Identity Terms

From scouring the web to reading books, through watching videos to talking with people of different orientations and identities, we created a glossary of terms to educate ourselves and clarify how we speak.
 
Two things to keep in mind: 1) We’ve learned that language is evolving from sexualities to genders; that is, the term used most commonly today is “transgender” not “transsexual” (but language is a work in progress so be kind!). 2) In writing and speaking, it has always been important to put the person first: “a person who is transgender” not “a transgender person.” Although again, don’t be too critical; the bottom line is that we need to be sensitive to what others are feeling. If you don’t know how someone wants to be addressed, just ask.
 
Our family members like many others are open to learning; please let us know if we’ve missed a definition or if a word needs more clarification (a Glossary, part 2, is already in the works).
 

• Ally: a person who does not identify as LGBTQ but who supports the LGBTQ+ community and wants equal rights and protections for their community
• Androgynous: a person appearing and/or identifying as neither a man nor woman, presenting as gender neutral, or a mix of gender
• Androphilia: an attraction to men or masculine-presenting people
• Aromantic: having no romantic attraction to any gender
• Asexual: an individual who has no sexual attraction to any gender
• Autosexual: sexual attraction towards oneself, that is preferring self-gratification over other forms of sexual activity
• Bear: a gay man who is often larger and has more body hair
• BiGender: a person whose gender identity is a combination of masculine and feminine
• Bisexual/Biromantic: (bi) a person attracted to two genders, but not necessarily simultaneously or equally
• Cetesexual/Ceteromantic: someone who is sexually attracted to nonbinary people. They are not attracted to people who are cisgender or transgender (not male or female)
• Cisgender: an individual whose gender identity aligns with the one associated with the sex assigned to them at birth
• Demiromantic: only experiences romantic attraction after developing an emotional connection
• Demisexual: a person who does not experience sexual attraction until after developing an emotional connection
• Fin Romantic/Finsexual: an individual with an attraction to feminine-identifying people
• Gender dysphoria: clinically significant distress caused when a person’s assigned birth gender is not the same as the one with which they identify
• Genderfluid: a person whose gender identity shifts within or outside of societal gender-based expectations
• Genderqueer: an individual who identifies as neither, between, or beyond a combination of genders
• Greyromantic: a person who may feel sexual attraction but usually does not. This person may experience sexual attraction but have a low drive
• Gynesexual: romantic/sexual attraction to feminine-identifying people
• Intersex: a medical condition in which a person's anatomy does not seem to fit the definition of female or male
• Lesbian: a woman attracted to women
• LGBT: an acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. Also: LGBT+, LGBTA (allies); LGBTQ (queer or questioning); LGBTI (intersex)
• Lipstick Lesbian: a woman who likes or has sex with women but favors glam and a traditionally feminine style
• Lithromantic: a member of the asexual spectrum who has romantic attraction for others but does not want it reciprocated
• Minromantic/Minsexual: an individual who only feels romantic/sexual attraction to masculine-identifying people
• Nonbinary: an individual who identifies as neither, between, or beyond or a combination of genders
• Nuetrois (pronounced new-twah): neutral-gender, null-gender, neither male nor female, genderless, and agender
• Pangender: a person whose emotional, romantic, and/or physical attraction is to people of all gender identities and biological sexes
• Polyamourous: an individual who is open to being in an open relationship or a relationship with multiple partners
• Polysexual: someone who is attracted to multiple genders
• Questioning: a person who is in a process of discovery and exploration abou their sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression
• Skoliosexual: an individual who is attracted to transgender and/or gender nonconforming people (see also Cetesexual/Ceteromantic)
• Third Gender: a gender that is neither man nor woman. Individuals can categorize themselves or can be categorized by society
• Transgender/Trans/TG: a person who identifies as something other than their gender assigned at birth
• Two Spirit (only belongs to Native Americans): a male-bodied or female-bodied person with masculine and feminine essences