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June is Pride Month. The point of a whole month dedicated to the LGBTQIA+ cause is to bring visibility and raise awareness among people outside this community about the discrimination and violence that LGBT people face in their daily lives and thus to fight homophobia, biphobia and transphobia to promote equality between all but also to show the diversity of sexual orientations and gender identities. To celebrate Pride Month in the best way possible, here is a short guide with definitions to help you find your way around LGBT terms.
History of Pride Month
The following year, in June 1970, the first Pride march (also known as Gay Pride) took place in New York to commemorate the Stonewall uprising. Today, Pride Month and the Pride March are celebrated in many countries around the world, bringing together millions of LGBTQ people.
Understanding the different terms used to express gender identity and sexual orientation is an important step in making people feel more comfortable, as well as avoiding stereotypes and unintentional discrimination.
LGBTQIA+ vocabulary evolves over time, as struggles and social advances continue to take place. Using the right words is a way of recognising the existence and the legitimacy of those concerned, even if we ourselves are not part of the community.
LGBTQIA+ vocabulary evolves over time, as struggles and social advances continue to take place. Using the right words is a way of recognising the existence and the legitimacy of those concerned, even if we ourselves are not part of the community.
The LGBT Lexicon
It is important to note that this list is not exhaustive, there are more types of gender identities and sexualities than those listed below.
LGBTQIA+
The letters in the acronym LGBTQIA+ stand for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual. There are several variations of this acronym: LGBT, LGBTQ, LGBTQ, LGBTI, LGBTQIA+ etc.
The plus sign ‘+’ at the end of this acronym is vital, as it serves to include all the gender identities and sexual orientations that aren’t represented within the acronym. It reminds us that the diversity of the human experience can’t be summed up in one fixed list, and that a lot of people choose these terms as a way to understand who they are, whereas others choose not to label themselves at all.
Queer
This is the letter Q in LGBTQ. In the past, this term was used as an insult but LGBT individuals have reclaimed it up and turned it into a strength. A queer person is someone who does not identify with heterosexuality and/or who does not feel that they belong to a defined gender. Queer is an umbrella term for the entire LGBTQIA+ community.
Gender vs. Sex
Gender refers to an individual belonging to a female, male or other identity regardless of the biological characteristics assigned to them at birth. From this, we can identify two important notions: gender identity and gender expression.
Gender identity is the way a person internally defines their gender: woman, man, neither, both, etc.
Gender expression is the way a person outwardly expressed their gender, for example through the clothes they wear, their hairstyle and the way they present themselves to others.
Western society may have strong binary (man/woman) codes, however, the reality is much more diverse and complex. An individual may identify with more than one gender, no gender at all, or notice their gender identity evolve over the course of their lifetime.
When we talk about sex, we’re making reference to the biological and physical characteristics (reproductive organs, chromosomes, hormones) that an individual is born with.
It’s also important to understand that these three notions, although often confused, are not the same:
- gender identity = the way an individual see’s their own gender
- gender expression = the way an individual expresses their gender outwardly
- sexual orientation = romantic, sexual or emotional attraction for other people
These three concepts are completely independent of one another. For example, a transgender individual can be heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual or asexual.
Transgender - Trans
A transgender person is someone whose gender is not in line with the sex they were assigned at birth. It is often said that trans people do not feel that they are in the right body.
- F2M: (female to male) This refers to a trans person who is transitioning from female to male.
- M2F: (male to female) This refers to a trans person who is transitioning from male to female.
Intersex
An intersex person is born with biological and physiological characteristics that do not fit the expected definition of "male" and the expected definition of "female". There is a big problem of mutilation of intersex bodies.
Non-binary
A non-binary person does not identify with the male-female gender binary, i.e. they feel neither strictly male nor strictly female, a mixture of both or neither.
Pronouns (he, she, they, etc.) are a simple yet crucial way to respect a person’s gender identity. If you’re ever in doubt, you can ask a person what pronouns they use, or adopt neutral terms when speaking.
Agender
An agender person is someone who does not define themselves by a particular gender or who defines themselves as having no gender. It is possible for agender people to identify as non-binary or transgender.
Cisgender
A cisgender person is a person whose gender identity is consistent with the gender assigned to them at birth.
Genderfluid
A gender fluid person is someone whose gender oscillates between masculinity, femininity neither or both. Genderfluid people are included in non-binarity. The dictionary does not yet have a definition for the term gender fluid.
Sexual Orientation
Sexual orientation is defined as the long term physical, sexual, emotional or romantic attraction to one or more people of one or more genders.
Lesbian - Female homosexuality
Lesbian people identify as women and are romantically and sexually attracted to others who identify as women.
Gay - Male homosexuality
A gay person identifies as male and is romantically and sexually attracted to other people who identify as male.
Bisexual
Bisexual individuals are romantically and sexually attracted to people who identify as female or male.
Asexual (Ace)
An asexual person does not feel the need to engage in sexual relations and/or does not feel sexual desire for anyone.
Aromantic (Aro)
An aromantic person does not have romantic or loving feelings for another person.
Pansexual
A pansexual person is romantically or sexually attracted to an individual of any sex or gender. A pansexual person falls in love with a person for who they are and not for their gender or sex.
There’s no perfect or ideal way for a person to express their gender identity or sexual orientation. For some people, it’s important to affirm their identity publicly, for others, it’s a more intimate process. Regardless, each choice is personal and more than legitimate.
LGBTQIA+ vocabulary is constantly evolving as research, advancements and social struggles continue. New terms are created, others are reappropriated or redefined. It’s normal to not know every single term, but what’s important is listening, respecting and continuing to learn.
This is a brief, non-exhaustive guide. If some terms or identities are not mentioned here, that is not because they are seen as illegitimate. The diversity and journey of each person is unique and should be recognised as such.
