The LGBTQIA community is not monolithic – race, class, age, ability all affect our experiences of any/all identities. The use of terms and language can be very fluid and may vary with time, ethnic/racial groups, age cohorts, etc. We will use the term LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning) throughout this manual it is by no means an all-inclusive term. A few points to think about in regards to language and LGBTQI communities:
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Affectional Orientation
A term used by those who argue that one's orientation goes far beyond sexuality. To holders of this view, one's orientation is defined by who one is predisposed to fall in love with, sexual attraction being only a part of a larger dynamic. The term is also used by those who consider themselves asexual to describe the gender or genders they are romantically attracted to. The terms used for different affectional orientations are typically the same as are used for sexual orientations: gay, bisexual or straight.
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AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
A severe, life threatening condition caused by HIV (see HIV for more details). In the late 70’s and early 80’s when AIDS was first discovered, it was called the “gay cancer”, “gay plague” or “gay pneumonia” and was assumed to only affect gay men. Worldwide statistics show that the majority of people who have AIDS are heterosexually identified. However, the gay/bisexual male population are still blamed for this epidemic in the U.S. |
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Ableism
Discriminatory, oppressive or abusive behavior arising from the belief that disabled people are inferior to others. |
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Abstinence
Abstinence can mean different things to different people at different times. It can mean no sexual touching except kissing and hugging. To some, it could mean sexual touching but no intercourse and/or abstinence might include oral sex but no intercourse. |
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Androgyne
Person appearing and identifying as neither man nor woman, presenting a gender either mixed or neutral. |
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Asexual
Lacking interest in or desire for sex; not having or involving sex. |
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Anti-Semitism
Hatred, prejudice, oppression, or discrimination against Jews or Judaism. The term is usually spelled with a capital "S" in "Semitic." Semites originally meant the descendents of Shem, which include both Jews and Muslims in the Middle East. Now, the term is used mainly to refer to Jews. |
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| B |
Biological Sex
The physiological and anatomical characteristics of maleness or femaleness with which a person is born. |
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Bisexual
An individual who is attracted to and may form sexual and affectionate relationships with both men and women. The term may be used to refer to a sociopolitical identity, a sexual behavior, or both. Identification with any particular “label" may be culturally, economically, generationally, geographically, or politically influenced. Alternately, individuals may not identify with any label. |
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Biphobia
The fear, hatred, or intolerance of bisexual women or men. |
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“Breeder”
Slang term used towards and/or to describe heterosexuals by some LGBT people. Usually used as a derogatory term. |
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| C |
“Closeted"/"Out" or “Out of the Closet"
Being “closeted" refers to not disclosing one’s sexual orientation and gender identity. “Coming out" is the process of first recognizing and acknowledging non-heterosexual orientation to oneself and then disclosing it to others. This usually occurs in stages and is a non-linear process. An individual may be “out" in some situations, or to certain family members or associates, and not others. Some may never “come out" to anyone besides themselves. |
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Coming Out
Coming out is the act of telling another person that you are LGBT. For many LGBT people this is a continuing process which occurs every time they meet someone new. Some LGBTQIA people choose to never come out to others. |
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Co-Parent
Refers to parents raising a child together. Sometimes refers to the non-biological or non-adoptive parent raising a child. |
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Crossdresser
A person who, regardless of motivation, wears clothes, makeup, etc. that are considered by the culture to be appropriate for another gender but not one’s own (preferred term to “transvestite”). |
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Cisgender
A person who is gender-typical or non-transgender. |
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| D |
Down Low (The)
A term used to describe the phenomenon of “straight” men who have sex with men and do not identify with being gay or bisexual and are compelled to live a double life. Historically this term has been used or associated with African-American men to label certain behavior unfairly and as a way of blaming African-American men on the “down low” for the spread of AIDS in communities of color. The “down low” phenomenon can be found in many communities in our society – heterosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, black, white, etc. |
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Drag or In Drag
Wearing clothes considered appropriate for someone of another gender. |
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Drag King and Drag Queen
A FTM crossdresser (typically a lesbian) and a MTF crossdresser (typically a gay man), respectively, who employ gender-marked clothing, makeup, and mannerisms for their own and other people’s appreciation or for entertainment purposes. |
