Helpful Glossary of LGBTQIA+ Terms

TERMS UNDER UMBRELLA OF SEXUAL ORIENTATON

Abrosexual: Refers to an individual whose sexual orientation is dynamic, experiencing shifts or fluctuations over time.

Allotroposexual: A sexual orientation that describes people who are sexually attracted to those with non-cisgender gender identities, such as people who are nonbinary, genderqueer, or trans.

Androgynosexual: Refers to individuals who are predominantly attracted to androgynous or gender-ambiguous people, irrespective of their own gender identity.

Androsexual:  A term used to communicate sexual or romantic attraction to men, males, or masculinity. This term intentionally includes attraction to those who identify as men, male, or masculine, regardless of biology, anatomy, or sex assigned at birth.

Aromantic: Experiencing no romantic feelings or desires; not feeling romantic attraction to anyone. (Opposite is alloromantic).

Asexual: Experiencing no sexual feelings or desires; not feeling sexual attraction to anyone. (Opposite is allosexual). 

Autosexual: Describes individuals who find their primary source of sexual attraction or satisfaction to be themselves. In this orientation, the epicenter of sexual pleasure and emotional satisfaction is self-focused, rather than directed outward towards other individuals.

Bicurious: Individual who experiences an exploratory or questioning attraction towards both same-sex and opposite-sex individuals, suggesting a potential fluidity or non-monosexuality within their sexual orientation.

Bisexual: Refers to an individual who experiences romantic or sexual attractions to both males and females, or more broadly, to individuals of more than one gender. 

Butch: A person who is masculine of center in dress, attitude, and/or presentation. It is often, but not exclusively, used in a lesbian context. Often on a spectrum from butch to femme or stud to femme.

Ceterosexual: Describes a non-binary individual who is attracted to other non-binary people. In this orientation, the focal point of romantic or sexual attraction lies specifically within the realm of non-binary identities.

Cupiosexual: Refers to individuals who do not experience sexual attraction but still harbor a desire for a sexual relationship or experience. In this orientation, the absence of innate sexual attraction is countered by an intentional pursuit of sexual activities, often for various personal reasons such as emotional intimacy or partnership goals. 

Demisexual: Describes individuals for whom sexual attraction is not an immediate experience but rather develops over time, typically in the context of a deep emotional connection. (Demiromantic – the same but for emotional over sexual attraction).

Dyke: A queer woman or AFAB person. While some believe it to only describe masculine lesbians, many bisexual and gender-expansive people also connect to this term. Traditionally a slur, the term has been reclaimed and should only be used to self-identify or to refer to the way an individual has identified themselves, i.e., “She identifies as a dyke.”

Femme: A person who is feminine of center in dress, attitude, and/or presentation. It is often, but not exclusively, used in a lesbian context. Often on a spectrum from butch to femme or stud to femme.

Finsexual: Generally, it describes someone who is attracted to femininity, irrespective of biological sex or gender identity. In this orientation, the aesthetic or behavioral aspects associated with femininity serve as the focal point around which romantic or sexual attraction orbits.

Fluid: Describes an orientation where romantic or sexual attractions are not set in stone but can shift or evolve over time. Here, the emotional and sexual currents flow freely, altering their course to encompass different genders, expressions, or characteristics.

Greysexual: Describes people who fall somewhere between asexual or aromantic and sexual or romantic. They’re incredibly broad, and people who identify by one of the following terms may also identify as graysexual or grayromantic.

Gay: Commonly used to describe individuals who feel romantic or sexual attraction toward people of the same gender. Can be specific to men who have sex with men or a catch all term.

Gynesexual: A term used to communicate sexual or romantic attraction to women, females, or femininity. This term intentionally includes attraction to those who identify as women, female, or feminine regardless of biology, anatomy, or the sex assigned at birth.

Heterosexual: As known as straight, refers to individuals who experience romantic or sexual attraction primarily toward members of the opposite gender. In this orientation, the compass of emotional and sexual interest is directed across the gender divide, focusing on a singular but contrasting gender identity. Unlike orientations that encompass multiple or all genders, heterosexuality operates within a binary framework of attraction.

