LGBTQ+ Glossary

Terms to familiarize yourself with the LGBTQ+ community

Most people are familiar with the acronym LGBTQ+ or Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Plus.

That plus is a verbal stand-in for other queer identities, but even within the more well-defined terms, there is still plenty of room for a variety of different identities. The LGBTQ+ community is a spectrum of beautiful, diverse identities. So whether you’re just beginning to explore your sexuality or looking to expand your knowledge of yourself, we’ve got you covered. We’re breaking down some common queer terminology to help you expand your vocabulary.

Sexual Identity

Your sexual identity doesn’t necessarily have to be sexual. Simply put, it's the kind of person you’d like to be in a relationship with. Your sexual identity is an inherent and immutable understanding of what you are attracted to emotionally, romantically, and sexually.

Note from Human Rights Campaign: an individual’s sexual orientation is independent of their gender identity.

Editor's Note: How a person chooses to identify is deeply personal and THEIR choice. There can be subtle differences between identities that may not be clear to cisgender or heterosexual identities. The important thing to note is that when someone tells you their identity, orientation, pronouns, etc., you do not correct them or ask them to elaborate on their sex life. You simply say, “OK,” and accept that it is not about you or anyone other than that individual. 

• 2S
  See Two-Spirit
  
  

• Ace
  See Asexual
  
  
• AFAB
  See Assigned female at birth
  
  
• Affirmed name
  See Name used
  
  
• Agender (adjective)
  Describes a person who identifies as having no gender or who does not experience gender as a primary identity component.
  
  
• Ally (verb/noun)
  To advocate for and support a marginalized community, or to be a person who advocates for and supports a marginalized community.
  
  
• AMAB
  See Assigned male at birth
  
  
• Anatomical inventory (noun)
  A structured form that tracks the presence or absence of a patient’s reproductive organs, as well as any surgical history relevant to those organs. The inventory can be integrated into the electronic health record and help guide preventive health screenings and post-surgical care plans.
  
  
• Androgynous: This style of gender presentation is not exclusively masculine or feminine, sometimes combining aesthetics of the two or designing a unique appearance and style of indeterminate gender.
  
  
• Aromantic (adjective)
  A sexual orientation that describes a person who experiences little or no romantic attraction to others, and/or little or no interest in forming romantic relationships. Aromantic people may still have intimate relationships.
  
  
• Asexual (adjective)
  A sexual orientation that describes a person who experiences little or no sexual attraction to others, and/or little or no interest in having sexual relationships. Asexual people may still engage in sexual activity.
  
  
• Assigned female at birth (AFAB)
  A label for an infant assigned female sex based on physical characteristics at birth.
  See also: Assigned male at birth
  
  
• Assigned male at birth (AMAB)
  A label for an infant assigned male sex based on physical characteristics at birth.
  See also: Assigned female at birth
  
  
• Assigned sex at birth
  See Sex assigned at birth
  
  
• Bi
  See Bisexual
  
  
• Bigender (adjective)
  Describes a person who has two gender identities.
  
  
• Binary (noun)
  Any system that classifies something into two distinct states.
  See also: Gender binary
  
  
• Binding (verb)
  Wrapping the chest tightly to create the appearance of a flatter chest. The most common way for people to bind is by wearing an undergarment called a binder. People may use other materials to bind such as cloth strips or bandages.
  
  
• Biphobia (noun)
  Discrimination, fear, marginalization, and hatred directed toward bisexual people, or those who are perceived as bisexual. Individuals, communities, policies, and institutions can be biphobic.
  
  
• BIPOC (adjective)
  An acronym for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.
  
  
• Bisexual (adjective)
  A sexual orientation that describes a person who is emotionally and physically attracted to more than one gender.
  See also: Pansexual
  
  
• Bottom (noun)
  A slang term for genitals and buttocks. Bottom also refers to the receptive partner in anal sex. See also: Top
  
  
• Bottom surgery (noun)
  A slang term for gender-affirming genital surgery.
  See also: Top surgery
  
  
• Chosen name
  See Name used
  
  
• Cis
  See Cisgender
  
  
• Cisgender (adjective)
  Describes a person whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth, based on societal expectations.
  
