Pride month terms
LGBTQ definitions every ally should know for Pride Month (and all year long)
Millions of Americans determine as LGBTQ, and like any community, they have their own language to talk about who they are and the challenges they deal with in a world that doesn't fully accept or safeguard them.
The Colorado Springs shooting this week once again brings this danger to the forefront as the community mourns the loss of five Club Q patrons and employees and dozens others that were injured in the attack.
If you long to be an ally, the finest way to initiate is to study about the society – but be aware that many of the terms below have been used derogatorily by straight, alabaster , cisgender (defined below) people, and were reclaimed over day by the LGBTQ community.
This list is by no means exhaustive, and some of these terms – because they are so personal – likely express different things to different people. If you're puzzled by a term and feel like you can ask someone you love in the LGBTQ collective to help you make sense of it, do it. But also be careful not to put the burden of your training on other p
Glossary of Terms
Many Americans refrain from talking about sexual orientation and gender identity or statement because it feels taboo, or because they’re nervous of saying the improper thing.
This glossary was written to help give people the words and meanings to help make conversations easier and more content. 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 designation used to describe someone who is actively supportive of LGBTQ+ people. It encompasses straight and cisgender allies, as well as those within the Homosexual community who support each other (e.g., a queer woman 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 outing with others. Asexuality exists on a spectrum, and asexual people may trial no, little or conditional sexual attraction.
Biphobia | The fear and hatred of, or discomfort with
LGBTQ+ Terms
The following is a list of LGBTQ+ inclusive terms.
A
Agender
A person who identifies as having no gender.
Ally
A non-LGBTQ person wo shows support for LGBTQ people and advocates for equality in a variety of ways.
Androgyne/androgynous
Identifying and/or presenting as neither distinguishably masculine nor feminine.
Asexual
A person who experiences petty or no sexual attraction to others. Asexuality is not the same as celibacy.
Assigned Sex at Birth
The sex (male or female) assigned to a child at birth, most often based on the child’s external anatomy. Commonly referred to as birth sex, natal sex, biological sex, or sex.
B
Biphobia
The fear or hatred of and discrimination against bisexuals. Biphobia is different from homophobia or transphobia in that is seen within the LGBT community as well as in general society.
Bisexual
A person emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to more than one sex, gender or gender culture though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way or to the same degree.
C
Glossary of Terms: LGBTQ
Definitions were drafted in collaboration with other U.S.-based LGBTQ collective organizations and leaders. View acknowledgements section.
Additional terms and definitions about gender identity and gender utterance, transgender people, and nonbinary people are available in the Transgender Glossary.
Are we missing a term or is a definition outdated? Email press@
*NOTE: Ask people what terms they employ 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 beginning of a sentence.
LGBTQ
Acronym for woman loving woman, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. The Q generally stands for queer when LGBTQ organizations, leaders, and media use the acronym. In settings offering endorse 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