Abrosexual

An individual that has a fluid and/or rapidly changing sexuality that fluctuates  between different sexualities. 

Affirmed gender

The gender by which one wishes to be known. This term is often used to  replace terms like new gender or chosen gender, which imply that an individual’s gender was  not always their gender or that the gender was chosen rather than simply in existence. 

Agender

Refers to a person who does not identify with any gender. 

Ally 

A term used to describe someone who is supportive of LGBTQ individuals and the community, either personally or as an advocate. Whereas allies to the LGB community typically identify as straight, allies to the transgender community also come from the LGBTQ community. Transgender individuals who identify as straight can be allies to the LGB community as well. 

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Androgyne

An androgynous individual. 

Androgynous 

Typically used to describe a person’s appearances or clothing as having elements of both femininity and masculinity. 

 

Aromantic 

Refers to an individual who does not experience romantic attraction. 

Asexual

Refers to an individual who does not experience sexual attraction. There is considerable diversity among the asexual community; each asexual person experiences things like relationships, attraction, and arousal somewhat differently. Asexuality is distinct from celibacy or sexual abstinence, which are chosen behaviors, in that asexuality is a sexual orientation that does not necessarily entail either of those behaviors. 

Assigned sex

The sex that is assigned to an infant at birth based on the child’s visible sex organs, including genitalia and other physical characteristics. 

Assigned gender

The gender that is assigned to an infant at birth which is meant to correspond to the child’s assigned sex. 

Assumed gender

The gender others assume an individual to be based on the sex they are assigned at birth, as well as apparent gender markers such as physical build, voice, clothes, and  hair. 

Bear Community

A part of the queer community composed of queer men similar in looks and interests, most of them big, hairy, friendly and affectionate. The community aims to provide spaces where one feels wanted, desired, and liked. It nourishes and values an individual’s  process of making friends, of learning self-care and self-love through the unity and support of the community. Bears, Cubs, Otters, Wolves, Chasers, Admirers and other wildlife comprise what has come to be known as the Brotherhood of Bears and/or the Bear community.

Bigender

Someone who identifies with both male and female genders, or even a third gender. 

Biological sex

Refers to anatomical, physiological, genetic, or physical attributes that determine if a person is male, female, or intersex. These include genitalia, gonads, hormone levels, hormone receptors, chromosomes, genes, and secondary sex characteristics. Sex is often confused or interchanged with gender, which involves personal identity and social factors, and  is not determined by biological sex. 

Biphobia

Prejudice, fear or hatred directed toward bisexual people. 

Bisexual

Refers to an individual who has the capacity for attraction—sexually, romantically, emotionally, or otherwise—to people with the same, and to people with a different, gender and/or gender identity as themselves. People who identify as bisexual need not have had equal  experience- or equal levels of attraction- with people across genders, nor any experience at all:  it is merely attraction and self-identification that determine orientation. Bisexuality, as it is frequently used today, can act as an umbrella term that encapsulates many identities such as  pansexual. Sometimes referred to as bi or bi+. 

BlaQ/BlaQueer 

Folks of Black/African descent and/or from the African diaspora who recognize their queerness/LGBTQIA identity as a salient identity attached to their Blackness and vice versa. (T. Porter)  

Butch

A gender expression that fits societal definitions of masculinity. Usually used by queer women and trans people, particularly by lesbians. Some consider “butch” to be its own gender identity. 

Cisgender

Refers to an individual whose gender identity aligns with the one typically associated with the sex assigned to them at birth. 

Closeted

Describes a person who is not open about their sexual orientation or gender identity. 

Coming out

The process in which a person first acknowledges, accepts and appreciates their sexual orientation or gender identity and begins to share that with others. 

Demisexual

Similar to asexual people, as they do not feel sexual attraction, but they may develop sexual attraction towards someone once they form a strong (usually romantic) bond  with them. The people they may feel romantic feelings towards is determined by one of the following labels.

