and feminine cis women, and there can be no alternatives in terms of gender identity or expression.
Gender Dysphoria Intense anxiety, frustration, and/ or unhappiness with all or some gendered aspects of one’s body or perception by society as their AGAB, or in response to social misgendering. Some trans people experience dysphoria, some don’t.
Gender Euphoria Intense or overwhelming joy, sense of freedome, and/ or happiness with all or some gendered aspects of one’s body or perception by society as their gender and not their AGAB.
Gender Expression External manifestations of gender, expressed through a person's name, pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, and/or body characteristics. Society identifies these cues as masculine and feminine, although what is considered masculine or feminine changes over time and varies by culture. Typically, transgender people seek to align their gender expression with their gender identity, rather than the sex they were assigned at birth.
Gender Fluid A person who does not identify with a single fixed gender or has a fluid or unfixed gender identity.
Gender Identity A person's internal, deeply held sense of their gender. For transgender people, their own internal gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. Most people have a gender identity of man or woman (or boy or girl). For some people, their gender identity does not fit neatly into one of those two choices (see non-binary and/or genderqueer below.) Unlike gender expression (see below) gender identity is not visible to others.
Gender nonconforming (GNC) Not fully conforming to gendered social expectations, whether that is in terms of expression, roles, or performance.
Gender Performance Coined by Judith Butler, this term describes gender as something inscribed in earned daily practices and behaviors, performed based on cultural norms of femininity and masculinity.
Gender role Cultural expectations for what people should do with their lives, what activities they should enjoy or excel at, and how they should behave, based on what their gender is.
Genderfluid This term can be used as a specific identity or as a way of articulating the changing nature of one’s gender identity or expression. People who are genderfluid may feel that their gender identity or expression is constantly changing, or that it switches back and forth.
Genderless A term very similar to agender but sometimes with more of a focus on not having a gender.
Genderqueer This term can be used as an umbrella term for all people who queer gender, as a somewhat similar term to gender nonconforming, or as a specific non-binary gender identity. As an umbrella term is can include gender nonconforming people, non-binary people, and much more. As a specific identity it can generally be understood as a gender that is neither of the binary, man nor woman, possible in between the two or seen as a totally separate gender altogether.
H
Harassment Actions or words that harm or distress a person, and do not otherwise serve a legitimate purpose. Harassment often interferes with the ability to take full advantage of educational opportunities.
Hate Crime A crime that is motivated by personal characteristics such as race, religion, sex, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Under federal law and some state and local laws, hate crimes may be investigated by additional law enforcement personnel and can carry additional penalties.
Hermaphrodite Outdated derogatory term for intersex people
Heteroromanticromantically attracted to/desires romantic relationships with one different gender
Heterosexism The assumption that sexuality between people of different sexes is normal, standard, superior or universal and other sexual orientations are substandard, inferior, abnormal, marginal or invalid.
Heterosexual, Straight An adjective used to describe people whose physical, romantic, and/ or emotional attraction is to people of one different gender.
Hijira A Hindustani word that refers to a socio-cultural community in South Asia who may be considered transgender and/or intersex according to western definitions.
Homo Derogatory term for gay people
Homophobia Antipathy, intolerance, bias, or prejudice towards people who are attracted to the same gender. See also "queerphobia"
Homoromanticromantically attracted to/desires romantic relationships with the same gender
Homosexual Outdated clinical term considered derogatory and offensive to describe people whose physical romantic, and/ or emotional attraction is to people of the same gender.
Hormones/Hormone Therapy/ Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Administration of hormones to affect the development of one’s secondary sex characteristics. Transgender persons who decide to undertake medical transition, may use hormone therapy as part of that transition. See Also "Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy"
I
Internalized Oppression The process by which an oppressed person comes to believe, accept, or live out the inaccurate stereotypes and misinformation about their group
Intersectionality The idea that people who find themselves at the crossroads of multiple identities (for example, in terms of race, gender, or sexuality) experience discrimination in a way uniquely different from those who with whom they may only share one or some identities in common. For example, Black women will experience racism differently than Black men and sexism differently than white women, and the way they experience racism and sexism is informed by their unique intersectional identities. The term was first used in the context of feminism by civil rights scholar and advocate Kimberlé Crenshaw.
Intersex An umbrella term describing people born with reproductive or sexual anatomy and/or a chromosome pattern that can't be classified as typically male or female. Those variations are also sometimes referred to as Differences of Sex Development (DSD.) Avoid the outdated and derogatory term "hermaphrodite." While some people can have an intersex condition and also identify as transgender, the two are separate and should not be conflated. (For more information, visit interactyouth.org.)
Intersex medical interventions Also called Intersex Genital Mutilation, are surgical, hormonal and other medical interventions performed to modify ambiguous genitalia and other sex characteristics, primarily for the purposes of making a person's sex characteristics appear to align with binary sex categories.
K
Kathoey Pronoun in Thai language for bhatobyanjuanaka (see glossary entry) and used for trans women. Often translated as "ladyboy", this translation is derogatoy and the Thai "Kathoey" is the correct term to use.
L
Lesbian Used to describe, typically but not exclusively, women whose physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction is to women. Some lesbians may prefer to identify as gay or as gay women.
LGBTQ+ Acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. The plus indicates that there are infinite other genders and sexualities' that should be included in the acronym. Sometimes, when the Q is seen at the end of LGBT, it can also mean questioning. LGBT and/or GLBT are also often used. The term "gay community" should be avoided, as it does not accurately reflect the diversity of the community. Rather, LGBTQ community is preferred.
Lifestyle Inaccurate term used by anti-LGBTQ extremists to denigrate LGBTQ people. As there is no one straight lifestyle, there is no one LGBTQ lifestyle.
M
Male Clinically, this term refers to a person with a specific set of sexual anatomy (e.g., 46,XY phenotype, penis, testis, higher levels of testosterone, coarse body hair, facial hair) and is socially used synonymously with "man." However, terms for sex are not objective scientific categories, but rather socially influenced and gendered ideas. Not all men have the same sex characteristics.
Marginalized Excluded, ignored, or relegated to the outer edge of a group/society/community.
Marriage In June 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that every American has the constitutional right to marry the person they love. When reporting on marriage for same-sex couples, preferred terminology includes marriage equality and marriage for same-sex couples. Note, the terms "gay marriage" and "same-sex marriage" should be avoided, as they can suggest marriage for same-sex couples is somehow different than other marriages.
Martha P Johnson an activist, self-identified drag queen, performer, and survivor. She was a prominent figure in the Stonewall uprising of 1969. Marsha went by “Black Marsha” before settling on Marsha P. Johnson. The “P” stood for “Pay It No Mind,” which is what Marsha would say in response to questions about her gender. See Stonewall.
Mauree Turner First Muslim elected to Oklahoma State legislature. First non-binary elected official in the United States.
Masc Someone whose gender expression is masculine.
Masculinity/Masculine Masculinity is a set of attributes, behaviors and roles generally associated with and assigned to boys and men. All genders can perform masculinity.
Misogyny Hatred, antipathy, dislike and prejudice of women and girls. Misogyny can be manifested in numerous ways, including sexual discrimination, belittling of women, violence against women, and sexual objectification of women
MTF/M2F/male to female A term usually synonymous with trans woman although not all LGBTQ folks like this term.
N
Neuroqueer A term to describe an intersected identity of queer and neurdivergent, which could include being neurodivergent and approaching one’s neurodivergence as a form of queerness (e.g., by understanding and approaching neurodivergence in ways that are inspired by, or similar to, the ways in which queerness is understood and approached in Queer Theory, Gender Studies, and/or queer activism); being both neurodivergent and queer, with some degree of conscious awareness and/or active exploration around how these two aspects of one’s identity intersect and interact; being neurodivergent and actively choosing to embody and express one’s neurodivergence (or refusing to suppress one’s embodiment and expression of neurodivergence) in ways that one’s performance of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, occupation, and/or other aspects of one’s identity rejects cisheteronormativity.
Non-binary Non-binary people are those who identify as a gender that is neither man nor woman or who are not men or women exclusively. Non-binary can refer to a specific gender identity or it can function as an umbrella term which can include people who are genderqueer, agender, bigender, neutrois, and others.
O
Out, Openly Gay A person who self-identifies as LGBTQ in their personal, public, and/or professional lives.
Outing The act of publicly declaring (sometimes based on rumor and/or speculation) or revealing another person's sexual orientation or gender identity without that person's consent. Considered at best inappropriate and at worst an act of harm as it can expose the individual to queerphobia and violence.
P
Pan-romantic romantically attracted to/desires romantic relationships without gender being a factor
Pansexual A sexual orientation that describes a person who is emotionally and sexually attracted to people regardless of gender.
Partner Gender-neutral term for a significant other; Used often in the LGBTQ community. GLBT people may also use “girlfriend/boyfriend,” “lover,” “roommate,” “life partner,” “wife/husband,” or other terms when referring to their partners.
Passing To be attributed by others as a specific gender. Some binary trans people wish to pass as their gender instead of their AGAB. Some non-binary trans people pass as their AGAB despite their gender.
Patriarchy Patriarchy is a social system in which males hold primary power, predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege and control of property; in the domain of the family, fathers or father-figures hold authority over women and children.
Perverted Outdated language used to describe non-heterosexuality.
Polyamorous Describes a person who has or is open to having more than one romantic or sexual relationship at a time, with the knowledge and consent of all their partners. Sometimes abbreviated as poly.
pre-op/post-op/non-op These terms refer to what gender confirmation surgeries. The terms SHOULD NOT be applied to trans people without their consent. Transition is individual to each person and not defined by gender confirmation surgeries.
Prejudice/Bias an inclination or preference, especially one that interferes with impartial judgment
Pride celebration of LGBTQ+ identities, and of the global LGBTQ+ community’s resistance against discrimination and violence. Pride events are celebrated in many countries around the world, usually during the month of June to commemorate the Stonewall Riots that began in New York City in June 1969, a pivotal moment in the modern LGBTQ+ movement.
Pronouns A word that can function by itself as a noun phrase and that refers either to the participants in the discourse (e.g., I, you ) or to someone or something mentioned elsewhere in the discourse (e.g., she, it, this ).
Q
Queer An adjective used by some people, particularly younger people, whose sexual orientation is not exclusively heterosexual (e.g. queer person, queer woman). Typically, for those who identify as queer, the terms lesbian, gay, and bisexual are perceived to be too limiting and/or fraught with cultural connotations they feel don't apply to them. Some people may use queer, or more commonly genderqueer, to describe their gender identity and/or gender expression (see non-binary and/or genderqueer below). Once considered a pejorative term, queer has been reclaimed by some LGBT people to describe themselves; however, it is not a universally accepted term even within the LGBT community. When Q is seen at the end of LGBT, it typically means queer and, less often, questioning.
Queerphobia Antipathy, intolerance, bias, or prejudice towards LGBTQ people generally
Questioning A term that describes someone who is unsure oftheir sexual orientation or gender identity.
R
Reclamation A reclaimed or reappropriated word is a word that was at one time pejorative but has been brought back into acceptable usage, usually by the communities that were pejoratively described by that word.
S
Secondary Sex Characteristics features that appear at sexual maturity and during puberty in humans, but that, unlike the sex organs, are not directly part of the reproductive system. This could include: Growth of facial and body hair, Adam’s apple/deepening of voice, Body fat distribution, breasts, widening of hips, etc.
Sex A medical term designating a certain combination of gonads, chromosomes, external gender organs, secondary sex characteristics and hormonal balances. A binary system (man/woman) set by the medical establishment, usually based on genitals and sometimes chromosomes. Because this is usually divided into ‘male’ and ‘female’ this category ignores the existence of intersex people.
Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS) Outdated, see Gender Confirmation Surgery (GCS)
Sex-Averse Has a distressed or visceral reaction to the thought of having sex, not willing to compromise (note that the term used may depend on the subjective degree of the reaction)
Sex-Favorable A positive willingness to compromise with a sexual partner, openness to finding ways to enjoy sexual activity in a physical or emotional way, happy to give sexual pleasure rather than receive
Sex-Indifferent Might be willing to compromise on a few things on an occasional basis, doesn’t enjoy sex much in a physical and/or emotional way but doesn’t feel distressed thinking about it, might be willing to give pleasure but doesn’t necessarily find it intimate
Sex-Negative Censorship of sexual content in media and entertainment, sex as a topic should stay in the bedroom, sex is only healthy between committed couples, sex education should be sparse and taught by parents instead of the classroom
Sex-Neutral Moderate and non-graphic portrayals of sexuality in media and entertainment, basic sex education, alternative lifestyles should be kept behind closed doors
Sex-Positive Healthy portrayals of sexuality in media and entertainment, comprehensive sex education, widespread access to sexual health services, no slut-shaming, accepting of alternative lifestyles (e.g. polyamory, kinks/fetishes, unattached sex partners)
Sexism The cultural, institutional, and individual set of beliefs and practices that privilege men, subordinate women, and denigrate values and practices associated with women.
Sexual Orientation/ Sexuality The term for an individual's physical, romantic and/ or emotional attraction to members of the same and/or opposite gender, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual (straight) orientations. Avoid the offensive term "sexual preference," which is used to suggest that being gay, lesbian, or bisexual is voluntary and therefore "curable." People need not have had specific sexual experiences to know their own sexual orientation; in fact, they need not have had any sexual experience at all.
Sexual Preference Use sexual orientation or sexuality
she-he/she-male/shim Derogatory pronoun-use to describe trans women
Social Constructionism A belief that social and cultural influences greatly shape individuals, including ideas of gender and sexuality.
Social stigma Negative stereotypes and social status of a person or group based on perceived characteristics that separate that person or group from other members of a society.
Sodomite Derogatory term for LGBTQ people
Sodomy Laws Historically used to selectively persecute gay people, the state laws often referred to as "sodomy laws" were ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in Lawrence v. Texas (2003). "Sodomy" should never be used to describe same-sex relationships or sexual orientation.
Split Attraction Model A tool that views romantic and sexual attractions as two separate phenomenons that do not always align. This tool is often used by people who identify on the asexuality spectrum to describe their attraction.
Stacking Terms/Stacked Terms The idea that LGBTQ+ identity terms are not mutually exclusive and can be used together in symphony or "stacked" to communicate an individuals unique experience, even if terms appear contradictory at face value.
Stealth Describes the experience of passing but not out as transgender. Often people go stealth for safety reasons or so that they can have things like job and home security, something a lot of trans people don’t have.
Stonewall riots/ uprising/ rebellion The Stonewall riots (also referred to as the Stonewall uprising or the Stonewall rebellion) were a series of spontaneous demonstrations by members of the gay (LGBT) community in response to a police raid that began in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. Patrons of the Stonewall, other Village lesbian and gay bars, and neighborhood street people fought back when the police became violent. The riots are widely considered to constitute one of the most important events leading to the gay liberation movement and the twentieth century fight for LGBT rights in the United States.
Structural stigma Societal conditions, policies, and institutional practices that restrict the opportunities, resources, and well-being of certain groups of people.
Stud A term to describe masculine people created by and for Black lesbians. Though many studs identify as women and with the lesbian community, not all do.
T
They/Them/Theirs One of many sets of gender-neutral singular pronouns in English that can be used as an alternative to he/him/his or she/her/hers. Usage of this particular set is becoming more and more prevalent, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community.
Third Gender In some cultures third (and fourth and so on) genders may be commonly accepted or have legal recognition alongside man and woman. Some people in western cultures may identify as third gender as well, however it’s important not to erase the multitudes of genders present in the world. This term should only be used in culturally appropriate contexts and should not be used to describe all people globally who identify outside of cisgender binary genders.
Title IX A federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in any educational program or activity that receives assistance from the federal government.
Top surgeryThis term can refer to any gender-related surgery dealing with a person’s chest such as breast implants, mastectomies, and breast reduction surgeries. This term is more commonly associated with mastectomy procedures however.
Tranny A derogatory term used against trans women and trans feminine people.
Trans SImilar to transgender, meant to show a more inclusive attitude towards the multitude of people under the transgender umbrella.
Trans man A man who was assigned female at birth.
Trans woman A woman who was assigned male at birth.
Transfeminine trans or non-binary people who identify more with a female gender and/or feminine identity/experience.
Transgender 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. Many transgender people are prescribed hormones by their doctors to bring their bodies into alignment with their gender identity. Some undergo surgery as well. But not all transgender people can or will take those steps, and a transgender identity is not dependent upon physical appearance, medical diagnoses or medical procedures.
Transition an overarching term for the personal, social, phsyical, and legal processes that occur over a period of time for a person to comfortably live and express their gender. The exact steps involved in transition vary from person to person and can include some or all of the following: 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
Transmasculine trans or non-binary people who identify more with male gender and/or masculine identity/experience.
Transmisogyny Originally coined by the author Julia Serano, this term highlights the intersectionality of misogyny and transphobia and how they are often experienced as a dual form of oppression by trans women and trans feminine people.
Transphobia Antipathy, intolerance, bias, or prejudice towards trans people
Transsexual An older term that originated in the medical and psychological communities. Still preferred by some people who have permanently changed - or seek to change - their bodies through medical interventions, including but not limited to hormones and/or surgeries. Unlike transgender, transsexual is not an umbrella term. Many transgender people do not identify as transsexual and prefer the word transgender. It is best to be told which term a person prefers. If preferred, use as an adjective: transsexual woman or transsexual man.
Tucking The process of hiding one’s penis and testes with tape, tight shorts, or specially designed undergarments.
