Glossary

One line definitions can never fully explain identities or ideas. Some of these words come with social stigmas and specific connotations and some words that mean the same thing are still used differently. Many words are not included.

Sex and Gender

Sex: biological distinction between male, female, and intersexed

Assigned: determination of sex, usually at birth, sometimes with surgery

Intersexed: sex neither exclusively male nor female

— Hermaphrodite: a person with both male and female reproductive organs

Gender: social distinction between male, female, and genderqueer/intergender/adrogyne/pangender

Identified/identity: self-determination

Gender identity: self-determination of gender

Gender

Gender roles: perceived norms for genders

Gender binary: dividing people into male and female

Gender spectrum/gender sphere: also dividing people between and outside male and female

Androgyny: mixing of masculine and feminine

Gender non-conforming: transgressing gender roles

Third gender/third sex: considered neither female nor male

Genderfuck: playing with gender

Gender-blind/gender-neutral/unisex: activities performed or services provided without regard to participants’ gender

Gender Identities

Genderqueer/intergender/adrogyne/pangender: identified as neither female nor male

Bigender: identified as both female and male

Transgender:

— 1. often specifically: male assigned and female identified, or female assigned and male identified

— 2. sometimes more inclusively: transgressive of gender roles

Cisgender: female assigned and female identified, or male assigned and male identified

Queer: not heterosexual, or not male or female (also a sexual orientation)

Questioning:  questioning gender identity or sexual orientation (also a sexual orientation)

Identities

Transexual:

— 1. sometimes: male assigned and female identified, or female assigned and male identified

— 2. often specifically: also interested in sex reassignment surgery

— Pre-op: planning to have sex reassignment surgery

— Post-op: has had sex reassignment surgery

— Non-op: not planning to have sex reassignment surgery

Transwoman/mtf/m2f (male to female): male assigned and female identified

Transman/ftm/f2m (female to male): female assigned and male identified

Transvestite/cross-dresser/drag king or queen: female identified and wears masculine clothing, or male identified and wears feminine clothing

Sexual Orientations

Heterosexual/straight: female attracted to male, or male attracted to female

Homosexual/gay: female attracted to female, or male attracted to male

Lesbian: female attracted to female

Bisexual: attracted to female and male

Pansexual/anthrosexual/omnisexual: potentially attracted to any gender or sex

Polysexual: attracted to more than one gender or sex

Gynephile/gynophile: a person attracted to adult females

Androphile: a person attracted to adult males

Asexual: attracted to no one

Queer: not heterosexual, or not male or female (also a gender identity)

Questioning: questioning gender identity or sexual orientation (also a gender identity)

Discrimination

Homophobia: fear of or discrimination against homosexuality and homosexuals

Biphobia: fear of or discrimination against bisexuality and bisexuals

Transpobia: fear of or discrimination against transexuality and transexuals and transgender people

Heterosexism: discrimination against non-heterosexuality and non-heterosexuals

Heteronormativity: social marginalization of non-heterosexuality and non-heterosexuals