Glossary

The list below is not exhaustive, but highlights key terms that are used by the LGBTQ+ community to help express who they are and their experiences in the community.

Clarification on terms can be researched or discussed with those in the community, but it is never the job of the community in question to justify themselves and/or educate everyone on the outside.

  • Ally: Traditionally, an ally is someone who does not identify as LGBTQ+ but supports and embraces members of the community and advocates for the community as a whole. Allies have in some cases been included in acronyms for the community, such as LGBTQIA. The concept of allyship has increasingly come under scrutiny in recent years, especially in regard to people labeling themselves as allies or not living up to their self-proclaimed allyship. Other terms used instead of ally include abolitionist and advocate.
  • Asexual: This term refers to individuals who do not feel sexual attraction. This can be the "A" in LGBTQIA and other similar acronyms.
  • Biphobia: An experience of having an aversion to/hatred of/dislike of bisexuality and bisexual people
  • Bisexual: Refers to individuals who feel sexual and/or romantic attraction to individuals of more than one gender. This is the "B" in LGBTQ+ and other similar acronyms.
  • Cisgender, cis- : Refers to individuals whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth.
  • Deadnaming: "Deadnaming occurs when someone, intentionally or not, refers to a person who’s transgender by the name they used before they transitioned. You may also hear it described as referring to someone by their 'birth name' or their 'given name.'" (source: https://www.healthline.com/health/transgender/deadnaming)
  • Gay: Refers to individuals who feel sexual and/or romantic attraction to individuals of the same gender. This is the "G" in LGBTQ+ and other similar acronyms.
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  • Gender Fluid: Having a gender identity that changes. Someone who is gender fluid can identify as different genders at different times.
  • Gender Identity: "A personal, deeply felt sense of being male, female, both, or neither. Everyone has a gender identity." (source: https://www.hrc.org/resources/schools-in-transition-a-guide-for-supporting-transgender-students-in-k-12-s)
  • Gender Nonconforming: "Describes a person whose behaviors or gender expression falls outside of what is generally considered typical for their assigned sex at birth." (source: https://www.hrc.org/resources/schools-in-transition-a-guide-for-supporting-transgender-students-in-k-12-s)
  • Genderqueer: Also called "non-binary", refers to gender identities that are not exclusively masculine nor feminine. Genderqueer individuals may express a combination of masculine, feminine, or neither in their gender expression.
  • Gender Spectrum: "The term gender spectrum is a way of describing gender without conforming to the gender binary. It denotes gender as a continuum that includes male and female, but without establishing them as absolutes or polar opposites. " (Source: http://queerdictionary.blogspot.com/2014/09/definition-of-gender-spectrum.html )
  • Gender-Neutral: A gender-neutral space is one that is not assigned for use by any specific gender. Spaces such as bathrooms and locker rooms are often assigned to use by one gender, excluding those who do not identify as either. Gender-neutral pronouns are pronouns that do not associate any gender with the person being discussed. Examples of gendered pronouns include "he" and "she". Examples of gender-neutral pronouns include "they" and "ze".
  • GSA: "GSA clubs–originally called Gay-Straight Alliance clubs when they first established in the 1980s–are student-run organizations, typically in a high school or middle school, which provide a safe place for students to meet, support each other, and talk about issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. " (Source: https://gsanetwork.org/what-is-a-gsa/ ) The acronym "GSA" has stayed the same, but many groups are changing what the letters stand for in order to be more inclusive: Gender-Sexuality Alliance.
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  • Heteronormative: "of, relating to, or based on the attitude that heterosexuality is the only normal and natural expression of sexuality" (source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heteronormative )
  • Heterosexism: Heterosexism refers to both the individual and cultural ways that heteronormativity is reinforced and protected. It can refer to hate, disgust, and invalidation on an individual level as well as the structural, pervasive ways our political and social systems are set up to protect hetero- and cis- normative individuals and relationships and discriminate against those who do not fit into cis- or hetero- normative identities. The term "heterosexism" is preferred by some because it feels more thorough than 'homophobia': it includes both discrimination as well as the reinforcement of dominant, normative culture and it includes both the individual and cultural ways they can show up. Another reason this term holds power is because of the way it shifts responsibility and culpability. A "phobia" is a fear, often one that someone does not have control over and is something to sympathize with or have empathy for. Having phobias is seen as understandable and natural, and while sometimes we work to overcome them, a lot of the time we deal with a phobia by just avoiding the issue - if someone is arachnophobic, the solution generally isn't working to get to know and understand spiders better so they can be comfortable with them, it's avoiding spiders. Additionally, "it is...important to recognize that heterosexism is not always intentional and can manifest itself in our innocuous everyday actions, behaviors, and assumptions." (Taylor, p. 59).
  • Heterosexual: Refers to an individual who feels sexual and/or romantic attraction to individuals of the 'opposite' gender
  • Homophobia: An experience of having an aversion to/hatred of/dislike of homosexuality and homosexual people
  • Intersex: "Someone whose combination of physical characteristics (chromosomes, hormones, internal and external reproductive organs, etc.), isn't exclusively male or female. Before 'intersex,' the term was 'hermaphrodite,' which is now often considered a slur." (Prager, 2017, p. 221). This is the "I" in LGBTQIA and other similar acronyms.
