Below offers suggestions for how to change some common phrases or words as well as provides a list of terms that may be helpful for understanding the Queer community. Understanding and being knowledgeable about common terms may provide some assistance in navigating inclusive language and understanding gender diverse identities and individuals.
Allyship
Allyship is action of working to end oppression through support of, and as an advocate with and for, a group other than one’s own. Learn more about allyship.
Gaytekeeping
A kind of gatekeeping specifically found within the LGBTQ+ community (this could relate to either gender or sexual orientation).
Gender Expression
Aspects of behavior and outward presentation that may (intentionally or unintentionally) communicate gender to others in a given culture or society, including clothing, body language, hairstyles, voice, socialization, relationships, career choices, interests and presence in gendered spaces (restrooms, places of worship, etc.).
Gender Identity
An individual’s internal view of their gender. Their own innermost sense of themselves as a gendered being and/or as masculine, feminine, androgynous, etc. This will often influence name and pronoun preference.
Gender transition
The process through which a person modifies his or her physical characteristics and/or gender expression to be consistent with his or her gender identity. Gender transition may, but does not necessarily, include hormone therapy, sex reassignment surgeries and/or other medical or surgical components.
The process may also include telling one’s family, friends and/or co-workers, and changing one’s name and/or gender on legal documents. As each person’s transition is unique to that individual’s needs, there is no defined set of steps which add up to a “complete” transition. Learn about the VA Anti-Violence Project.
GRSM
An acronym that stands for Gender, Romantic, and Sexual Minorities. It's an alternative acronym to LGBTQ+. Some people like GRSM because it's all-encompassing, short, and avoids the term Queer, which some still consider a slur.
Non-binary
Refers to individuals who identify as neither man or woman, both man and woman, or a combination of man or woman. It is an identity term which some use exclusively, while others may use it interchangeably with terms like genderqueer, gender creative, gender nonconforming, gender diverse, or gender expansive. Individuals who identify as nonbinary may understand the identity as falling under the transgender umbrella, and may thus identify as transgender. Sometimes abbreviated as NB or Enby.
Pansexual
Refers to a person whose emotional, romantic, and/or physical attraction is to people inclusive of all genders and biological sexes. People who are pansexual need not have had any sexual experience; it is the attraction and self-identification that determines the orientation.
Passing
Describes a person’s ability to be accepted as their preferred gender/sex or race/ethnic identity or to be seen as heterosexual. Learn more about passing.
Polyamory
Refers to having honest, usually non-possessive, relationships with multiple partners and can include: open relationships, polyfidelity (which involves multiple romantic relationships with sexual contact restricted to those), and sub relationships (which denote distinguishing between a ‘primary” relationship or relationships and various “secondary” relationships). Learn more about polyamory.
Queer
A political and sometimes controversial term that some LGBT people have reclaimed, while others still consider it derogatory. Used most frequently by younger LGBT people, activists, and academics, the term can refer either to gender identity, sexual orientation, or both and can be used by people of any gender.
Safe Space
A place (as on a college campus) intended to be free of bias, conflict, criticism or potentially threatening actions, ideas or conversations. Learn more about safe spaces.
Sexual Orientation
The culturally-defined set of meanings through which people describe their sexual attractions. Sexual orientation is not static and can shift over time.
*Note these definitions are general and do not align with all individuals' definitions of these terms. Be open-minded and cognizant of variation when hearing these terms.
