This list is by no means comprehensive. To look at more definitions, visit the website www.riseconsulting.org where this list was taken from.

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.

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.
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.)

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.

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.

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 (ISNA), via their website HYPERLINK "http://www.isna.org" www.isna.org

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.

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.

Pansexual- A person who is emotionally, spiritually, physically, and/or sexually attracted to those of any gender or physical makeup.

Passing- The ability to present oneself as any gender other than that assigned at birth, and be accepted as such.

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.

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.

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.

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.)

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.

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.”