Cisgender
Denoting or relating to a person whose sense of personal identity and gender corresponds with their birth sex. [1]
Drag Queen/Drag King
Used by people who present socially in clothing, name, and/or pronouns that differ from their everyday gender, usually for enjoyment, entertainment, and/or self-expression. Drag queens typically have everyday lives as men. Drag kings typically live as women and/or butches when not performing. Drag shows are popular in some gay, lesbian, and bisexual environments. Unless they are drag performers, most Trans people would be offended by being confused with drag queens or drag kings.[2]
Female
Of, relating to, or being the sex that typically has the capacity to bear young or produce eggs; made up of usually adult members of the female sex; characteristic of girls, women, or the female sex. [3]
Feminine
Having qualities traditionally ascribed to women. [4]
FTM
Female to male [5]
Gender-Fluid
A person who does not identify with a single fixed gender; of or relating to a person having or expressing a fluid or unfixed gender identity. [6]
Gender non-conforming
“exhibiting behavioral, cultural, or psychological traits that do not
correspond with the traits typically associated with one’s sex: having a gender expression that does not conform to gender norms.”[7]
Genderqueer
Genderqueer people typically reject notions of static categories of gender and embrace a fluidity of gender identity and often, though not always, sexual orientation. People who identify as “genderqueer” may see themselves as being both male and female, neither male nor female nor as falling completely outside these categories. [8]
Intersex
A general term used for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male. [9]
LGBTQIA+
“LGBTQIA+ is an acronym that brings together many different gender and sexual identities that often face marginalization across society. The acronym stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, and the + holds space for the expanding and new understanding of different parts of the very diverse gender and sexual identities.” [10]
Trans(gender)
Denoting or relating to a person whose sense of personal identity and gender does not correspond with their birth sex[11]
Male
A male person: a man or a boy; an individual of the sex that is typically capable of producing small, usually motile gametes (such as sperm or spermatozoa) which fertilize the eggs of a female. [12]
Masculine
Having qualities or appearance traditionally associated with men, especially strength and aggressiveness.[13]
Metro Sexual
A heterosexual, usually urban male who pays much attention to his personal appearance and cultivates an upscale lifestyle. [14]
MTF
Male to female [15]
Non-Binary
An adjective describing a person who does not identify exclusively as a man or a woman. Non-binary people may identify as being both a man and a woman, somewhere in between, or as falling completely outside these categories. While many also identify as transgender, not all non-binary people do. [16]
Questioning
Refers to people who are in the process of understanding and exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity. They are often seeking information and support during this stage of their identity development.[17]
Transsexual
An older term for people whose gender identity is different from their assigned sex at birth who seek to transition from male to female or female to male. Many do not prefer this term because it is thought to sound overly clinical.[18]
Asexual
Free from sexual desires or sexuality. [19]
Bisexual
Noting or relating to a person who is romantically or sexually attracted to both men and women, or to people of various gender identities; ambisexual. [20]
Gay
A person who is emotionally, physically, and/or romantically attracted to some other people of the same gender. Can be used to refer to people of all genders, though it is used most commonly to refer to males. Some women and girls choose not to identify as gay but as lesbian. [21]
Heterosexual
Pertaining to the opposite sex or to both sexes. [22]
Heterosexual/Straight
A person who is emotionally, physically, and/or romantically attracted to some members of another gender. [23]
Homosexual
Sexually attracted to members of one’s own sex/gender. [24]
Lesbian
A woman who is emotionally, physically, and/or romantically attracted to some other women. [25]
Pansexual
Not limited in sexual choice with regard to biological sex, gender, or gender identity. [26]
QPOC
An acronym that stands for Queer Person of Color or Queer People of Color. [27]
Queer
Usually disparaging and offensive, used to refer to gay or lesbian. Noting or relating to sexual orientation or gender identity that falls outside the heterosexual mainstream or the gender binary. [28]
Sexual Identity
Sexual identity labels include “lesbian,” “gay,” “bisexual,” “bi,” “queer,” “questioning,” “heterosexual,” “straight,” and others. Sexual identity evolves through a developmental process that varies depending on the individual. Sexual behavior and identity (self-definition) can be chosen. Though some people claim their sexual orientation is also a choice, for others, this does not seem to be the case. [29]
Sexual Orientation
