! ! The Amherst College Queer Resource Center's Terms, Definitions, and Labels Compiled and adapted by David Huante '16 QRC Activities Coordinator ! ! Terminology is important. The words we use, and how we use them, can be very powerful. Knowing and understanding the meaning of the words we use improves communication and helps prevent misunderstandings. The following terms are not absolutely-defined. Rather, they provide a starting point for conversations. As always, listening is the key to understanding. Every thorough discussion about the queer community starts with terminology. Some of this terminology may be confusing or surprising; please do not hesitate to ask for clarification. This is a partial list of terms you may encounter. New language and terms emerge as our understanding of these topics changes and evolves. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Affectional (Romantic) Orientation Ally Refers to variations in object of An individual whose attitudes and emotional and sexual attraction. The term behavior are supportive and affirming is preferred by some over “sexual of all genders and sexual orientations orientation” because it indicates that the and who is active in combating feelings and commitments involved are homophobia, transphobia, not solely (or even primarily, for some heterosexism, and cissexism both people) sexual. The term stresses the personally and institutionally. affective emotional component of attractions and relationships, regardless of orientation. Androgyny Asexual Displaying physical and social A person who doesn't experience characteristics identified in this culture sexual attraction or who has low or no as both feminine and masculine to the interest in sexual activity. Unlike degree that the person’s outward celibacy, an action that people choose, appearance and mannerisms make it asexuality is a sexual identity. There is difficult to determine their assigned considerable diversity among the sex. asexual community; each asexual person experiences things like relationships, attraction, and arousal somewhat differently. Assigned Sex Bicurious The sex that was recorded on a A term used to describe a person who person’s birth certificate. A person’s identifies as heterosexual or assigned sex is generally determined homosexual but experiences some by a cursory visual inspection of an thoughts or visions about engaging in infant’s external genitalia and may or intimate relationships with a gender may not be congruent with the person’s other than the one to which they are gender identity or with other biological primarily attracted. markers of sex such as chromosomes and internal reproductive structures. Biological Sex Biphobia/Binegativity The dichotomous distinction between Aversion toward, discrimination female and male, based on against, or strong disapproval or hatred physiological characteristics, of bisexuals. Biphobia exists within the especially chromosomes and external lesbian and gay community as well as genitalia. The medical construction of general society. "biological sex" erases the existence of intersex people, who do not fit neatly into the categories of male and female. Bisexual/Bi Camp A person who has sexual and In LGBTQQIAA circles, people emotional relationships with or (especially gay men) may be described feelings towards both women and men, as “camp” or “campy” if they behave although not necessarily at the same in a manner that exaggerates gay time. mannerisms or stereotypes. Such exaggeration is often powerful in its ability to reveal the absurdity of gender expectations. Cisgender Cissexism/Cisnormativity Not transgender, that is, having a A set of attitudes that is consistent with gender identity or gender role that the belief that cisgender people are society considers appropriate for the superior to transgender people sex one was assigned at birth. Often psychologically, socially and morally. shortened to “cis,” which is This serves to create an invisibility or pronounced “sis.” lack of validation and representation for transgender people. ! Closeted/In the Closet Coming Out (Of the Closet)/Being Out The confining state of being secretive Refers to the process through which a about one’s true gender identity and/or person acknowledges, accepts, and sexual orientation. A person may feel learns to appreciate her or his lesbian, compelled to be closeted in order to gay, bisexual, or transgender identity. keep a job, housing situation, family/ Sharing this information with others is friends, or for their safety. Many not a single event but instead a life- LGBTQQIAA individuals are “out” in long process. some situations and “closeted” in others. Cross-dressing Down Low (“DL”) Wearing clothing not usually A term (“on the down low”) used to associated with one’s birth sex. People refer men who are in relationships with may cross-dress for a variety of women, but who engage in clandestine reasons including personal expression, sex with men. Typically, these men do sexual gratification, entertainment, or not identify themselves as gay or expressing ones’ gender identity. bisexual. The term originated in the African-American community but the behavior is not unique to any race, ethnicity, or culture. Drag Dyke (Also Drag King, Drag Queen, Female/ Once known as a derogatory term for Male Impersonator) - wearing the lesbian, the term was reclaimed by clothing of another gender, often with lesbians in the 1970s. Today, many exaggerated cultural/stereotypical lesbians refer to themselves as dykes gender characteristics. Individuals may and proudly use the word. Because of identify as Drag Kings (female in drag) its history as a pejorative term, non- or Drag Queens (male in drag). Drag lesbians should be cautious in using often refers to cross-dressing for the term. purposes such as entertainment, performance or self-expression. Effeminate Faggot/Fag Used to identify a person (usually A derogatory word frequently used to male) who expresses and/or presents denote a gay male. This term came into culturally/ stereotypically feminine use in times of witch burning, when characteristics. This is often viewed as gay men were thought to be the a culturally negative term. assistants of witches and their bodies used as fuel for the fires that burned witches. Fag Hag Family A term sometimes regarded as A term widely used by LGBTQQIAA derogatory, used to describe women persons to identify other LGBTQQIAA who prefer the social company of gay people men. Family of Orientation (Choice) Family of Origin Persons forming an individual’s social, The biological family, or the family in emotional, and practical support network which one was raised. These and often fulfilling the functions of blood individuals may or may not be part of a relations. Many LGBTQQIAA people are person’s support system. rejected when their families learn of their sexual orientation or gender identity, or they may remain “closeted” to their biological relatives. In such cases, it is their partner/ significant other and close friends who will be called on in time of illness or personal crisis. Femme FTM/F2M Generally used to describe a person Abbreviation for Female-to-Male. A who expresses and/or presents term that refers to male-identified culturally/ stereotypically feminine people who were categorized as female characteristics. This term is also used at birth. (See also MTF and to describe a specific lesbian identity Transgender.) (ie. butch/femme) Use the term with caution since in some contexts it can be perceived as offensive. Gay Gender Used to describe a man who is A term used to describe the social romantically, sexually, and/or status of people as men, women, boys, affectionally attracted to men, although girls, or variously transgender, not all men who engage in sexual including characteristics of masculinity relations with other men identify and femininity that are learned or themselves as “gay.” The term is chosen. A person’s assigned sex does sometimes used to refer to the LGB not always match their gender (see community as a whole, although many Transgender), and many people display women prefer to be identified as traits of more than one gender. Gender “lesbian” instead of “gay.” is different from sexuality. Gender Bending Gender Binary Blurring the binary gender roles. Recognizes only two genders and regulates behavior within narrowly male or female expectations. Enforces the idea is that all males should be man-identified and masculine, and all females should be woman-identified and feminine. Gender Dysphoria Gender Expression An intense, continuous discomfort The external presentation of a person’s resulting from an individual’s belief in gender (e.g. dress, mannerisms, hair the inappropriateness of their assigned style, speech, etc.). One’s gender sex at birth and resulting gender role expression may differ from one’s expectations. gender identity. Gender Identity Gender Identity Disorder An individual's internal understanding A clinical, psychological diagnosis of oneself as a woman, man, which is often required to receive transgender, genderqueer, etc. This surgical and/or hormonal sex may or may not match one's gender reassignment. Many in transgender expression or the way that other people communities object to this perceive one's gender. See Gender. requirement, viewing it as unnecessary and potentially stigmatizing. Gender-neutral/Gender-free Pronouns Pronouns which do not associate a gender with the person or creature being discussed. The English language has no truly gender-neutral third person pronoun available,