  • Lesbian: Refers to women who feel sexual and/or romantic attraction to other women. This is the "L" in LGBTQ+ and other similar acronyms.
  • LGBT, LGBTQ, LGBTQIA, LGBTQQIA: These are acronyms that have been used to refer to the LGBTQ+ community. Typically the L refers to lesbian; the G to Gay; the T to trans, transgender, and/or transsexual; the Q to queer and/or questioning; the I to intersex; and the A to asexual and/or ally. Over time, the acronym has evolved to be more inclusive
  • LGBTQ+: LGBTQ+ refers, inclusively, to individuals who identify as (L) lesbian, (G) gay, (B) bisexual, (T) transgender, (Q) queer or questioning, and more; the plus symbol serves both to recognize specifically the other letters that have been included in the acronym (as in LGBTQQIA), and to represent the idea that there will always be more identities than can be captured by letters alone. Using a plus symbol indicates that this community is large and diverse, and that while there may not be a letter for every individual, the intent of the acronym is inclusive. The plus symbol also provides space for and recognition of the ever-evolving nature of gender and sexual identities.
  • Non-Binary: Also called "genderqueer", refers to gender identities that are not exclusively masculine nor feminine. Non-binary individuals may express a combination of masculine, feminine, or neither in their gender expression.
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  • Pansexual: Refers to individuals who feel sexual and/or romantic attraction to individuals regardless of gender.
  • Pronouns: "Pronouns are linguistic tools that we use to refer to people. (i.e. they/them/theirs, she/her/hers, he/him/his, ze/zir/zir). Example: "Ze reminded zirself to pick up zir umbrella before going outside." When asking about someone's pronouns or introducing oneself with pronouns, try to avoid using the phrase "preferred pronouns". By referring to the pronouns and name others should use for us as a preference, it can imply a demotion of a deeply felt personal identity to a simple preference. Thinking of someone's pronouns as a preference can also mean the need to use the correct pronouns is seen as less important, can be seen as something to try to do but not worry too much about (because it's "only a preference"). The pronouns we use are a representation of who we are and how we identify, something much deeper than a simple "preference" (source: https://lgbtqia.ucdavis.edu/educated/pronouns )
  • Queer: This is an inclusive term used by individuals with a variety of sexual and gender identities to mark themselves as outside the heteronormative mainstream of heterosexual and cisgender. It is a former pejorative term that has been reclaimed by members of the community to refer to the diverse range of identities included, celebrated, and united by the umbrella term of "queer".
  • Questioning: The experience of being curious or unsure or exploring one's gender identity, sexual identity, and/or sexual orientation; usually involves a level of stress for labeling oneself as a specified term
  • Sex: "Society typically tells us that there are two sexes: male and female. You may also be familiar with the fact that some people are intersex, or have a difference of sexual development (DSD)." DSD is used to describe chromosomes, anatomy, or sex characteristics that can’t be categorized as exclusively male or female. Sex is also assumed based on genitalia (existence of a penis or vagina), chromosomes (having XX versus XY), primary sex characteristics (dominance of testosterone or estrogen), or secondary sex characteristics (facial hair, breast tissue, voice, etc). However, all four of these categories lack substance in being able to identify someone else's 'sex' when it comes to individuals who are not cisgender or who identify with any gender not associated with the one they are assigned at birth." (source: https://www.healthline.com/health/sex-vs-gender#sex )
  • Sexual and Gender Minority Youths: Sexual and gender minority youths are individuals who identify as LGBTQ+. This phrase is used in order to refer to all LGBTQ+ individuals inclusively, and to acknowledge their minority status as an important feature within the context where it is used.
  • Sexual Orientation: "Term that describes a person's romantic or sexual attraction to people of a specific gender or genders. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and straight are examples of sexual orientations. Our sexual orientation and our gender identity are separate, distinct parts of our overall identities." (source: https://www.hrc.org/resources/schools-in-transition-a-guide-for-supporting-transgender-students-in-k-12-s)
  • Transgender: "Describes a person whose gender identity is different from what is generally considered typical for their sex assigned at birth. Note: This term is an adjective. Using this term as a verb (i.e. transgendered) or noun (i.e. transgenders) is offensive and should be avoided." This is the T in LGBTQ+ and other similar acronyms. (source: https://www.hrc.org/resources/schools-in-transition-a-guide-for-supporting-transgender-students-in-k-12-s)
  • Transition: "The process through which transgender people begin to live as the gender with which they identify, rather than the one typically associated with their sex assigned at birth. Social transition may include things such as changing names, pronouns, hairstyle, and clothing. Medical transition may include medical components like hormone therapy and gender affirming surgeries. Not all transgender individuals seek medical care as part of their transition or have access to such care. The decision about which steps to take as part of one's transition is a deeply personal and private choice. You should never ask someone if they have had any medical procedures, and you should respect the privacy of a student's transition process." (source: https://www.hrc.org/resources/schools-in-transition-a-guide-for-supporting-transgender-students-in-k-12-s)
  • Transphobia: "Irrational fear or hatred of, or violence, harassment or discrimination perpetrated against transgender people." (source: https://www.hrc.org/resources/schools-in-transition-a-guide-for-supporting-transgender-students-in-k-12-s)
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References

