Gender Terms and Definitions

Gender Terms

& Definitions

Gender is typically classified as male, female, or nonbinary.
Gender identity is an individual's internal sense of themselves and their gender, regardless of whether they identify as male, female, neither, or both. Gender identity, unlike gender expression, is not visible to others.

What are the terms for genders?

Gender is typically classified as male, female, or nonbinary. Gender identity is an individual’s internal sense of themselves and their gender, regardless of whether they identify as male, female, neither, or both. Gender identity, unlike gender expression, is not visible to others.

What does LGBTQ+ stand for?

L = Lesbian

A lesbian is a woman or person who identifies as a woman who is only interested in other people of the same gender.

G = Gay

Most of the time, the word "gay" is used to describe men or people who identify as men who only like people of the same gender. But gay is also a word that can be used to describe lesbians. During the 1970s, the word "gay" was used more and more.

B = Bisexual

Bisexual means that you are attracted to men and women. It's important to recognise bisexual people because there have been times when people who say they are bi have been mistaken for gay. Since the "Bisexual Manifesto" came out in 1990, bisexual people have included transgender, binary, and nonbinary people.

T = Transgender

Transgender is a term for when a person's sense of their own gender is different from the gender they were given at birth.

Q = Queer or Questioning

People may use "queer" as a specific identity, but the word is often used to describe anyone who isn't cisgender or straight. It is also used as slang. It shouldn't be used for all people in the community. Instead, cisgender and heterosexual people should only use it when talking about someone who identifies with it. People who are questioning may not be sure about their sexual orientation or gender identity.

+ = Plus

The "plus" stands for all gender identities and sexual orientations that aren't covered by the other five initials.

LGBTQ+ Acronym Variations

Other acronym variations that are used include LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, plus other identities), & LGBTQQIP2SAA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, pansexual, two-spirit (2S), androgynous, and asexual).

Glossary of Terms

Many people avoid discussing sexual orientation and gender identity or expression out of fear of offending others or out of a sense of social taboo.
This glossary was written to give people the words and definitions they need to have easier and more comfortable conversations.
Not all of the terms used by LGBTQ+ people to identify themselves are included in this glossary.

Always pay close attention to and honour a person's self-identified terminology.

Ally

Someone who actively supports LGBTQ+ people is called an ally. It includes people who support each other in the LGBTQ+ community, you don't have to be part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Asexual

Asexual people experience no, little, or limited sexual attraction (Total lack of sexual attraction). It might change depending on the circumstance.

Bear

Most people think of a "bear" as a man with facial and body hair and a soft body. But "bear" can mean different things to different people, even within the "bear" movement. Most of the time, "bear" just means being at ease with natural masculinity and bodies.

Biphobia

Biphobia is the fear, discrimination, or hatred of bisexual people, which is often linked to the current binary standard. There is biphobia in the LGBTQI community and in society as a whole.

Bisexual

A sexual orientation in which a person can feel physically and emotionally attracted to more than one gender. Pansexual and this word are sometimes used interchangeably.

Butch

A person who thinks of themselves as masculine, whether in their body, their mind, or their feelings. Butch is sometimes used to insult lesbians, but it can also be used as a way to describe who you are.

Cisgender

A term for a person whose gender identity matches the traits that they were given at birth.

Coming Out

When a person first realises, accepts, and appreciates their sexual orientation or gender identity and starts to talk about it with other people, especially when they are not Heterosexual “coming out of the closet”.

Down Low

To hide your same-sex or 'gay' attractions and relationships while you are outwardly engaging in different/opposite -sex relationships.

Dyke

A term similar to butch that is usually used in a negative way to make lesbians seem like men. Lesbians have started using it as a proud way to describe a strong, independent woman.

Faggot

A slang word that is used to insult gay men. It is said that this word was used to describe gay men who were burned with heretics during the Inquisition. Also, the word "fag" was used to describe British lower-class men who were forced to do services for upper-class men, including sexual ones.

Fag Hag

Another slang term typically applied to women who prefer the company of gay men. Although some people proudly claim this label, it is generally considered offensive.

Gay

A person who feels a strong romantic or sexual attraction to people of the same gender (usually men - men).

Gender Binary

A system in which men and women are strictly classified as either male or female. Individuals are expected to identify with the sex to which they were biologically born, and their behaviours and expressions of that identity are expected to conform to conventional gender norms.

