GLSEN: LGBTQ+ Terms To Learn
Over the past four years, UO has proudly donated over $250k to @GLSEN, an organization that ensures LGBTQ+ students are able to learn in an environment where they are valued and respected. In addition to donating $25k this year, we’re proud to amplify the voices of students about their experiences and hopes for the future. We've compiled a list below of LGBTQ+ terms to know, as well as helpful links at the bottom of this post.
Ally
A member of the majority or dominant group who works to end oppression by recognising their own privilege and supporting or advocating for the oppressed population. For example, a straight cisgender person who supports and stands up for the equality of LGBTQ+ people.
Asexual
A person who does not experience sexual attraction, but may experience other forms of attraction (e.g., intellectual, emotional). Asexual people may also identify as “bisexual,” “gay,” “lesbian,” “pansexual,” “queer,” “straight,” and many more.
Bisexual
A person who is emotionally and/or physically attracted to two genders. For example, a person attracted to some male-identified people and some female-identified people.
Cisgender
A person whose gender identity and expression are aligned with the gender they were assigned at birth.
Cisnormativity
The assumption that all, or almost all, individuals are cisgender. Although transgender-identified people comprise a fairly small percentage of the human population, many trans people and allies consider it to be offensive to presume that everyone is cisgender unless otherwise specified.
Gender Dysphoria
Used to describe when a person experiences discomfort or distress because there is a mismatch between their sex assigned at birth and their gender identity. This is also the clinical diagnosis for someone who doesn’t feel comfortable with the sex they were assigned at birth.
Gender Expression
The multiple ways (e.g., behaviors, dress) in which a person may choose to communicate gender to oneself and/or to others.
Gender Identity
How an individual identifies in terms of their gender. Gender identities may include, “male,” “female,” “androgynous,” “transgender,” “genderqueer” and many others, or a combination thereof.
Heteronormativity
The belief or assumption that all people are heterosexual, or that heterosexuality is the default or "normal" state of human being. It tends to complement and accompany concepts like cisnormativity, gender binarism, and gender essentialism. A heteronormative society operates on the assumption that heterosexuality and specific gender features are the human "default." These assumptions can be hurtful because they are stigmatising and marginalising, making people who are LGBTQ+ feel like they are perceived as deviant or unnatural.
Intersex
Intersex is an umbrella term for unique variations in reproductive or sex anatomy. Variations may appear in a person’s chromosomes, genitals, or internal organs like testes or ovaries. Some intersex traits are identified at birth, while others may not be discovered until puberty or later in life.
Non-binary
An umbrella term for people whose gender identity doesn’t sit comfortably with ‘man’ or ‘woman’. Non-binary identities are varied and can include people who identify with some aspects of binary identities, while others reject them entirely.
Pansexual
A person who is emotionally and/or physically attracted to some people, regardless of their gender identity.
Pronouns
The pronoun or set of pronouns that a person would like others to call them by, when their proper name is not being used. Traditional examples include “she/her/hers” or “he/him/his”. Some people prefer gender neutral pronouns, such as “ze/hir/hirs,” “zie/zir/zirs,” “ey/em/eirs,” “per/per/pers,” “hu/hum/hus,” or “they/them/theirs”. Some people prefer no pronouns at all.
Queer
An umbrella term used to describe a sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression that does not conform to dominant societal norms. While it is used as a neutral, or even a positive term among many LGBTQ+ people today, historically “queer” was used as a derogatory slur.
Transgender
A person whose gender identity is not aligned with the gender they were assigned at birth. “Transgender” is often used as an umbrella term encompassing a large number of identities related to gender nonconformity.
Helpful Links & Sources:
GLSEN
Website: https://www.glsen.org
Follow: @GLSEN
Stonewall
Website: https://www.stonewall.org.uk
Follow: @stonewalluk
A member of the majority or dominant group who works to end oppression by recognising their own privilege and supporting or advocating for the oppressed population. For example, a straight cisgender person who supports and stands up for the equality of LGBTQ+ people.
Asexual
A person who does not experience sexual attraction, but may experience other forms of attraction (e.g., intellectual, emotional). Asexual people may also identify as “bisexual,” “gay,” “lesbian,” “pansexual,” “queer,” “straight,” and many more.
Bisexual
A person who is emotionally and/or physically attracted to two genders. For example, a person attracted to some male-identified people and some female-identified people.
Cisgender
A person whose gender identity and expression are aligned with the gender they were assigned at birth.
Cisnormativity
The assumption that all, or almost all, individuals are cisgender. Although transgender-identified people comprise a fairly small percentage of the human population, many trans people and allies consider it to be offensive to presume that everyone is cisgender unless otherwise specified.
Gender Dysphoria
Used to describe when a person experiences discomfort or distress because there is a mismatch between their sex assigned at birth and their gender identity. This is also the clinical diagnosis for someone who doesn’t feel comfortable with the sex they were assigned at birth.
Gender Expression
The multiple ways (e.g., behaviors, dress) in which a person may choose to communicate gender to oneself and/or to others.
Gender Identity
How an individual identifies in terms of their gender. Gender identities may include, “male,” “female,” “androgynous,” “transgender,” “genderqueer” and many others, or a combination thereof.
Heteronormativity
The belief or assumption that all people are heterosexual, or that heterosexuality is the default or "normal" state of human being. It tends to complement and accompany concepts like cisnormativity, gender binarism, and gender essentialism. A heteronormative society operates on the assumption that heterosexuality and specific gender features are the human "default." These assumptions can be hurtful because they are stigmatising and marginalising, making people who are LGBTQ+ feel like they are perceived as deviant or unnatural.
Intersex
Intersex is an umbrella term for unique variations in reproductive or sex anatomy. Variations may appear in a person’s chromosomes, genitals, or internal organs like testes or ovaries. Some intersex traits are identified at birth, while others may not be discovered until puberty or later in life.
Non-binary
An umbrella term for people whose gender identity doesn’t sit comfortably with ‘man’ or ‘woman’. Non-binary identities are varied and can include people who identify with some aspects of binary identities, while others reject them entirely.
Pansexual
A person who is emotionally and/or physically attracted to some people, regardless of their gender identity.
Pronouns
The pronoun or set of pronouns that a person would like others to call them by, when their proper name is not being used. Traditional examples include “she/her/hers” or “he/him/his”. Some people prefer gender neutral pronouns, such as “ze/hir/hirs,” “zie/zir/zirs,” “ey/em/eirs,” “per/per/pers,” “hu/hum/hus,” or “they/them/theirs”. Some people prefer no pronouns at all.
Queer
An umbrella term used to describe a sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression that does not conform to dominant societal norms. While it is used as a neutral, or even a positive term among many LGBTQ+ people today, historically “queer” was used as a derogatory slur.
Transgender
A person whose gender identity is not aligned with the gender they were assigned at birth. “Transgender” is often used as an umbrella term encompassing a large number of identities related to gender nonconformity.
Helpful Links & Sources:
GLSEN
Website: https://www.glsen.org
Follow: @GLSEN
Stonewall
Website: https://www.stonewall.org.uk
Follow: @stonewalluk