An introduction to LGBTQIA+ terminology

Part of what we celebrate in the LGBTQIA+ community is our diversity. One way to celebrate and support LGBTQIA+ people is to deepen your understanding about the terms people use to describe themselves. 

The acronym LGBTQIA+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, with a plus sign to acknowledge the spectrum of sexual and gender identities that aren’t straight or cisgender. Let’s get into these terms that make up the acronym and the community. 

Just an introduction…

By no means do we consider this an exhaustive list. While we use “LGBTQIA+” as an umbrella term, we know that the community includes so many more people and experiences that aren’t in the acronym. 

This list is just a quick reference for people who want to learn more about the community—and we encourage people to continue learning beyond this post! We include a few resources, as well.

Are there terms we should add or update? Feel free to send us an email and let us know!

On using these terms

Some of these terms may reflect your own experiences or ideas about yourself (or someone you know). 

If you’re unsure about what terms someone uses to describe themselves, ask them politely instead of assuming or assigning. You may also find that someone uses more than one term, or that the terms they use change. 

We don’t believe that these terms should confine people. Rather, the terms people use can help them describe themselves and their experiences, and to connect with communities that share these experiences. We hope that having the words to describe yourself helps you feel power and agency over your identity and life. 

Change is a big thing we discuss in mental health, and especially when it comes to therapy. As we discover life and the world, we sometimes discover new things about ourselves. 

If one day you (or someone you know) find that different terms fit you better, you may consider giving yourself the space and grace to explore that.

Understanding the differences between gender, sex, and sexual orientation

Because gender impacts our everyday lives, people already have ideas about it and what it means. When people discuss gender, we bring assumptions about it to the table that aren’t always accurate.

Sometimes, people believe that “gender” and “sex” are the same, using the two words interchangeably. While gender and sex are related, these words refer to different things. These also differ from sexual orientation, which tends to be about attraction. Let’s quickly break it down.

Sex

Sex is a shorthand way of describing a person’s biological, anatomical, physiological, and other physical characteristics. People tend to assign newborns as female, male, or intersex based on genitals and chromosomes. There is a spectrum of sexes, and someone’s sex can even change over time.

Gender

Gender is informed by many things. Particularly, there are three dimensions that inform it: body, identity, and social. 

Different cultures have different ways of defining gender, too. For example, expectations around masculinity aren’t the same across cultures. There may be roles and behaviors that embody masculinity in one place but are perceived as the opposite in another circle. Different cultures may also have social conceptions of gender that go beyond just masculine and feminine. 

Usually part of someone’s sense of self, gender involves societal systems and how we see ourselves fitting into those systems—and is something that can change over time. 

Gender is complex and diverse. We recommend checking out some of these resources:

• Reimagine Gender goes over the distinction between gender, sex, and sexual orientation
• The Gender Book is a great resource to educate people about gender and its nuances while being easy to understand
• Gender Spectrum is an organization with a primer on understanding gender and more downloadable resources, including for medical and mental health

Sexual orientation

Sexual orientation can play a part in someone’s sense of self but it’s not the same as gender. Sexual orientation and sexuality are about how we experience attraction to other people, physically, emotionally, and romantically (or if we experience attraction at all). Terms for sexual orientation tend to involve the gender of the person referenced and the gender(s) of the people they are attracted to.

Using the correct term for someone’s sexual orientation still matters for identity. For example, a transgender woman who only feels attraction towards men would likely identify as straight, or if she only feels attraction towards women may identify as a lesbian. 

What does it mean when someone talks about pronouns?

To start, everyone uses pronouns. It means a word that is used in place of another noun. The word “everyone” is a pronoun, as are words like “you” and “we.” Even the words “these” and “those” are pronouns when not used to specify other nouns.  

In some languages, pronouns can communicate gender and the number of people involved. English is one of these languages. (Not all languages have gendered pronouns and not all languages have pronouns that suggest quantity.) 

These are some pronouns you may encounter in English:

• He/him
• She/her
• Ze/hir
• Ze/zir or ze/zem
• Xe/xem
• They/them as singular pronouns

For people who speak languages that do have gendered pronouns, these words suggest information about someone’s identity and gender—though pronouns don’t tell you a person’s gender. When someone is referenced by incorrect pronouns, it may feel off but it can also be very harmful. Insisting on using the incorrect pronouns to refer to someone can impact mental health by denying someone’s identity. 

