LGBTQ+ Terminology
*Note: Language is constantly evolving, many of these terms may change in the future, and new terms will be added. Though terms and definitions for identities are shared, individuals will assign their own definitions to their identities.
Sex and Gender Spectrums
• Androgyne/Androgynous: A non-binary gender identity or gender expression, respectively, that is a blend of, both, or neither of the binary (male/female) genders (Nonbinary wiki, n.d.).
• Assigned sex at birth: How people are classified at birth usually by physical anatomy and/or karyotyping as male, female, intersex, or another sex (TSER, n.d.). Assigned sex at birth is typically based on visible physical anatomy, and medical and legal documentation in many Western nations limits options to the gender binary of male or female. This process leads to missing non-visible intersex factors and leaves no room for complex genitalia or variations in internal reproductive anatomy or chromosomes (Brill & Kenney, 2016). Common acronyms: AFAB for assigned female at birth or AMAB for assigned male at birth.
• Assumed gender: Gender identity that others assume belongs to a person, usually based on gender expression and/or assigned sex at birth.
• Cisgender/Cis: Term for when a person’s gender identity exclusively aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth (TSER, n.d.; Brill & Kenney, 2016).
• Cisnormativity: Assumption that a person is cisgender/cis, and this is normal or preferred (Queer Cafe, n.d.; Tso, 2018).
• Congruence measures: The process taken to align gender identity, body, and gender expression (Brill & Kenney, 2016).
• Deadname: The name that was given to a person at birth once a person, usually a transgender person, has decided to be called by their chosen name. Deadnaming a person is the act of calling someone by their deadname (Merriam-Webster, n.d.).
• Femininity: Qualities attributed with being female/woman/girl.
• Gender binary: Socially constructed concept in many Western cultures where gender is limited to male/man and female/woman, often with the underlying assumption of cisgender man and cisgender woman. This definition is exclusive of anyone who does not fit in one of these two categories, especially someone whose gender identity is non-binary gender.
• Gender Congruence: A state of acceptance of gender identity and feeling their gender expression sufficiently represents them physically and socially (Brill & Kenney, 2016).
• Gender dysphoria: Discomfort, distress, and/or anxiety a person experiences regarding their gender and/or assigned sex at birth (Brill & Kenney, 2016). Not all transgender people have gender dysphoria.
• Gender expansive: Umbrella term for acknowledging a broader cultural understanding of gender identities and gender expressions, affirming individual experiences. This term also provides positive language for the expansiveness of experiences, while challenging the existing social and cultural systems that are limiting and promote conformity (Brill & Kenney, 2016).
• Gender Expression: How a person displays their gender identity outwardly (TSER, n.d.; Brill & Kenney, 2016).
• Gender fluid: Gender identity where someone’s gender or genders are not static but change and shift (Brill & Kenney, 2016).
• Gender Identity: Sense of self as female, male, both, neither or other gender(s). It is an internal experience that is independent of the sex a person is assigned at birth. Gender identity is not a choice or a lifestyle (TSER, n.d.; Brill & Kenney, 2016).
• Gender Creative/Expansive [presentation]: Gender expression that rejects social and cultural expectations and stereotypes for the appearance and roles of someone of a particular gender identity. Someone who is gender creative may or may not be transgender.
• Intersex: Umbrella term describing bodies that do not fit the typical definitions of male or female, usually related to genitals or internal sex organs or tissues.
• Masculinity: Qualities attributed with being male/man/boy.
• Misgender: When a person assumes, usually based on appearance, and incorrectly labels someone’s gender (Brill & Kenney, 2016). This can be a misuse of pronouns or gender-specific terms and can be incredibly hurtful and harmful, sending a message of intolerance, or even denial of a person’s identity or sense of self. An example would be if a person identifies as a woman (trans or cis) and uses female pronouns, and another person uses pronouns such as he/him/his/himself to describe or talk to her.
• Non-binary Gender: A umbrella term for gender identities that are not exclusively male and female, including identifying as both male and female, neither male or female, or other than male or female (Brill & Kenney, 2016).
• Pronoun: A word that refers to a person and can be gender specific (MYPRONOUNS.ORG, n.d.).
• Transgender/Trans or Trans*: All-inclusive term for any person whose gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth (TSER, n.d.; Brill & Kenney, 2016). Like any other label, not everyone who seems to fit this definition identifies as transgender and would like to be accepted and identified as their gender identity without the adjective of transgender. Adding an asterisk to trans is a way to refer to a multitude of diverse gender identities that are not cisgender man or cisgender woman (i.e. transman, transwoman, transmasculine, transfeminine, genderqueer, bigender, etc.) (It’s Pronounced METROsexual, 2012).
