The language we use holds immense power. The vocabulary surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity is constantly evolving as the community becomes more visible. It is important to be responsive to these changes. The variety of terms can raise questions, so this guide — whilst not exhaustive — provides an overview of current terminology.
1. Terminology and abbreviations
Gender identity
Binary gender: people who identify as either male or female, including transgender men and women.
Cisgender: people whose identity matches the sex assigned at birth.
Gender expression: the choice of how to present oneself through behaviour, clothing, hairstyle or voice. It can change and does not always correspond to gender identity.
Gender transition: the process of making changes in one’s life and/or body to achieve gender comfort and affirm one’s identity.
Non-binary gender: people whose identity is not exclusively male or female. This includes those who describe themselves as genderqueer or genderfluid.
T / Trans: people whose gender identity differs from the sex assigned at birth.
Sexual orientation
Heterosexuality: people who identify as heterosexual or straight.
LGB: lesbians, gay men and bisexuals.
LGBTQ+: an umbrella term for those whose identity or orientation is not heterosexual or cisgender. This includes queer, intersex and gender-fluid people.
LGB+: people who define their orientation as lesbian, gay or bisexual, as well as those who are questioning or have a different identity.
Asexuality: people who experience little or no sexual attraction to others.
Key concepts
Gender-fluid: a dynamic experience of gender, in which a person may feel or express themselves through the lens of different genders at different times. This self-perception may not be expressed outwardly.
Genderqueer: an identity in which people do not adhere to the binary system or conventional gender distinctions.
Queer: a term often used to denote an identity or orientation outside heteronormative frameworks, without being tied to narrow definitions.
Intersex: people born with variations in sex characteristics that do not fit into the binary model of male or female bodies.
2. Details on gender identity
Sex assigned at birth: determined at birth based on observation of external characteristics. This process aims to assign a sex that is most likely to correspond to future identity.
Gender: psychological, social and cultural aspects (masculinity/femininity). Distinct from sex (biological characteristics).
Gender alignment: the alignment (or misalignment) of personal characteristics with the sex assigned at birth and the expected social role.
Gender dysphoria: discomfort caused by a mismatch between one’s identity and the sex assigned at birth. Not all transgender and non-binary people experience dysphoria, though for many it is a significant experience.
Misgendering: the use of words or forms of address that do not correspond to a person’s gender identity.
Pronouns: ‘he’ and ‘she’ are associated with the gender binary. With growing awareness, the singular pronoun ‘they’ is increasingly used. It is customary within the community to respect a person’s choice and to ask which pronouns they use for themselves.
Sex: physical and biological characteristics (chromosomes, organs, hormones). Based on external characteristics at birth, babies are registered in a binary category (male or female).
Sexual orientation: an identity based on attraction (emotional, romantic, sexual). It is often described in terms of gender (bisexuality, homosexuality) or as pansexuality — attraction to people regardless of their sex or gender.
