Glossary

We all have to start our learning somewhere, be kind to yourself and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. We have put together a collection of common terms that you might hear in our content or when having discussions about LGBTQIA+ topics. Please be aware that these are only brief definitions, and we recommend researching further to gain a better understanding of various terms. This is also not an exhaustive list, and if you'd like to see any other terms added to this, please send us a message. 

Abrosexual/Abroromantic

A person who experiences fluid or shifting sexual or romantic orientations.

Affirm

The act of supporting and validating a fact that is true, often used as a term when people are validating someone's gender or sexual and romantic orientations. 

Agender

A person who defines themselves as having no gender, gender neutral or rejects the concept of gender itself.

Ally

Someone who does not identify with the discussed identity, but actively supports and that community.

AMAB / AFAB

The acronym for Assigned Male at Birth and Assigned Female at Birth. These terms describe what sex is given to a child at birth, not a person’s gender. 

Androgynous

A way of presenting that is not strictly feminine or masculine, but encompasses both or neither aspects of masculine and feminine presentations. 

Aromantic

This can be used as a standalone term or an umbrella term for someone who experiences little or no romantic attraction to others.

Asexual

This can be used as a standalone term or an umbrella term for someone who experiences little or no sexual attraction to others.

Bigender

Someone who experiences or has two genders.

Bisexual / Biromantic

A person who has sexual or romantic attraction to two or more genders.

Binder

A garment worn by some transgender or non-binary people to flatten their chest in a way that more aligns with their gender identity. 

Bottom surgery 

A medical procedure where a transgender or non-binary person alters their genitalia to match their gender identity. 

Cisgender

A person whose gender identity matches the gender and/or sex they were assigned at birth, and often written in shorthand as cis. 

Coming out   

The process of telling others about one’s gender identity or sexual/romantic orientation. (Often used as ‘coming out of the closet'). This is not a one-off experience, as people can come out multiple times to multiple people, or their identities and orientations may change. 

Deadname 

A name that someone no longer uses because it doesn’t match their gender identity. Using it can cause distress and is often seen as extremely offensive.

Demigender

A gender identity under the non-binary umbrella who has, or experiences, a partial connection to one or more genders. 

Demisexual / Demiromantic

A person who only experiences sexual or romantic attraction to someone after forming a strong emotional bond.

Enby

A slang term for non-binary, after the way that the shorthand NB is pronounced. This is a contentious term, as the acronym NB can also refer to people who are Non Black, and some people also find the term infantilising. You should only refer to someone as an enby if they have expressed that they are comfortable with the term. 

FTM

The acronym for 'female to male' when referring to individuals who have transitioned or are transitioning.

Gender

A group of people in a society who share particular qualities or ways of behaving which that society associates with being male, female, or another identity. This is usually assigned at birth based on their sex.

Gender Binary 

The social construct used to define gender systems that don’t include nonbinary, genderqueer or other diverse communities. Usually, this is male and female genders only.

Gender conversion therapy

A harmful and discredited practice that tries to change a person’s gender identity to make them conform to the sex assigned to them at birth. This is outdated, abusive and unsafe. 

Gender dysphoria 

A distressing or uncomfortable feeling someone may experience when their gender identity is not affirmed, or due to their gender does not match their sex and/or gender assigned at birth. This can occur when they are misgendered, called by the wrong name or when aspects of their body or appearance do not align with how they experience their gender.

Gender euphoria 

A positive feeling someone gets when their gender identity is affirmed. This could be an acknowledgement of their name or pronouns, or can be felt when wearing clothes that express who they are. 

Gender expression

The manifestation of someone's gender identity, how they feel and express it. This can include, but is not limited to, pronouns, clothing, body language, decor, and voice. Someone can express their gender privately or publicly. 

Gender identity

The identifier, or lack of one, that an individual uses to communicate how they understand their personal gender, navigate society, and/or desire to be seen by others.  

Genderfluid

Having a gender that changes over time, this may mean day to day or any other timescale. One day they may feel more like a man, the next a woman, and the next something else.

Gender non-conforming (GNC)

Someone whose appearance or identity doesn’t match traditional gender expectations. 

Genderqueer

Someone whose gender exists outside of or beyond society's binary concept of gender.

Greysexual/romantic/gender

Someone who has a low amount of romantic or sexual attraction, or a weak sense of gender identity. 

