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Glossary

Asexual

A person who is not sexually attracted to others.

Bi or Bisexual

This is an umbrella term used to describe a romantic or sexual orientation to more than one gender.

Biological sex

The biological characteristics which make up the anatomy of an individual’s reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics. Some individuals may have biological sex characteristics which fall outside of the binary such as intersex individuals.

Cisgender

Someone whose gender identity is the same as the sex they were assigned at birth.

Coming out

When a person reveals their sexual orientation (or gender identity in the case of trans and non-binary persons) for the first time. This may be to themselves, another person or a group of people. Note that many LGBTQIA+ people never stop coming out, as there are different contexts and situations in which someone may be coming out for the first time.

Gay

Typically refers to a man, but sometimes a woman or non-binary person, who has a romantic and/or sexual attraction towards others of the same sex.

Homophobia

A fear or dislike, usually based on prejudice or negative misinformation, of people whose sexual orientation is not straight e.g. gay, lesbian.

Lesbian

Refers to women who are romantically/sexually attracted to other women.

LGBTQ+

An acronym that stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender. The + acknowledges that there are more experiences/ identities within the community such as Intersex, Asexual, Questioning.

Non-binary

A term used for people whose gender identity doesn’t sit comfortably or solely with male or female.

Outed

When a person within the LGBTQIA+ community’s sexual orientation or gender identity is disclosed without their consent.

Pan or Pansexual

Refers to a person whose romantic and/or sexual attraction towards others is not limited by sex or gender.

Pronoun

Set of third-party pronouns that an individual prefers others to use in order to identify that person’s gender e.g. he/him/his, she/her/hers, they/them/theirs.

Questioning

The process of exploring your own sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

Sexual orientation

Orientation is an umbrella term describing a person’s attraction to other people. This attraction may be sexual (sexual orientation) and/or romantic (romantic orientation).

Straight

Refers to people who are attracted to the opposite sex e.g. men sexually attracted to women.

Transgender

An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or expression differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. Being transgender does not imply any specific sexual orientation.

Transitioning

The steps a trans person may take to live in the gender with which they identify. Each person’s transition will involve different things. For some, this involves medical intervention, such as hormone therapy and surgeries, but not all trans people want or are able to have this.

Transphobia

A fear or dislike of a person based on the fact they are trans.

Asexual

A person who is not sexually attracted to others.

Bi or Bisexual

This is an umbrella term used to describe a romantic or sexual orientation to more than one gender.

Biological sex

The biological characteristics which make up the anatomy of an individual’s reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics. Some individuals may have biological sex characteristics which fall outside of the binary such as intersex individuals.

Cisgender

Someone whose gender identity is the same as the sex they were assigned at birth.

Coming out

When a person reveals their sexual orientation (or gender identity in the case of trans and non-binary persons) for the first time. This may be to themselves, another person or a group of people. Note that many LGBTQIA+ people never stop coming out, as there are different contexts and situations in which someone may be coming out for the first time.

Gay

Typically refers to a man, but sometimes a woman or non-binary person, who has a romantic and/or sexual attraction towards others of the same sex.

Homophobia

A fear or dislike, usually based on prejudice or negative misinformation, of people whose sexual orientation is not straight e.g. gay, lesbian.

Lesbian

Refers to women who are romantically/sexually attracted to other women.

LGBTQ+

An acronym that stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender. The + acknowledges that there are more experiences/ identities within the community such as Intersex, Asexual, Questioning.

Non-binary

A term used for people whose gender identity doesn’t sit comfortably or solely
with male or female.

Outed

When a person within the LGBTQIA+ community’s sexual orientation or gender identity is disclosed without their consent.

Pan or Pansexual

Refers to a person whose romantic and/or sexual attraction towards others is not limited by sex or gender.

Pronoun

Set of third-party pronouns that an individual prefers others to use in order to identify that person’s gender e.g. he/him/his, she/her/hers, they/them/theirs.

Questioning

The process of exploring your own sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

Sexual orientation

Orientation is an umbrella term describing a person’s attraction to other people. This attraction may be sexual (sexual orientation) and/or romantic (romantic orientation).

Straight

Refers to people who are attracted to the opposite sex e.g. men sexually attracted to women.

Transgender

An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or expression differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. Being transgender does not imply any specific sexual orientation.

Transitioning

The steps a trans person may take to live in the gender with which they identify. Each person’s transition will involve different things. For some this involves medical intervention, such as hormone therapy and surgeries, but not all trans people want or are able to have this.

Transphobia

A fear or dislike of a person based on the fact they are trans.