Assigned Sex

Intersex: A general term used for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with

anatomy that doesn’t fit the “typical” definitions of female or male. Intersex is a

socially constructed category (as are “female” and “male”) that reflects real

biological variation. Intersex babies are almost always assigned male or female.

Sex: The assignment and classification of people as male, female, or intersex at birth

often based on physical anatomy at birth.

AFAB: Assigned Female at Birth; sometimes written as CAFAB, coercively assigned female at

birth.

AMAB: Assigned Male at Birth; sometimes written as CAMAB, coercively assigned male at birth.

ASAB/AGAB: Assigned Sex/Gender at Birth

Gender

Cisgender: A term describing someone whose gender matches the sex they were

assigned at birth; not transgender. “Cisgender” is not derogatory. Cisgender and

cis are interchangeable.

Cis woman: Assigned female at birth, is a woman

Cis man: Assigned male at birth, is a man

Dead Name: The name given to a trans person at birth that the person no longer uses.

Not all trans people change their name.

Dead-naming: The act of using someone’s dead name. Dead-naming invalidates their

gender and

induces dysphoria/anxiety.

Dysphoria: A medical term for the conflict between a person's assigned sex and their

gender. People with dysphoria are sometimes uncomfortable with their body and/or with

the gender expectations of their assigned sex.

Gender: An individual’s gender is their self-identified sense of being a woman, a man,

another gender, a combination of genders, or no gender.

Gender Binary: An artificial division of the world into things and people that are

"masculine" and "feminine.” The gender binary asserts that there are two

genders that are opposite and mutually exclusive.

Gender Confirmation Surgeries: Can refer to any surgeries that a trans person

undergoes as part of their transition. This term should be used instead of sex

reassignment surgery.

Gender Expression/Presentation: External manifestations of gender, expressed

through a person's name, pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, etc. What is

considered masculine, feminine, and androgynous changes over time and varies

by culture.

Gender Nonconforming (GNC): Describes someone whose appearance and/or

behavior do not reflect the gender roles expected of them. Not a synonym for

nonbinary.

HRT: Hormone Replacement Therapy; can be a part of transitioning, but isn’t a

requirement.

Misgendering: To use the wrong pronouns for someone or to refer to them as a gender

they are not.

Nonbinary: Any gender which does not fit the male/female binary. Some examples of

nonbinary genders include agender, androgynous, genderfluid, genderqueer, and

nonbinary. Not all nonbinary people identify as transgender, but many do.

Passing: This term refers to a trans person going through life without others assuming

they are trans. The term is problematic because "passing" implies "passing as

something you're not." Passing should only be referred to as a concept., and not

used to categorize a person

Transgender: Encompassing term of gender identities of those who do not identify or

do not exclusively identify with their sex assigned at birth. The term transgender

is not indicative of sexual orientation, hormones, anatomy, or how one is

perceived.

Trans woman: Assigned male at birth, is a woman.

Trans man: Assigned female at birth, is a man.

Nonbinary: Assigned either male or female at birth, isn’t a man or a woman (see above).

MTF: Male-to-female; describes trans women; potentially offensive—implies trans women were

once “male.”

FTM: Female-to-male; describes trans men; potentially offensive—implies trans men were once

“female.”

Transition: A person’s process of developing and assuming a gender expression to

match their gender. Transitioning can include changing one’s name, HRT, and

various surgeries. Transitioning is a different process for everyone and is

self-defined.

Transphobia: A dislike, hatred, sense of disgust, or fear related to trans people.

Transphobic beliefs and practices are a source of anxiety, violence, and systemic

discrimination.

Sexuality

Aromantic (Aro): An identity to describe an individual who does not experience

romantic attraction. Each aromantic person experiences things like relationships,

attraction, and arousal differently. Aromantic people are not necessarily asexual,

can be attracted to one or more genders, and do not always refrain from

committed relationships.

Asexual (Ace): An individual who does not experience sexual attraction. Each asexual

person experiences things like relationships, attraction, and arousal differently.