Determined by one’s emotional, physical, and/or romantic attractions. Categories of sexual orientation include but are not limited to, gay, lesbian (attracted to some members of the same gender), bisexual (attracted to some members of more than one gender), and heterosexual (attracted to some members of another gender). [30]
Closeted
Describes an LGBTQ person who has not disclosed their sexual orientation or gender identity. [31]
Coming out (of the Closet)
To be “in the closet” means to not share a part of one’s identity. Some LGBTQ people choose to disclose that part of their identity in some situations (to be “out”) and not in others (to be “closeted”). To “come out” is to publicly declare one’s identity, sometimes to one person in conversation, sometimes to a group, or in a public setting. Coming out is a lifelong process. In each situation, a person must decide where they are at that point in time with their identity. In each new situation, a person must decide whether or not to come out. [32]
(Cross-sex) Hormone Therapy
A treatment used to help people with gender dysphoria transition from their biological gender to their desired gender. [33]
Down Low
Pop-culture term used to describe men who identify as heterosexual but engage in sexual activity with other men. Often these men are in committed sexual relationships or marriages with a female partner. This term is almost exclusively used to describe men of color. [34]
Gender Dysphoria
Clinically significant distress caused when a person’s assigned birth gender is not the same as the one with which they identify. According to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the term – which replaces Gender Identity Disorder – “is intended to better characterize the experiences of affected children, adolescents, and adults.” [35]
Gender Expansive
Conveys a wider, more flexible range of gender identity and/or expression than typically associated with the binary gender system. [36]
Gender Expression
A person’s behavior, mannerisms, interests, and appearance that are associated with gender in a particular cultural context, specifically with the categories of femininity or masculinity. The external expression of gender roles, as through socially defined behaviors and ways of dressing. [37]
Living Openly
A state in which LGBTQ people are comfortable out about their sexual orientation or gender identity – where and when it feels appropriate to them. [38]
Mis-gender
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. [39]
Outing
Exposing someone’s lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender identity to others without their permission. Outing someone can have serious repercussions on employment, economic stability, personal safety, or religious or family situations. [40]
Passing
Refers to a transgender individual who is generally perceived as cisgender. Passing typically involves a mixture of physical gender cues, for example, hairstyle or clothing, and certain behavioral attributes that tend to be culturally associated with a particular gender. [41]
Pride
A becoming or dignified sense of what is due to oneself or one’s position or character; self-respect; self-esteem. The state or feeling of being proud. [42]. Among LGBTQ+ people, pride can refer to being proud of their identities and communities, as well as Pride celebrations, which are often held in June to commemorate the Stonewall Riots and other struggles for LGBTQ+ rights.
Spectrum
Used to classify something, or suggest that it can be classified, in terms of its position on a scale between two extremes or opposite points. [43]
Transition
The process of changing one’s gender presentation and/or sex characteristics to accord with one’s internal sense of gender identity [44]
Biphobia
Prejudice, fear, or hatred directed toward bisexual people. [45]
Biological Sex
The sex a person is assigned at birth. [46]
Gender
Either the male or female division of a species, especially as differentiated by social and cultural roles and behavior. [47]
Gender Role
The set of roles and behaviors expected of people based on gender assigned at birth. [48]
Homophobia
Unreasoning fear of or antipathy toward homosexuals and homosexuality. [49]
Machismo
Strong or aggressive masculine pride.
Marriage
Any of the diverse forms of interpersonal union established in various parts of the world to form a familial bond that is recognized legally, religiously, or socially, granting the participating partners mutual conjugal rights and responsibilities and including, for example, opposite-sex marriage, same-sex marriage, plural marriage, and arranged marriage. [50]
Matriarchy
A system of society or government ruled by a woman or women.
Patriarchy
A social system in which power is held by men, through cultural norms and customs that favor men and withhold opportunity from women. [51]
Sexism
Prejudice and/or discrimination against people based on their real or perceived sex. Sexism is based on a belief (conscious or unconscious) that there is a natural order based on sex. [52]
Transphobia
Fear or hatred of transgender people; transphobia is manifested in a number of ways, including violence, harassment, and discrimination.[53]
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