The information below is intended to raise awareness and aid understanding of LGBTQ+ terminology and issues.
Each of these terms and definitions have been researched, analyzed and consulted upon based on perspectives, cultural sensitivity, common usage and appropriateness. Terminology, definitions and meaning for people change overtime, and this list should be merely a guide toward understanding and not the sole basis of acquiring the knowledge that encompasses a LGBTQ+ diverse community. Each person or community may have their own meanings and/or different terminology. We encourage you to ask first and do not let definitions to generalize an individual or population.
There are a variety of gender identities besides those that fit within a gender binary. Here are a few common words to know:
Transgender/Trans: A person who does not identify with the gender that they were assigned at birth.
Genderqueer: A person who has a gender identity that falls outside of the norm for the gender they were assigned at birth.
Nonbinary: Sometimes seen as "nb" or "enby." A person whose gender identity falls outside the gender binary.
Genderfluid: A person who has a shifting or changing gender identity.
Agender: A person who does not identify with gender.
Androgyne: A person who desires a gender expression between binary gender expression, or someone whose gender does not fit the man/woman binary.
Bigender: A person who identifies as two or more genders, whether simultaneously or in turn.
Cisgender/Cis: A person who identifies with the gender that they were assigned at birth.
Understanding the terms below can help you more readily understand some sexual identities in the LGBTQ+ community. The are ordered by prefix- suffix: definition.
a- romantic/sexual: Does not experience attraction toward anyone.
gray- romantic/sexual: Rarely experiences attraction toward anyone.
demi- romantic/sexual: Attracted to someone only after developing a very strong bond.
hetero- romantic/sexual: Attracted to gender(s) other than their own.
homo- romantic/sexual: Attracted to the same gender as their own.
bi- romantic/sexual: Attracted to two or more genders.
pan- romantic/sexual: Attracted to all genders/regardless of gender.
poly- romantic/sexual: Attracted to multiple (but not necessarily all) genders.
Traditional Pronouns
He: He smiled; I saw him; His eyes; That is his; He likes himself
She: She smiled; I saw her; Her eyes; That is hers; She likes herself
They: They smiled; I saw them; Their eyes; That is theirs; They like themselves
Neo-Pronouns
Ne: Ne smiled; I saw nem; Nir eyes; That is nirs; Ne likes nemself
Ve: Ve smiled; I saw ver; Vis eyes; That is vis; Ve likes verself
Spivak*: Ey smiled; I saw em; Eir eyes; That is eirs; Ey likes emself
Ze/zie/hir: Ze smiled; I saw hir; Hir eyes; That is hirs; Ze likes hirself
Ze/zie/zir: Ze smiled; I saw zir; Zir eyes; That is zirs; Ze likes zirself
Xe: Xe smiled; I saw xem; Xyr eyes; That is xyrs; Xe likes xemself
*Based on gender-neutral pronouns used by the mathematician Michael Spivak.
External Resources
Explore the practical resources below to help broaden your understanding of the LGBTQ+ community.