Two-Spirit the concept of the Two-Spirit has been a part of Indigenous life for millennia. Two-Spirit is the English translation of an Ojibwe word (niizh manidoowag) that, at its most rudimentary, refers to an Indigenous person who embodies both the masculine and feminine spirit. Using this English translation was determined by the third annual Native American Gay and Lesbian Gathering in Winnipeg, Manitoba that this term is the best way to describe their community using colonial languages.
This glossary is intended to provide an introductory look at words used to talk about LGBTQ+ identities, experiences, events, theory, and more.
Content Warning: Some words included in this list may be considered offensive (homophobia, queerphobia, transphobia, sexism and any kind of discrimination). Please be aware that this is a page directed at educating everyone about language that describe queer experiences are dictated by an environment of cisheteronormativity. Because of this, the words we have aren't perfect, so language that describes queer experience is constantly changing and evolving.
This glossary is neither perfect nor comprehensive. These definitions are neither binding nor prescriptive.
When it comes to identity terms, use the words that an LGBTQ+ person uses for themselves. Have awareness that some words may have multiple meanings and individuals may have their own definitions or associations for certain words. For example, some LGBTQ+ people reclaim historically derogatory terms, whiles others do not.
Thank you for being a proactive ally/accomplice, and taking the initiative to start learning about LGBTQ+ language. If you are ever unsure or confused about a word an LGBTQ+ person uses, it is okay to respectfully ask for context or clarification.
A
AFAB and/or AMAB Assigned female at birth or assigned male at birth respectively. These terms refer to what gender you were assigned at birth and are important because many trans people use them as a way to talk about their experience.
AGAB Assigned gender at birth, which is usually based on genitals. It is assumed that our identities should and will match this assignment but this isn’t the case for most trans people.
Agenda, Gay/ Homosexual There isn't one. Notions of a so-called "homosexual agenda" are rhetorical inventions of anti-LGBTQ extremists seeking to create a climate of fear by portraying the pursuit of equal opportunity for LGBTQ people as sinister.
Agender Some agender people would define their identity as being neither a man nor a woman while others would define agender as not having any gender.
Ally A person who may not be LGBTQ, but who supports sexual and gender diversity and challenges homophobic, transphobic and heterosexist remarks and behaviors.
AMAB/MAAB Assigned male at birth and male assigned at birth respectively. These terms refer to what gender you were assigned at birth (in this case male, thus society expects you to be a boy/man), and are important because many trans people use them as a way to talk about their experience.
Androgynous Having neither a clearly masculine or feminine appearance or blending masculine and feminine.
Anti-Discrimination Laws Federal, state, and local laws that prohibit the government and/or private organizations from discriminating against someone based on certain personal characteristics, such as race, religion, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.
Aromantic An adjective used to describe people who do not experience romantic attraction (For more information, visit asexuality.org.)
Asexual An adjective used to describe people who do not experience sexual attraction (e.g., asexual person). A person can also be aromantic, meaning they do not experience romantic attraction. (For more information, visit asexuality.org.)
B
Ball Culture/Ballroom Ball culture, drag ball culture, the house-ballroom community, the ballroom scene or ballroom culture and similar terms describe a young African-American and Latin American underground LGBTQ+ subculture that originated in New York City, in which people "walk" (i.e., compete) for trophies, prizes, and glory at events known as balls. Ball culture consists of events that mix performance, dance, lip-syncing, and modeling. Events are divided into various categories, and participants "walk" for prizes and trophies. As a countercultural phenomenon, ball culture is rooted in necessity and defiance. Beginning in the late nineteenth century, members of the underground LGBTQ+ community in large cities began to organize masquerade balls known as "drags" in defiance of laws which banned individuals from wearing clothes associated with the opposite gender
bhatobyanjuanaka One of four genders in Buddism. Originally referred to intersexed individuals. However, it’s now become an umbrella term for a range of gender expressions/attributions including intersexed, effeminate gay men and male-to-female transgender individuals.
Bigender/Trigender/Pangender People who feel they are two, three, or all genders. They may shift between these genders or be all of them at the same time.
Binarism Erasing, ignoring or expressing hate towards people who identify outside of the gender binary. Also supporting the incorrect idea that the only legitimate genders are man and woman, and ignoring all others.
Binding The process of tightly wrapping one’s chest in order to minimize the appearance of having breasts. This is achieved through use of constrictive materials such as cloth strips, elastic or non-elastic bandages, or specially designed undergarments.
Biological Essentialism A belief that biological influences precede social and cultural influences. In effect, it understands gender and sexuality as a biologically determined.
Biphobia Antipathy, intolerance, bias, or prejudice towards people who are bisexualoften based on stereotypes, including inaccurate associations with infidelity, promiscuity, and transmission of sexually transmitted infections.
Biromantic romantically attracted to/desires romantic relationships with multiple genders
Bisexual Erasure Bisexual erasure or bisexual invisibility is the tendency to ignore, remove, falsify, or re-explain evidence of bisexuality in history, academia, news media and other primary sources. In its most extreme form, bisexual erasure can include denying that bisexuality exists. It is often a manifestation of biphobia, although it does not necessarily involve overt antagonism.
Bisexual A person who has the capacity to form physical, romantic, and/ or emotional attractions to those of the same gender or to those of another gender. People may experience this attraction in differing ways and degrees over their lifetime. Bisexual people need not have had specific sexual experiences to be bisexual; in fact, they need not have had any sexual experience at all to identify as bisexual.
Boi A type of gender expression that abstracts cultural stereotypical ideas of male gender and masculine gender expression while not identifying as male. Also used as an identy term. Originating in Black American culture.
Bottom surgery Any of a variety of gender-related surgeries dealing with genitalia. They can include: vaginoplasty, phalloplasty, vaginectomy, metoidoplasty, orchidectomy, scrotoplasty and others.
Butch A masculine gender expression which can be used to describe people of any gender. Butch can also be a gender identity to some. Historically used to describe masculine lesbians.
C
CAFAB/CAMAB Coercively assigned female at birth and coercively assigned male at birth respectively. These terms refer to what gender intersex people are assigned at birth and reflect the specific way that intersex people are coerced into one of two limited gender categories which attempt to erase their difference.