Homosexual: Describes a person who experiences romantic or sexual attraction predominantly toward individuals of the same gender. Unlike those with fluid or multi-gender attractions, someone who is homosexual has a targeted emotional or intimate inclination that orbits around their own gender identity.

Monosexual: Refers to an individual whose romantic or sexual attractions are primarily directed toward members of a single gender. In contrast to being multisexual, where attractions span multiple genders, monosexuality focuses on a singular point of affectionate or sexual interest.

Multisexual: Broad term that serves as an umbrella for sexual orientations involving attraction to more than one gender.

MSM/ WSM – MLM/ WLM: Acronyms for Men who have Sex with Men, Women who have Sex with Women (Men who Love Men or Women who Love Women). Used for those that identify themselves based on sexual preference without using the label of other sexual orientations. Often used in communities of color, medical communities or for those that do not ascribe to other labels. (Also sometimes used in tandem with “same gender loving men/ women”).

Lesbian: A term used to describe women who are attracted to other women, but the definition may be broadened to non-men loving non-men.

Queer: At one time considered a derogatory term, it is now celebrated as a part of the LGBTQ+ umbrella.  In terms of sexuality, it can encompass any sexuality other than heterosexuality.

Questioning: Refers to the process of determining one’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

Omnisexual: Refers to an individual whose romantic or sexual attractions encompass all genders, but unlike pansexuality, the person may still consider gender as a factor in their attractions.

Pansexual: Term used to describe someone whose romantic or sexual attractions are not limited by gender identity or biological sex. For these individuals, the compass of emotional and sexual interest can point in any direction on the gender spectrum, embracing a multitude of identities without constraints or delineations.

Polysexual: Describes someone who experiences romantic or sexual attraction to multiple, but not necessarily all, genders. Unlike pansexual or omnisexual individuals, polysexual people may have specific exclusions in the kinds of genders they are attracted to.

Reciprosexual: Describes individuals who primarily experience romantic or sexual attraction when they know the other person is attracted to them first. In this orientation, the spark of interest often ignites only when the fuel of mutual or initial attraction from another is present. The catalyst for emotional or sexual connection is thus highly responsive, contingent upon the assurance or realization that the sentiment is shared.

Sapiosexual: Pertains to individuals who find intelligence to be the primary or significant factor fueling their romantic or sexual attraction.

Sapphic: Drawn from the Greek lesbian poet Sappho’s name, a term used to refer to lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, or otherwise same-gender loving women.

Skoliosexual: Refers to an individual who experiences sexual or romantic attraction predominantly toward non-binary, genderqueer, or gender non-conforming individuals. In this orientation, the magnetism of attraction is tuned specifically to those who operate outside traditional gender binaries.

Stud: A term for Black lesbians who take on a more butch (see Butch) or masculine role. Also known as ag/aggressive or butch. This term is not appropriate for non-Black lesbians to use. Often on a spectrum from butch to femme (see Femme) or stud to femme.

Spectrasexual: Term used to describe individuals whose attractions span across a wide range of gender identities and expressions but are not necessarily all-inclusive.

TERMS UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF GENDER IDENTITY

2SLGBTQ+: Acronym that stands for Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. The plus sign represents additional sexual orientations and gender identities.

Agender: Refers to a person who identifies as not having a gender identity.

Androgenous / Androgyny: is the possession of both masculine and feminine characteristics. Androgyny may be expressed with regard to biological sex, gender identity, or gender expression.

Assigned Sex: Refers to the initial classification of an individual's reproductive anatomy and chromosomal configuration at birth based on the presence of either male (XY) or female (XX) biological attributes.

AFAB/AMAB: Assigned female at birth/ Assigned male at birth (more appropriate term than outdated terms such as MTF/ FTM)

Assumed Gender: Attribution of a gender identity to an individual based on societal norms and expectations, often relying on superficial physical characteristics and stereotypical gender roles, without considering their self-identified gender or the complexity of gender as a social construct.

