Lgbtq meanings
Glossary of Terms: LGBTQ
Definitions were drafted in collaboration with other U.S.-based LGBTQ community organizations and leaders. See acknowledgements section.
Additional terms and definitions about gender culture and gender expression, transgender people, and nonbinary people are ready in the Transgender Glossary.
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*NOTE: Ask people what terms they use to describe their sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression before assigning them a label. Outside of acronyms, these terms should only be capitalized when used at the start of a sentence.
LGBTQ
Acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual , and queer. The Q generally stands for queer when LGBTQ organizations, leaders, and media apply the acronym. In settings offering support for youth, it can also stand for questioning. LGBT and LGBTQ+ are also used, with the + added in recognition of all non-straight, non-cisgender identities. (See Transgender Glossary ) Both are acceptable, as are other versions of thi
LGBTQIA Resource Center Glossary
GLOSSARY
The terms and definitions below are always evolving, transforming and often express different things to different people. They are provided below as a starting point for discussion and understanding. This Glossary has been collectively built and created by the staff members of the LGBTQIA Resource Center since the early s.
These are not universal definitions. This glossary is provided to aid give others a more thorough but not entirely comprehensive understanding of the significance of these terms. You may even consider asking someone what they mean when they use a designation, especially when they use it to describe their persona. Ultimately it is most important that each individual characterize themselves for themselves and therefore also define a designation for themselves.
“If I didn't define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people's fantasies for me and eaten alive.” -Audre Lorde
This glossary contains terms, such as ableism and disability, that may not be considered directly related to identities of sexuality or gender. T
Glossary of Terms
Many Americans refrain from talking about sexual orientation and gender identity or statement because it feels taboo, or because they’re anxious of saying the incorrect thing.
This glossary was written to help give people the words and meanings to help make conversations easier and more cozy. LGBTQ+ people use a variety of terms to identify themselves, not all of which are included in this glossary. Always listen for and respect a person’s self identified terminology.
Ally | A phrase used to describe someone who is actively supportive of LGBTQ+ people. It encompasses straight and cisgender allies, as well as those within the Gay community who support each other (e.g., a womxn loving womxn who is an ally to the bisexual community).
Asexual | Often called “ace” for short, asexual refers to a complete or partial lack of sexual attraction or lack of interest in sexual exercise with others. Asexuality exists on a spectrum, and asexual people may life no, little or conditional sexual attraction.
Biphobia | The fear and hatred of, or discomfort with
LGBTQ Definitions
Ally | A person who is not LGBTQ but shows support for LGBTQ people and promotes equality in a variety of ways.
Androgynous | Identifying and/or presenting as neither distinguishably masculine nor feminine.
Androsexual | A person who is emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to masculinity or people with masculine traits regardless of their own, or the other person's gender identity.
Asexual | The lack of a sexual attraction or desire for other people.
Bisexual | A person emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to more than one sex, gender or gender identity though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way or to the same degree.
Cisgender | A term used to illustrate a person whose gender identity aligns with those typically associated with the sex assigned to them at birth.
Gay | A person who is emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to members of the equal gender.
Gender dysphoria | Clinically significant distress caused when a person’s assigned birth gender is not the identical as the one with which they identi