LBGTQ Terms Quiz

Defamatory Terms

"deceptive," "fooling," "pretending," "posing", "masquerading", "deceptive," "fooling," "pretending," "posing", "masquerading", "bathroom bill"

fag

(slang) is a shortened version of the word f****t and is a pejorative term and common homophobic slur used chiefly in North America against homosexual males. The word has many meanings worldwide, like 'bundle of sticks,' 'cigarette' or as a culinary term for seasoning added to a meal. The etymology of the word f****t meaning homosexual is unclear, though the earliest known written reference was in 1914. Sometime gays have 'reclaimed' the word, but many still reject it. GLSEN's 'Think Before You Speak campaign is an example of the efforts made by the gay community to stop it's popular usage.

dyke

(slang) referring to a lesbian or lesbianism regardless of the person's actual sexual identity. Originally, it was a derogatory label for a masculine or butch woman, and this usage still exists. However, it has also been re-appropriated as a positive term implying assertiveness and toughness, or simply as a neutral synonym for lesbian, regardless of individual gender expression.

Two-Spirit

A contemporary term that references historical multiple-gender traditions in many First Nations cultures. Many Native/First Nations people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, or gender non-conforming identify as Two-Spirit; in many Nations, being Two-Spirit carries both great respect and additional commitments and responsibilities to one's community.

Gender Dysphoria / Gender Identity Disorder (GID)

A controversial DSM-IV diagnosis given to transgender and other gender- variant people. Because it labels people as "disordered," Gender Identity Disorder is often considered offensive. The diagnosis is frequently given to children who don't conform to expected gender norms in terms of dress, play or behavior. Such children are often subjected to intense psychotherapy, behavior modification and/or institutionalization.

pansexual

A sexual orientation that refers to people who are attracted to individuals regardless of their gender or gender expression. Pansexuality widely rejects the gender binary.

Transgender Man

A term for a transgender individual who currently identifies as a man, aka FTM.

Transgender Woman

A term for a transgender individual who currently identifies as a woman, aka MTF.

genderqueer

A term used by some individuals who identify as neither entirely male nor entirely female.

Queer

A term used to refer to lesbian, gay, bisexual and, often also transgender people. Some use queer as an alternative to "gay" in an effort to be more inclusive, since the term does not convey a sense of gender. Depending on the user, the term has either a derogatory or an affirming connotation, as many have sought to reclaim the term that was once widely used in a negative way.

lesbian

A woman whose enduring physical, romantic and/or emotional attraction is to other women. Some lesbians may prefer to identify as gay (adj.) or as gay women.

Transition

Altering one's birth sex is not a one-step process; it is a complex process that occurs over a long period of time. Transition includes some or all of the following personal, legal and medical adjustments: telling one's family, friends and/or co-workers; changing one's name and/or sex on legal documents; hormone therapy; and possibly (though not always) one or more forms of surgery.

Transsexual (also Transexual)

An older term which originated in the medical and psychological communities. While some transsexual people still prefer to use the term to describe themselves, many transgender people prefer the term transgender to transsexual. Unlike transgender, transsexual is not an umbrella term, as many transgender people do not identify as transsexual. It is best to ask which term an individual prefers.

Transvestite

An outdated term for a cross-dresser that is considered derogatory.

Transgender

An umbrella term for people whose gender identity, expression, or behavior is different from those typically associated with their assigned sex at birth, including but not limited to transsexuals, cross-dressers, androgynous people, genderqueers, and gender non-conforming people. Transgender is a broad term and is good for non-transgender people to use. "Trans" is shorthand for "transgender."

Sexual Orientation

Describes an individual's enduring physical, romantic and/or emotional attraction to another person. Gender identity and sexual orientation are not the same. Transgender people may be straight, lesbian, gay or bisexual. For example, a man who transitions from male to female and is attracted to other women would be identified as a lesbian or a gay woman.

Intersex (Hermaphrodite)

Describing a person whose biological sex is ambiguous. There are many genetic, hormonal or anatomical variations that make a person's sex ambiguous (e.g., Klinefelter Syndrome). Parents and medical professionals usually assign intersex infants a sex and perform surgical operations to conform the infant's body to that assignment. This practice has become increasingly controversial as intersex adults speak out against the practice. The term intersex is not interchangeable with or a synonym for transgender.

marginalized

Excluded, ignored, or relegated to the outer edge of a group/society/community.