Camp As an adjective, camp describes something that is ironcially in bad taste.
Cisgender Someone whose gender identity matches the gender they were assigned at birth, someone who is not trans. The Latin prefix cis means “on the same side of.” Cisgender is often shortened to cis.
Cisgender Privilege The privileges cisgender people have because their gender identities match their assigned gender. For example, cis people don’t have to worry about violence and institutionalized discrimination due to the fact they are cis.
Cisheteronormativity Describes a social belief that cisgender heterosexuality, predicated on the gender binary, is the default, preferred, or normal mode of sexual orientation. It assumes that sexual and marital relations are most fitting between people of opposite sex. Cisheteronormativity requires binary alignment of biological sex, sexuality, gender identity, and gender roles.
Cissexism Erasing trans people and their experiences, and/or expressing hatred and bigotry toward trans people.
Civil Union Historically used in the U.S. to describe state-based relationship recognition for same-sex couples that offered some or all of the state (though none of the federal) rights, protections, and responsibilities of marriage. While many Western countries (including the United States) have now legalized marriage for same-sex couples, others only legally recognize same-sex relationships through civil unions.
Closeted Describes a person who is not open about their sexual orientation. Better to simply refer to someone as "not out" about being LGBTQ. Some individuals may be out to some people in their life, but not out to others due to fear of rejection, harassment, violence, losing one's job, or other concerns.
Coming Out Often referred to as the process of disclosing one’s sexual orientation or gender identity to other people, Coming Out is a lifelong process of self-acceptance. People forge a LGBTQ identity first to themselves and then they may reveal it to others. Publicly sharing one's identity may or may not be part of coming out.
Cross-dresser While anyone may wear clothes associated with a different sex, the term cross-dresser is typically used to refer to someone who dresses as and presents themselves as a gender other than the one with which they typically identify. Cross dressing can be aesthetic, sexual, a facet of one’s gender identity, or have other meanings.. Cross-dressers do not wish to permanently change their sex or live full-time as a gender that isn't their AGAB.
Cyberbulling Harassment or intimidation conducted through electronic communications methods such as the internet and text messages.
Dead nameThe birth name of somebody who has changed their name. Most commonly attributed to trans people, but can be attributed to any person who has changed their name.
D
Demigirl Someone who identifies with being a girl or a woman on some level but not completely.
Demiguy/Demiboy Someone who identifies with being a boy, guy, or a man on some level but not completely.
Demisexual An adjective to describe people who only feel sexually attracted to someone when they have an emotional bond with the person. They can be gay, straight, bisexual, or pansexual (et al), and may have any gender identity. The prefix “demi” means half, which can refer to being between sexual and asexual. See asexual.
Deviant, Sexual Deviant Outdated language used to describe non-heterosexuality.
Discrimination The different and unfair treatment of certain groups of people based on specific characteristics, such as race, religion, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Disordered Outdated clinical language considered derogatory.
Drag Taking on the appearance and characteristics associated with a certain gender, usually for entertainment purposes and often to expose the humorous and performative elements of gender. See Ball Culture.
Dyadic Adjective, refers to non-intersex people.
Dyke Derogatory term for LGBTQ people, particularly gay women. Considered a pejorative term, dyke has been reclaimed by some LGBT people to describe themselves.
F
Fag/Faggot Derogatory term for LGBTQ people, particularly gay men. Considered a pejorative term, fag/faggot has been reclaimed by some LGBT people to describe themselves.
Femininity/Feminine Femininity is a set of attributes, behaviors, and roles generally associated with and assigned to girls and women. All genders can perform femininity.
FTM/F2M/female to male A term usually used to describe trans men although not all LGBTQ folks like this term.
G
Gay The adjective used to describe people whose enduring physical, romantic, and/ or emotional attractions are to people of the same sex (e.g., gay man, gay people). Sometimes lesbian (n. or adj.) is the preferred term for women. Avoid identifying gay people as "homosexuals" an outdated term considered derogatory and offensive to many lesbian and gay people.
Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) A student club for LGBTQ students and their straight allies, designed to provide a safe and supportive environment for social interaction, education, and advocacy.
Gender and Sexuality Minorities (GSM) GSM is a useful term as it is succinct and it is very inclusive, including people who are gay, queer, bisexual, intersex, pansexual, asexual, lesbians, transgender/trans, genderqueer, gender non-conforming, kink, polyamorous, and more.
Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy- Administration of hormones to affect the development of one’s secondary sex characteristics. Transgender persons who decide to undertake medical transition, may use hormone therapy as part of that transition. See also "Hormone Replacement Therapy"
Gender attribution A learned social behavior that describes the act of categorizing people we come into contact with as male, female, or unknown. Gender attribution can lead to misgendering people unintentionally because one can never know a person’s gender identity just by looking at them.
Gender binary The pervasive social system that tells us there can only be masculine cis men and feminine cis women, and there can be no alternatives in terms of gender identity or expression.
Gender Dysphoria Intense anxiety, frustration, and/ or unhappiness with all or some gendered aspects of one’s body or perception by society as their AGAB, or in response to social misgendering. Some trans people experience dysphoria, some don’t.
- In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association released the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) which replaced the outdated entry "Gender Identity Disorder" with Gender Dysphoria, and changed the criteria for diagnosis. Both psychiatric and medical authorities recommend individualized medical treatment through hormones and/or surgeries to treat gender dysphoria. Some transgender advocates believe the inclusion of Gender Dysphoria in the DSM is necessary in order to advocate for health insurance that covers the medically necessary treatment recommended for transgender people.
Gender Euphoria Intense or overwhelming joy, sense of freedome, and/ or happiness with all or some gendered aspects of one’s body or perception by society as their gender and not their AGAB.
Gender Expression External manifestations of gender, expressed through a person's name, pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, and/or body characteristics. Society identifies these cues as masculine and feminine, although what is considered masculine or feminine changes over time and varies by culture. Typically, transgender people seek to align their gender expression with their gender identity, rather than the sex they were assigned at birth.
