LGBTQIA+ TERMINOLOGY

There are lots of different terms used to describe someone’s gender and sexual identity. For those who are new to the LGBTQIA+ community or a family or friend it can seems a little overwhelming so we have put together a list of terms and their definitions to help you build your queer language.

***Please note that Terminology in the queer community is complex, dynamic and contested and is always evolving. We have endeavoured to put together the most up to date information but it does change and evolve.

AGENDER - a person who does not identify themselves as having a particular gender.

AFAB/DFAB – Assigned Female at Birth/Designated Female at Birth

AMAB/DMAB - Assigned Male at Birth/Designated Male at Birth

ANDROGYNOUS - Possessing both masculine and feminine traits. Presenting in a way that appears not entirely all masculine, or entirely all feminine. This can be in regards to fashion, gender, physical characteristics, etc. Androgynous people have always existed throughout history in many different cultures.

ASEXUAL/ACE - Somebody who is without sexual feelings or orientations. They may still experience attraction and romantic feelings, but does not need to be realised in a sexual manner

AROMANTIC / ARO - Someone who has little or no romantic attraction to other people.

BIGENDER -  A self-imposed gender identity term which reflects feeling like both a man and a woman. This can be interchangeable and fluid for many.

BISEXUAL - A person of any gender who identifies as emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to people from more than one gender

BINARY - A term that describes when two things oppose each other. For example man/woman or heterosexual/ homosexual.

CISGENDER - A term used to describe people who identify their gender as the same as what was assigned to them at birth (male or female). ‘Cis’ is Latin for ‘on the same side.’

DEADNAME- A term used by some trans people to describe the name they were given and known by prior to affirming their gender and/or coming out.

DEMIBOY - a person who feels their gender identity partially identifies with a masculine identity but is not wholly binary.

DEMIGIRL - A gender identity term for someone who was assigned female at birth but does not fully identify with being a woman, socially or mentally.

DEMISEXUAL - a person who only experiences sexual attraction after forming a strong emotional connection with a partner.

GAY - Sexual identity of individuals who identify as men who are romantically and physically attracted to other men

GENDER - A system of social categorisation forming part of a person's social identity. Gender categories are socially constructed sets of characteristics such as expression, behaviour and roles that are culturally associated with sex

GENDER DIVERSE - A range of gender identities that sit outside the binary of woman and man. This includes trans and nonbinary identities.

GENDER DYSPHORIA - The distress or unease sometimes experienced from being misgendered and/or when someone’s gender identity and body don’t feel connected.

GENDER EXPRESSION - Refers to the way in which a person communicates their gender identity to others; such as their clothing, grooming, mannerisms or role.

GENDER IDENTITY - A person's concept of themself as fitting into or outside of the socially constructed system of gender. This may include labels such as man, woman, nonbinary etc.

GENDERFLUID - A term describing people whose gender identity changes over time or may shift between different identities at different times.

GENDERQUEER - A term describing someone whose gender identity doesn't fit rigidly within the binary expectations of being a man or woman.

HETEROSEXUAL - someone who is attracted exclusively to the opposite gender, also referred to as straight.

HETERONORMATIVE - The view that heterosexual relationships are the only natural, normal and legitimate expressions of sexuality and relationships.

INTERSEX - People born with physical sex characteristics that don’t fit with medical norms for female and male bodies. Many forms of intersex exist, it’s a spectrum rather than a single category (at least 30 to 40 variations are known)

LESBIAN - Sexual identity of individuals who identify as women are romantically and physically attracted to other women

LGTBIQ+ - (L)esbian, (G)ay, (B)isexual, (T)ransgender, (I)ntersex, (Q)ueer/(Q)uestioning, (+)plus

MISGENDERING - Misgendering is a term for describing or addressing someone using language that does not match how that person identifies their own gender or body.

NON-BINARY - This is an umbrella term for any number of gender identities that sit outside, across or between the spectrum of the male and female binary.

OUTED - When someone publicly reveals someone else’s gender identity or sexuality without their permission.

PANSEXUAL - This refers to people who are romantically, emotionally and sexually attracted to all regardless of gender identity. Sometimes used interchangeably with bisexual 

QTIPoC - Describes a Queer, Trans, Intersex Person of Colour

QUEER - An umbrella term for a wide range of non-conforming gender identities and sexual orientations

SEX - A term from biology dividing a species into the reproductive roles of male and female, usually based on physical characteristics

SEXUALITY - Sexuality describes who you are attracted to physically and romantically. It’s totally different to your gender identity, although sometimes people are confused about this.

SISTERGIRL: A term used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to describe gender diverse people that have a female spirit and take on female roles within the community. Including looking after children and family. Many Sistergirls live a traditional lifestyle and have strong cultural backgrounds.

BROTHERBOY: A term used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to describe gender diverse people who have a male spirit and take on male roles within the community. Brotherboys have a strong sense of their cultural identity.

Note: How the words Sistergirl and Brotherboy are used can differ between locations, countries and nations. These terms may not specifically define who someone is, but might complement identity. Sistergirls and Brotherboys might be non-binary, female or male. The terms Sistagirl and Brothaboy are different and are used by Aboriginal communities as terms of endearment for Aboriginal cis women (Sistagirl) and Aboriginal cis men (Brothaboy)

TRANSGENDER (TRANS)- A term describing people whose gender identity is different from what is typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth