Proper term for gay
Glossary of Terms: LGBTQ
Definitions were drafted in collaboration with other U.S.-based LGBTQ society organizations and leaders. Observe acknowledgements section.
Additional terms and definitions about gender identity and gender verbalization, transgender people, and nonbinary people are available in the Transgender Glossary.
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*NOTE: Ask people what terms they utilize to describe their sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression before assigning them a label. Outside of acronyms, these terms should only be capitalized when used at the beginning of a sentence.
LGBTQ
Acronym for queer woman , gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. The Q generally stands for queer when LGBTQ organizations, leaders, and media use the acronym. In settings offering sustain for youth, it can also stand for questioning. LGBT and LGBTQ+ are also used, with the + added in recognition of all non-straight, non-cisgender identities. (See Transgender Glossary ) Both are acceptable, as are other versions of this acronym. The term &#;gay community&#; should be avoided, as it does not accurately convey the div
Glossary of Terms
Many Americans refrain from talking about sexual orientation and gender identity or utterance because it feels taboo, or because they’re terrified of saying the improper thing.
This glossary was written to help give people the words and meanings to help make conversations easier and more relaxed. LGBTQ+ people use a variety of terms to identify themselves, not all of which are included in this glossary. Always listen for and respect a person’s self identified terminology.
Ally | A legal title used to describe someone who is actively supportive of LGBTQ+ people. It encompasses straight and cisgender allies, as well as those within the Queer community who support each other (e.g., a queer woman who is an ally to the bisexual community).
Asexual | Often called “ace” for short, asexual refers to a complete or partial lack of sexual attraction or lack of interest in sexual outing with others. Asexuality exists on a spectrum, and asexual people may encounter no, little or conditional sexual attraction.
Biphobia | The fear and hatred of, or discomfort with, people who love and are sexually attracted to more than one gender.
Bisexual | A person emotion
Inclusive Language
Instead of:
Use:
"homosexual" (n. or adj.)
Because of the clinical history of the word “homosexual,” it is aggressively used by anti-LGBTQ activists to propose that people attracted to the same sex are somehow diseased or psychologically/emotionally disordered – notions discredited by the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association in the s. Please avoid using "homosexual" except in conduct quotes. Please also evade using "homosexual" as a style variation simply to avoid repeated use of the word "gay." Many mainstream news outlets’ design guides restrict the exploit of the term "homosexual."
"gay" (adj.); "gay man" or "lesbian" (n.);
"gay person/people"; “queer people”;
When referring to non-straight individuals, be specific and use gay, queer woman , bisexual, pansexual, queer. When referring to a collective of multiple non-straight sexual orientations, use “LGBTQ+” or “queer” to describe all people attracted to members of the same or multiple genders.
The language and terminology folks use to describe their experiences of gender and sexual orientation is ever-evolving and the same word might have different meanings for different people. However, here is a glossary of some of the most commonly used terms. Have questions or need to learn more? Wondering what all of those letters mean? Here is a glossary of some of the most commonly used terms.
Ally – An ally is an individual who speaks out and stands up for a person or group that is targeted and discriminated against. An ally works to end oppression by supporting and advocating for people who are stigmatized, discriminated against or treated unfairly. For the lesbian, same-sex attracted, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ+) communities, an ally is any person who supports and stands up for the rights of Queer people.
Asexual – A person who does not experience sexual attraction; they may or may not experience sentimental, physical, or romantic attraction. Asexuality differs from celibacy in that it is a sexual orientation, not a choice.
Assigned at Birth – Commonly utilized by transitioned individuals, the term illustrates that the individual’s sex (and subsequently gender in early
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