Terms and Definitions
This list is by no means comprehensive. To look at more definitions, visit
the website www.riseconsulting.org where
most of this list was taken from.
- Gay - A person (who usually identifies as a man) who is emotionally, spiritually,
physically, and/or sexually attracted primarily to members of the same gender.
Someone who accepts their same-gender attraction and identifies as gay.
- Lesbian - A person who identifies as a woman, who is emotionally, spiritually,
physically, and/or sexually attracted primarily to members of the same gender.
Someone who accepts her same gender attraction and identifies as a lesbian.
- Bisexual - An individual who is emotionally, spiritually, physically, and/or
sexually attracted to those of either gender (clinical term). Within bisexual
communities, many find themselves attracted to multiple gender expressions
and gender identities, and actively oppose a binary gender system.
- Trans (also Transgender) - A term used to describe those who transgress
social gender norms; often used as an umbrella term to mean those who defy
rigid, binary gender constructions, and who express or present a breaking
and/or blurring of culturally prevalent/stereotypical gender roles. The term
trans includes but is not limited to transsexuals, intersex individuals, bi-genders,
no-genders, androgynes, cross-dressers, gender-benders, feminine men, masculine
women, shape shifters, transvestites, and sometimes Two-Spirit people. Transfolk,
transperson, transpeople and trannies are other more casual terms used to
refer to people who identify as trans or gender variant.
- Transsexual - An individual who experiences intense, persistent, long-term
discomfort with their body and self-image due to the belief that their assigned
gender is inappropriate. This individual may then takes steps to adapt or
change their body, gender role and gender expression in order to achieve congruence
with their gender identity, (what they believe their true gender to be). Such
steps may include cross-living, hormone use, surgery, and/or other body modification.
Taking such steps may or may not lead to a feeling of harmony or congruence
between a person’s body and gender identity. After transitioning and
surgery some transexuals who are living full-time identify only as a man or
a woman.
- Queer - Historically and currently used as a slur targeting those perceived
to transgress “norms” of sexual orientation and/or gender expression.
In the 1980’s and 1990’s, “queer” was increasingly
reclaimed and popularized by some LGBT communities as a positive term of self-identification.
More recently, this term has been used to identify trans, bisexual, lesbian,
intersex, gay, and heterosexual individuals who are progressive sexual and
gender outlaws in some way or another.
- Questioning - an individual who is questioning their sexual orientation
and/or their gender identity.
- Intersex - A person born with anatomy or physiology which differs from cultural
ideals of male and female. Intersexuals may be born with “ambiguous
genitalia,” and/or experience hormone production levels that vary from
those of culturally “ideal” female and male. Intersexuals may
be born with “full or partial” internal genitalia, and/or “full
or partial” external genitalia. Intersexual genitals may “look
nearly” female, with a very large clitoris, or they may look “nearly
male,” with a very small penis. They may be truly “right in the
middle,” with a phallus that can be considered either a large clitoris
or a small penis; with a structure that might be a split, empty scrotum, or
outer labia; with a small vagina that opens into the urethra rather than into
the perineum.
Intersexuals are typically assigned a single gender at birth, and often undergo
surgery on their genitals in infancy to force a more culturally acceptable
gendered appearance — one which “matches” their assigned
gender. Many intersex people who undergo such surgery in infancy later report
feeling a sense of loss of an essential aspect of themselves. Examples of
the medical diagnoses used for intersexuals include: adrenal hyperplasia (CAH);
ambiguous genitals; androgen insensitivity, full or partial (AIS/PAIS); clitoromegaly;
early genital surgery; hypospadias; Klinefelter’s; micropenis; and testicular
feminization. For more information regarding intersexuality, contact the Intersex
Society of North America.
- Pansexual - A person who is emotionally, spiritually, physically, and/or
sexually attracted to those of any gender or physical makeup.
- Androgyny (Androgynous) - A person who expresses and/or presents merged
culturally/socially defined feminine and masculine characteristics, or mainly
neutral characteristics. May or may not express dual gender identity.
- Binary Gender System - A culturally/socially defined code of acceptable
behaviors which teach that there are men and women, who are masculine and
feminine, and that there is nothing outside of this system. Most popular discussion
on gender assumes a binary gender system. Discussion of trans issues and identities,
however, challenges a binary gender system and forces us to think of gender
within a multi-gender system.
- Butch - This term can be used to identify any person who expresses and/or
presents culturally/stereotypically masculine characteristics. A person, who
self-identifies, mainly with the stereotypically masculine end of a gender
characteristic spectrum. Within lesbian, bisexual women’s, and trans
communities, a female-bodied person who self-identifies as butch and understands
the intricacies of, and exhibits, a masculine spirit. (“Butch”
is not, however, a term used by lesbian, bisexual women’s and trans
communities exclusively.)
