Terms & Definitions

TERMS THAT DESCRIBE GENDER

Gender identity: A term to define how an individual identifies within themselves, who they know themselves to be. Someone might be assigned male at birth and then raised as a boy, but not identify with that gender.
Gender Expression: How a person presents themselves in the world. This may be masculine, feminine, or a variety of combinations.
Sex: Refers to the genitalia of an individual (Male, Female, Intersex).  Many people in trans communities use the terms Assigned Male at Birth (AMAB) or Assigned Female At Birth (AFAB) to describe their sex assignment at birth.
Cisgender: A person whose gender identifies with the gender that they were assigned at birth. For example, someone who was assigned female, assigned a girl/ woman and identifies as a woman.
Genderqueer: A person whose identity falls outside of the categories of “man” and “woman”.
Genderfluid: A person who experiences their identity as one that shifts throughout the spectrum of gender.
Gender Non-Conforming: A person whose gender expression and/or presentation does not align with the gender they were assigned at birth.
Transgender: An umbrella term used to refer to a person who identifies with a gender different from what they were assigned at birth.

TERMS THAT DESCRIBE SEXUAL ORIENTATION

Sexual Orientation: A person’s physical, romantic and/or emotional attraction to another person. Gender identity and sexual orientation are not the same.
Bisexual: A person who is attracted to people of similar or dissimilar genders. Others use this term as an umbrella term for being attracted to multiple genders.
Gay:  Sometimes defined as when a man is attracted to other men. This term is often used broadly within the LGBTQ community by men, women, and people of multiple gender identities to describe same gender desire.
Lesbian: Sometimes defined as a woman who is attracted to other women. Either woman can be cisgender or transgender.
Queer: An umbrella term that can include anyone who wants to identify as queer and/or who feels somehow outside of the stereotypical norms in regards to gender or sexuality.
Sexually fluid: A person whose attraction is open and changing, and is not specific to one gender or orientation.

See something you’d like to adit, edit, or change and/or delete? Connect with us!