LGBT Terminology GJM

Questioning

An identity of a person who is uncertain of their sexual orientation/identity and/ or their gender orientation/identity.

Intersex

A general term used for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn't seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male. Intersex conditions can affect the genitals, the chromosomes and/or secondary sex characteristics.

Ally

A member of the majority or dominant group who works to end oppression by supporting or advocating for the oppressed population. For example, any non-LGBT person who supports and stands up for the equality of LGBT people. (sometimes referred to as a "straight ally")

Gender neutral pronoun

A pronoun that does not associate a gender with the person being discussed. Two of the most common gender-neutral pronouns are "zie" replacing she and he, and "hir" replacing her and him.

Bisexual

A sexual orientation and/or identity of a person who is sexually and emotionally attracted to some males and some females.

Heterosexual

A sexual orientation and/or identity of a person who is sexually and emotionally attracted to some members of another sex (specifically, a male who is attracted to some females or a female who is attracted to some males). Often referred to as "straight."

Gay

A sexual orientation and/or identity of a person who is sexually and emotionally attracted to some members of the same sex. Although gay can refer to both males and females, many prefer the term "lesbian" for females. Gay is sometimes used as an umbrella term to refer to all lesbian, gay and bisexual people, but some prefer the more inclusive term "LGBT."

Gender

A social construct based on a group of emotional, behavioral and cultural characteristics attached to a person's assigned biological sex. The gender construct then classifies an individual as feminine, masculine, androgynous or other. Gender can be understood to have several components, including gender identity, gender expression and gender role.

Transvestite

A term for a cross-dresser that is considered derogatory by many.

Transgender Man

A term for a transgender individual who currently identifies as a man (see also "FTM").

Transgender woman

A term for a transgender individual who currently identifies as a woman (see also "MTF").

Cross-dresser

A term for people who dress in clothing traditionally or stereotypically worn by the other sex, but who generally have no intent to live full-time as the other gender.

Genger queer

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

Passing

A term used by transgender people to mean that they are seen as the gender with which they self-identify. For example, a transgender man (born female) who most people see as a man.

Transexual

A term, originated in the medical and psychological communities, that historically referred to people whose gender identity was not aligned with their sex assigned at birth.

Gender orientation

An individual's internal sense of their gender (e.g., feeling male, female or neither). Gender orientation doesn't necessarily align with the sex assigned at birth.

Gender non-conforming or gender-variant

An identity of a person who has gender characteristics and/or behaviors that do not conform to traditional or societal binary gender expectations.

Homosexual

An identity of a person who is sexually and emotionally attracted to some members of their own sex. Currently, many prefer the term lesbian or gay.

FTM or F2M

An identity of a person who was assigned female at birth, and who identifies as male, lives as a male or identifies as masculine. Other related terms include: transgender male, transman and affirmed male

Gender expression

An individual's physical characteristics, behaviors and presentation that are linked, traditionally, to either masculinity or femininity, such as: appearance, dress, mannerisms, speech patterns and social interactions.

Biphobia

An irrational fear of or aversion to bisexuality or bisexual people.

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."

LGBT

An umbrella term referring collectively to people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender. Sometimes the acronym is written as LGBTQ, with the "Q" referring to those who identify as questioning and/or queer. In the past "gay" was used as a general, overarching term, but currently the more inclusive terms LGBT and LGBTQ are regularly used and preferred by many LGBT people and allies.

Queer

An umbrella term used to describe a sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression that does not conform to heteronormative society. While it is used as a neutral, or even a positive term among many LGBT people today, historically it has been used negatively and is still considered derogatory by many.

Heterosexism

Applies to attitudes, bias and discrimination in favor of heterosexual sexuality and relationships. It includes the presumption that everyone is heterosexual or that male/female attractions and relationships are the norm and therefore superior. It is the belief that everyone is or should be straight.

Coming out

Declaring one's identity, specifically, being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, whether to a person in private or a group of people. To be "in the closet" means to hide one's identity.

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.

Androgynous

Having the characteristics or nature of both maleness and femaleness; neither specifically feminine nor masculine.

Gender identity

How we identify ourselves in terms of our gender. Identities may be: male, female, androgynous, transgender and others.

Bi-gendered

One who has a significant gender identity that encompasses both genders, male and female. Some may feel that one side or the other is stronger, but both sides are there.

Sex re-assignment surgery

Surgical procedures that change one's body to make it conform to a person's gender identity. This may include "top surgery" (breast augmentation or removal) or "bottom surgery" (altering genitals). Contrary to popular belief, there is not one surgery; in fact there are many different surgeries. "Sex change surgery" is considered a derogatory term by many.

Sexual orientation

The inner feelings of who we are attracted or oriented to sexually and emotionally.

Transphobia

The irrational fear or aversion to transgender people or of those who are perceived to break or blur societal norms regarding gender identity or gender expression.

Transition

The myriad of actions a person may take to transition from one gender identity to another. These may include social, psychological and/or medical processes. Transitioning is a complex process that occurs over a long period of time, it is not a one-time event.

Pansexual

The sexual, romantic or emotional attraction towards people regardless of their sex or gender identity.

Gender role

The social expectations of how an individual should act, think and/or feel based upon one's assigned biological sex. A set of traditional and stereotypical roles, traits, dress, characteristics, qualities, mannerisms and behaviors that are associated with societal norms of what is male and what is female.

Genderism

The systematic belief that people need to conform to the gender role assigned to them based on a gender binary system which allows only female and male.

Sex or biological sex

This can be considered our "packaging" and is determined by our chromosomes (such as XX or XY), our hormones and our internal and external genitalia. Typically, we are assigned the sex of male or female at birth.

Two-spirit

Used in many Native Americans to refer to people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or gender non-conforming. The term usually implies a masculine spirit and a feminine spirit living in the same body and has been adopted by some contemporary lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Native Americans to describe themselves.

Drag king

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

Drag

Wearing the clothing typically associated with another gender, often involving the presentation of exaggerated, stereotypical gender characteristics. Individuals may identify as drag kings (in drag presenting as male) or drag queens (in drag presenting as female) when performing gender as parody, art or entertainment.

Sexual identity

What we call ourselves in terms of our sexuality. Such labels include "lesbian," "gay," "bisexual," "queer," "heterosexual," "straight," and many more.

Sexual behavior

What we do sexually and with whom.