  
• Cisnormativity (noun)
  The assumption that everyone is cisgender, or that being cisgender is the only "normal" gender identity. Cisnormativity puts pressure on people to conform to binary notions of gender expression and gender identity. Cisnormativity can manifest as cissexism, the biased belief that cisgender identity is the superior gender identity. Individuals, communities, policies, and institutions can perpetuate cisnormativity and cissexism, and thus marginalize transgender and gender-diverse people and communities.
  See also: Cissexism
  
  
• Coming out (verb)
  The process of discovering and accepting one’s sexual orientation or gender identity (coming out to oneself), and the process of sharing one’s sexual orientation or gender identity with others (coming out to friends, family, etc.). Coming out occurs at various points throughout one’s life.
  
  
• Conversion therapy (noun)
  The discredited and harmful practice of trying to forcibly change a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
  
  
• Deadname (verb/noun)
  The harmful practice of calling a transgender or gender-diverse person by their name assigned at birth, instead of the name they use and want to be called (also known as their chosen or affirmed name). Deadnaming is a form of misgendering.
  
  
• Differences of sex development (noun)
  A range of variations in primary and secondary sex characteristics that do not fit into binary notions of female or male bodies. Variations may involve sex chromosomes, external genitalia, gonads, hormone production, hormone responsiveness, and/or internal reproductive organs, and may be identified prenatally, at birth, during puberty, or later in life. Some people with these variations consider the term intersex more acceptable than differences of sex development.
  See also: Intersex
  
  
• Drag (noun)
  The theatrical performance of gender in creative and often exaggerated ways.
  
  
• DSD
  See Differences of sex development
  
  
• Enby
  See Non-binary
  
  
• GAS
  See Gender-affirming surgery
  
  
• Gay (adjective)
  A sexual orientation describing people who are primarily emotionally and physically attracted to people of the same gender identity as themselves. Commonly used to describe men but can refer to anyone.
  
  

• Gender affirmation (noun)
  An umbrella term for the range of actions that transgender and gender-diverse people may undertake to live in greater alignment with their gender identity and/or gender expression, and thus thrive as their authentic selves. A person may affirm their gender identity or expression through social, legal, medical, or surgical means. What gender affirmation looks like for every individual is unique and based on what is personally affirming, what feels safe to do, and what is accessible and available.
  
  
• Gender binary (noun)
  The belief that there are only two genders (female/girl/woman and male/boy/man).
  
  
• Gender diverse (adjective)
  An umbrella term describing people who have gender identities and/or gender expressions that go beyond the gender binary of female/girl/woman or male/boy/man.
  
  
• Gender dysphoria (noun)
  Distress experienced by some people whose gender identity does not align with their sex assigned at birth based on societal expectations; or distress experienced when a person’s gender identity and/or gender expression is not affirmed. The degree and severity of gender dysphoria is highly variable among transgender and gender-diverse people.
  
  
• Gender expansive (adjective)
  An umbrella term describing people whose gender identity or gender expression goes beyond the gender binary.
  
  
• Gender expression (noun)
  The ways in which people present their gender identity to others, such as through gait, mannerisms, voice, dress, and hairstyle. Cultural and historical contexts influence how people interpret and express gender identity.
  
  
• Gender fluid (adjective)
  Describes a person whose gender identity is not fixed. A person who is gender fluid may always feel like a mix of more than one gender but may feel more aligned with a certain gender some of the time, another gender at other times, both genders sometimes, and sometimes no gender at all.
  
  
• Gender identity (noun)
  A person’s inner sense of being a girl/woman/female, boy/man/male, both, neither, or beyond the gender binary.
  
  
• Gender role (noun)
  A set of societal norms dictating what types of behaviors are considered acceptable, appropriate, or desirable for a person based on their actual or perceived gender. These roles change with time, culture, context, and interpersonal relationships.
  
  
• Genderqueer (adjective)
  Describes individuals whose gender identity transcends or exists outside the conventional male/female binary.
  
  
• Gender-affirming care (noun)
  The provision of health services to support a person’s process of living in alignment with their gender identity. Services may include gender-affirming hormone therapy and/or gender-affirming surgeries.