Baum, J. & Orr, A. (n.d.). Schools in Transition: A Guide for Supporting Transgender Students in K-12 Schools [PDF file]. Retrieved from https://assets2.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/Schools-In-Transition.pdf? _ga=2.188637800.1742163931.1556325840-898378786.1556199620

Clements, K.C. (n.d.). What Is Deadnaming? Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/transgender/deadnaming

Clements, K.C. (n.d.). What's the Difference Between Sex and Gender? Retrieved from https://www.glsen.org/sites/default/files/Gender%20Terminology%20Visual.png https://www.healthline.com/health/sex-vs-gender#sex

GLSEN. (n.d.). Gender Terminology Visual [PNG file]. Retrieved from https://www.glsen.org/content/gender-terminology-visual

LGBTQIA Resource Center: Pronouns. (2018, April 19). Retrieved from https://lgbtqia.ucdavis.edu/educated/pronouns

Prager, S. (2017). Queer, there, and everywhere. New York, NY: Harper Collins.

Sobel, A. (n.d.). The Complete Guide to Queer Pride Flags. Retrieved from https://www.advocate.com/pride/2018/6/13/complete-guide-queer-pride-flags#media-gallery-media-2

Taylor, J. L. (2014). Call to Action: Embracing an Inclusive LGBTQ Culture on Community College Campuses. New Directions for Community Colleges.