LGBTQIA+ Terminology

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  

A

Accomplice - someone who focuses more on dismantling the structures that oppress individuals or groups; becoming complicit in a struggle towards liberation.

Advocate - a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy.

AFAB - AFAB stands for Assigned Female at Birth and is used by many different people, including those who are transgender. It should be noted that AFAB is a descriptor and not an identity and can erase the identity of trans people assigned this sex at birth.

Agender - a person whose gender identity does not align with any gender. Sometimes referred to as the absence of gender or of any gender identity.

Ally - the term for an individual who is not necessarily a member of a particular group, but supports that group’s human rights and promotes equality and inclusion in various ways.

AMAB - AMAB stands for Assigned Male at Birth and is used by many different people, including those who are transgender. It should be noted that AMAB is a descriptor and not an identity and can erase the identity of trans people assigned this sex at birth.

Androgynous - a person or thing that does not identify or present as solely feminine nor masculine gender identity or gender presentation.

Aromantic - romantic orientation characterized by a persistent lack of romantic attraction toward any gender. Aromanticism is often conceptualized as existing on a spectrum.

Asexual - an individual characterized by a lack of sexual attraction to any gender. Asexuality is often conceptualized as existing on a spectrum.

B

Bigender - Identifying as two genders.

Biphobia - fear, hatred, or intolerance of people who identify or are perceived as bisexual.

Bisexual - individual attracted to more than one gender or gender identity.

C

Cisgender - a person who identifies with the gender they were assigned at birth.

Cissexism - systemic discrimination against transgender people.

Coming Out - the process through which a person acknowledges their sexual orientation or gender identity and shares this with others.

D

Demiromantic - Romantic orientation in which someone feels romantic attraction only to people whom they have an emotional bond with. Demiromanticism is considered part of the aromantic spectrum.

Demisexual -Sexual orientation in which someone feels sexual attraction only to people whom they have an emotional bond with. Demisexuality is considered part of the asexual spectrum.

E

Enby- Nonbinary. A slang term from the pronunciation of “NB” which is a common abbreviation of nonbinary. 

F

Femme - community label for people who identify with femininity specifically through a queer and/or politically radical and/or subversive context; person who expresses and/or identifies with femininity regardless of gender.

Folx - An alternative writing of the word “folks” to be gender neutral and inclusive.

FTM/F2M - Female to Male. Used to refer to those assigned female at birth who transition to a male or masculine gender identity.

G

Gay - an individual who is sexually attracted to members of the same gender.

Gender - the socially and culturally constructed roles, behaviors, activities, and characteristics presumed to a person.

Gender Binary - the incorrect idea that gender consists of only two gender identities; rather, gender is a spectrum of identity.

Gender Dysphoria - description of emotional or mental dissonance between one’s desired concept of their body and what their body actually is, especially in reference to body parts/features that do not align or reflect one’s gender identity.

Gender Expression - the way a person expresses their gender identity, typically through their appearance, dress, and behavior.

Gender Fluid - a person who does not identify with a single gender. 

Gender Identity - a person’s perception of having a particular gender, which may or may not correspond with their assigned gender at birth.

Gender Non-Conforming - individuals whose gender identity does not fit into the societal expectations related to gender.

Gender Pronouns - (aka Personal Gender Pronouns or PGPs) pronoun that a person uses for themself; gender pronouns (he/she/they/ze, etc.) specifically refer to people that you are talking about.

Genderqueer - A person whose gender identity and/or gender expression falls outside of the dominant societal norm for their assigned sex.

H

Heteronormativity - a socially constructed assumption that heterosexuality is the natural norm from which all other sexualities deviate; the assumption that everyone identities as heterosexual until shown or proven otherwise

Heterosexism - systemic discrimination against queer people; the assumption that heterosexuality is the “normal” or default sexual orientation.

Homophobia - the fear or hatred of people attracted to members of the same gender

I

Intersex - a person with a less common combination of hormones, chromosomes, and anatomy that are used to assign sex and gender a birth in accordance to the sex/gender binary ; intersex is not interchangeable with or a synonym for transgender.

L

Lived Name - the name someone goes by; not necessarily their legal name; not a nickname; trans people may go by lived names rather than their dead names (the name given to them at birth). Can also be referred to as a Chosen Name.

M

MTF/M2F - Male to female. Used to refer to those assigned male at birth who transition to a female or feminine gender identity.  

N

Nonbinary - any gender that falls outside of the binary system of man/woman.

O

Outing - exposing someone’s gender identity or sexual orientation without that individual’s permission.

P

Pansexual - a sexuality used to describe an individual sexually attracted to others regardless of gender.

PGP - Personal Gender Pronouns.

Q

QPOC/QTPOC/QTBIPOC - Queer people/person of color, queer trans people/person of color, queer trans black indigenous people/person of color. 

Queer - minoritized gender, sexualities, and romantic orientations that are not cisgender, heterosexual, and/or heteroromantic.

R

Romantic Orientation - description of the gender or genders (or lack thereof) that one experiences romantic attraction towards.

S

Sex - classification of a person as male, female, or intersex based on their reproductive organs and functions; sex does not determine gender.

Sexual Orientation - a person’s sexual identity in relation to the gender they are attracted to.

T

Transgender - umbrella term for persons whose gender identity is different than the gender they were assigned at birth.

Transmasculine/Transmasc- an umbrella term for trans individuals, usually AFAB, who identify with masculinity. Usually used by those who do not identify with the binary implication of the term FTM.

Transfeminine/Transfemme- an umbrella term for trans individuals, usually AMAB, who identify with femininity. Usually used by those who do not identify with the binary implication of the term MTF.

Transmisogynoir - specific bias, hostility, and prejudice against Black trans women.

Transphobia - fear or hatred of transgender individuals.

Two-Spirit - Indigenous term to describe a person who embodies the attributes of both masculine and feminine genders, have distinct gender and social roles in their tribes, and are often involved with rituals; only applies to pan-Indigenous people.