|
Term |
Definition |
|
AFAB |
Assigned Female at Birth. The term is used to discuss the experiences of people with a specific biological background, without reference to their gender or femininity. |
|
Affirmed Gender |
A person’s true identity. This term replaces outdated concepts such as ‘chosen gender’, emphasising that gender is not something one chooses, but something one comes to recognise. |
|
Agender |
The experience of a person who does not identify with any gender or feels they lack a gender identity. |
|
Alloromantic |
People who experience romantic attraction of any kind. |
|
Allosexual |
People who experience sexual attraction of any kind. |
|
Ally |
People who support the LGBTQ+ community. This isn’t just an identity, but an active process of taking action and self-education. |
|
AMAB |
Assigned Male at Birth. Similarly, AFAB is a term used to discuss experiences without reference to masculinity. |
|
Androgynous |
A combination of feminine and masculine traits in appearance or self-expression. |
|
Aroflux |
A romantic orientation that shifts (fluctuates) within the aromantic spectrum. |
|
Aromantic (aro) |
People who do not experience romantic attraction |
|
Asexual (ace) |
The absence of, or a very low level of, sexual attraction to other people. |
|
Assigned Sex |
The sex determined by doctors at birth on the basis of physical characteristics. |
|
Assumed Gender |
The gender that others attribute to a person based on their appearance or the sex assigned at birth |
|
Bi-curious |
A term used by those exploring the possibility of being attracted to people of different genders. It should be used with caution, as some consider it stigmatising. |
|
Bigender |
An identity that encompasses two genders (either simultaneously or alternately). |
|
Binary |
A social concept that recognises the existence of only two sexes and genders: male and female. |
|
Binding |
The process of safely compressing the chest to achieve gender comfort. |
|
Bioessentialism |
The belief that biology determines one’s identity. It is often used as a tool to discriminate against trans people. |
|
Biological Sex |
The combination of anatomical and physiological characteristics (chromosomes, hormones, organs). |
|
Biphobia |
Hostility, prejudice or discrimination against bisexual people. |
|
BIPOC |
An acronym used to refer to Black, Indigenous and people of colour. |
|
Biromantic |
The ability to feel romantic attraction towards people of more than one gender. |
|
Bisexual (bi or bi+) |
The ability to feel attraction (sexual or romantic) towards people of more than one gender. |
|
Bottom Surgery |
Surgical procedures on the genitals and reproductive system as part of gender transition. |
|
Butch |
A masculine form of self-expression through clothing and behaviour (most commonly used within the lesbian community). |
|
Chosen Family |
Close people who provide support in place of, or alongside, one’s own family. |
|
Cisgender (cis) |
The alignment of one’s gender identity with the sex assigned at birth. |
|
Cisnormativity |
The belief that cisgender identity is the only norm. |
|
Closeted |
The state prior to coming out. |
|
Coming Out |
The process of realising, accepting and revealing one’s identity. |
|
Disclosure |
Disclosing one’s trans status (some prefer this term to ‘coming out’). |
|
Drag |
The art of transformation through the exaggeration of gender traits. |
|
Femme |
Feminine self-expression through clothing and behaviour. |
|
Folx |
An inclusive spelling of the word ‘folks’ (people, lads) in English. |
|
FTM/F2M |
‘Female to male’. This term may be considered outdated. |
|
Furry |
People interested in art and creativity centred around anthropomorphic characters (animals endowed with human traits). This is a creative subculture that overlaps with the LGBTQ+ community, but is not in itself a sexual orientation or gender identity. |
|
Gatekeeping |
Attempts by individuals or institutions (such as doctors) to dictate the conditions under which a person’s identity will be recognised as ‘genuine’. This involves imposing external criteria (appearance, plans for surgery, behaviour) rather than respecting the individual’s right to self-determination. |
|
Gay |
1. A person who is attracted to people of the same gender (used as an umbrella term). 2. A man (including trans men) who is attracted to men. It is not necessary to have had any sexual experience: sexual orientation is determined by attraction and self-identification, rather than the gender or sexual orientation of one’s partner. |
|
Gender |
A person’s sense of self, which encompasses their internal sense of self (identity) and the external ways in which this is expressed. It may or may not correspond to biological sex or social stereotypes. |
|
Gender-Affirming Surgery (GAS) |
Medical procedures designed to help align the body with a person’s gender identity. |
|
Gender Binary |
The belief that there are only two genders. |
|
Gender Dysphoria |
A sense of discomfort caused by a mismatch between one’s gender identity and the sex assigned at birth. |
|
Gender Expansive |
A broad term for people who express or experience gender in different ways. |
|
Gender Expression |
The outward expression of gender: clothing, behaviour. |
|
Gender Fluid |
An identity that changes over time. |
|
Gender Identity |
A person’s sense of their own gender. |
|
Gender Nonconforming |
Behaviour that does not conform to societal expectations. |
|
Gender Neutral |
A term that does not indicate gender or sex. |
|
Genderqueer |
A term used by some people who do not conform to traditional gender norms. |
|
Grayromantic (gray aro) |
A rare or situational romantic attraction. |
|
Homophobia |
Hostility, hatred or dislike towards homosexual people. |
|
Homosexual |
An outdated clinical term. |
|
Hormone Blockers |
