LGBTQ Terminology
LGBPTQQIA+: a combination of letters Cis-sexism: behavior and policies that grant trying to represent identities in the queer special treatment to cisgender people, community. This version represents Lesbian, reinforces the idea that being cisgender is Gay, Bisexual, Pansexual, Transgender, Queer, somehow better or more “right” than being Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual. transgender, or ignores transgender people. Example: Forms that ask for gender only give Ally: a person who actively works to end two options, male and female. intolerance, educate others, and support the social equality of a marginalized group they Closeted: a person who is keeping their are not a part of. Example: a straight person sexuality or gender identity a secret and has who is an ally to the LGBTQ community. yet to “come out of the closet.”
Androgyny: a gender expression that has Coming out: the process of discovering for elements of both masculinity and femininity. yourself and letting people know your sexual orientation or gender identity. Coming out Asexual: a person who generally does not is often thought to be a one-time event, feel sexual attraction to any group of people. however this is a lifelong and sometimes daily Asexuality is a sexual orientation and differs process. from celibacy or sexual abstinence, which are behaviors. Cross-dressing: wearing clothing that conflicts with the traditional gender expression of Biological Sex: the physical anatomy and your biological sex and gender identity. gendered hormones a person is born Cross-dressing happens for a number of with. Words that describe sex are male, reasons including relaxation, fun, or sexual female, and intersex. Example: someone gratification and should not be confused with who is biologically female typically has XX being transgender or gay. Example: a man chromosomes, minimal body hair, and a wearing women’s underwear. vagina. Drag King: a person, typically a woman, who Bisexual: a person who has sexual and dresses in an exaggerated masculine style and romantic attractions to both men and women. personifies male gender stereotypes as part of an individual or group routine for public Cisgender: a person who identifies with entertainment. Performing drag should not be the gender assigned to them at birth. Also confused with being transgender or gay. referred to as not transgender. Example: a biological female who identifies as a woman.
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Drag Queen: a person, typically a man, who Gender: Socially constructed attitudes, dresses in an exaggerated feminine style and characteristics, and behaviors assigned to personifies female gender stereotypes as part a person’s biological sex. Some words that of an individual or group routine for public describe gender are man, woman, and entertainment. Performing drag should not be transgender. confused with being transgender or gay. Gender affirmation surgery: surgical Dyke: an offensive slang term used for lesbian procedures that change a transgender women. This term has been reclaimed by person’s body to conform to their gender some lesbian women as a symbol of pride identity. The minority of transgender people but should not be used by those outside the choose to and can afford to have these community. surgeries. Outdated and inaccurate terms for this include: sex change operation, gender Faggot: an offensive slang term used for gay reassignment surgery, and sex reassignment men. This term has been reclaimed by some surgery. gay men as a symbol of pride but should not be used by those outside the community. Gender binary: a traditional and outdated view of gender which limits gender Female: the biological sex of a person with possibilities to only “man” and “woman.” a specific set of sexual anatomy. Typically This view of gender leaves out the possibility a female has XX chromosomes, a vagina, of transgender and gender-nonconforming ovaries, a uterus, breasts, higher levels of people. estrogen and minimal body hair. Gender Expression: the outward expression Fluid: generally this term is used with other of gender identity, typically displayed through terms attached, like gender-fluid or fluid- a combination of dress, demeanor, and social sexuality. Fluid describes an identity that is a behavior. shifting mix of the options available. Example: someone who identifies as gender-fluid may Gender Identity:how a person feels or wear stereotypically feminine, masculine, and expresses their gender. Examples: man, androgynous outfits. woman, genderqueer.
FTM: a medical term used to describe a Gender-nonconforming: a person who does transgender man. It stands for Female to not follow stereotypical ideas about how they Male. should look or act based on the gender they were assigned at birth. Gay: a man who has sexual and romantic attractions to men. This term is also sometimes used for all people who have same-sex attraction.
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Genderqueer: a person who doesn’t Lesbian: a woman who has sexual and identify as either male or female, but rather romantic attractions to women. something outside the traditional binary gender system. Male: the biological sex of a person with a specific set of sexual anatomy. Typically a male Hermaphrodite: an outdated and offensive has XY chromosomes, a penis, testis, facial medical term used to describe someone who hair, higher levels of testosterone, and coarse is intersex. body hair.
Heterosexism: behavior and policies that MTF: a medical term used to describe a grant special treatment to heterosexual transgender woman. It stands for Male to people, reinforces the idea that Female. heterosexuality is somehow better or more “right” than queerness, or ignores queerness. Outing: revealing the sexual or gender Example: a sexually active woman is assumed orientation of a person without their by health care providers to be heterosexual permission. and in need of information on birth control. Pansexual: a person who experiences sexual Heterosexual: a person who is attracted to and romantic attraction for members of all someone of a different gender. Also referred gender identities and expressions. to as straight. Gender pronouns: the set of pronouns a Homophobia: the fear, discomfort, person would like others to use when talking intolerance, or hatred of homosexuality or to or about that person. Example: she/her/ same-sex attraction. hers or they/them/theirs
Homosexual: a person who is attracted to Queer: a term often used by younger someone with the same gender. This term is members of the community, urban considered offensive and stigmatizing by many populations, activists, and academics to members of the community. broadly refer to either a person’s gender or sexual orientation or the community as a Intersex: a person with a set of sexual whole. This term was historically offensive anatomy that doesn’t fit within the labels of but has been reclaimed by many in the LGBTQ female or male. Example: a person with XXY community. It should only be used cautiously chromosomes or someone with both a uterus by those outside the community. and a penis. Many people born intersex are assigned a gender at birth and given surgeries Questioning: the process of exploring one’s in infancy and childhood. gender or sexual orientation.
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Same-Gender Loving (SGL): a culturally Transitioning: the process of a person affirming African American gay, lesbian, or developing and assuming a gender expression bisexual identity. to match their gender identity.
Sexual orientation: a person’s sexual or Transsexual: a medical term used to describe romantic interest. Examples: lesbian, gay, a person who does not identity with the heterosexual. gender assigned to them at birth and is undergoing gender affirmation surgery. This Tranny: an offensive slang term used for term is outdated and should be avoided transgender people. This term has been unless asked to use it by a transsexual person. reclaimed by some transgender people as a symbol of pride but should not be used by Transvestite: a person who cross-dresses. those outside the community. Not to be confused with transgender or transsexual. This term is outdated and Transgender: a person who does not should be avoided unless asked to use it by a identify with the gender assigned to them transvestite person. at birth. Other appropriate terms would be transwoman or transman. Example: a Two-Spirit: a term traditionally used by biological female who identifies as a man. some Native American tribes to recognize individuals who possess qualities or fulfill Transphobia: the fear, discomfort, intolerance, roles of both genders. or hatred of transgender and gender- nonconforming people.
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