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“Dyke”
Dyke is derived from Dike of Ancient Greece, who was a storm goddess. It is a shortened version of Bulldyke. The word is used to create the image of a masculine woman. The word along with “faggot” can be devastating terms to homosexual men and women in the early stages of developing their self-esteem. It has also been reclaimed by the LGBT community as a positive, political and confronting term (i.e. Dyke Marches). |
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FtM
A person who has transitioned from “female-to-male,” meaning a person who was assigned female at birth, but now identifies as male. Also, known as a “transgender man.” |
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“Faggot”
The term faggot originated in medieval times when a faggot was a bundle of sticks used to stoke a fire. The term came to refer to the burning of LGBTQIA people which occurred at the time. “Flamer” and “Flaming Faggot” also originated from this experience. |
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Family of Choice
Persons forming an individual’s social support network and often fulfilling the functions of blood relations. Many LGBTQIA people are rejected when their families learn of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity and may remain “closeted" to their biological relatives. In such cases, it is their partner/significant other and close friends who will be called on in time of illness or personal crises. It is important for clinicians to be aware of who should be involved in a patient’s care. |
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Family of Origin
Biological family or the family in which one was raised. These individuals may or may not be part of a person’s support system. |
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| G |
Gay
This word appeared in popular culture in the 1970’s to describe homosexuals. It is used mainly as an adjective and underscores sexual orientation as one aspect of an individual, not as the total individual. Usually a term used to describe gay men, but is also a more traditional reference to the LGBT community as a whole (i.e. gay people, gay movement, etc.) |
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Gay Man
A man who forms sexual and affectionate relationships with other men. Identification with any particular “label" may be culturally, economically, generational, geographically, or politically influenced. Other terms (some which are considered derogatory) include (but are not limited to): fairy, faggot, men “in the life", queers, “family", and “members of the church." Alternately, a man may not identify with any label. |
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Gender Identity
An individual’s internal sense of being male, female, or something else. Since gender identity is internal, one’s gender identity is not necessarily visible to others. |
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Gender Expression
How a person represents or expresses one’s gender identity to others, often through behavior, clothing, hairstyles, voice or body characteristics. |
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Genderqueer
A term used by individuals, mostly transgender youth, who identify as neither female nor male, as both, or as somewhere in between. Genderqueers may transition partly, completely, or not all, and may dress and present exclusively as one gender, vary their presentation, or present androgynously. The one commonality between genderqueers is that they understand themselves in ways that challenge binary constructions of gender. |
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Gender Roles
Society places arbitrary rules and roles, how one is supposed to act, dress, feel, think, relate to others, etc., on each of us based on a person’s sex (what genitalia they have). |
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Gender Variant or Gender Non-Conforming
Alternative terms for transgender, meaning one who varies from traditional “masculine” and “feminine” gender roles. |
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| H |
Heterosexism
The oppression of LGBTQIA people. Heterosexism includes: the belief in the superiority of heterosexuality and the inferiority of homosexuality the rights and privileges given to heterosexuals that are denied to gay people. |
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Heterosexual
People who form sexual and/or affectionate attractions and/or relationships to members of the opposite sex. Also referred to as straight. |
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Heterosexual Privilege
The benefits and advantages received as a result of claiming heterosexual identity or denying homosexual or bisexual identity. |
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Heterosexual Ally
A heterosexual person who confronts heterosexism, homophobia, and heterosexual privilege in themselves and others out of self-interest, a concern for the well-being of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, and a belief that heterosexism is a social justice issue. |
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Hir or Zir
A non-gender specific pronoun used instead of “her” and “him.” |
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HIV (Positive/Negative)
The virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is called human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Having HIV infection (HIV positive) is not the same as having AIDS. HIV causes a spectrum of conditions and symptoms. Nobody “catches” HIV infection the same way one “catches” a cold. It is transmitted by semen and pre-ejaculatory fluid, blood and blood products, vaginal fluids and breast milk. HIV is not transmitted by salvia, sweat, tears or urine. HIV can be transmitted by: sexual contact, direct exposure to infected blood and from an HIV infected woman to her fetus during pregnancy or childbirth, or to her infant during breastfeeding. |
