List
of Gender Terms 
Menstuff® has information on
Gender Terminology.
Comprehensive* List of LGBATQQI+ Term
Definitions
*This list is neither comprehensive nor inviolable, but
it’s a work in progress toward those goals. With
identity terms, trust the person who is using the term and
their definition of it above any dictionary. These
definitions are the creation of a cultural commons: emails,
online discussions, and in-person chats, with the initial
curation being mine, then growing into a collaboration
between Meg Bolger and me at TheSafeZoneProject.com.
We are constantly honing and adjusting language to —
our humble goal — have the definitions resonate with at
least 51 out of 100 people who use the words. Identity terms
are tricky, and trying to write a description that works
perfectly for everyone using that label simply isn’t
possible.
Some definitions here may include words you aren’t
familiar with, or have been taught a flawed or incomplete
definition for; I’ve likely defined those words
somewhere else in the list, but if I also missed many. This
is an ever-evolving project that I do my best to check back
in on every three or four months. All that said, let’s
get started… alphabetically:
Advocate – (noun) (1) a person who actively
works to end intolerance, educate others, and support social
equity for a marginalized group. (verb) (2) to actively
support/plea in favor of a particular cause, the action of
working to end intolerance, educate others, etc.
Ally – (noun) a (typically straight- or
cis-identified) person who supports, and respects for
members of the LGBTQ community. While the word doesn’t
necessitate action, we consider people to be active allies
who take action upon this support and respect, this also
indicates to others that you are an ally.
Androgyny/ous – (adj; pronounced
“an-jrah-jun-ee”) (1) a gender expression that has
elements of both masculinity and femininity; (2)
occasionally used in place of “intersex” to
describe a person with both female and male anatomy
Androsexual/Androphilic – (adj) attraction to men,
males, and/or masculinity
Aromantic – (adj) is a person who experiences little
or no romantic attraction to others and/or a lack of
interest in forming romantic relationships.
Asexual – (adj) having 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. Another term used within the
asexual community is “ace,” meaning someone who is
asexual.
Bigender – (adj) a person who fluctuates
between traditionally “woman” and “man”
gender-based behavior and identities, identifying with both
genders (and sometimes a third gender)
Bicurious – (adj) a curiosity about having
attraction to people of the same gender/sex (similar to
questioning).
Biological Sex – (noun) 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.”
Biphobia – (noun) 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 – (adj) a word used to describe an individual
who harbors some elements of this range of negative
attitudes towards bisexual people.
Bisexual – (adj) a person emotionally,
physically, and/or sexually attracted to male/men and
females/women. Other individuals may use this to indicate an
attraction to individuals who identify outside of the gender
binary as well and may 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.
Butch – (noun & adj) 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.
Cisgender – (adj; pronounced
“siss-jendur”) 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.
Cisnormativity – (noun) 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.
Closeted – (adj) 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)
Coming Out – (1) the process by which one
accepts and/or comes to identify one’s own sexuality or
gender identity (to “come out” to oneself). (2)
The process by which one shares one’s sexuality or
gender identity with others (to “come out” to
friends, etc.).
Constellation – (noun) the arrangement or
structure of a polyamorous relationship.
Cross-dresser – (noun) someone who wears
clothes of another gender/sex.
Demisexual – (noun) an individual who does
not experience sexual attraction unless they have formed a
strong emotional connection with another individual. Often
within a romantic relationship.
Drag King – (noun) someone who performs
masculinity theatrically.
Drag Queen – (noun) someone who performs
femininity theatrically.
Dyke – (noun) a term referring to a masculine
presenting lesbian. While often used derogatorily, it can is
adopted affirmatively by many lesbians (and not necessarily
masculine ones) as a positive self-identity term
Emotional/Spiritual Attraction – (noun) an
affinity for someone that evokes the want to engage in
emotional intimate behavior (e.g., sharing, confiding,
trusting, interdepending), experienced in varying degrees
(from little-to-non, to intense). Often conflated with
romantic attraction and sexual attraction.