• Gender-affirming chest surgery (noun)
  Surgeries to reduce, construct, and/or reconstruct the chest to be more aligned with a person’s gender identity. Gender-affirming chest surgeries are often referred to as ‘top surgeries.’ Types of chest surgeries include:
  • breast augmentation
  • breast construction
  • mammoplasty
  • mastectomy
  • chest contouring
    
    
• Gender-affirming genital surgery (noun)
  Surgeries to remove and/or construct genitals and/or internal reproductive organs to be more aligned with a person’s gender identity. Gender-affirming genital surgeries are often referred to as ‘bottom surgeries.’ Types of genital surgeries include:
  • Clitoroplasty (creation of a clitoris)
  • Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus; may also include removal of the cervix, ovaries, and fallopian tubes)
  • Labiaplasty (creation of inner and outer labia)
  • Metoidioplasty (creation of a masculine phallus using testosterone-enlarged clitoral tissue)
  • Oophorectomy (removal of ovaries)
  • Orchiectomy (removal of testicles)
  • Penectomy (removal of the penis)
  • Phalloplasty (creation of a phallus)
  • Scrotoplasty (creation of a scrotum and often paired with testicular implants)
  • Urethral lengthening (to allow voiding while standing)
  • Vaginectomy (removal of the vagina)
  • Vaginoplasty (creation of a neo-vagina)
  • Vulvoplasty (creation of a vulva) 

• Gender-affirming hormone therapy (noun)
  
  
• Heteronormativity (noun)
  The assumption that heterosexuality is the only or most “normal” sexual orientation.
  
  
• Heterosexual (adjective)
  A sexual orientation describing women who are primarily attracted to men, and men who are primarily attracted to women. See Straight.
  
  
• Homophobia (noun)
  Discrimination, fear, or hatred directed toward people who are or are perceived to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or queer.
  
  
• Hormone replacement therapy
  See Gender-affirming hormone therapy.
  
  
• HRT
  See Gender-affirming hormone therapy.
  
  
• Intersectionality (noun)
  A term developed by scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw to highlight how various marginalized identities, particularly racial and gender-based, intersect and compound an individual’s experience of discrimination. Understanding intersectionality is crucial for acknowledging the holistic identity of an individual.
  
  
• Intersex (adjective)
  A term describing variations in biological sex characteristics that don’t fit typical definitions of male or female.
  
  
• Lesbian (adjective/noun)
  A woman who is emotionally and physically attracted to other women.
  
  
• LGBTQIA+ (adjective)
  An acronym representing a diverse community: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and more.
  
  
• Men who have sex with men (MSM)
  A public health term for cisgender men who engage in sexual activity with other cisgender men, regardless of sexual orientation.
  
  
• Minority stress (noun)
  Chronic stress experienced by members of stigmatized minority groups due to societal discrimination.
  
  
• Misgender (verb)
  To refer to someone using a gendered term or pronoun that does not align with their gender identity.
  
  
• MSM
  See Men who have sex with men.
  
  
• Name used (noun)
  The name an individual uses in daily communication, even if different from the one listed on official documents. Preferred terms are "name used," "affirmed name," or "chosen name."
  
  
• NB
  See Non-binary.
  
  
• Neopronouns
  See Pronouns.
  
  
• Non-binary (adjective)
  A gender identity that exists outside the traditional binary of male and female. Sometimes abbreviated as NB or enby.
  
  
• Open relationship (noun)
  A relationship between partners who consensually agree to engage in romantic or sexual relationships with others.
  
  
• Organ inventory
  See Anatomical inventory.
  
  
• Outing (verb)
  The involuntary or non-consensual disclosure of someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
  
  
• Pangender (adjective)
  Describes a person whose gender identity includes multiple genders.
  
  
• Pansexual (adjective)
  A sexual orientation describing someone who can be emotionally or physically attracted to people of any gender identity.
  
  
• Polyamorous (adjective)
  A relationship involving multiple people with the informed consent of everyone involved.
  
  
• Preferred Name
  See Name used.
  