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Homophobia
The fear, hatred, or intolerance of lesbians, gay men or any behavior that is outside the boundaries of traditional gender roles. Homophobia can be manifested as fear of association with lesbian or gay people or being perceived as lesbian or gay. Homophobic behavior can range from telling jokes about lesbian and gay people to physical violence against people thought to be lesbian or gay. |
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Homosexuals
People who form sexual and/or affectionate attractions and/or relationships with members of the same gender. Also referred to as gay or lesbian. |
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| I |
Inclusive Language
The use of gender non-specific language (i.e. “Partner" instead of “husband") in the patient interview, clinic intake forms, education materials and public health campaigns to avoid assumptions which limit the information available to clinicians and to enhance the accessibility of services to women who partner with women or men who partner with men. |
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Internalized Homophobia
The experience of shame, aversion, or self-hatred in reaction to one’s own feelings of attraction for a person of the same sex. |
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Intersex
A term used for people who are born with external genitalia, chromosomes, or internal reproductive systems that are not traditionally associated with either a “standard” male or female. |
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| L |
Lesbian
The term Lesbian originates from ancient Greece where the homosexual poet Sappho lived on the isle of Lesbos with other Greek women. It is from this isle that the term originates. Homosexual women sometimes prefer the term Lesbian as opposed to the generic term “ Gay”. This term acknowledges the fact that homosexual women have different priorities and experiences than homosexual men. Identification with any particular “label" may be culturally, economically, generationally, geographically, or politically influenced. Other terms (some which are considered derogatory) include (but are not limited to): gay women, dykes, women “in the life," queers, “family," and “members of the church." Alternately, a woman may not identify with any label. |
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Lifestyle
One’s lifestyle is how they live and behave, for example, a person’s hobbies, environment, family make-up, etc. |
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MtF
A person who has transitioned from “male-to-female,” meaning a person who was assigned male at birth, but now identifies as female. Also known as “transgender woman.” |
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Marriage Equality
A national organization whose mission is to secure the freedom and the right of same-sex couples to enter a legally-recognized civil marriage having all the federal and state benefits and responsibilities which that entails. (www.marriageequality.org) |
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Men who have Sex with Men (MSM)
Term is often used when discussing sexual behavior and is inclusive of all men who participate in this behavior regardless of how they identify their sexual orientation. The acronym MSM is conventionally used in medical literature. |
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Multiple Identities
This term describes how individuals may identify themselves in multiple dimensions including but not limited to: race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, physical abilities, socioeconomic status and social roles. |
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| O |
Out
To disclose a person’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity to another person. To be open regarding one’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity in a given situation. |
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| P |
Pansexual
One who exhibits many forms of sexual expression. Pansexual is a broader term than bisexual because it includes not only loving both men and women but also transgendered people and gender fluid people who do not feel they fit into categories of male or female. |
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Partner
Primary domestic partner or spousal relationship(s). May be referred to as "girlfriend/boyfriend," "lover," "roommate," “life partner," “wife/husband" or other terms. |
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Passing
A term used by transgender people to mean that they are seen as the gender they self-identify as. For example, a transgender, man (born female) who most people see a man. |
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Power of Attorney
Legal document in which one person authorizes another person to act in their behalf. A Durable Power of Attorney remains valid even in case of incapacitation (often the time it becomes most useful). Separate powers of attorney are needed for health care decisions and for finances. |
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Queer
In the past few years, the term queer has been adopted by many Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender people as a strong, all-inclusive, confrontational, and political label for sexual and gender identity minorities. It underscores and celebrates the dictionary definitions of “Differing from what is usual and ordinary; odd; singular; strange.” When LGBTQIA people identify themselves as queer, they are attempting to defuse a hostile label and throw it back in the face of their oppressors. |
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| R |
Racism
Prejudice or animosity against people who belong to other races. The belief that people of different races have different qualities and abilities, and that some races are inherently superior or inferior. |
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Sexism