Disclosure

A word that some people use to describe the act or process of revealing one’s transgender or gender-expansive identity to another person in a specific instance. Some find  the term offensive, implying the need to disclose something shameful, and prefer to use the term coming out, whereas others find coming out offensive, and prefer to use disclosure. 

Drag

The act of performing a gender or presenting as a different gender, usually for the purpose of entertainment (i.e. drag kings and queens). Many people who do drag may not wish  to present as a different gender all of the time. 

Femme

Historically used in the lesbian community, it is being increasingly used by other  LGBTQIA people to describe gender expressions that reclaim/claim and/or disrupt traditional constructs of femininity. 

Gay

The adjective used to describe people who are emotionally, romantically, and/or physically attracted to people of the same gender (e.g., gay man, gay people). In contemporary contexts, lesbian is often a preferred term for women, though many women use the term gay to describe themselves. People who are gay need not have had any sexual experience; it is the attraction and self-identification that determine orientation. 

Gender

A set of social, psychological, and/or emotional traits, often influenced by societal expectations, that classify an individual as man, woman, a mixture of both, or neither. 

Gender-affirming surgery (GAS)

Surgical procedures that can help people adjust their bodies to more closely match their innate or internal gender identity. Not every transgender person will desire or have resources for surgery. This term should be used in place of the older and  often offensive term sex change. Also, sometimes referred to as sexual reassignment surgery (or SRS), genital reconstruction surgery, or medical transition.

 
Gender binary

The concept that there are only two genders, man and woman, and that everyone must be one or the other. Also implies the assumption that gender is biologically determined. 

Gender dysphoria

Clinically significant distress caused when a person's assigned birth gender is  not the same as the one with which they identify. According to the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the term - which replaces Gender Identity Disorder - "is intended to better characterize the experiences of affected children, adolescents, and adults." 

Gender-expansive

Conveys a wider, more flexible range of gender identity and/or expression than typically associated with the binary gender system.

Gender expression

External appearance of one's gender identity, usually expressed through  behavior, clothing, haircut or voice, and which may or may not conform to socially defined  behaviors and characteristics typically associated with being either masculine or feminine. 

Gender-fluid

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a person who does not identify with a single fixed gender; of or relating to a person having or expressing a fluid or unfixed gender  identity. 

Gender identity

One’s innermost concept of self as male, female, a blend of both or neither – how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. One's gender identity can  be the same or different from their sex assigned at birth. 

Gender non-conforming

A broad term referring to people who do not behave in a way that  conforms to the traditional expectations of their gender, or whose gender expression does not  fit neatly into a category. 

Gender Outlaw

A person who refuses to be defined by conventional definitions of male and  female. 

Genderqueer

Genderqueer people typically reject notions of static categories of gender and  embrace a fluidity of gender identity and often, though not always, sexual orientation. People who identify as "genderqueer" may see themselves as being both male and female, neither male nor female or as falling completely outside these categories. 

Gender socialization

The process by which an individual is taught how they should behave as a boy or as a girl. Parents, teachers, peers, media, and books are some of the many agents of  gender socialization. 

Gender spectrum

The concept that gender exists beyond a simple man/woman binary model, but instead exists on a continuum. Some people fall towards more masculine or more feminine  aspects, some people move fluidly along the spectrum, and some identify off the spectrum entirely. 

Gender transition

The process by which some people strive to more closely align their internal knowledge of gender with its outward appearance. Some people socially transition, whereby they might begin dressing, using names and pronouns and/or be socially recognized as another gender. Others undergo physical transitions in which they modify their bodies through medical interventions. 

Heterosexism

The assumption that sexuality between people of different sexes is normal, standard, superior or universal and other sexual orientations are substandard, inferior, abnormal, marginal or invalid. 

Homophobia

An aversion to lesbian or gay people that often manifests itself in the form of  prejudice and bias. Similarly, biphobia is an aversion people who are bisexual, and transphobia is an aversion to people who are transgender. Homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic are the  related adjectives. Collectively, these attitudes are referred to as anti- LGBTQ bias. 

