Our Glossary

First published: 25th March 2022
Last updated: 25th March 2022
Summary

There are a lot of words relating to the LGBTQ+ community that you might be looking to understand better. Here is a few definitions to start off with.

Cisgender – A person who identifies with their assigned gender

Transgender – A person who does not identify with the gender they were assigned at birth. This is an umbrella term that may cover a wide range of experiences

Non-binary – A person who does not identify as either ‘man’ or ‘woman’. This is an umbrella term and may refer to a range of experiences including genderqueer, genderfluid, neutrois, agender, etc.

Agender – A person who does not identify with any gender

Genderfluid – A person who experiences their gender to be mutable. This may occur over variable time periods. Fluctuations in gender experience are not related to choice or preference

Intersex – A person who does not fit neatly into the biological categories of male or female. They are born with any of several variations in sex characteristics including chromosomes, gonads, sex hormones, or genitals. It occurs in about 1.7% of the population and does not denote pathology.

Lesbian – A woman who is attracted to other women

Gay – A person who is attracted to people of the same gender as them

Bisexual – A person who is attracted to more than one gender

Pansexual – A person who is attracted to people regardless of their gender

Asexual – A person who experiences little or no sexual desire. They may experience romantic desire, and may consent to have sex, but it is not a motivating factor in their relationships

Queer – A person who falls outside the traditional boundaries of sexual and/or gender identity. A reclaimed word that can act as an umbrella for the entire LGBT+ community and may also be linked to activism, politics, and art

Masculine – Having qualities or appearance traditionally associated with men, especially directness, physical strength, and vigour

Feminine – Having qualities or appearance traditionally associated with women, especially sensitivity, delicacy, and prettiness

Androgynous – Having a combination of masculine and feminine characteristics into an ambiguous form