• Transition or Gender transition: The process someone undergoes to align their gender expression with their gender identity (TSER, n.d.; Brill & Kenney, 2016).
o Social transition: Changing social identifiers such as visible features of hair and clothing, and personal identifiers of name and pronouns (Brill & Kenney, 2016).
o Medical transition: Using medications like hormone suppressants/blockers or cross hormones to prohibit or promote physical, gender-based characteristics (Brill & Kenney, 2016).
o Surgical transition: Surgical interventions to add or remove gender-related physical traits (Brill & Kenney, 2016).
o Legal transition: Process of changing identification documents such as birth certificate, passport, and driver’s license to match with gender identity (Brill & Kenney, 2016).
• Two spirit: Traditionally used by indigenous people to refer to someone who is considered neither male nor female but another, third or fourth gender. Two spirit has also been used to refer to those in same-sex relationships. Two spirit people have both masculine and feminine spirits and have gender variation in clothing, activities, and roles (Indian Health Service, n.d.).
Sexuality Spectrums
• Asexual: A term for when a person does not feel sexual attraction. This does not exclude the possibility of emotional or romantic attraction (Brill & Kenney, 2016).
• Bisexual: Umbrella term for people who have sexual, romantic, and/or emotional attraction to more than one gender (Brill & Kenney, 2016). Typically, those identifying with this term use it with the assumption of gender being binary and usually cisgender.
• Gay: A term describing anyone with sexual, romantic, and/or emotional attraction to someone of the same gender (Brill & Kenney, 2016).
• Heterosexual/Straight: Sexual attraction to people of the other gender, usually understood within the context of the gender binary.
• Homosexual: Sexual attraction to people of the same gender, usually understood within the context of the gender binary. Due to history of using this term in derogatory way, a preferred term is usually ‘gay.’
• Heteronormativity: Assumption or belief that a person is heterosexual, and heterosexuality is normal or preferred (Cisgender, n.d.; Tso, 2018)
• Lesbian: A woman with sexual, romantic, and/or emotional attraction to other women (Brill & Kenney, 2016).
• Pansexual: A term for when a person feels sexual, romantic, and/or emotional attraction to multiple genders or any gender. Pansexuality recognizes that gender and attraction are not binary (Brill & Kenney, 2016).
• Queer: A term that has been reclaimed from its history as a derogatory slur to be used for and by people who are marginalized for their gender identities and sexual orientations, not cisgender and/or heterosexual (TSER, n.d.; Brill & Kenney, 2016). This term predominately is used as a sexuality identity, whereas genderqueer is more often used when referring to gender identity.
• Questioning: A person who is figuring out their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
• Sexuality: Sexual feelings and attractions, and how these are expressed.
• Sexual Orientation: Attraction to others, physically, romantically, or otherwise (TSER, n.d.; Brill & Kenney, 2016). Sexual orientation is not a choice.
Contact me for list of references.
LGBTQ+ Resources
Local Organizations for kids and family
• Rainbow Roundup
• Youth First (age 12-18)
• GALA (Gay and Lesbian Alliance of North Texas – For LGBTQ+ not just the LG!)
• PFLAG
*Contact me, or search for your local chapter, for more information!
Information and Advocacy Websites
• Pronouns: https://www.mypronouns.org/
• Trans Student Educational Resources: https://www.transstudent.org/gender/
o Gender Unicorn: https://transstudent.org/gender/
• National Center for Transgender Equality: https://transequality.org/
• Gender Infinity: https://genderinfinity.org/
o Map helps find gender affirming services
o Camps, Family events, Conferences etc.
• Gender Spectrum: https://genderspectrum.org/
• The World Professional Association for Transgender Health: https://www.wpath.org/
• The Trevor Project: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
o Suicide Prevention, education, and resources
o Great downloadable resource booklets: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/
Books For Parents
• The Gender Quest Workbook: A Guide for Teens & Young Adults Exploring Gender Identities by Rylan Jay Testa, PhD, Deborah Coolhart, PhD, and Jayme Peta, MA.
• The Gender Identity Workbook for Kidsby Kelly Stork, LCSW
• The Transgender Teen: A Handbook for Parents and Professionals Supporting Transgender and Non-Binary Teens by Stephanie Brill and Lisa Kenney
• The Transgender Child: A Handbook for Families and Professionals by Stephanie Brill and Rachel Pepper
• The Conscious Parent’s Guide to Gender Identity: A Mindful Approach to Embracing Your Child’s Authentic Self by Darlene Tando, LCSW
• The Gender Creative Child: Pathways for Nurturing and Supporting Children Who Live Outside Gender Boxesby Diane Ehrensaft PhD