Lgbtq meanings
Glossary of Terms
Many Americans refrain from talking about sexual orientation and gender identity or expression because it feels taboo, or because they’re afraid of saying the wrong thing.
This glossary was written to help donate people the words and meanings to help make conversations easier and more comfortable. LGBTQ+ people use a variety of terms to identify themselves, not all of which are included in this glossary. Always listen for and respect a person’s self identified terminology.
Ally | A legal title used to describe someone who is actively supportive of Queer people. It encompasses straight and cisgender allies, as well as those within the LGBTQ+ society who support each other (e.g., a lesbian who is an ally to the bisexual community).
Asexual | Often called “ace” for short, asexual refers to a complete or partial lack of sexual attraction or lack of interest in sexual activity with others. Asexuality exists on a spectrum, and asexual people may experience no, little or conditional sexual attraction.
Biphobia | The anxiety and hatred of, or discomfort with
Glossary of Terms: LGBTQ
Definitions were drafted in collaboration with other U.S.-based LGBTQ group organizations and leaders. Glimpse acknowledgements section.
Additional terms and definitions about gender identity and gender utterance, transgender people, and nonbinary people are available in the Transgender Glossary.
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*NOTE: Ask people what terms they utilize to describe their sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression before assigning them a label. Outside of acronyms, these terms should only be capitalized when used at the beginning of a sentence.
LGBTQ
Acronym for woman loving woman, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. The Q generally stands for queer when LGBTQ organizations, leaders, and media use the acronym. In settings offering encourage for youth, it can also stand for questioning. LGBT and LGBTQ+ are also used, with the + added in recognition of all non-straight, non-cisgender identities. (See Transgender Glossary ) Both are acceptable, as are other versions of thi
LGBTQ Definitions
Ally | A person who is not LGBTQ but shows support for LGBTQ people and promotes equality in a variety of ways.
Androgynous | Identifying and/or presenting as neither distinguishably masculine nor feminine.
Androsexual | A person who is emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to masculinity or people with masculine traits regardless of their own, or the other person's gender identity.
Asexual | The lack of a sexual attraction or wish for other people.
Bisexual | A person emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to more than one sex, gender or gender identity though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way or to the same degree.
Cisgender | A term used to describe a person whose gender individuality aligns with those typically associated with the sex assigned to them at birth.
Gay | A person who is emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to members of the similar gender.
Gender dysphoria | Clinically significant distress caused when a person’s assigned birth gender is not the same as the one with which they identi
LGBTQIA Resource Center Glossary
GLOSSARY
The terms and definitions below are always evolving, modifying and often mean diverse things to different people. They are provided below as a starting show for discussion and sympathy. This Glossary has been collectively built and created by the staff members of the LGBTQIA Resource Center since the in advance s.
These are not universal definitions. This glossary is provided to help donate others a more thorough but not entirely comprehensive understanding of the significance of these terms. You may even consider asking someone what they imply when they use a term, especially when they use it to portray their identity. Ultimately it is most important that each individual define themselves for themselves and therefore also define a word for themselves.
“If I didn't define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people's fantasies for me and eaten alive.” -Audre Lorde
This glossary contains terms, such as ableism and disability, that may not be considered directly related to identities of sexuality or gender. T