Fag(got) – (noun) derogatory term referring
to a gay person, or someone perceived as queer. Occasionally
used as an self-identifying affirming term by some gay men,
at times in the shortened form ‘fag’.
Feminine Presenting; Masculine Presenting –
(adj) 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.
Feminine of Center; Masculine of Center –
(adj) a word that indicates 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.
Femme – (noun & adj) someone who
identifies themselves as feminine, whether it be physically,
mentally or emotionally. Often used to refer to a
feminine-presenting queer woman .
Fluid(ity) – (adj) generally with another
term attached, like gender-fluid or fluid-sexuality,
fluid(ity) 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).
FtM / F2M; MtF / M2F – (adj) abbreviation for
female-to-male transgender or transsexual person;
abbreviation for male-to-female transgender or transsexual
person.
Gay – (adj) (1) 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. (2) 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.
Gender Binary – (noun) the idea that there
are only two genders – male/female or man/woman and
that a person must be strictly gendered as either/or.
Gender Expression – (noun) 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.”
Gender Fluid – (adj) 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.
Gender Identity – (noun) the internal
perception of an 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.
Gender Non-Conforming (GNC) – (adj) someone
whose gender presentation, whether by nature or by choice,
does not align in a predicted fashion with gender-based
expectations.
Gender Normative / Gender Straight – (adj)
someone whose gender presentation, whether by nature or by
choice, aligns with society’s gender-based
expectations.
Genderqueer – (adj) a gender identity label
often used by people who do not identify with the binary of
man/woman; or as an umbrella term for many gender
non-conforming or non-binary identities (e.g., agender,
bigender, genderfluid). Genderqueer people may think of
themselves as one or more of the following, and they may
define these terms differently:
- may combine aspects man and woman and other
identities (bigender, pangender);
- not having a gender or identifying with a gender
(genderless, agender);
- moving between genders (genderfluid);
- third gender or other-gendered; includes those who do
not place a name to their gender having an overlap of, or
blurred lines between, gender identity and sexual and
romantic orientation
Gender Variant– (adj) someone who either by
nature or by choice does not conform to gender-based
expectations of society (e.g. transgender, transsexual,
intersex, gender-queer, cross-dresser, etc.).
GSRM - stands for "Gender Sexual Romantic
Minorities." It is an all-inclusive term for anyone outside
of the cisgendered, heterosexual spectrum. As it stands,
LGBTQA+ does NOT include everyone which brings about a sense
of emnity within our own community.
Gynesexual/Gynephilic – (adj; pronounced
“guy-nuh-seks-shu-uhl”) attracted to woman,
females, and/or femininity
Hermaphrodite (or Hermaphroditic) - These terms
are now considered outdated and derogatory. They are only
used in reference to animals.
Heteronormativity – (noun) the assumption, in
individuals or in institutions, that everyone is
heterosexual, and that heterosexuality is superior to all
other sexualities. Leads to invisibility and stigmatizing of
other sexualities. Often included in this concept is a level
of gender normativity and gender roles, the assumption that
individuals should identify as men and women, and be
masculine men and feminine women, and finally that men and
women are a complimentary pair.
Heterosexism – (noun) behavior that grants
preferential treatment to heterosexual people, reinforces
the idea that heterosexuality is somehow better or more
“right” than queerness, or makes other sexualities
invisible
Heterosexual – (adj) a person primarily
emotionally, physically, and/or sexually attracted to
members of the opposite sex. Also known as straight.
Homophobia – (noun) an umbrella term for a
range of negative attitudes (e.g., fear, anger, intolerance,
resentment, erasure, or discomfort) that one may have
towards members of LGBTQ community. The term can also
connote a fear, disgust, or dislike of being perceived as
LGBTQ. The term is extended to bisexual and transgender
people as well; however, the terms biphobia and transphobia
are used to emphasize the specific biases against
individuals of bisexual and transgender communities.
Homosexual – (adj) a [medical] term
used to describe a person primarily emotionally, physically,
and/or sexually attracted to members of the same sex/gender.
This term is considered stigmatizing due to its history as a
category of mental illness, and is discouraged for common
use (use gay or lesbian instead).
