EDITION

2017 Talking About LGBT People & Equality & People LGBT About Talking AN ALLY’S GUIDE TO GUIDE TO AN ALLY’S TALKINGTERMINOLOGY ABOUT

in gay LGBT on the the on gender is clearer is clearer and (s) lesbian, gay, bisexual bisexual lesbian, gay, beinggay/lesbian/bisexual is commonly used within the the within used is commonly . LGBT rather than “LGBT.” Use Use “LGBT.” than rather on first reference for clarity and reference on first is an adjective, not a noun; it is sometimes used used not a noun; it is sometimes is an adjective, Talking a person’s “” can, in can, in “homosexuality” about a person’s Talking purely person to of that the life reduce some cases, about Talk terms. sexual considered is “lesbianism” term the Also, instead. as an insult or slur. “gay” as is using pejorative, orientation both sexual Reference identity when talking issues pertaining about the to (See community. LGBT entire information.) more next page for abbreviation The when talking and is essential with movement LGBT supportive however, and strongly audiences; LGBT unfamiliar with its are people who it can confuse strong yet who aren’t those and alienate meaning talking media When mainstream to supporters. tryand audiences, use to and transgender in brevity is a need for inclusion—but if there shorten to references, subsequent repeated and transgender Gay lesbian as a shorthand gay, encompassing term transgender not (though orientations and bisexual while many people or ). Also, the term as gay, identify may when talking or women. only about a like equality often use words of LGBT Opponents reducing by people gay stigmatize to “homosexual” terms. sexual purely to their lives to suggest that being gay, lesbian or bisexual is a a is bisexual or lesbian gay, being suggest that to “cured.” can be changed or and therefore choice, stigmatize is used to “lifestyle” the term Similarly, should be their lives people and suggest that LGBT Just as one would lens. a sexual only through viewed talk about a don’t lifestyle,” “straight not talk about a “lifestyle.” lesbian or bisexual gay, longer written documents such as reports documents longer written after the is defined. abbreviation opponents is used by preference” “sexual term The Explanation Terms to Avoid to Terms

“homosexuality” “lesbianism” (a so gay.” “That’s hurtful slur) (with those “LGBT” yet not who are supporters)strong “homosexual” (n.) (as in, “gay” “He is a gay.”) “gay/lesbian/ “gay/lesbian/ lifestyle” bisexual “same- attractions” identity” “sexual “” “sexual www.lgbtmap.org/messaging-guides • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • % of

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non-LGBT adults.” non-LGBT sexual person’s “a orientation” “ can be a complex A person’s topic. is…” orientation “people who are who are “people bisexual lesbian, gay, or transgender” protect that “laws and transgender gay people” 29 “Only adults in LGBT States the United report they are thriving financially, 39 to compared “lesbian couple” “bisexualpeople” is / ”She “He is gay.” “He is / a lesbian.” bisexual.” “She talked about lesbian/ being gay/a bisexual.” “He discussed being bisexual.” “gay people” “gay /men” “gay Usage Examples Usage - (on (adj.) (n. or adj.) (n. or adj.) (with LGBT (with LGBT (adj.) Terms to Use to Terms sexual orientation sexual orientation and allied audiences; and allied audiences; in longer written such as documents reports, after defining) first usage) and transgender gay subse (on repeated as references, quent TV brevity, needed for etc.) ads, or radio LGBT lesbian, gay, bisexual bisexual lesbian, gay, and transgender being gay/lesbian/ bisexual gay lesbian bi bisexual, • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • GAY, LESBIAN & BISEXUAL & LESBIAN GAY, INTRODUCTION Designed for new allies who often face a confusing array of terminology and descriptions, this shortoverview descriptions, and terminology of an array guide offers a confusing allies who often new face for Designed MAP’s see issues, talk about various be used to can that and approaches messages For vocabularyof essential use and avoid. to at online collection resources guides and of messaging TALKING a powerful (LGBT) and transgender impact bisexual and issues can have people on gay, talk about lesbian, use to we words The or confusion. distance can create hearts words while minds, and people’s can help open right words The our conversations. ABOUT people understandwhat itmeansto betransgender, read gender theyhave always themselves known to be, transition andoften to livingasthat gender. For more information onhelping expression isdifferent fromAt somepoint intheirlives, theirsex at birth. transgender peopledecidetheymustlive theirlives asthe The term TRANSGENDER • • • • • • • • • • • • (adj.) transgender as eithermaleor doesn’t identify someone who not transgender people whoare transition expression gender gender identity Terms to Use transgender

refers inside)orgender personknows to (thesenseofgenderthat every peoplewhosegenderidentity Usage Examples myself to be.” man I’ve always known and now Ilive life asthe from female to male, years agoItransitioned I was male.knew Many a girl, butinsideIalways I wasandraised born as “I’m atransgender man. who are transgender” “protecting people advocate” “transgender “transgender woman” “transgender man” “transgender person” was born and raised as was andraised born as a girl, even thoughshe grows she’s upknowing “A transgender woman expression.” andgender identity treatment basedon “fair andequal either maleorfemale.” and don’t identify as fit into eithergender, But somepeopledon’t they’re maleorfemale. from childhoodthat peopleknow “Most people alike” and non-transgender “transgender people woman.” transitions to live asa a boy. later So inlife she • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • “” “transvestite” “” (n.) “a transgender” (n.) “transgendered” supporters) are not yet strong (with thosewho “genderqueer” nonconforming”/ “gender- “nonbinary”/ strong supporters) those whoare notyet “” (with “post-operative” “pre-operative” / operation” “sex-change “” identity termcorrect is “” (the