Gender Expression

External manifestation of one's gender identity, usually expressed through "masculine," "feminine" or gender-variant behavior, clothing, haircut, voice or body characteristics. Typically, transgender people seek to make their gender expression match their gender identity, rather than their birth-assigned sex.

GLAAD

Gay Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation

lifestyle

Inaccurate term used by anti-gay extremists to denigrate lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender lives. As there is no one straight lifestyle, there is no one lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender lifestyle.

LBGTQ

Lesbian Bisexual Gay Transgender Queer

LGBTTIQQ2AA+

Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Transitioning Intersex Queer Questioning 2-Spirited, Ally, Asexual, + [any thing we forgot or could add later]

Gender Identity

One's internal, personal sense of being a man or a woman (or a boy or a girl). For transgender people, their birth-assigned sex and their own internal sense of gender identity do not match.

PFLAG

Parents and Friends of Lesbians And Gays, is a non-profit ally group whose mission is to 'promote the health and well-being of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender persons −while providing support and information to their families and friends.'

Problematic: "transgenders," "a transgender"

Preferred: "transgender people," "a transgender person"

Problematic: "transgendered"

Preferred: "transgender"

Problematic: "sex change," "pre-operative," "post-operative"

Preferred: "transition"

Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS)

Refers to surgical alteration, and is only one small part of transition (see Transition above). Preferred term to "sex change operation." Not all transgender people choose to or can afford to have SRS. Journalists should avoid overemphasizing the role of SRS in the transition process.

Sex

The classification of people as male or female. At birth, infants are assigned a sex based on a combination of bodily characteristics including: chromosomes, hormones, internal reproductive organs, and genitals.

cross-dressing

To occasionally wear clothes traditionally associated with people of the other sex. Cross-dressers are usually comfortable with the sex they were assigned at birth and do not wish to change it. "Cross-dresser" should NOT be used to describe someone who has transitioned to live full-time as the other sex or who intends to do so in the future. Cross-dressing is a form of gender expression and is not necessarily tied to erotic activity. Cross-dressing is not indicative of sexual orientation.

closeted

a closeted person and the expression 'in the closet' describes an LGBTQ person who hides their sexual orientation or gender identity from some or all people.

bisexual

an adjective used to describe people whose enduring physical, romantic and/or emotional attractions are to people of the same sex or the opposite sex.

drag king

drag king - used to refer to women who dress as men for the purpose of entertaining others at bars, clubs, or other events.

drag queen

generally used to accurately refer to men who dress as women (often celebrity women) for the purpose of entertaining others at bars, clubs, or other events. It is also used as slang, sometimes in a derogatory manner, to refer to all transgender women.

hate crime

is a crime (usually an act of violence) where the victim is targeted because of their perceived membership in a certain social group, such as a racial group, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity.

homophobia

is a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards LGBTQ people. Definitions refer variably to antipathy, contempt, prejudice, aversion, and irrational fear. Homophobia is observable in critical and hostile behavior such as discrimination and violence on the basis of a perceived non-heterosexual orientation. In a 1998 address, author, activist, and civil rights leader Coretta Scott King stated that "Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood.

heterosexism

is a term that applies to a system of negative attitudes, bias, and discrimination in favor of heterosexual sexuality and relationships. It can include the presumption that everyone is heterosexual or that opposite-sex attractions and relationships are the norm and therefore superior. Heterosexism as discrimination ranks gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people as second-class citizens with regard to various legal and civil rights, economic opportunities, and social equality in the majority of the world's jurisdictions and societies.

gay

is an adjective used to describe people whose enduring physical, romantic and/or emotional attractions are to people of the same sex.

cis-gender

referring to an individual who has a match between the gender they were assigned at birth and the roles and behaviors considered by society to be appropriate to their particular sex.

internalized homophobia

refers to negative feelings that we have towards ourselves because of our homosexuality. The forms it may take can vary from outright shame, denial, or self-injury, to hating on other gay people and more unconscious behaviors as well.

coming out

the process of disclosing your sexual orientation or gender identity to some or all people.

ally

typically any non-LGBT person who supports and stands up for the rights of LGBT people, though LGBT people can be allies, such as a lesbian who is an ally to transgendered people.