Bigender: Gender identity in which a person has or experiences two genders. The genders may be any combination of two genders, and those genders can be binary ("man" or "woman") or non-binary.

Bigender Lesbian: An individual who identifies with two distinct genders and is also attracted to people of the same gender, particularly women.

Binary: Refers to an individual who fits into the gender binary.

Cisgender: Individuals whose gender identity aligns with the sex assigned to them at birth, implying congruence between their assigned sex and their gender identity.

Enby: An abbreviation for "nonbinary". Typically, a term used for self-identification only.

Gender: A person’s deeply felt and innate sense of their own gender: being a man, a woman, a girl, a boy, non-binary, fluid, in between, or outside of the gender binary. This may or may not correspond to the sex they were assigned at birth.

Gender Binary: Classification of individuals into two distinct and mutually exclusive categories, man/woman and or male/female, based on a rigid framework of binary sex characteristics and associated gender roles.

Gender Dysphoria: Clinical condition characterized by a persistent and clinically significant incongruence between an individual's assigned sex at birth and their experienced gender identity, resulting in distress and impairment.

Gender Expansive: Individuals who identify outside of the traditional binary constructs of gender, encompassing a spectrum of diverse gender identities beyond the male-female dichotomy.

Gender Expression: Outward appearance of an individual's gender identity through behaviors, clothing choices, hairstyles, and other means of communication, which may align with binary or non-binary gender norms.

Gender Fluid: A form of gender identity where the person’s gender identity is not fixed.

Gender Non-Conforming: A form of gender expression where a person does not conform to the cultural and/or social norms of their gender identity.

Genderqueer: An umbrella term that refers to non-normative, or cisgender, identities.

Gender Roles: Socially constructed expectations assigned to individuals based on their perceived gender identity that dictate specific behaviors within a given cultural context.

Gendered Language: Practice of language use to differentiate between masculine and feminine gender roles, often perpetuating societal gender norms and reinforcing gender-based inequalities.

Hermaphrodite: See Intersex for the preferred term.

Intersex: Refers to a range of variations in sex characteristics that do not fit typical binary notions of male or female, resulting from atypical combinations of chromosomes, hormones, gonads, or anatomical structures.

Non-Binary: An umbrella term for gender identities that are not solely man or woman.

Third Gender: Term used to describe gender identities that don't identify as neither man nor woman.

Transfeminine: An umbrella term that refers to people who were assigned male at birth but identify with femininity.

Transgender: Term that refers to people whose gender identity or gender expression is different from the gender they were assigned at birth.

Transmasculine: An umbrella term that refers to people who were assigned female at birth but identify with masculinity.

Two-Spirit (2S): Two-Spirit is a Native American and Indigenous term for a third gender identity, embodying a fluid and spiritual blend of masculine and feminine aspects, transcending colonial gender and sexual orientation categories, and holding a sacred role within Indigenous and Native American communities.

OTHER IMPORTANT LGBT+ TERMS

Ally: Person who uses their position of privilege to create opportunities and advocate for people who do not have that same privilege, including for the LGBTQ+ community.

Biphobia: Prejudice and fear towards individuals who identify as bisexual, often rooted in previously learned social constructs.

Clocking: A term used to describe when someone identifies an individual as transgender or nonbinary, when that trans or nonbinary individual would rather, they didn’t. Sometimes also referred to as “being read.”

Closeted: Describes a person who is not open about their sexual orientation or gender identity. A closeted person may be referred to as being “in the closet.” There are many degrees to being out/closeted; closeted individuals may be out to just themselves, close friends, or to their larger network, or not publicly open about their status as LGBTQ+ people.

Deadnaming: Usage of a person's former given name in place of the name the person has transitioned to and currently uses. 

Ethical Non-Monogamy (ENM): The practice of being non-monogamous in consensual, respectful and inclusive ways. Often an agreement between partners.

Gatekeeping: A broad term, not only used within the LGBTQ+ community, which describes the process by which an individual decides who does or does not belong to a certain community, group, or identity. For example, telling someone they are or are not “gay enough” based on certain behaviors or interests.

