LGBTQ Vocabulary with Definitions

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LGBTQ Psychology Terminology & Definitions 1. Advocate : When used as a noun, refers to a person who actively works to end intolerance, educate others, and support social equity for a marginalized group. When used as a verb, it means to actively support/plea in favor of a particular cause, the action of working to end intolerance, educate others, etc. 2. AFAB/AMAB : abbreviation for the terms Assigned Female at Birth (AFAB) or Assigned Male at Birth (AMAB). No one, whether cis or trans, gets to choose what sex they’re assigned at birth. Instead this is done, typically by medical professionals, usually based on genital appearance at birth. This term is preferred over the terms “biological male/female”, “male/female bodied”, “natal male/female”, and “born male/female”, which are considered defamatory and inaccurate by many in the queer community. 3. Affirmed gender : The gender by which one wishes to be known. This term is often used to replace terms like “new gender”. “preferred gender” or “chosen gender”, which imply that an individual’s gender was not always their gender, that gender is simply a matter of personal preference, or that the gender was chosen rather than simply in existence. 4. Agender : Refers to a person who does not identify with any gender. 5. Ally : a (typically straight- or cis-identified) person who supports and respects members of the LGBTQ community. While the word doesn’t necessitate action, people are considered to be active allies when they take action upon this support and respect. It is this action that demonstrates to others that you are an active ally. “Coming out” as an ally is when you reveal (or take an action that reveals) your support of the LGBTQ community. Being an active supporter can, at times, be stigmatizing, though it is not usually recognized many allies go through a “coming out process” of their own. 6. Androgyny/androgynous : a gender expression that has elements of both masculinity and femininity 7. Androsexual/Androphilic : attraction to men, males, and/or masculinity 8. Aromantic: describes a person who experiences little or no romantic attraction to others and/or a lack of interest in forming romantic relationships. 9. Assigned sex : The sex that is assigned to an infant at birth based on the child’s visible sex organs, including genitalia and other physical characteristics. 10. Asexual : describes a person who has a lack of (or low level of) sexual attraction to others and/or a lack of interest or desire for sex or sexual partners. Asexuality exists on a spectrum from people who experience no sexual attraction or have any desire for sex to those who experience low levels and only after significant amounts of time, many of these different places on the spectrum have their own identity labels. Sometimes abbreviated as “ace”. Asexuality is different than celibacy in that it is a sexual orientation whereas celibacy is an abstaining from a certain action. Keep in mind that not all asexual people are aromantic. 11. Bigender: refers to those who identify as two genders or who fluctuate between more than one gender. Can also identify as multigender (identifying as two or more genders). Do not confuse this term with Two-Spirit, which is specifically associated with Native American and First Nations cultures. 12. Biological Sex : a medical term used to refer to the chromosomal, hormonal and anatomical characteristics that are used to classify an individual as female or male or

intersex. Often referred to as simply “sex,” “physical sex,” “anatomical sex,” or specifically as “sex assigned [or designated] at birth.” Often seen as a binary but as there are many combinations of chromosomes, hormones, and primary/secondary sex characteristics, it’s more accurate to view this as a spectrum (which is more inclusive of intersex people as well as trans*-identified people). Is commonly conflated with gender. 13. Biphobia : a range of negative attitudes (e.g., fear, anger, intolerance, resentment, erasure, or discomfort) that one may have/express towards bisexual individuals. Biphobia can come from and be seen within the queer community as well as straight society. Biphobic is the adjective form of this idea and is used describe an individual who harbors some elements of this range of negative attitudes towards bisexual people Really important to recognize that many of our stereotypes of bisexual people – they’re overly sexual, greedy, it’s just a phase – are negative and stigmatizing (and therefore biphobic) and that gay, straight, and many other queer individuals can hold these beliefs. 14. Bisexual : often used to describe a person who is emotionally, physically, and/or sexually attracted to both males/men and females/women. Sometimes also used to describe people who are attracted to many gender identities, including those who identify outside of the gender binary as well, so many people use bisexual as a way to indicate an interest in more than one gender or sex (i.e. men and genderqueer people). This attraction does not have to be equally split or indicate a level of interest that is the same across the genders or sexes an individual may be attracted to. Often shortened to “bi”. Because it is the most commonly understood term outside of gay/straight many people who do not believe in the binary categories that bisexual can imply still use the term to indicate their sexual orientation because it is largely understood by others. 15. Bottom Surgery: a phrase used in the transgender community to mean a variety of kinds of gender-validating surgeries that can be done on the reproductive organs or genitals. These can include vaginoplasty, phalloplasty, or metoidioplasty. 16. Butch: a person who identifies themselves as masculine, whether it be physically, mentally or emotionally. ‘Butch’ is sometimes used as a derogatory term for lesbians, but is also be claimed as an affirmative identity label. 17. Cisgender : a person whose gender identity and biological sex assigned at birth align (e.g., man and male-assigned). A simple way to think about it is if a person is not trans*, they are cisgender. “Cis” is a latin prefix that means “on the same side [as]” or “on this side [of]” 18. Cisnormativity : the assumption, in individuals or in institutions, that everyone is cisgender, and that cisgender identities are superior to trans* identities or people. Leads to invisibility of non-cisgender identities 19. Cissexism : behavior that grants preferential treatment to cisgender people, reinforces the idea that being cisgender is somehow better or more “right” than being transgender, and/or makes other genders invisible. 20. Closeted : an individual who is not open to themselves or others about their (queer) sexuality or gender identity. This may be by choice and/or for other reasons such as fear for one’s safety, peer or family rejection or disapproval and/or loss of housing, job, etc. Also known as being “in the closet.” When someone chooses to break this silence they “come out” of the closet. (See coming out) 21. Coming Out : the process by which one accepts and/or comes to identify one’s own sexuality or gender identity (to “come out” to oneself) and the process by which one shares one’s sexuality or gender identity with others (to “come out” to friends, etc.). This