The cultural, institutional, and individual beliefs and practices that privilege men, subordinate women, and denigrate women-identified values. Also, Sexism means hatred of or discrimination against persons of a specific gender, usually female. |
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Sexual Identity
Sexual Identity is the consistent and enduring sense of one’s own sexuality and repeated sexual thoughts, feelings and/or behaviors. Sexual identity is how one thinks of oneself in terms of whom one is sexually and romantically attracted to. The process of sexual identity is on going. |
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Sexual Orientation
A term used describing a person’s attraction to members of the same sex or different sex. Usually defined as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or heterosexual. |
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Sexual Reassignment Surgery
Surgical procedures that change one’s body to make it conform to a person’s gender identity. This may include “top surgery” (breast augmentation or removal) or “bottom surgery” (altering genitals). Contrary to popular belief, there is not one surgery; in fact there are many different surgeries. “Sex change surgery” is considered a derogatory term by many. |
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Sie or Ze
A non-gender specific pronoun used instead of “she” and “he.” |
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Stonewall (Riots)
The Stonewall riots were a series of violent conflicts between homosexuals and police officers in New York City. The first night of rioting began on Friday, June 27, 1969, when police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village. "Stonewall," as the raids are often referred to, is considered a turning point for the modern gay rights movement worldwide. It was one of the first times any significant body of gays resisted arrest. (www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonewall_riots) |
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Straight
Slang for Heterosexual. |
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Significant Other
Primary domestic partner or spousal relationship(s). May be referred to as "girlfriend/boyfriend," "lover," "roommate," “life partner," “wife/husband" or other terms. |
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Silent Minority
The term silent minority refers to the idea that LGBTQIA people are not a visible group to a casual observer. One cannot walk into a room and pick out a gay man or lesbian by sight. This allows many gay men and lesbians to live in “ the closet”. |
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Transgender
An umbrella term for people whose gender identity, expression or behavior is different from those typically associated with their assigned sex at birth, including but not limited to transsexuals, cross-dressers androgynous people, genderqueers, and gender non-conforming people. Transgender is a broad term and is good for health and social care providers to use. |
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Transgender Man
A term for a transgender individual who currently identifies as a man (see also “FTM”). |
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Transgender Woman
A term for a transgender individual who currently identifies as a woman (see also “MTF”). |
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Transition
The period during which a person begins to live as their new gender. Transitioning may include changing one’s name, taking hormones, having surgery, or changing legal documents (e.g. driver’s license, Social Security number, birth certificate) to reflect their new gender identity. |
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Transsexual
A term for people whose gender identity is different from their assigned sex at birth. Often, but not always, transsexual people alter their bodies though hormones or surgery in order to make it march their gender identity. |
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Transphobia
Transphobia is the negative valuing, stereotyping and discriminatory treatment of individuals who do not conform in appearance and/or identity to conventional conceptions of gender. Trans-identified (transgender) individuals, lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and their supporters are typically the targets of transphobia. |
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Transvestite
A term used for a crossdresser that is considered derogatory by many. |
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Two-spirit
The definition of a two-spirit person varies across the Native American cultures in which they appear. In general, two-spirit people are born one sex, and end up fulfilling the roles assigned to both sexes, or other roles reserved for two-spirit people. Some people consider two-spirit a term that can refer to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, while others think it is best used only for transgender people. |
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Women who have Sex with Women (WSW)
Term is often used when discussing sexual behavior and is inclusive of all women who participate in this behavior regardless of how they identify their sexual orientation. The acronym WSW is conventionally used in medical literature. |
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Xenophobia
Hatred of or discrimination against persons of another nationality, usually a minority. |
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Adapted from “Women’s Health Issues: Planning for Diversity” by Liza Rankow, Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Awareness Workshops at Weselyn University, Cooper Thompson and the Campaign to End Homophobia: “A Guide to Leading Introductory Workshops on Homophobia”, www.religioustolerance.org, www.timetogetequal.org, www.queensu.ca/rmas/policy/harass.pdf., the Colorado Anti-Violence Program, Wardenburg Health Center at CU-Boulder, American College Health Association, and Brett Genny Beemyn Director, The Stonewall Center, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
