Definitions
This is by no means an exhaustive glossary of terms.
LGBTQIA+
Lesbian. A female person that is attracted to the same sex.
Gay. a male person that is attracted to the same sex.
Bisexual. a person that is attracted to a person of the opposite or same sex.
Transgender. a person that changes their sex from one they were born as, to another.
Queer. an umbrella term that can describe sexuality and/or gender identity.
Intersex. an umbrella term for people with sex characteristics or chromosomes between
male and female.
Asexual. a person who has a lack of sexual attraction towards others
+ the “plus” represents all other identities in this community
Sex
Generally refers to biological components, sex organs, hormones, and chromosomes, of a person. The sex spectrum has males on one end, and females on the other. In between are persons who have a combination of sex characteristics, known as Intersex.
AFAB
Assigned female at birth. When an AFAB person was born, the doctor looked at them and said, “it’s a girl!”
AMAB
Assigned male at birth. When an AMAB person was born, the doctor looked at them and said, “it’s a boy!”
Heteronormativity
Assuming that the default type of sexual orientation is heterosexual, meaning one man/one woman. In other words anything outside of this type of sexual orientation is considered to be abnormal, or aberrant behavior.
Gender identity
A person’s internal sense of their own gender.
Gender Expression
How a person expresses their gender to the outside world. For example, how they dress, how they act, and/or how they speak.
Cisgender
An adjective that describes a person whose gender identity corresponds to the sex they were assigned at birth. The opposite of a transgender person.
Transgender
An adjective that describes a person who does not identify as the sex/gender they were assigned at birth. A transgender person may transition socially, hormonally, or surgically.
Nonbinary
Describes someone who does not identify within the gender binary. For some folks this means identifying somewhere between the binary ”ends” (male and female), for some it means identifying as a combination of genders, and for others it means feeling a complete lack of a gender.
Misgendering
Referring to someone using pronouns/language that doesn’t match their gender identity. This is regarded as inappropriate or a slur.
Deadnaming
Calling a trans person by the name they no longer use. This is regarded as a slur.
Sexual orientation. A person’s physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction to another person.
Heterosexual. A person who is only attracted to people of a different gender than theirs
Bisexual. A person who is attracted to men, women, and nonbinary people
Lesbian. A woman identifying person who is attracted to other women
Gay. A male identifying person who is attracted to other men
Pansexual. A person who is attracted to a person of any sex or gender identity.