Gender Fluid A person who does not identify with a single fixed gender or has a fluid or unfixed gender identity.
Gender Identity A person's internal, deeply held sense of their gender. For transgender people, their own internal gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. Most people have a gender identity of man or woman (or boy or girl). For some people, their gender identity does not fit neatly into one of those two choices (see non-binary and/or genderqueer below.) Unlike gender expression (see below) gender identity is not visible to others.
Gender nonconforming (GNC) Not fully conforming to gendered social expectations, whether that is in terms of expression, roles, or performance.
Gender Performance Coined by Judith Butler, this term describes gender as something inscribed in earned daily practices and behaviors, performed based on cultural norms of femininity and masculinity.
Gender role Cultural expectations for what people should do with their lives, what activities they should enjoy or excel at, and how they should behave, based on what their gender is.
Genderfluid This term can be used as a specific identity or as a way of articulating the changing nature of one’s gender identity or expression. People who are genderfluid may feel that their gender identity or expression is constantly changing, or that it switches back and forth.
Genderless A term very similar to agender but sometimes with more of a focus on not having a gender.
Genderqueer This term can be used as an umbrella term for all people who queer gender, as a somewhat similar term to gender nonconforming, or as a specific non-binary gender identity. As an umbrella term is can include gender nonconforming people, non-binary people, and much more. As a specific identity it can generally be understood as a gender that is neither of the binary, man nor woman, possible in between the two or seen as a totally separate gender altogether.
H
Harassment Actions or words that harm or distress a person, and do not otherwise serve a legitimate purpose. Harassment often interferes with the ability to take full advantage of educational opportunities.
Hate Crime A crime that is motivated by personal characteristics such as race, religion, sex, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Under federal law and some state and local laws, hate crimes may be investigated by additional law enforcement personnel and can carry additional penalties.
Hermaphrodite Outdated derogatory term for intersex people
Heteroromanticromantically attracted to/desires romantic relationships with one different gender
Heterosexism The assumption that sexuality between people of different sexes is normal, standard, superior or universal and other sexual orientations are substandard, inferior, abnormal, marginal or invalid.
Heterosexual, Straight An adjective used to describe people whose physical, romantic, and/ or emotional attraction is to people of one different gender.
Hijira A Hindustani word that refers to a socio-cultural community in South Asia who may be considered transgender and/or intersex according to western definitions.
Homo Derogatory term for gay people
Homophobia Antipathy, intolerance, bias, or prejudice towards people who are attracted to the same gender. See also "queerphobia"
Homoromanticromantically attracted to/desires romantic relationships with the same gender
Homosexual Outdated clinical term considered derogatory and offensive to describe people whose physical romantic, and/ or emotional attraction is to people of the same gender.
Hormones/Hormone Therapy/ Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Administration of hormones to affect the development of one’s secondary sex characteristics. Transgender persons who decide to undertake medical transition, may use hormone therapy as part of that transition. See Also "Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy"
I
Internalized Oppression The process by which an oppressed person comes to believe, accept, or live out the inaccurate stereotypes and misinformation about their group
Intersectionality The idea that people who find themselves at the crossroads of multiple identities (for example, in terms of race, gender, or sexuality) experience discrimination in a way uniquely different from those who with whom they may only share one or some identities in common. For example, Black women will experience racism differently than Black men and sexism differently than white women, and the way they experience racism and sexism is informed by their unique intersectional identities. The term was first used in the context of feminism by civil rights scholar and advocate Kimberlé Crenshaw.
Intersex An umbrella term describing people born with reproductive or sexual anatomy and/or a chromosome pattern that can't be classified as typically male or female. Those variations are also sometimes referred to as Differences of Sex Development (DSD.) Avoid the outdated and derogatory term "hermaphrodite." While some people can have an intersex condition and also identify as transgender, the two are separate and should not be conflated. (For more information, visit interactyouth.org.)
Intersex medical interventions Also called Intersex Genital Mutilation, are surgical, hormonal and other medical interventions performed to modify ambiguous genitalia and other sex characteristics, primarily for the purposes of making a person's sex characteristics appear to align with binary sex categories.
K
Kathoey Pronoun in Thai language for bhatobyanjuanaka (see glossary entry) and used for trans women. Often translated as "ladyboy", this translation is derogatoy and the Thai "Kathoey" is the correct term to use.
L
Lesbian Used to describe, typically but not exclusively, women whose physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction is to women. Some lesbians may prefer to identify as gay or as gay women.
LGBTQ+ Acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. The plus indicates that there are infinite other genders and sexualities' that should be included in the acronym. Sometimes, when the Q is seen at the end of LGBT, it can also mean questioning. LGBT and/or GLBT are also often used. The term "gay community" should be avoided, as it does not accurately reflect the diversity of the community. Rather, LGBTQ community is preferred.
Lifestyle Inaccurate term used by anti-LGBTQ extremists to denigrate LGBTQ people. As there is no one straight lifestyle, there is no one LGBTQ lifestyle.
M
Male Clinically, this term refers to a person with a specific set of sexual anatomy (e.g., 46,XY phenotype, penis, testis, higher levels of testosterone, coarse body hair, facial hair) and is socially used synonymously with "man." However, terms for sex are not objective scientific categories, but rather socially influenced and gendered ideas. Not all men have the same sex characteristics.
Marginalized Excluded, ignored, or relegated to the outer edge of a group/society/community.
Marriage In June 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that every American has the constitutional right to marry the person they love. When reporting on marriage for same-sex couples, preferred terminology includes marriage equality and marriage for same-sex couples. Note, the terms "gay marriage" and "same-sex marriage" should be avoided, as they can suggest marriage for same-sex couples is somehow different than other marriages.
Martha P Johnson an activist, self-identified drag queen, performer, and survivor. She was a prominent figure in the Stonewall uprising of 1969. Marsha went by “Black Marsha” before settling on Marsha P. Johnson. The “P” stood for “Pay It No Mind,” which is what Marsha would say in response to questions about her gender. See Stonewall.