is a continual, life-long process. Everyday, all the time, one has to evaluate and re- evaluate who they are comfortable coming out to, if it is safe, and what the consequences might be. 22. Conversion/Reparative Therapy: any treatment with the goal of making someone who is lesbian , gay , bisexual , or transgender ( LGBT ) to stop being so. The treatment may take the form of counseling sessions, such as from a psychologist or religious minister, it may use physical treatments, such as electrical shocks, drugs, or lobotomy. Some adults choose to go into conversion therapy because they don't want to be LGBT. However, most often, conversion therapy is done to children and adults who didn't consent to it. This is done by families who wouldn't accept their child as LGBT. Without the person's consent, many consider any kind of conversion therapy as abuse, and a violation of human rights. 23. Cross-dressing: the act of dressing and presenting as a different gender. One who considers this an integral part of their identity may identify as a cross-dresser. “Transvestite” is often considered a pejorative term with the same meaning. Drag performers are cross-dressing performers who take on stylized, exaggerated gender presentations (although not all drag performers identify as cross-dressers). Cross-dressing and drag are forms of gender expression and are not necessarily tied to erotic activity, nor are they indicative of one’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Do NOT use these terms to describe someone who has transitioned or intends to do so in the future. 24. Demisexual: an individual who does not experience sexual attraction unless they have formed a strong emotional connection with another individual, often within a romantic relationship. 25. Down low : typically referring to men who identify as straight but who secretly have sex with men. Down low (or DL) originated in, and is most commonly used by, communities of color. 26. Drag King : someone who performs masculinity theatrically. 27. Drag Queen: someone who performs femininity theatrically. 28. Feminine Presenting; Masculine Presenting : a way to describe someone who expresses gender in a more feminine or masculine way, for example in their hair style, demeanor, clothing choice, or style. Not to be confused with Feminine of Center and Masculine of Center, which often includes a focus on identity as well as expression. 29. Feminine of Center; Masculine of Center: terms that indicate a range of terms of gender identity and gender presentation for folks who present, understand themselves, relate to others in a more feminine/masculine way. Feminine of center individuals may also identify as femme, submissive, transfeminine, or more; masculine of center individuals may also often identity as butch, stud, aggressive, boi, transmasculine, or more. 30. Femme: someone who identifies themselves as feminine, whether it be physically, mentally or emotionally. Often used to refer to a feminine-presenting queer woman. 31. Fluid : generally with another term attached, like gender-fluid or fluid-sexuality, fluid describes an identity that may change or shift over time between or within the mix of the options available (e.g., man and woman, bi and straight) 32. FtM or F2M; MtF or M2F : abbreviation for female-to-male transgender or transsexual person; abbreviation for male-to-female transgender or transsexual person.

33. Gay : a term used to describe individuals who are primarily emotionally, physically, and/or sexually attracted to members of the same sex and/or gender. More commonly used when referring to males/men-identified ppl who are attracted to males/men-identified ppl, but can be applied to females/women-identified ppl as well. Also sometimes used as an umbrella term used to refer to the queer community as a whole, or as an individual identity label for anyone who does not identify as heterosexual. Gay” is a word that’s had many different meanings throughout time. In the 12th century is meant “happy,” in the 17th century it was more commonly used to mean “immoral” (describing a loose and pleasure-seeking person), and by the 19th it meant a female prostitute (and a “gay man” was a guy who had sex with female prostitutes a lot). It wasn’t until the 20th century that it started to mean what it means today. Pretty crazy. 34. Gender-affirming surgery (GAS): Surgical procedures that can help people adjust their bodies to more closely match their innate or internal gender identity. Not every transgender person will desire or have resources for surgery. This term should be used in place of the older and often offensive term “sex change”. Also sometimes referred to as sexual reassignment surgery (or SRS), genital reconstruction surgery, or medical transition. Some refer to different surgical procedures as “top” surgery and “bottom” surgery to discuss what type of surgery they are having without having to be more explicit. 35. Gender Binary : the idea that there are only two genders – male/female or man/woman and that a person must be strictly gendered as either/or. 36. Gender Dysphoria: Anxiety and/or discomfort regarding one’s sex assigned at birth. 37. Gender expansive: An umbrella term sometimes used to describe children and youth that expand notions of gender expression and identity beyond what is perceived as the expected gender norms for their society or context. Some gender-expansive individuals identify with being either a boy or a girl, some identify as neither, and others identify as a mix of both. Gender-expansive people feel that they exist psychologically between genders, as on a spectrum, or beyond the notion of the man/woman binary paradigm, and sometimes prefer using gender-neutral pronouns. They may or may not be comfortable with their bodies as they are, regardless of how they express their gender. 38. Gender Expression : the external display of one’s gender, through a combination of dress, demeanor, social behavior, and other factors, generally measured on scales of masculinity and femininity. Also referred to as “gender presentation.” 39. Gender Fluid : gender fluid is a gender identity best described as a dynamic mix of boy and girl. A person who is gender fluid may always feel like a mix of the two traditional genders, but may feel more man some days, and more woman other days. 40. Gender Identity : the internal perception of one’s gender, and how they label themselves, based on how much they align or don’t align with what they understand their options for gender to be. Common identity labels include man, woman, genderqueer, trans, and more. 41. Gender Non-Conforming (GNC): someone whose gender presentation, whether by nature or by choice, does not align in a predicted fashion with gender-based expectations. 42. Gender Normative / Gender Straight : someone whose gender presentation, whether by nature or by choice, aligns with society’s gender-based expectations.

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