Intersex – (noun) someone whose combination
of chromosomes, gonads, hormones, internal sex organs, and
genitals differs from the two expected patterns of male or
female. In the medical care of infants the initialism DSD
(“Differing/Disorders of Sex Development”).
Formerly known as hermaphrodite (or hermaphroditic), but
these terms are now considered outdated and derogatory.
Lesbian – (noun) a term used to describe
women attracted romantically, erotically, and/or emotionally
to other women.
LGBTQ / GSM / DSG / + – (noun) initialisms
used as shorthand or umbrella terms for all folks who have a
non-normative (or queer) gender or sexuality, there are many
different initialisms people prefer. LGBTQ is Lesbian Gay
Bisexual Transgender and Queer (sometimes people at a + at
the end in an effort to be more inclusive); GSM is Gender
and Sexual Minorities; DSG is Diverse Genders and
Sexualities. Other popular options include the initialism
GLBT and the acronym QUILTBAG (Queer [or
Questioning] Undecided Intersex Lesbian Trans* Bisexual
Asexual [or Allied] and Gay [or
Genderqueer]).
Lipstick Lesbian – (noun) Usually refers to a
lesbian with a feminine gender expression. Can be used in a
positive or a derogatory way. Is sometimes also used to
refer to a lesbian who is assumed to be (or passes for)
straight.
Metrosexual – (noun & adj) a man with a
strong aesthetic sense who spends more time, energy, or
money on his appearance and grooming than is considered
gender normative.
Masculine of Center – (adj) a word that
indicates a range personal understanding both in terms of
gender identity and gender presentation of lesbian/queer
women who present, understand themselves, relate to others
in a more masculine way. These individuals may also often
identity as butch, stud, aggressive, boi, trans-masculine
among other identities.
MOGII -
stands for Marginalized Orientations, Gender Identities, and
Intersex. No need to label everyone, because everyone is
included. Panromantic? Marginalized orientation. Demiboy?
Marginalized gender identity. We're all covered, everyone is
welcome, no one is ignored or left out, and no arguing over
what each letter stands for. Done. However... while most
people know what LGBT+ and its incarnations mean and
represent, not so many outside of the community know what
MOGII means. So if you're trying to reach a wide audience
who may not know much about our community, you may be better
off sticking with LGBT+friends for now, even though MOGII is
more inclusive and much more fun to say.
MSM / WSW – (noun) initialisms for “men
who have sex with men” and “women who have sex
with women,” to distinguish sexual behaviors from
sexual identities (e.g., because a man is straight, it
doesn’t mean he’s not having sex with men). Often
used in the field of HIV/Aids education, prevention, and
treatment.
Mx. – (typically pronounced mix) is an title
(e.g. Mr., Ms., etc.) that is gender neutral. It is often
the option of choice for folks who do not identify within
the cisgender binary.
Outing – (verb) involuntary or unwanted
disclosure of another person’s sexual orientation,
gender identity, or intersex status.
Pansexual – (adj) a person who experiences
sexual, romantic, physical, and/or spiritual attraction for
members of all gender identities/expressions
Passing – (verb) (1) a term for trans* people
being accepted as, or able to “pass for,” a member
of their self-identified gender/sex identity (regardless of
birth sex). (2) An LGB/queer individual who can is believed
to be or perceived as straight.
Polyamory/Polyamorous– (noun/adj) refers to
the practice of, desire to, or orientation towards having
ethically, honest, consensually non-monogamous relationships
(i.e. relationships that may include multiple partners).
This may include open relationships, polyfidelity (which
involves more than two people being in romantic and/or
sexual relationships which is not open to additional
partners), amongst many other set ups. Some poly(amorous)
people have a “primary” relationship or
relationship(s) and then “secondary”
relationship(s) which may indicate different allocations of
resources, time, or priority.
Questioning (verb, adjective) – an individual
who is unsure about or is exploring their own sexual
orientation or gender identity.
Romantic Attraction – (noun) an affinity for
someone that evokes the want to engage in relational
intimate behavior (e.g., flirting, dating, marriage),
experienced in varying degrees (from little-to-non, to
intense). Often conflated with sexual attraction or
emotional/spiritual attraction.