Mauree Turner First Muslim elected to Oklahoma State legislature. First non-binary elected official in the United States.
Masc Someone whose gender expression is masculine.
Masculinity/Masculine Masculinity is a set of attributes, behaviors and roles generally associated with and assigned to boys and men. All genders can perform masculinity.
Misogyny Hatred, antipathy, dislike and prejudice of women and girls. Misogyny can be manifested in numerous ways, including sexual discrimination, belittling of women, violence against women, and sexual objectification of women
MTF/M2F/male to female A term usually synonymous with trans woman although not all LGBTQ folks like this term.
N
Neuroqueer A term to describe an intersected identity of queer and neurdivergent, which could include being neurodivergent and approaching one’s neurodivergence as a form of queerness (e.g., by understanding and approaching neurodivergence in ways that are inspired by, or similar to, the ways in which queerness is understood and approached in Queer Theory, Gender Studies, and/or queer activism); being both neurodivergent and queer, with some degree of conscious awareness and/or active exploration around how these two aspects of one’s identity intersect and interact; being neurodivergent and actively choosing to embody and express one’s neurodivergence (or refusing to suppress one’s embodiment and expression of neurodivergence) in ways that one’s performance of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, occupation, and/or other aspects of one’s identity rejects cisheteronormativity.
Non-binary Non-binary people are those who identify as a gender that is neither man nor woman or who are not men or women exclusively. Non-binary can refer to a specific gender identity or it can function as an umbrella term which can include people who are genderqueer, agender, bigender, neutrois, and others.
O
Out, Openly Gay A person who self-identifies as LGBTQ in their personal, public, and/or professional lives.
Outing The act of publicly declaring (sometimes based on rumor and/or speculation) or revealing another person's sexual orientation or gender identity without that person's consent. Considered at best inappropriate and at worst an act of harm as it can expose the individual to queerphobia and violence.
P
Pan-romantic romantically attracted to/desires romantic relationships without gender being a factor
Pansexual A sexual orientation that describes a person who is emotionally and sexually attracted to people regardless of gender.
Partner Gender-neutral term for a significant other; Used often in the LGBTQ community. GLBT people may also use “girlfriend/boyfriend,” “lover,” “roommate,” “life partner,” “wife/husband,” or other terms when referring to their partners.
Passing To be attributed by others as a specific gender. Some binary trans people wish to pass as their gender instead of their AGAB. Some non-binary trans people pass as their AGAB despite their gender.
Patriarchy Patriarchy is a social system in which males hold primary power, predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege and control of property; in the domain of the family, fathers or father-figures hold authority over women and children.
Perverted Outdated language used to describe non-heterosexuality.
Polyamorous Describes a person who has or is open to having more than one romantic or sexual relationship at a time, with the knowledge and consent of all their partners. Sometimes abbreviated as poly.
pre-op/post-op/non-op These terms refer to what gender confirmation surgeries. The terms SHOULD NOT be applied to trans people without their consent. Transition is individual to each person and not defined by gender confirmation surgeries.
Prejudice/Bias an inclination or preference, especially one that interferes with impartial judgment
Pride celebration of LGBTQ+ identities, and of the global LGBTQ+ community’s resistance against discrimination and violence. Pride events are celebrated in many countries around the world, usually during the month of June to commemorate the Stonewall Riots that began in New York City in June 1969, a pivotal moment in the modern LGBTQ+ movement.
Pronouns A word that can function by itself as a noun phrase and that refers either to the participants in the discourse (e.g., I, you ) or to someone or something mentioned elsewhere in the discourse (e.g., she, it, this ).
- Pronouns are part of gender expression--how a person shows their gender. Any person of any gender can use any pronouns that are comfortable and affirming for them. You cannot know someone's gender just from knowing their pronouns. You cannot know someone's pronouns just by seeing them.
Q
Queer An adjective used by some people, particularly younger people, whose sexual orientation is not exclusively heterosexual (e.g. queer person, queer woman). Typically, for those who identify as queer, the terms lesbian, gay, and bisexual are perceived to be too limiting and/or fraught with cultural connotations they feel don't apply to them. Some people may use queer, or more commonly genderqueer, to describe their gender identity and/or gender expression (see non-binary and/or genderqueer below). Once considered a pejorative term, queer has been reclaimed by some LGBT people to describe themselves; however, it is not a universally accepted term even within the LGBT community. When Q is seen at the end of LGBT, it typically means queer and, less often, questioning.
Queerphobia Antipathy, intolerance, bias, or prejudice towards LGBTQ people generally
Questioning A term that describes someone who is unsure oftheir sexual orientation or gender identity.
R
Reclamation A reclaimed or reappropriated word is a word that was at one time pejorative but has been brought back into acceptable usage, usually by the communities that were pejoratively described by that word.
S
Secondary Sex Characteristics features that appear at sexual maturity and during puberty in humans, but that, unlike the sex organs, are not directly part of the reproductive system. This could include: Growth of facial and body hair, Adam’s apple/deepening of voice, Body fat distribution, breasts, widening of hips, etc.
Sex A medical term designating a certain combination of gonads, chromosomes, external gender organs, secondary sex characteristics and hormonal balances. A binary system (man/woman) set by the medical establishment, usually based on genitals and sometimes chromosomes. Because this is usually divided into ‘male’ and ‘female’ this category ignores the existence of intersex people.
Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS) Outdated, see Gender Confirmation Surgery (GCS)
Sex-Averse Has a distressed or visceral reaction to the thought of having sex, not willing to compromise (note that the term used may depend on the subjective degree of the reaction)
Sex-Favorable A positive willingness to compromise with a sexual partner, openness to finding ways to enjoy sexual activity in a physical or emotional way, happy to give sexual pleasure rather than receive
Sex-Indifferent Might be willing to compromise on a few things on an occasional basis, doesn’t enjoy sex much in a physical and/or emotional way but doesn’t feel distressed thinking about it, might be willing to give pleasure but doesn’t necessarily find it intimate
Sex-Negative Censorship of sexual content in media and entertainment, sex as a topic should stay in the bedroom, sex is only healthy between committed couples, sex education should be sparse and taught by parents instead of the classroom
Sex-Neutral Moderate and non-graphic portrayals of sexuality in media and entertainment, basic sex education, alternative lifestyles should be kept behind closed doors
Sex-Positive Healthy portrayals of sexuality in media and entertainment, comprehensive sex education, widespread access to sexual health services, no slut-shaming, accepting of alternative lifestyles (e.g. polyamory, kinks/fetishes, unattached sex partners)
Sexism The cultural, institutional, and individual set of beliefs and practices that privilege men, subordinate women, and denigrate values and practices associated with women.
Sexual Orientation/ Sexuality The term for an individual's physical, romantic and/ or emotional attraction to members of the same and/or opposite gender, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual (straight) orientations. Avoid the offensive term "sexual preference," which is used to suggest that being gay, lesbian, or bisexual is voluntary and therefore "curable." People need not have had specific sexual experiences to know their own sexual orientation; in fact, they need not have had any sexual experience at all.
Sexual Preference Use sexual orientation or sexuality
she-he/she-male/shim Derogatory pronoun-use to describe trans women
Social Constructionism A belief that social and cultural influences greatly shape individuals, including ideas of gender and sexuality.
Social stigma Negative stereotypes and social status of a person or group based on perceived characteristics that separate that person or group from other members of a society.
Sodomite Derogatory term for LGBTQ people
Sodomy Laws Historically used to selectively persecute gay people, the state laws often referred to as "sodomy laws" were ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in Lawrence v. Texas (2003). "Sodomy" should never be used to describe same-sex relationships or sexual orientation.
Split Attraction Model A tool that views romantic and sexual attractions as two separate phenomenons that do not always align. This tool is often used by people who identify on the asexuality spectrum to describe their attraction.
Stacking Terms/Stacked Terms The idea that LGBTQ+ identity terms are not mutually exclusive and can be used together in symphony or "stacked" to communicate an individuals unique experience, even if terms appear contradictory at face value.
Stealth Describes the experience of passing but not out as transgender. Often people go stealth for safety reasons or so that they can have things like job and home security, something a lot of trans people don’t have.
Stonewall riots/ uprising/ rebellion The Stonewall riots (also referred to as the Stonewall uprising or the Stonewall rebellion) were a series of spontaneous demonstrations by members of the gay (LGBT) community in response to a police raid that began in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. Patrons of the Stonewall, other Village lesbian and gay bars, and neighborhood street people fought back when the police became violent. The riots are widely considered to constitute one of the most important events leading to the gay liberation movement and the twentieth century fight for LGBT rights in the United States.
Structural stigma Societal conditions, policies, and institutional practices that restrict the opportunities, resources, and well-being of certain groups of people.
Stud A term to describe masculine people created by and for Black lesbians. Though many studs identify as women and with the lesbian community, not all do.
T
They/Them/Theirs One of many sets of gender-neutral singular pronouns in English that can be used as an alternative to he/him/his or she/her/hers. Usage of this particular set is becoming more and more prevalent, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community.
Third Gender In some cultures third (and fourth and so on) genders may be commonly accepted or have legal recognition alongside man and woman. Some people in western cultures may identify as third gender as well, however it’s important not to erase the multitudes of genders present in the world. This term should only be used in culturally appropriate contexts and should not be used to describe all people globally who identify outside of cisgender binary genders.
Title IX A federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in any educational program or activity that receives assistance from the federal government.
Top surgeryThis term can refer to any gender-related surgery dealing with a person’s chest such as breast implants, mastectomies, and breast reduction surgeries. This term is more commonly associated with mastectomy procedures however.
Tranny A derogatory term used against trans women and trans feminine people.
Trans SImilar to transgender, meant to show a more inclusive attitude towards the multitude of people under the transgender umbrella.
Trans man A man who was assigned female at birth.
Trans woman A woman who was assigned male at birth.
Transfeminine trans or non-binary people who identify more with a female gender and/or feminine identity/experience.
Transgender 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. Many transgender people are prescribed hormones by their doctors to bring their bodies into alignment with their gender identity. Some undergo surgery as well. But not all transgender people can or will take those steps, and a transgender identity is not dependent upon physical appearance, medical diagnoses or medical procedures.
Transition an overarching term for the personal, social, phsyical, and legal processes that occur over a period of time for a person to comfortably live and express their gender. The exact steps involved in transition vary from person to person and can include some or all of the following: 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
Transmasculine trans or non-binary people who identify more with male gender and/or masculine identity/experience.
Transmisogyny Originally coined by the author Julia Serano, this term highlights the intersectionality of misogyny and transphobia and how they are often experienced as a dual form of oppression by trans women and trans feminine people.
Transphobia Antipathy, intolerance, bias, or prejudice towards trans people
Transsexual An older term that originated in the medical and psychological communities. Still preferred by some people who have permanently changed - or seek to change - their bodies through medical interventions, including but not limited to hormones and/or surgeries. Unlike transgender, transsexual is not an umbrella term. Many transgender people do not identify as transsexual and prefer the word transgender. It is best to be told which term a person prefers. If preferred, use as an adjective: transsexual woman or transsexual man.
Tucking The process of hiding one’s penis and testes with tape, tight shorts, or specially designed undergarments.
Two-Spirit the concept of the Two-Spirit has been a part of Indigenous life for millennia. Two-Spirit is the English translation of an Ojibwe word (niizh manidoowag) that, at its most rudimentary, refers to an Indigenous person who embodies both the masculine and feminine spirit. Using this English translation was determined by the third annual Native American Gay and Lesbian Gathering in Winnipeg, Manitoba that this term is the best way to describe their community using colonial languages.
- If someone does not belong to an Indigenous tribe, they cannot be Two-Spirit. Doing so is considered cultural appropriation.