Terms to Avoid Talking Transgender About People &Restrooms ) gender

Explanation While terms like may notbeunderstood by unfamiliaraudiences. The term the person’s appearance andgenderexpression. would prefer, use thepronoun that is consistent with gender. itisn’t If possibleto askwhat pronoun aperson be referred to usingpronouns consistent withthat gendershould a personwhoidentifies asa certain Always useatransgender person’s chosenname. Also, connotes acondition ofsomekind. unnecessary “-ed” to theterm (“transgendered”), which not to callsomeone “a transgender.” notaddan Do Transgender direction oftransitiondirection (seeUsage Exampleto theleft). Consider these terms pairing with a reference to a person’s transgender man is a man who identifies as a woman. for Unfamiliar audiencesexample, think, often that a are commonly used, theyare notuniversally understood. relatable, non-insiderways (seeUsage Example). language thatthese concepts describes inmore overor talking theirheads. Instead, useeveryday audiencesconflicted andare seenasinsider-speak community, tend to confuse andalienate unfamiliar, andfamiliarforwhile comfortable many intheLGBT Terms like “non-binary” and “gender non-conforming,” clear andrelatable instead (seeUsage Example). unfamiliar audiences. Use everyday languagethat is The term “cisgender” tends to confuse andalienate first referencing that apersonistransgender. transition (for example, from female to male)when canalsobehelpfulto aperson’s clarify It of direction transgender people donotorcannotundergo. on aperson’s anatomy oronsurgeries, whichmany Transition referring to terms canbeunfamiliarandconfusing to many people; expresses that gender)are notinterchangeable. These gender) and The terms simply identify asmaleorfemale, withoutmodifiers. women are women, sometransgender peoplemay transgenderBecause menare men,andtransgender whoistransgenderNot everyone identifies that way. trans, istheaccurate term that doesnotfixate transgender people isanadjective, careful notanoun.Be gender identity often usedwithintheLGBT often community, transgender man (one’s internal sense of (how apersonoutwardly is often clearer. isoften (see backcover). and transgender woman TALKING ABOUT their their — For example: example: For otherwise ground. be common name-calling. into descend anti-LGBT Calling Don’t those can alienate “hateful” or “bigoted” opponents Instead, with the issues. wrestling honestly who are to and relatable is measured use language that and a sense of how empathy create people and their . hurts LGBT support people and faith traditions religious Many unfairly language that paints Avoid people. LGBT or denomination, tradition religious an entire or as being anti-LGBT broadly, more or religion extremist. Don’t talk about “rights,” “civil rights,” or make or make rights,” “civil “rights,” talk about Don’t kinds direct different between comparisons to of discrimination, especially when it comes Such comparisons discrimination based on race. Americans and others, African many can alienate would unnecessary there where creating distance Explanation Terms to Avoid to Terms

“hate” / “haters” / / “haters” / “hate” “hatred” / / ”bigots” “bigot” “bigotry” “” religious “anti-gay extremists/ extremism” Christian “anti-gay groups” “rights” rights” “civil “LGBT / rights” “gay rights” • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • se language that emphasizes our common values, beliefs, hopes and dreams hopes beliefs, values, our common emphasizes se language that u for more resources on talking about nondiscrimination protections, transgender on talking transgender about nondiscrimination protections, resources more for to judge.” to “the hurtful rhetoric of anti-gay activists” “thoseoppose who people LGBT protecting discrimination” from “Everyone, including should people, LGBT fairly and treated be of the laws equally by our state.” people “Protecting is discrimination from others about treating be to want as we me not for It’s treated. Usage Examples Usage MAP’s GUIDES TO TALKING ABOUT LGBT ISSUES ABOUT LGBT TALKING TO GUIDES MAP’s (LGBT) and transgender bisexual affect people and the issues that about lesbian, gay, conversations is one in a series on building effective documents of This (MAP). Project Advancement © 2017 Movement visit www.lgbtmap.org/messaging-guides. versions, and downloadable resources more For lives. Terms to Use to Terms www.lgbtmap.org/messaging-guides anti-gay/anti- transgender/anti- activists LGBT opponents rejection exclusion unfairness fairly and equally discrimination fair, equal treatment fair, people treating • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ADDITIONAL Visit Visit and much more. populations, and LGBT laws, exemptions religious people and restrooms, GENERAL TERMINOLOGY & APPROACHES: TALKING ABOUT LGBT ISSUES LGBT ABOUT TALKING APPROACHES: & TERMINOLOGY GENERAL transgender, have a fair opportunity to earn a living, meet their obligations, provide for themselves and their families, and build a better life.” and build a better and their families, for themselves opportunity a fair provide have meet their obligations, earn a living, to transgender, and which reminds people that LGBT people are everyday Americans who live everyday lives. lives. everyday who live Americans everyday people are LGBT people that and which reminds “The in is a land of opportunity I believe the chance America have their responsibilities and meet hard people who work where freedom, and or gay bisexual lesbian, those who are including that all people, help ensure Updating law would our nondiscrimination get ahead. to to ignore or dismiss the discrimination and other harms that LGBT people face. face. people LGBT and other harms the discrimination or dismiss that ignore to people, talkingWhen LGBT about equality for TALKING ways compelling emotionally can talk in genuine, we when effective most people and equality are about LGBT Conversations is that equalityand people way a in supportcan they how people Showing LGBT audience. our of connect values the that with difficult feel. it more makes It also conflictinner may they any through work people can help values and beliefs their with consistent ABOUT