LGBTQIA+ Terminology
Gender terminology
Agender – ‘Lack’ of gender. Agender individuals don’t identify with any gender, or have very minimal experience of gender.
Cisgender – Not transgender. i.e. Cisgender individuals gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth.
Cisnormativity – The idea that cisgender is the ‘correct’ or ‘normal’ way of existence and anything else is wrong or abnormal.
Demiboy – Partially identifies with the male gender. Individuals don’t completely relate to the concept of being a male.
Demigirl – Partially identifies with the female gender. Individuals don’t completely relate to the concept of being a female.
Gender – Social, cultural, psychological and physical expressions of one’s association with male or female identity, or lack thereof.
Gender diverse – Expression or identity of various genders beyond the binary norms.
Gender dysphoria – Discomfort or distress resulting from a disconnect or mismatch between physical characteristics, or assigned sex/gender, and one’s own sense of gender identity.
Gender euphoria – Joy, satisfaction or relief resulting from alignment or correspondence between physical characteristics or gendered experiences, and ones own sense of gender identity.
Gender fluid – A gender identity that may change and fluctuate over time or in different situations.
Genderqueer – Any gender identity that does not fully align with the binary norms.
Intersex – People who are born with characteristics that do not fit into the binary categories. This may be a combination of reproductive organs, genitals, hormones, chromosomes, etc.
Non-binary – Someone who considers themselves neither male nor female. Someone who falls outside the gender binary.
Transfeminine – A person who was assigned male at birth but identifies or presents more as female than male. This can include non-binary or gender fluid individuals.
Transgender – When a person’s gender identity differs from the gender/sex they were assigned at birth.
Transmasculine – A person who was assigned female at birth but identifies or presents more as male than female. This can include non-binary and gender fluid individuals.
Trans man – A person who was born female but identifies as a man.
Trans woman – A person who was born male but identifies as a woman.
Sexuality terminology
Abrosexual – Sexuality fluctuates or changes between different sexualities.
Asexual (Ace) – No (or very little) sexual attraction to anyone.
Bisexual – Attraction toward more than one gender.
Demisexual – Only experiencing sexual attraction after developing a closer or emotional relationship with someone.
Gay – Attracted to someone of the same sex (typically referring to two men).
Heteronormativity – The idea that heterosexuality is the ‘correct’ or ‘normal’ way of existence and anything else is wrong or abnormal.
Heterosexual – Attracted to a person of the opposite sex.
Homosexual – Attracted to a person of the same sex.
Lesbian – A woman who is attracted to people of the same sex.
Pansexual – Attraction to people of any or all genders.
Other terms
Aromantic (Aro) – No (or little) romantic attraction to anyone.
Pronouns – A word that is used in place of a noun to refer to oneself or another being (e.g. ‘I’, ‘you’, ‘she’, ‘he’, ‘they’).
Polyamory – Romantic relationships with more than one partner.