  
• Pronouns (noun)
  Words used in place of someone’s name, often to affirm their gender identity (e.g., she/her, they/them, he/him).
  
  
• Queer (adjective)
  An umbrella term for sexual orientations and gender identities outside of heterosexual and cisgender norms.
  
  
• Questioning (adjective)
  Describes people who are exploring or unsure about their sexual orientation or gender identity.
  
  
• Same gender loving (SGL) (adjective)
  A term used by some individuals, particularly in African American communities, in place of "gay" or "lesbian."
  
  
• Same sex attracted (SSA) (adjective)
  A term describing individuals who are attracted to people of the same gender, commonly used in religious communities where LGBTQIA+ identities may not be fully accepted.
  
  
• Same gender loving (SGL)
  A term primarily used in Black or African American communities in place of gayor lesbian.
  
  
• Sex assigned at birth (noun)
  The label (male, female, or intersex) given to an infant based on genital appearance.
  
  
• Sexual orientation (noun)
  How a person experiences their emotional, romantic, or physical attraction to others.
  
  
• SGL
  See Same gender loving.
  
  
• SOGI (noun)
  An acronym for sexual orientation and gender identity. Sometimes expanded to SOGIE to include gender expression.
  
  
• SSA
  See Same sex attracted.
  
  
• Straight
  See Heterosexual.
  
  
• Structural stigma (noun)
  The institutional and societal conditions that create disadvantages and barriers for marginalized communities.
  
  
• Top (noun)
  Slang for the partner who assumes the insertive role in sexual activity, especially anal sex. Also, a colloquial term for the chest area.
  
  
• Top surgery (noun)
  Slang for gender-affirming chest surgery, commonly performed on transgender men and non-binary individuals.
  
  
• Trans
  See Transgender.
  
  
• Trans feminine (adjective)
  Describes a person assigned male at birth who identifies more with femininity.
  
  
• Trans man (noun)
  A man who was assigned female at birth but identifies as male.
  
  
• Trans masculine (adjective)
  Describes a person assigned female at birth who identifies more with masculinity.
  
  
• Trans woman (noun)
  A woman who was assigned male at birth but identifies as female.
  
  
• Transgender (adjective)
  An umbrella term for individuals whose gender identity does not align with their sex assigned at birth.
  
  
• Transphobia (noun)
  Discrimination, fear, or hatred directed at transgender and gender-diverse individuals, whether perceived or actual.
  
  
• Tucking (noun) 
  A technique to reduce the appearance of a bulge and create the appearance of a flatter crotch area by positioning genitals in a particular way and using tape, tight shorts, or specially designed undergarments.
  
  
• Two-Spirit (2S) (adjective)
  A term used by some Indigenous cultures to describe a person who embodies both masculine and feminine qualities or identities.
  
  
• Women who have sex with women (WSW)
  A public health term for cisgender women who engage in sexual activity with other cisgender women, regardless of sexual orientation.

Bonus Slang

Now that we’ve gone over the basics, we’d like to clue you into some slightly more specialized terminology in the LGBTQ+ community. You may have heard these terms before and wondered what they meant or if they applied to you. With a rich history, the marginalized community has invented a language all its own to describe the nuances of their sexual and gender identities. 

• BEAR: A gay man with abundant facial/body hair and a cuddly body. This type of person is usually very attuned to their masculinity.
  
  
• BUTCH: A person, usually a lesbian, who chooses to operate with a masculine presentation and social style. 
  
  
• CHAPSTICK LESBIAN: A lesbian person who does not present as overtly masculine or feminine but often skews more feminine in presentation and social style. 
  
  
• FEMME: This term describes people, usually women, who present themselves with traditionally feminine characteristics. We are starting to see men or people who identify as men using the term “femme” to describe how they present themselves or express themselves in society.
  
  
• FEMMEBOI: An effeminate man who takes pleasure in their femme presentation and social style. Not all femme-presenting men use this term.
  
  
• LIPSTICK LESBIAN: A lesbian person who exhibits many feminine gender attributes, such as wearing make-up, feminine clothes, and operating with a feminine social style.
  
