LGBTQ+ Terms and Definitions
Pronouns: Pronouns are used to refer to someone, example: she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs. People can prefer to use more than one set of pronouns such as she/they, he/they, and she/he/they. Pronouns are usually ordered in preference of use.
Cisgender: A term for anyone who identifies with the gender they were assigned at birth.
Gender Non-conforming (GNC): A term for someone who does not follow the standard or typical “rules” of gender expression
Queer: A term any LGBTQ+ person can use to describe themselves. It was once used as a slur but has since been reclaimed and used with a positive connotation.
Non-binary: A term for someone who does not fit into the gender binary, someone who does not identify as a man or a woman, or someone who falls somewhere in between.
Gender Fluid: A term for someone whose gender shifts and changes like the weather.
Genderqueer: Someone who does not follow binary gender norms.
Aromantic: Having no romantic attraction to anyone.
Ally: An ally is an avid supporter and advocator for the LGBTQ+ community who is not themselves a part of the LGBTQ+ community. (Note that the “A” in LGBTQIA+ stands for asexual, agender or aromantic, not ally).
Intersex: Intersex people are individuals born with any of several sex characteristics including chromosome patterns or genitals that, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, "do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies".
Lesbian: Refers to women who feel attraction to women or non-binary/non-man-identifying people.
Gay: Refers to men who feel attraction to men, or it is sometimes used as an umbrella term to describe anyone attracted to the same gender.
Bisexual: Refers to anyone who feels an attraction to two or more genders.
Transgender: A term for anyone who identifies with a different gender from the one they were assigned at birth.
AMAB: Assigned Male At Birth
AFAB: Assigned Female At Birth
Neopronouns: Neopronouns are pronouns people use or create that let them feel more comfortable with their gender identity. Some people don’t really identify with she, he, and they pronouns, so neoprouns are used instead. There are lots of neoprouns and people can create their own to suit their expression, some common ones are ze/zir, and ey/em.
AroAce: The combination of Asexual and Aromantic. This is a term to describe someone who is asexual and aromantic.
Agender: Agender is defined as not having a gender: genderless, genderfree.
Pansexual: Not limited in sexual choice with regard to biological sex, gender, or gender identity.
Heterosexual: Attraction to the opposite sex, also referred to as straight.
Asexual: Having little to no (asexuality is a spectrum) sexual attraction or interest in sexual activities with others.
WLW: Acronym for women loving women
MLM: Acronym for men loving men (MLM also has another meaning - multi-level marketing - but in the context of LGBTQ+ it means men loving men)
LGBTQ+ Pride Flags
(A small selection)
Glossary Adapted from: https://www.hrc.org/resources/glossary-of-terms