- Coming Out - The process of becoming aware of, understanding, and accepting
the sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression of oneself,
one’s family member(s), one’s partner(s), or one’s friend(s).
Also, the ongoing process of decision-making about the level of openness a
person feels in disclosing such information about oneself or one’s family
member(s), partner(s), or friend(s) to others. (See also IN THE CLOSET.)
- Cross-dressing (also Transvestite) - A person who, on occasion, wears the
clothing considered typical for another gender, but who does not desire to
change their gender. Reasons for cross-dressing can range from a need to express
a feminine or masculine side to attainment of erotic/sexual/fetish gratification.
Cross-dressers can be of any sexual orientation; the majority of cross-dressers
tend to identify as heterosexual/straight. For more information regarding
cross-dressing, contact Cross Dressers International (CDI).
- Dyke (also femme dyke, butch dyke, bi dyke) - A person who identifies as
a woman, and who is emotionally, spiritually, physically, and/or sexually
attracted primarily to women. This term is reclaimed or appropriated in a
positive way by many types of people for the purpose of self-identification,
and can be political. “Dyke” has been historically used in a pejorative
way, to ridicule and label lesbians who were/are perceived to express or present
stereotypically masculine characteristics.
- F2M, FTM, female-to-male, female-towards-male - A term used to identify
a person who was assigned a female gender at birth or is female-bodied, and
who identifies as male, lives as a man, or identifies as masculine. Some use
this as an identifier to let others know where on the spectrum they come from
and the direction they might be headed. Others in the community use the signifier
MTM, male-to-male, to affirm their belief that their assigned gender was inaccurate.
- Female - A medical label used to signify a “human sex,” the
biological designation based on genitalia (a vagina and clitoris). Can also
be a socio-political term, used by an individual to label their gender identity.
- Feminine - An often ambiguous term that refers to self-expression, performance,
actions, behaviors, dress, grooming, adornment and speech popularly associated
with someone who is female-bodied within a binary gender system. People of
all genders can self-identify as feminine or as having feminine characteristics.
- Femme - This term can be used to identify any person who expresses and/or
presents culturally/stereotypically feminine characteristics. A person, who
self-identifies, mainly with the stereotypically feminine end of a gender
characteristic spectrum. Within lesbian, bisexual women’s, and trans
communities, a person who self-identifies as femme and understands the intricacies
of, and exhibits, a feminine spirit. (“Femme” is not, however,
a term used by lesbian, bisexual women’s, and trans communities exclusively.)
- Gender - A social construct based on a group of emotional and psychological
characteristics that classify an individual as feminine, masculine, androgynous,
or other. Gender can be understood to have several components, including GENDER
IDENTITY, ASSIGNED GENDER, and GENDER ROLE.
- Gender-Bender (also Gender Fucker) - A person who merges characteristics
of any gender in subtle ways or intentionally flaunts blurred stereotypical
gender norms for the purpose of shocking others, without concern for passing.
- Gender Identity - The inner sense of being man/male, woman/female, both,
neither, butch, femme, two-spirit, multi-gender, bi-gender or another configuration
of gender. Gender identity usually matches with one’s physical anatomy,
but sometimes does not. Gender identity includes one’s sense of self,
the image that one presents to the world, and how one is perceived by the
world.
- Genderqueer - A term which is used by some people who may or may not fit
on the spectrum of trans, or be labeled as trans, but who identify their gender
and sexual orientation to be outside of the binary gender system, or culturally
proscribed gender roles.
- Gender Role - The social expectation of how an individual should act, think
and feel, based upon one’s assigned gender. The social expectation that
an individual must be defined as man or woman. Gender role includes behavior
characterized as feminine or masculine according to culturally prevalent or
stereotypic standards.
- Heterosexual - An individual who is emotionally, spiritually, physically,
and/or sexually attracted primarily to those of the opposite gender (clinical
term).
- Hir - (pronounced “here”) Used in place of “him/her,”
a pronoun coined by trans activists to refer to individuals who identify as
existing/presenting outside of a binary gender system and its rigid delineations
of “male” and “female.”
- Homophobia - The irrational fear of love, affection, and erotic behavior
between people of the same gender. Expressed as negative feelings, attitudes,
actions, and institutional discrimination against those perceived as non-heterosexuals.
Often directed at those perceived as expressing or presenting stereotypically
non-heterosexual characteristics and/or blurred gender roles, regardless of
individuals’ actual sexual orientation or gender identity. (See also
TRANSPHOBIA)
- Homosexual - An individual who is emotionally, spiritually, physically,
and/or sexually attracted primarily to those of the same gender (clinical
term). A term often viewed as negative, overly clinical, or disempowering
by many members of LGBT communities.