If you know the correct pronouns for someone or if they tell you their pronouns, honor it and use it. This shows respect and recognition of their identity. Try not to assume what pronouns people use just by physical presentation. Feeling unsure? Ask politely. 

To learn more, go to Reimagine Gender’s guide.

The guide covers: 

• Why pronouns matter
• How to ask about and use pronouns 
• Assumptions about what someone’s pronouns mean about them
• How to approach honorifics
• What to do if you make a mistake

Terms you may come across

We’ve provided an alphabetical list of terms you may encounter when people discuss gender, sex, and sexuality.

Agender

Describes a person who does not identify as having a gender. 

AFAB/AMAB

This acronym stands for “assigned female at birth” or “assigned male at birth.” These terms refer to the sex that is assigned to infants, often based on external anatomy. These may be useful for describing the experiences of people with certain bodies—but should be avoided when referring to someone’s identity. Use the pronouns and other terms that someone uses for themselves. 

Allosexual

Describes a person who experiences sexual attraction, usually on a regular basis, regardless of sexual orientation.

Ally

A supporter of LGBTQIA+ people and their rights, who doesn’t necessarily identify as part of the community. 

Aromantic

Describes someone who doesn’t experience romantic attraction or only feels it under specific circumstances (demiromantic), such as a strong emotional connection. Aromantic people may still have intimate relationships. 

Asexual

Sometimes referred to as “ace,” this term describes the sexual orientation of a person who doesn’t experience sexual attraction (or has little interest) and/or may not be interested in sexual relationships.

Bigender

Used to describe a person who has two gender identities.

Bisexual

Describes a sexual orientation that experiences attraction to more than one gender or that their attraction isn’t defined by another’s gender. Using the term bisexual doesn’t mean that someone is only attracted to men and women, but that they may be attracted to people who are the same gender as their own or a different one.

Cisgender

Sometimes shortened to “cis,” this term refers to a person whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth. “Cis-” is a Latin prefix that means “on the same side as.” 

Closeted

Sometimes phrased as being “in the closet,” this term describes someone who is not open about their sexual orientation or gender identity. It may be nicer to say that someone is not “out.” Some people may only be out to a few circles or individuals—or even just to themselves—for various reasons, including their comfort or even safety and other concerns.

Deadname

This term can be a verb or a noun. It describes—intentionally or unintentionally—calling a transgender or gender diverse person by a name used in a different time in their life. It can be part of misgendering someone and harmful. It’s best to refer to someone by the name they use.

Demisexual

Describes the sexuality of a person who experiences sexual attraction only in specific situations, such as a strong emotional connection.

Drag performance

Theatrical performance or expression of one or multiple genders, pushing on societal expectations of gender. During performance, a drag artist may have a different persona than one they use outside of performance, which includes a different name, behavior, and even pronouns than in other areas of their life. Even if a person performs as a certain gender during drag shows, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are transgender. 

Fluid or fluidity

This term can be used in regards to sexual orientation or gender, but it operates a bit differently in the context of each. Some people (not everyone) experience fluidity in their sexual orientation, such that the genders they are attracted to may not stay static. 

When used in the context of gender, being gender fluid is about someone’s identity. They may identify as more than one gender or nonbinary. Their gender may change over time—or multiple times—across the spectrum. Gender fluidity looks different for each person. 

Gay

Describes a person who is attracted to people of the same gender. Some women may use the term to describe themselves, though lesbian is usually the preferred term. Though used as an umbrella term by some to describe their sexual orientation, it shouldn’t be used to describe the entire LGBTQIA+ community. 

Gender binary

The cultural narrative that there are only two genders and sexes (female/girl/woman and male/boy/man) that are biologically assigned.

Gender dysphoria

Describes the distress when a person’s gender identity doesn’t align with the sex they were assigned at birth, based on societal expectations. This term is included in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). It is not a mental disorder, and is not considered as such by the American Psychiatric Association nor the American Psychological Association. It should be used to help transgender people understand themselves and their own needs. 

Gender euphoria

A feeling of happiness or joy when one’s gender feels “right.” Gender euphoria can happen in many ways, such as expressing one’s gender, or feeling accepted or affirmed, or when someone feels their perceived gender matches their sense of self.