Asexual people are not necessarily aromantic, can be attracted to one or more

genders, and do not always refrain from committed relationships.

Bisexual (Bi): A person who is attracted to their gender and at least one other gender

(can be attracted to all genders). Being bisexual does not imply a belief in the

gender binary.

Biphobia: A dislike, hatred, sense of disgust, or fear related to bi people. Biphobic

beliefs and practices are a source of anxiety, violence, and systemic

discrimination.

Compulsory Heterosexuality: The idea that society enforces and produces

heterosexuality to the extent that some gay people do not know they are gay or

assume they are straight/attracted to a different gender (i.e. being heterosexual

compulsively, by default).

A term coined by lesbian activist and poet Adrienne Rich.

Gay: A person who is attracted to people of the same/similar gender. Some lesbians,

bisexual, and pansexual people refer to themselves as gay, others do not.

Heterosexual/Straight: Men who are attracted to women; women who are attracted to

men; some individuals who are nonbinary or are attracted to nonbinary people

may identify as straight.

Homophobia: A dislike, hatred, sense of disgust, or fear related to gay people.

Homophobic beliefs and practices are a source of anxiety, violence, and systemic

discrimination.

Lesbian: Women who are attracted to other women. Can include nonbinary people.

Lesbophobia: A dislike, hatred, sense of disgust, or fear related to lesbians.

Lesbophobic beliefs and practices are a source of anxiety, violence, and

systemic discrimination.

This form of prejudice often manifests as a combination of misogyny and

homophobia.

Pansexual: A person who is attracted to people of all genders.

Note: Bi people may also be attracted to people of all genders. The labels that

individuals choose are their own to decide.

Questioning: A term used to describe those who are in a process of discovery and

exploration about their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or

a combination thereof.

Sexuality: A person’s identity in relation to the gender(s) to which they are identified.

Sexuality is fluid, and is self-identified.

Other

Cross-Dressing: The act of dressing and presenting as a different gender. Not

indicative of one’s sexuality or gender, nor does it imply eroticism. Because trans

people are their gender, not “dressing as another gender,” this term does not

apply to trans people.

Drag: Exaggerated, theatrical, and/or performative gender presentation. Although most

commonly used to refer to cross-dressing performers (drag queens and drag

kings), anyone of any gender can do any form of drag. Not indicative of assigned

sex, gender, or sexuality.

Queer: Often used as a catch-all for the LGBT community, or for individuals who do not

identify with a specific sexual orientation, but do not identify as straight.

Some individuals within the community consider the word to be a slur, so it

should only be used when describing individuals who claim the term.

Two Spirit: A term that unifies various gender/sexual identities and expressions of

Native American/First Nations/Indigenous individuals. It’s not a specific definition

of gender or sexuality, but a culturally specific term that means different things to

different tribes and individuals. Gender and sexuality, as we conceive of them,

are products of colonialism, making it impossible to fully understand “Two Spirit”

using the modern language of the colonizers. Non-Native people cannot claim

this identity.

Outdated Terms

Outdated terms are words that are generally considered offensive, but were used

historically. Some people today may identify with these terms, which should be

respected. They may be used to refer to individuals who actively identify with them, but

should not be used in general.

Hermaphrodite: Potentially offensive term used to refer to intersex people.

Homosexual: Potentially offensive term used to refer to gay people.

Transsexual: Potentially offensive term used to refer to transgender people.

Transsexual often, though not always, implies medical transition.

Transvestite: Potentially offensive term to describe someone who is a cross-dresser.

Do not use this term to describe someone who is transgender.

Slurs

Slurs are words that can be reclaimed within their respective communities, but should

not be used by people who are outside of those communities for any reason—even if

someone within them gives you “permission.” They have historical weight and

backgrounds, and are used to hurt and dehumanize already marginalized folks.

Dyke: A slur for lesbians.

Faggot/Fag: A slur for gay men.

It: A slur when used as a pronoun for a trans person (who doesn’t use “it” pronouns).

Shemale/he-she/shim: Slurs for trans people, especially trans women.

Tranny: A slur for trans people, especially trans women.