  
• MLM: No, not multi-level marketing. This term means Men Loving Men. This is a common descriptor in film and books and often a tag in fanfiction. It can also be seen in advertisements for men seeking other men for romantic or sexual connections.
  
  
• SAPPHIC: Another term for lesbians or lesbianism.
  
  
• STUD: A masculine, queer woman from Black or Latinx communities.
  
  
• WLW: This acronym means Women Loving Women, which is often used as a descriptor for sapphic content.
  
  

Outdated and Insensitive Terms to Replace:

Many of the terms listed below have been identified as outdated, misleading, or harmful. As language evolves, it's essential to adopt terminology that is inclusive and affirming. We recommend replacing the following outdated terms with the suggested, more respectful alternatives:
 

1. Berdache → Two-spirit
   • Reason for change: "Berdache" was a colonial term imposed on Indigenous people to describe those with non-binary gender identities. "Two-spirit" is the preferred term in many Indigenous communities, acknowledging the spiritual and cultural significance of these identities.
     
     
2. Biological female/male → Assigned female/male at birth (AFAB/AMAB)
   • Reason for change: The term "biological" inaccurately suggests that sex and gender are purely biological or binary. "Assigned at birth" acknowledges that sex is assigned based on anatomy at birth and may not align with a person's gender identity.
     
     
3. Cross-sex hormone therapy; hormone replacement therapy → Gender-affirming hormone therapy
   • Reason for change: "Cross-sex" or "replacement" language pathologizes gender transitions. "Gender-affirming" centers the individual's experience and the medical process in affirming their gender identity.
     
     
4. Disorders/differences of sex development (DSD) → Intersex
   • Reason for change: "Disorders" pathologizes natural variations in sex development. Many intersex individuals prefer "intersex" as a non-pathologizing and inclusive term.
     
     
5. Female-to-male (FTM) and Male-to-female (MTF) → Transgender man and transgender woman
   • Reason for change: The FTM/MTF language reduces a person's identity to a transition, rather than affirming their gender. "Transgender man" and "transgender woman" reflect their lived identity.
     
     
6. Gender nonconforming → Gender non-binary
   • Reason for change: "Nonconforming" suggests a lack of adherence to societal norms, which can carry negative connotations. "Non-binary" is an umbrella term for genders outside the male/female binary, centering on self-identification rather than societal expectations.
     
     
7. Hermaphrodite/Ambiguous genitalia → Intersex
   • Reason for change: "Hermaphrodite" is outdated, inaccurate, and stigmatizing. "Intersex" is the preferred, respectful term for individuals with natural variations in sex characteristics.
     
     
8. Homosexual → Gay or lesbian
   • Reason for change: "Homosexual" has clinical and stigmatizing connotations, whereas "gay" and "lesbian" are more commonly accepted, affirming terms that people use to describe their identities.
     
     
9. Legal name → Administrative name or Name on legal documents
   • Reason for change: "Legal name" can feel impersonal or alienating for transgender people. "Administrative name" or "name on legal documents" better reflects the difference between a legal requirement and a chosen identity.
     
     
10. Preferred name → Chosen name or Name used
    • Reason for change: "Preferred" implies that a person's name is optional or secondary. "Chosen name" acknowledges the individual's autonomy and affirms their identity.
      
      
11. Preferred pronouns → Pronouns
    • Reason for change: Similar to "preferred name," "preferred pronouns" suggests that using the correct pronouns is optional. "Pronouns" reflects a person's identity and should be respected as a given.
      
      
12. Sex change/Sex reassignment surgery/Gender reconstruction surgery → Gender-affirming surgery
    • Reason for change: These older terms pathologize trans people and focus on surgery as a marker of gender. "Gender-affirming surgery" acknowledges the role these procedures play in affirming a person's identity.
      
      
13. Sexual preference/lifestyle → Sexual orientation
    • Reason for change: "Sexual preference" or "lifestyle" implies choice, whereas "sexual orientation" is the accepted term that recognizes an inherent aspect of a person's identity.
      
      
14. Transgendered → Transgender
    • Reason for change: Adding "ed" makes the term sound like something that happened to someone, rather than a part of their identity. "Transgender" is an adjective describing someone's gender identity.
      
      

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