Heterosexual/romantic

A person who is attracted sexually and/or romantically to people of the other binary gender, often referred to as straight. 

Homosexual /romantic

A person who is attracted sexually and/or romantically to people of the same gender as themselves, often referred to as gay or lesbian.

Hormone replacement therapy 

Medical treatment with hormones. This can be used by people of all gender identities, for a variety of reasons, but in the context of transgender identities, it is often used to help a person’s physicality align more with their gender identity. 

Internalisation

The conscious or unconscious learning of specific behaviours or attitudes, usually due to societal perceptions. 

Intersex

A sex category that includes people whose physical characteristics do not completely fit into the typical definition of male or female sexes. 

LGTBQIA+

The acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual/aromantic and the plus for other identities that are not straight and/or cisgender. 

Misgendering

Referring to someone using the wrong pronouns or gender identifier. If done deliberately, this is usually seen as extremely offensive.

MTF

The acronym for 'male to female' when referring to individuals who have transitioned or are transitioning.

Neo pronouns  

Pronouns used by some people who don’t feel that more commonly used pronouns properly fit their gender identity (zi/zer, xe/xem). 

Non-Binary 

A gender identity for people who don’t identify with the gender binary of male or female. Being neither a man nor a woman, or being only partially or a combination of these things. 

Packer

A garment worn by someone who is transgender or non-binary to create the appearance of a penis under clothing. 

Pan/Omnigender

A person who experiences many, or sometimes all, genders.

Pansexual/romantic or Omnisexual/romantic

A person who is capable of being sexually and/or romantically attracted to any and all genders

‘Passing’

When a transgender or non-binary person is perceived by others as the gender they identify as. This word is mostly perceived as harmful as it can put pressure on people who don’t feel they ‘pass’. 

Pronouns

Words to refer to someone in place of their name (she/her, they/them, he/they). 

Polyamory

The desire or practice of relationships involving more than two people. 

Queer

An umbrella term for anyone whose sexual orientation or gender identity is not heterosexual (straight) or cisgender. Some people will use this proudly, others will not. This is because there is a history of this word being used as a derogatory slur. Ownership of this term has been reclaimed by the LGBTQIA+ community, and it is now a widely accepted term. If you are not LGBTQ+, you should be careful when using this, as many people may still find it offensive.

Questioning

When someone is unsure about their sexual orientation or gender identity, and is still figuring out what feels right for them. 

Sex

The socially constructed classification based on a person's biology. Society typically only acknowledges the categories of male and female, each with specific biological requirements, including genitalia, sex organs, hormones and chromosomes; however, this is very restrictive and does not consider the diversity amongst the population.

Sexual orientation 

Sexual orientation describes who a person is physically attracted to.

Stigma

Negative associations or expectations of particular identities or groups, usually based on misconceptions or stereotypes.

TERF

Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist is a term used to describe someone who does not include transgender women in their feminist beliefs and advocacy for women’s rights. TERFs believe that people assigned female at birth are only ever to be considered women; they reject the idea that trans women are women. Some “gender critical” people will describe themselves as TERFs, while others may find the term offensive.

Top surgery 

A medical procedure where a transgender or non-binary person alters their chest to match their gender identity. 

Transgender

Also referred to as trans, the umbrella term for anyone whose gender identity does not match the gender and/or sex assigned at birth.

Trans feminine  

A transgender or non-binary person who was assigned male at birth but identifies more with femininity. 

Transitioning

The process of accepting oneself and/or pursuing changes to be able to live as their true gender. This can be social, for example, as changing names, pronouns and clothing, or medical, for example, taking hormone replacement therapy or having surgery. It can also be as simple as just telling friends/family. There is no right or wrong way to transition, and there is no need to take any particular steps.

Trans man

A person who was assigned female at birth and is a man. 

Trans masculine 

A transgender or non-binary person who was assigned female at birth but identifies more with masculinity. 

Transphobic 

A word to describe people who have a fear, dislike or prejudice towards transgender or gender diverse people.  

Trans woman

A person who was assigned male at birth and is a woman.

Umbrella Term

Used to refer to a word or phrase that collectively describes or refers to more than one identity/orientation/group. Many umbrella terms can be used as a standalone identity or to refer to other identities within it. 

Zedsexual/romantic

Someone who experiences sexual and or romantic attraction, and therefore is not on the ace/aro spectrum. Also known as allosexual/alloromantic.