Gender Dysphoria

Discomfort one may feel if their gender identity does not match their biological identity. Anxiety and depression are possible outcomes of feeling chronically uneasy or dissatisfied with one's life.

Gender-expansive

An adverb that can be used to describe a person whose gender identity does not fit neatly into the binaries normally used.

Gender Expression

Expression of one's gender identity in one's outward appearance, which may or may not adhere to socially defined norms of what constitutes masculine or feminine behaviour and characteristics.

Gender-fluid

A person whose sense of gender is not consistent.

Gender Identity

a person's own idea of whether they are male or female (or rarely, both or neither). This idea is closely linked to the idea of gender role, which is the outward signs of a person's personality that show their gender identity.

Gender non-conforming

A broad term for people who don't act or look like their gender, or who don't fit neatly into a category. Many people who don't conform to the gender norms also identify as transgender.

Genderqueer

Genderqueer people usually don't believe in fixed gender categories. Instead, they accept that their gender identity and often their sexual orientation can change over time. People who call themselves "genderqueer" may think of themselves as both male and female, as neither male nor female, or as something completely different.

Heteronormativity

People or groups who think that everyone is heterosexual and that heterosexuality is the only sexuality.

Heterosexism

Prejudice against people and groups who don't act or identify as heterosexual, along with the power of the majority to enforce such prejudice. Heterosexism doesn't care about the needs, concerns, or lives of LGBTQIA people, but does care about the needs, concerns, and lives of heterosexual people.

Heterosexual Privilege

Those advantages of heterosexuality that are unavailable to those who do not identify as heterosexual.

Homophobia

Homophobia is an irrational and harmful fear or hatred of people who identify as homosexual or who practice sexual orientations that don't fit narrow gender norms. This anxiety upholds not only sexism but also heterosexism.

Intersex

In terms of sex characteristics and reproductive anatomy, intersex people display a wide range of variations at birth. Differences in genitalia, chromosomes, gonads, internal sex organs, hormone production, hormone response, and/or secondary sex traits are just some of the ways in which intersex individuals can differ from one another.

In the closet

One who is "in the closet" is one who has to lie about their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression in order to keep their job, their apartment, their friends, or any combination of these things. Many people who identify as LGBTQIA are both "out" and "closeted" at different times and in different places.

Lesbian

Popular word for a woman who prefers other women.

Lipstick Lesbian

Typically used to describe a lesbian who identifies as a woman. This term is also used to describe a lesbian who is so good at hiding her sexuality that no one would ever suspect she is a lesbian at all. (Passing as Heterosexual)

LGBTQ+

The acronym that means Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender. The “Q” was most recently added to mean “questioning” or “queer.” and the + for all the rest.

Nellie

A slang or pejorative term for a gay man who demonstrates a feminised masculinity.

Non-binary

Adjective used to describe someone who does not strictly identify as either male or female. Identity categories such as agender, bigender, genderqueer, and gender-fluid are all included under the umbrella term "non-binary."

Outing

Disclosure of a person's LGBTQIA+ status without their consent.

Pansexual

A person who experiences sexual attraction to people of all or multiple genders.

Polyamory

Open relationships, polyfidelity (in which multiple romantic relationships with limited sexual contact to those), and sub-relationships (in which one distinguishes between a 'primary' relationship or relationships and various'secondary' relationships) are all examples of honest, non-possessive relationships with multiple partners.

QTPOC

Acronym for Queer, Transgender, People of Color

Queer

The term "queer" is often used as a catch-all to include a wide variety of people, including those who don't identify as exclusively straight and/or those who have non-binary or gender-expansive identities. Many in the LGBTQ+ community have reclaimed this term from its previous derogatory use.

Questioning

An umbrella term for individuals who are still figuring out their sexual or gender identity.

Sexual Orientation

a feeling of physical, emotional, and sexual attraction felt by one person for another, and the expression of that attraction. The term "sexual orientation" is preferred over the more neutral "sexual preference," since the latter suggests a choice when, according to the vast majority of studies, sexual attraction is not a matter of personal preference.

Transgender

Individuals whose biologically assigned gender does not correspond to their lived experience may identify with this umbrella term. Transgender individuals may identify with any sexual orientation. People who undergo gender transition are not limited to one sexual orientation.

Transitioning

Procedural steps that some transgender people take to live more authentically in their gender. Legal name and sex changes on government identity documents are part of this, as are social transitions like changing one's name and pronouns, and medical transitions like hormone therapy or gender affirming surgeries.