Gender Affirming Surgery: Surgical procedures that can help people adjust their bodies to match their innate gender identity more closely. Used interchangeably with gender affirmation, gender confirmation, and gender-confirming surgery. Not every transgender person will desire or have resources for gender-affirming surgery. This is the preferred term over outdated terms such as “sexual reassignment”, “sex change” or other non-affirming terms.

Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT): A type of gender-affirming treatment that allows trans and gender-expansive people to medically transition or feel more at home in their bodies. Those taking testosterone (masculinizing hormones) may grow more facial/body hair and notice their voices deepening. Those taking estrogen (feminizing hormones) may see some breast growth and decreased libido. More appropriately used than Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).  

Gender Dysphoria: The distress caused when a person's assigned sex at birth and assumed gender is not the same as the one with which they identify. Not all people who are transgender experience gender dysphoria. According to the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the term "...is intended to better characterize the experiences of affected children, adolescents, and adults."

Heteronormativity: The assumption that everyone is heterosexual, and that heterosexuality is superior to all other sexualities. This includes the often implicitly held idea that heterosexuality is the norm and that other sexualities are “different” or “abnormal.”

Homonormativity: The adoption of heteronormative ideals and constructs onto LGBT culture and identity. It is predicated on the assumption that the norms and values of heterosexuality should be replicated and performed among homosexual people.

Homophobia: Refers to the prejudice towards gay or lesbian individuals but often used in reference to fear of larger part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Intersectionality: Concept that individuals experience oppression and privilege differently based on their own identity. Individuals are shaped by factors such as race, gender, sexuality, class and ability. These same individuals are also affected by the varying degrees that the opposing forces of privilege and oppression change their experiences and perspectives. Intersectionality highlights the importance of understanding and addressing the ways in which these different variables are connected in our lives.

Latine / LatinX: English term used in place of Latino / Latina to be inclusive of non-binary individuals, as those terms may be considered gendered language. LatinX is more commonly used in the English language while Latine is a term that is used more often in Spanish.

Lived Experience: To value the personal experiences of individuals as much as quantitative data. For example, believing narratives of discrimination against LGBTQ+ people persisting even if they counter larger narratives of acceptance. The concept of lived experience as a criterion on meaning was coined by Patricia Hill Collins.

LGBTQ+: Acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and other members of the community.

LGBTQIA2S+: Acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, 2 Spirit and other members of the community.

Monogamous: A term referring to individuals who are intimate or involved romantically with one person at a time.

Misgender: Act of assigning or using gendered terms or pronouns that do not align with an individual's gender identity.

Non-monogamous: A term referring to individuals who are intimate or involved romantically with more than one person at a time.

Passing: With sexuality, the act of presenting as straight. With gender, the act of presenting as cisgender or gender-typical, which is generally accomplished through conforming to gender roles. People may try to pass in anti-LGBTQ+ environments to ensure their safety. People who pass as straight or cis have the choice to either talk about their LGBTQ+ experience or to “fit in” to a cis- and hetero-normative world. Passing is not required for LGBTQ+ people to deserve respect and love.

Polyamorous: A term used to describe people who have the desire for multiple consenting intimate relationships at the same time. Also referred to as “ethically non-monogamous,” “polya” or “polyam.” There is a movement away from shortening polyamorous to “poly” since poly already means Polynesian. Consent and transparency are key components of polyamorous relationships.

Sex: Refers to the expression of an individual's sex chromosomes, internal and external reproductive organs, secondary sexual characteristics, and hormonal profiles, determining their categorization as male, female, or intersex.

Sexual Orientation: A person’s sexual and emotional attractions, not necessarily dependent on behavior. Terms associated with sexual orientation include: gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, heterosexual, asexual, and more.

Transitioning: The process of changing one's gender presentation or sex characteristics to accord with one's internal sense of gender identity people. This can be a social, medical or legal transition.

Transphobia: Prejudice and fear towards individuals who identify as transgender, or gender non-conforming, often rooted in previously learned social constructs.