Homosexual

An outdated clinical term often considered derogatory and offensive, as opposed to the generally preferred terms, gay, lesbian, or queer. 

Intergender

Someone whose identity is between genders and/or a combination of gender identities and expressions. 

Intersex/differences of sexual development (DSD)

Refers to individuals born with ambiguous genitalia or bodies that appear neither typically male nor female, often arising from chromosomal anomalies or ambiguous genitalia. Medical professionals often assign a gender to  the individual and proceeded to perform surgeries to ‘align’ their physical appearance with  typical male or female sex characteristics beginning in infancy and often continuing into adolescence, before a child is able to give informed consent.  

Intersectionality

The idea that people who find themselves at the crossroads of multiple  identities (for example, in terms of race, gender, or sexuality) experience discrimination in a  way uniquely different from those who with whom they may only share one or some identities  in common. For example, Black women will experience racism differently than Black men and  sexism differently than white women, and the way they experience racism and sexism is  informed by their unique intersectional identities. 

Latinx

A gender-expansive term used to be more inclusive of all genders than the binary terms Latino or Latina permit, as these are terms of identity found in Spanish, a gendered language. 

Lesbian

Refers to a woman who is emotionally, romantically, and/or physically attracted to other women. People who are lesbians need not have had any sexual experience; it is the attraction that helps determine orientation. 

LGBTQ

An acronym that collectively refers to individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer. It is sometimes stated as LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender), GLBT (gay, lesbian, bi, and transgender). The addition of the Q is a more recently preferred  version of the acronym as cultural opinions of the term queer focus increasingly on its positive, reclaimed definition, which recognizes more fluid identities; and as a move towards greater  inclusivity for gender expansive people. The Q can also stand for questioning, referring to those who are still exploring their own sexuality and/or gender. Occasionally, the acronym is also stated as LGBTA to include people who are asexual, LGBTI, with the I representing intersex, or  LGBTQ+ or LGBTQIA to represent all of the above. 

Lifestyle

A negative term often incorrectly used to describe the lives of people who are LGBTQ. The term is disliked because it implies that being LGBTQ is a choice. 

Omnigender

Possessing all genders. The term is used specifically to refute the concept of only two genders. 

Misgender

To refer to someone, especially a transgender or gender-expansive person, using a word, especially a pronoun or form of address, which does not correctly reflect the gender with  which they identify. 

Non-binary

An adjective describing a person who does not identify exclusively as a man or a  woman. Non-binary people may identify as being both a man and a woman, somewhere in between, or as falling completely outside these categories. While many also identify as transgender, not all non-binary people do. 

Out

Generally, describes people who openly self-identify as LGBTQ in their private, public, and/or professional lives. Sometimes, individuals are outed by others who they may have  already come out to. Outing an LGBTQ person without their consent is disrespectful and potentially dangerous for the LGBTQ individual. Some people who are transgender prefer to use the term disclose (defined above).

Outing

Exposing someone’s lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender identity to others without their permission. Outing someone can have serious repercussions on employment, economic stability, personal safety or religious or family situations. 

Pansexual

Refers to a person whose emotional, romantic, and/or physical attraction is to people of all genders and biological sexes. People who are pansexual need not have had any sexual experience; it is the attraction and self-identification that determines the orientation. Often included under the umbrella of bisexuality. 

Pangender

Someone whose identity is comprised of all or many gender identities and expressions. 

Polysexual/Polyamorous

Attraction to multiple partners simultaneously. Poly people can also be bi, straight, gay, pan, or other type of orientation. They have two or more partners at the same time; these relationships can be very healthy and happy, so remember that even if a certain type of relationship doesn't work for you, doesn't mean you get to say what does and doesn't work for other people.

Pronouns

Linguistic tools used to refer to someone in the third person. Examples are they/them/theirs, ze/hir/hirs, she/her/hers, he/him/his. In English and some other languages, pronouns have been tied to gender and are a common site of misgendering (attributing a gender to someone that is incorrect.) 