Same Gender Loving / SGL – (adj) a term
sometimes used by members of the African-American / Black
community to express an alternative sexual orientation
without relying on terms and symbols of European
descent.
Sexual Attraction – (noun) an affinity for
someone that evokes the want to engage in physical intimate
behavior (e.g., kissing, touching, intercourse), experienced
in varying degrees (from little-to-non, to intense). Often
conflated with romantic attraction or emotional/spiritual
attraction.
Sexual Orientation – (noun) the type of
sexual, romantic, emotional/spiritual attraction one feels
for others, often labeled based on the gender relationship
between the person and the people they are attracted to
(often mistakenly referred to as sexual preference)
Sexual Preference – (1) the types of sexual
intercourse, stimulation, and gratification one likes to
receive and participate in. (2) Generally when this term is
used, it is being mistakenly interchanged with “sexual
orientation,” creating an illusion that one has a
choice (or “preference”) in who they are attracted
to
Sex Reassignment Surgery / SRS – A term used
by some medical professionals to refer to a group of
surgical options that alter a person’s biological sex.
“Gender confirmation surgery” is considered by
many to be a more affirming term. In most cases, one or
multiple surgeries are required to achieve legal recognition
of gender variance. 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.
Skoliosexual – (adj) attracted to genderqueer
and transsexual people and expressions (people who
don’t identify as cisgender)
Stud – (noun) an term most commonly used to
indicate a Black/African-American and/or Latina masculine
lesbian/queer woman. Also known as ‘butch’ or
‘aggressive’.
Third Gender – (noun) a term for a person who
does not identify with either man or woman, but identifies
with another gender. This gender category is used by
societies that recognise three or more genders, both
contemporary and historic, and is also a conceptual term
meaning different things to different people who use it, as
a way to move beyond the gender binary.
Top Surgery – (noun) this term refers to
surgery for the construction of a male-type chest or breast
augmentation for a female-type chest.
Trans*/Transgender – (adj) (1) An umbrella
term covering a range of identities that transgress socially
defined gender norms. Trans with an * is often used to
indicate that you are referring to the larger group nature
of the term. (2) A person who lives as a member of a gender
other than that expected based on sex assigned at birth.
Transition(ing) – (noun & verb) this term
is primarily used to refer to the process a trans* person
undergoes when changing their bodily appearance either to be
more congruent with the gender/sex they feel themselves to
be and/or to be in harmony with their preferred gender
expression.
Transman ; Transwoman – (noun) An identity
label sometimes adopted by female-to-male transgender people
or transsexuals to signify that they are men while still
affirming their history as assigned female sex at birth.
(sometimes referred to as transguy) (2) Identity label
sometimes adopted by male-to-female transsexuals or
transgender people to signify that they are women while
still affirming their history as assigned male sex at
birth.
Transphobia –(noun) the fear of,
discrimination against, or hatred of trans* people, the
trans* community, or gender ambiguity. Transphobia can be
seen within the queer community, as well as in general
society.
Transsexual – (noun & adj) a person who
identifies psychologically as a gender/sex other than the
one to which they were assigned at birth. Transsexuals often
wish to transform their bodies hormonally and surgically to
match their inner sense of gender/sex.
Transvestite – (noun) a person who dresses as
the binary opposite gender expression
(“cross-dresses”) for any one of many reasons,
including relaxation, fun, and sexual gratification (often
called a “cross-dresser,” and should not be
confused with transsexual)
Two-Spirit – (noun) is an umbrella term
traditionally used by Native American people to recognize
individuals who possess qualities or fulfill roles of both
genders
Ze / Hir – alternate pronouns that are gender
neutral and preferred by some trans* people. Pronounced
/zee/ and /here/ they replace “he” and
“she” and “his” and “hers”
respectively. Alternatively some people who are not
comfortable/do not embrace he/she use the plural pronoun
“they/their” as a gender neutral singular
pronoun.
Source: itspronouncedmetrosexual.com/2013/01/a-comprehensive-list-of-lgbtq-term-definitions/
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