(See Puberty Blockers) |
|
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) |
Medical care that uses hormones to support gender transition. |
|
Intersex |
People with variations in sex characteristics that fall outside the binary model. |
|
Intersectionality |
A theory concerning the intersection of social identities and unique systems of oppression and privilege. |
|
Lesbian |
A woman (including trans women) who is attracted to women. It is not necessary to have had any sexual experience: sexual orientation is determined by attraction and self-identification, rather than by the gender or sexual orientation of one’s partner. |
|
LGBTQ+ |
An acronym for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgender people, Queer/Questioning, and others. |
|
Misgendering |
The use of incorrect pronouns or forms of address. |
|
MTF/M2F |
Male to Female; Transgender woman; Not used by PFLAG. |
|
MTX/M2X |
Male to X; a genderqueer or non-binary person registered as male at birth; not used by PFLAG. |
|
Nibling |
A gender-neutral term for a brother’s or sister’s children. |
|
Nonbinary (NB or Enby) |
Identity outside the ‘male/female’ binary. |
|
Nonbinary Lesbian |
A non-binary person who is attracted to women. |
|
Omniromantic |
A romantic attraction to all genders (taking into account the partner’s gender). |
|
Omnisexual |
Attraction to people of any gender, where the partner’s gender is taken into account. |
|
Opposite Sex |
An unsuitable, inaccurate descriptor of sex or gender. |
|
Out |
Open self-identifiсation as a LGBTQ+ person. |
|
Outing |
The deliberate or accidental disclosure of another person’s identity without their consent. |
|
Panromantic |
People whose romantic attraction is not dependent on the gender or sex of the other person. |
|
Pansexual (pan) |
People whose sexual attraction is not dependent on another person’s gender or sex. |
|
Polyamorous |
Ethical relationships with multiple partners, with the consent of all parties involved. |
|
Polyromantic |
Feels romantic attraction towards people of more than one, but not all, genders. |
|
Positive |
Indicates HIV-positive status. |
|
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) |
Emergency post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV. |
|
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) |
HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis. |
|
Preference |
A specific set of desires regarding partners; this is not the same as sexual orientation. |
|
Pre-, Post-, or Non-Operative (or -Op) |
Terms used to describe the surgical status of a transgender person. |
|
Privilege |
Benefits granted to a particular group in society without having earned them. |
|
Pronouns |
Words used to refer to oneself (he, she, they). |
|
Puberty Blockers |
A form of gender-affirming medical care designed to prevent undesirable outcomes of puberty. |
|
QTPOC |
Acronym: Queer and Trans People of Colour. |
|
Queerbaiting |
Hints at the LGBTQ+ community in marketing without any genuine representation. |
|
Queerplatonic |
A type of relationship that is deeper than friendship, but neither romantic nor sexual. |
|
Queerspawn |
A term for people from LGBTQ+ families. |
|
Questioning |
People who are in the process of exploring their identity. |
|
Romantic Orientation |
A model of romantic attraction, regardless of sexual orientation. |
|
Sex |
Biological sex. |
|
Sex Binary |
The belief that there are only two biological sexes. |
|
Sexual Behavior |
The sexual acts in which a person engages; this does not necessarily correspond to their sexual orientation. |
|
Sexual Health |
Physical, emotional, psychological and social well-being in relation to sexuality. |
|
Sexual Identity |
Self-determination in sexuality. |
|
Sexual Minority |
A general term used to describe a group whose sexual orientation, identity or practices differ from those of the majority of heterosexual people. |
|
Sexual Orientation |
A person’s inner emotional, romantic and/or physical attraction to other people. |
|
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) |
Sexually transmitted infections. |
|
Stud |
A black/African, Latin American or other non-white butch lesbian. |
|
Top Surgery |
Breast surgery performed as part of gender transition. |
|
Transgender (trans) |
A person whose gender identity does not correspond to the sex assigned at birth. |
|
Transmasculine (transmasc) |
A general term for people assigned female at birth but who present in a masculine manner. |
|
Transphobia |
Hostility, hatred or dislike towards transgender people. |
|
Transromantic |
A person who feels romantic attraction towards transgender people. |
|
Transsexual |
An outdated clinical term used to describe transgender people who have undergone or are planning to undergo medical transition. |
|
Transwoman |
Transgender woman. |
|
Transition |
The process by which a transgender person begins to live in accordance with their gender. |
|
Transman |
Transgender man. |
|
Undiagnosed |
Refers to a person who is HIV-positive but is unaware of it. |
|
Unearned privilege |
An privilege that is unearned. |
|
Unsupported |
Young people whose families actively reject their identity. |
|
Valid |
The recognition of people’s feelings, identity or experiences. |
|
Values |
The beliefs that guide people in their lives. |
|
Virulent |
Refers to HIV that is still replicating in the body. |
|
Virgin/Virginity |
Outdated, inaccurate and judgemental terms. |
|
WLW |
Women Who Love Women; a term used to describe lesbians, bisexuals, pansexuals or other women who are attracted to the same gender. |
|
Woman-identified |
A person who identifies as a woman. |
|
WSW |
Women Who Have Sex with Women; an abbreviation frequently used in public health. |
|
WPATH |
The World Professional Association for Transgender Health. |
