Sex, gender, and orientation

genderqueer

A person whose gender identity is neither man nor woman but between or beyond traditional genders.

spectrum

A wide range or variety that goes beyond two, binary (opposite), categories. An example would be gender, because there are not just two (binary) genders, there are many genders (man, woman, genderqueer...)

harassment

Aggressive pressure or intimidation. Continued unwanted and annoying actions by one person or group of people, which may include verbal/physical/emotional abuse, towards another person or group of people.

gender roles

Cultural norms and expectations of how people of a certain gender are "supposed" to act, often based on stereotypes about people of certain genders. Also known as gender norms.

gender norms

Cultural norms and expectations of how people of a certain gender are "supposed" to act, often based on stereotypes about people of certain genders. Also known as gender roles.

pansexual

Describes a person who feels they are sexually/emotionally/spiritually capable of falling in love with all genders. The word Pansexual is derived from the Greek prefix pan, meaning "all."

asexual

Describes a person who is not sexually attracted to anyone. A type of sexual orientation.

gay

Describes a person who is physically and emotionally attracted to people of the same gender. It is often used to describe men who are attracted to other men. A type of sexual orientation.

lesbian

Describes a person who is physically and emotionally attracted to people of the same gender. It is often used to describe women who are attracted to other women. A type of sexual orientation.

cisgender

Describes a person whose gender identity is aligned with the social expectations for the physical body they were born with (example: a male bodied person who feels and acts "like a man.")

transgender

Describes a person whose gender identity is different from the gender they were assigned at birth. This is a gender identity.

biological sex

Describes a person's biological combination of hormones, organs, genitals, and chromosomes. Examples are Female, Intersex, and Male

sexual orientation

Describes a person's romantic, emotional, physical, or sexual attraction to another person. Examples are Heterosexual, Bisexual, and Homosexual.

heterosexual

Describes someone who is physically and emotionally attracted to people of another gender. It can be used instead of the word straight. A type of sexual orientation.`

homosexual

Describes someone who is physically and emotionally attracted to people of their own sex or gender. This includes gay and lesbian people. A type of sexual orientation.

gender identity

How a person, in their head, thinks about themselves. This is based on a society's expectation about how people should look, think, and act as someone of a specific gender. Examples are Woman, Genderqueer, Transgender, and Man.

gender expression

The way a person presents (shows) and communicates their gender identity through actions, dress, behaviors and speech. Examples are Feminine, Androgynous, and Masculine.

intersex

This describes a variety of conditions in which a person is born with reproductive or sexual anatomy, chromosomes, or hormones that don't fit the typical definitions of male or female.

stereotype

a generalization, usually negative, in which one or more characteristics are attributed to all people in a certain group

queer

a word that some LGBTQ people use to describe themselves, in a positive way.

questioning

describes a person who is exploring their sexual and/or gender identity

androgynous

having both masculine and feminine qualities

gender binary

the concept that there are only two, opposed genders

assigned sex

the sex assigned a person at birth based on their genitalia