- Identity - How one views, labels, or chooses to identify oneself.
- In the Closet - Not disclosing (See COMING OUT), or being secretive about,
the sexual orientation and/or gender identity of oneself or one’s family
member(s), child or children, sibling(s), or friend(s).
- Internalized Homophobia (also internalized Transphobia) - The belief that
same-gender sexual orientation and/or transgressive, non-conforming gender
identity are inferior to heterosexual orientation and/or traditional masculine
or feminine gender identity. The internalization of negative messages, feelings
about oneself and one’s group, and beliefs about how one should be treated,
which often results in self-hate and difficulty with self-acceptance. Also,
an irrational fear of deviating from stereotypical gender roles.
- M2F, MTF, male-to-female, male-towards-female - A term used to identify
a person assigned a male gender at birth or is male-bodied, and who identifies
as a female, lives as a woman, or identifies as feminine. Some use this as
an identifier to let others know where on the spectrum they come from and
the direction they might be headed. Others in the community use the signifier
FTF, female-to-female, to affirm their belief that their assigned gender was
inaccurate.
- Male - A medical label used to signify a “human sex,” the biological
designation based on genitalia (a penis and testicles). Can also be a socio-political
term, used by an individual to label their gender identity.
- Man - A term referring to someone who identifies as such, who may often
exhibit masculine or male characteristics (see MASCULINE and MALE). Popularly
understood within a binary gender system to refer to someone who is male-bodied.
- Masculine - An often ambiguous term that refers to self-expression, performance,
actions, behaviors, dress, grooming, adornment, and speech popularly associated
with someone who is male-bodied within a binary gender system. People of all
genders can self-identify as masculine or as having masculine characteristics.
- Oppression - A system of exploitation, and imbalance of power and control,
in which one social group benefits over another. Oppressed groups are often
made to feel invisible, devalued, disempowered, unimportant, and “abnormal,”
and are systematically denied legal rights and economic, political, and cultural
access and privilege given to and maintained by groups with greater power
within an oppressive system.
- Passing - The ability to present oneself as any gender other than that assigned
at birth, and be accepted as such.
- Sex - 1. A term used historically and within the medical field to identify
genetic/biological/hormonal/physical characteristics, including genitalia,
which are used to classify an individual as female, male, or intersex. 2.
(Also SEXUALITY, SEXUAL BEHAVIOR) Activity engaged in by oneself, with another
or others to express attractions and/or arousal.
- Sexual Orientation - A continuum of affectional, erotic, fantasy, or sexual
arousal toward an individual of the same gender, the opposite gender, or other
genders. Terms used to identify sexual orientation include: gay, lesbian,
bisexual, pansexual, transsensual, straight, heterosexual, homosexual, same
gender loving, two-sprit, dyke, fag, queer, women who have sex with women,
men who have sex with men, and asexual. People experience sexuality in three
ways: sexual orientation, or how one experiences attractions; behavior, or
how one acts based upon such attractions; and self-identification, or how
one chooses to define or identify oneself.
- Straight (also Heterosexual) - A term used to describe a person who is emotionally,
spiritually, physically, and/or sexually attracted primarily to members of
the opposite gender. A person who accepts their opposite gender attraction
and who identifies as straight or het.
- Transition - The period during which a trans person (usually transsexual)
begins to live a new life as their true gender. Can include the period of
full-time living (see REAL LIFE TEST) required before gender reassignment
surgery. After transitioning and surgery some transexuals who are living full-time
identify only as a man or as a woman.
- Transphobia (also Genderphobia) - The irrational fear of those who are perceived
to break or blur stereotypical gender roles. Expressed as negative feelings,
attitudes, actions, and institutional discrimination. Often directed at those
perceived as expressing or presenting their gender in a transgressive way,
defying stereotypical gender norms, or who are perceived to exhibit non-heterosexual
characteristics — regardless of individuals’ actual gender identity
or sexual orientation. (See also HOMOPHOBIA.)
- Two-Spirit - A term used by some indigenous/First Nation/Native American
people to describe the experience of being, in Euro-American-centric terms,
lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. For a lengthier discussion on the
use of this term, refer to Gary Bowen’s article, “Transgendered
Native Americans” (1996), available through The American Boyz (contact
information via their website at: HYPERLINK "http://www.amboyz.org/articles/native.html"
http://www.amboyz.org/articles/native.html
- Woman - A term referring to someone who identifies as such, who may often
exhibit feminine or female characteristics (see FEMININE and FEMALE). Popularly
understood within a binary gender system to refer to someone who is female-bodied.
- Ze - (pronounced “sea”) Used in place of “she/he,”
a pronoun coined by trans activists to refer to individuals who identify as
existing/presenting outside of a binary gender system and its rigid delineations
of “male” and “female.”