Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer (or Questioning) Intersex Asexual. The plus signifies all other identities! This term is often used as an inclusive umbrella term for diverse sexual and gender identities while acknowledging that different individuals will have their own unique experiences.
Ask them! Some people may use different pronouns at different times, so it is always best to ask. Try saying: "Hi, I'm [name]. I use she/her pronouns, what about you?"
Not at all! It's always best not to make assumptions about anyone's gender. Sharing your pronouns, regardless of how you identify, helps make it a normal practice so everyone can feel comfortable and safe.
Try to be mindful to use inclusive language, such as not assuming pronouns of people you don't know. When in doubt, it's okay to ask, or just use "they" until informed otherwise. You can introduce yourself using your own pronouns, as in "Hi, I'm [name]. I use she/her pronouns. What about you?" Or you can ask more directly, as in "I want to be respectful. What are your pronouns?"
Don't assume that everyone you meet is heterosexual! If you're asking if someone else is in a romantic relationship, avoid saying "boyfriend" or "girlfriend" and instead try saying "significant other" or "partner." Remember people can also be asexual, meaning they identify on a spectrum that may experience little to no sexual desire.
Stand up against homophobic and transphobic language you hear (like "gay" or "f-g" being used as slurs). We know, this can be really difficult. But silence may communicate agreement, and others around you will really appreciate your effort!
Don't force someone to come out to you. Wait until they're ready to talk about it! They'll let you know when they're ready.
Assumptions that heterosexuality and traditional binary (male/female) gender roles are natural and normative and that other ways of being are deviant, bad, or “abnormal” (APA, 2023).
A social construct of gender as a binary, mutually exclusive and unchangeable aspect of identity, either male or female, based on the sex assigned at birth (APA, 2015).
People who “have a gender identity that is not fully aligned with their sex assigned at birth” (APA, 2015, p. 832). Related terms include trans, nonbinary, genderqueer, gender-expansive, gender-fluid, agender, and two-spirit (among Native American and some other Indigenous people). “Gender diverse identities” may be used as an umbrella term.
Try checking out this reference guide of terms from The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)!
Sex is the “biological and physiological characteristics of females, males and intersex persons, such as chromosomes, hormones and reproductive organs” (World Health Organization). Sex is typically assigned at birth based on visible reproductive organs but is distinct from gender.
Gender is comprised of socially constructed identity characteristics, including “norms, behaviours and roles associated with being a woman, man, girl or boy, as well as relationships with each other” (World Health Organization). Some cultures recognize many genders, but many cultures still normalize the binary.
A person's gender identity is “a person’s deeply felt, inherent sense of being a girl, woman, or female; a boy, a man, or male; a blend of male or female; or an alternative gender” (APA, 2015). People whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth are considered cisgender.
Sexual orientation is commonly defined as a continuum of sexual attraction ranging from completely same-sex oriented (heterosexual, straight) to completely other-sex oriented (homosexual, lesbian, gay). The majority of sexuality diverse orientations fall along the continuum and include bisexual, pansexual, “mostly heterosexual,” and many other terms adopted based on personal preference (Morandini et al., 2021). “Sexuality diverse orientations” or “LGB+” can be used as an umbrella term when talking about sexual orientation but not gender identity. But remember that these are all ways people choose to identify themselves, and every choice is valid!