Heterosexual

Sometimes referred to as “straight,” this describes the sexual orientation of a person who is attracted to a different gender than their own. 

Homophobia

Mischaracterized as a phobia, this term refers to prejudice, hatred, intolerance, and bigotry of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and/or queer people.

Intersex

A term that describes a person’s sex, assigned to them at birth based on biological, anatomical, physiological, and other physical characteristics. A person who is intersex may have characteristics that do not fit binary ideas of female and male bodies. Some intersex people may be assigned at birth as male or female by medical providers. Their gender identity may not correspond with their assigned sex.

Lesbian

This term can be a noun or an adjective. It refers to the sexual orientation of a woman who is attracted to women.

Misgender

The harmful practice of treating a person by a different gender from their own gender identity. This can manifest in different ways, including legal practices, deadnaming, pronouns, among others. 

Nonbinary

Sometimes shortened to “enby” or “NB,” this is an umbrella term that describes a person whose gender identity is between or beyond the gender binary. Some people may also identify as transgender, some may not. There are also more terms that people may use to more specifically describe their gender, such as pangender, genderqueer, genderfluid, and more.

Out 

Describes a person who openly self-identifies as LGBTQIA+. There are many ways that people can be out and who they choose to share their identity with. Someone’s comfort with being out may depend on several factors, including their safety. 

The process of self-identifying may be referred to as “coming out.” 

The harmful and potentially dangerous practice of revealing someone as LGBTQIA+ without their consent is called “outing” someone.  

Pansexual

Describes a sexual orientation that experiences attraction inclusive of all genders or that their attraction isn’t defined by another’s gender. 

Queer

An umbrella term used by people in the LGBTQIA+ to describe themselves and their community. People who may feel constrained by some terms or who want to communicate the fluidity of their selves may find this term resonates with them. 

This is a term reclaimed by LGBTQIA+ people, though some people may disagree about its usage, especially for themselves. Once used as a pejorative, there are people who associate it with that pain and trauma. Refer to people with the terms they use for themselves.  

Questioning

Describes the experience and process of discovering and exploring one’s gender identity, expression, and sexual orientation. 

Transgender

This term is an adjective and should not be used as a noun. Sometimes shortened to “trans,” this describes a person whose gender identity differs from the one they were assigned at birth. Being trans is about someone’s gender identity—regardless of their body and whether they choose to change their appearance or get medical care like hormone therapy. 

Sometimes used as an umbrella term for gender expansive people or people whose gender identity doesn’t fit societal expectations, some people may have different terms to describe themselves in addition to or instead of “transgender.”

Transition

The process through which a person aligns their sense of self, their gender expression, and for some, their body. Transitioning allows someone to affirm their gender identity in the ways that feel right to them. Each person’s transition is unique to them, and may include changes in dress, presentation, legal actions, body, and medical and clinical care. Not everyone has the means to transition, for various reasons, like safety, finances, or some other factor. 

Transphobia

Mischaracterized as a phobia, this term refers to prejudice, hatred, intolerance, and bigotry of trans people.

Two-Spirit

An umbrella term used by some indigenous people or First Nations people in North America to describe a person who identifies as masculine and feminine, or as intersex. In some tribes, this is a recognized and distinct gender identity, sometimes as a third or fourth gender, with its own roles.

Different tribes and communities have their own cultures around gender and roles. They may have terms specific to their tribe to describe someone’s gender that is not the word “two-spirit.” If someone tells you their terms for self-identifying, use those. This term should not be used by people who aren’t indigenous or First Nations people. 

The US Indian Health Service has a page with education and resources for learning about two-spirit people and different genders across Native American cultures.

Further reading

GLAAD Glossary of Terms

GLAAD’s media reference guide provides more detail on some of these terms as well as guidance on what to avoid. This page also includes more reference pages to dive deeper into different terms and identities of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Glossary of Terms for Health Care Teams

The National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center publishes a glossary for health care providers. A previously published version also suggests how to replace outdated terms. 

They also offer an introduction to LGBTQIA+ health for providers.

PFLAG Resources

PFLAG supports, educates, and advocates for LGBTQIA+ people. They have resources on helping people learn more about the community and how to support people in it.

They also have an extensive and searchable glossary.

Asexual Visibility and Education Network

Community and resources for asexual people