Queer

A term used by some people—particularly youth—to describe themselves and/or their community. Reclaimed from its earlier negative use, the term is valued by some for its defiance, by some because it can be inclusive of the entire community, and by others who find it to be an appropriate term to describe their more fluid identities. Traditionally a negative or pejorative term for people who are gay, queer is still sometimes disliked within the LGBTQ community. Due to its varying meanings, this word should only be used when self-identifying or quoting someone who self-identifies as queer (i.e. “My cousin identifies as queer”). 

Questioning

Describes those who are in a process of discovery and exploration about their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or a combination thereof. 

Same-Gender Loving

A term sometimes used by some members of the African-American/Black community to express an alternative sexual orientation (gay/bisexual) without relying on terms  and symbols of European descent. 

Sexual orientation

Emotional, romantic, or sexual feelings toward other people. While sexual behavior involves the choices, one makes in acting on one’s sexual orientation, sexual orientation is part of the human condition, one’s sexual activity does not define one’s sexual orientation; typically, it is the attraction that helps determine orientation. 

Skoliosexual

Someone who is attracted to non-cisgender people. This includes trans, gender fluid, androgynous, and other gender-queer people. 

Stealth

A term used to describe transgender or gender-expansive individuals who do not disclose their transgender or gender-expansive status in their public or private lives (or certain aspects of their public and private lives). The term is increasingly considered offensive by some as it implies an element of deception. The phrase maintaining privacy is often used instead, though some individuals use both terms interchangeably.

Transgender

Often shortened to trans. A term describing a person’s gender identity that does not necessarily match their assigned sex at birth. Other terms commonly used are female to male (or FTM), male to female (or MTF), assigned male at birth (or AMAB), assigned female at  birth (or AFAB), genderqueer, and gender expansive. Transgender people may or may not decide to alter their bodies hormonally and/or surgically to match their gender identity. This word is also used as a broad umbrella term to describe those who transcend conventional expectations of gender identity or expression. Like any umbrella term, many different groups of people with different histories and experiences are often included within the greater transgender community—such groups include, but are certainly not limited to, people who  identify as transsexual, genderqueer, gender variant, gender diverse, and androgynous. 

Transition

A term sometimes used to refer to the process—social, legal, and/or medical—one goes through to discover and/or affirm one’s gender identity. This may, but does not always,  include taking hormones; having surgeries; and changing names, pronouns, identification documents, and more. Many individuals choose not to or are unable to transition for a wide range of reasons both within and beyond their control. The validity of an individual’s gender identity does not depend on any social, legal, and/or medical transition; the self-identification itself is what validates the gender identity. 

Trans man

A person may choose to identify this way to capture their gender identity as well as their lived experience as a transgender person. Some trans men may also use the term FTM or F2M to describe their identity.

Trans woman

A person may choose to identify this way to capture their gender identity as well as their lived experience as a transgender person. Some trans women may also use MTF or M2F to describe their identity.

Transsexual

A less frequently used—and sometimes misunderstood—term (considered by  some to be outdated or possibly offensive, and others to be uniquely applicable to them) which refers to people who use (or consider using) medical interventions such as hormone therapy or gender-affirming surgeries (GAS), also called sex reassignment surgery (SRS) (or a combination of the two) or pursue medical interventions as part of the process of expressing their gender. Some people who identify as transsexual do not identify as transgender and vice versa.

Two-Spirit (also two spirit or, occasionally, twospirited)

A modern, pan-Indian, umbrella term used by some indigenous North Americans to describe certain people in their communities who fulfill a traditional third-gender (or other gender-variant) ceremonial role in their cultures. 

Womyn/Womxn

Some womyn spell the word with a “y” or an “x” as a form of empowerment to move away from the “men” in the “traditional” spelling of women.

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Source: The World Wide Web a.k.a. The Internet (Curated)