People with 5-alpha reductase deficiency, abbreviated as 5-ARD, have XY chromosomes, testes, and typical levels of testosterone, but their bodies do not have the enzyme responsible for converting testosterone to the more powerful androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This affects how an individual's external sex characteristics develop, and people born with 5-ARD often have genital differences that are noticed at birth. In adolescence, people with 5-ARD typically develop some features associated with testosterone puberty, and they may experience genital growth at this point.
LGBTQ+ people who belong to one or more of the various Indigenous peoples of Australia; do not use to refer to the Indigenous people of the Torres Strait Islands, who are considered ethnically and culturally distinct. Only use to describe people who identify as Aboriginal Australian.
A commonly mistranslated Burmese term for people assigned male at birth who exhibit feminine behaviors while serving as spiritual mediums; there is some question over the legitimacy of term.
A sexual orientation generally characterized by a lack of sexual attraction or desire.
Abbreviation for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Direct action and organizing to achieve political or social change and acceptance for LGBTQ+ people.
LGBTQ+ people who organize or campaign for social, cultural, political, or economic goals and change.
LGBTQ+ people who act in stage plays, movies, television shows, broadcasts, or other productions.
The experience of being an adoptive parent to a child or children. An adoptive parent is the person or persons who become permanent parents through adoption with all the responsibilities therein.
People who have adopted children, either legally or through a social/cultural practice.
Businesses that either directly or indirectly provide sexual services, sex-related products, and/or erotic entertainment.
Erotic or sexually explicit films featuring LGBTQ+ people.
Movie theatres that primarily show pornographic films. Patrons engaging in nudity and public masturbation or sex may be explicitly permitted by the theatre or merely tolerated.
African American people who are also LGBTQ+; do not use for people of color broadly; follow the individual's preference for African American or Black whenever possible.
LGBTQ+ people of African descent born in Canada or LGBTQ+ people born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to Canada; use for individuals who self-identity as Afro-Canadian.
LGBTQ+ people of African descent born in the Caribbean or LGBTQ+ people born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to the Caribbean. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Afro-Caribbean.
LGBTQ+ people of African descent born in European countries or LGBTQ+ people born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to Europe. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Afro-European.
LGBTQ+ people of African descent born in Latin American countries or LGBTQ+ people born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to Latin America. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Afro-Latin American.
The age at which a person is considered legally competent to consent to sexual acts. The age of consent varies depending on the country, state, or culture.
People who identify as not having a gender, or being genderless.
The act of roleplaying as people of different ages, usually as children, for fun or erotic enjoyment.
Filipino word that translates to both hermaphrodite and a gay slur.
People who campaign for social and political change for people affected by HIV/AIDS.
Activism and other efforts to bring attention to the AIDS epidemic.
Institutions dedicated to education, prevention, and treatment of HIV/AIDS; AIDS information centers often provide services like HIV counseling and testing services.
Instruction about HIV/AIDS, including topics like the history of the AIDS epidemic, contraction, prevention, and treatment.
Quilts created to celebrate the lives of people who have died of AIDS-related causes, bring awareness to the AIDS epidemic, and provide support and healing for those affected. The term is often used to refer to the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt started by Cleve Jones in 1985.
Projects and events celebrating the lives of people who have died of AIDS-related causes.
Community-based groups or institutions that provide support and advocacy for people affected by HIV/AIDS.
Print or digital publications published periodically and created by or for people with AIDS.
Antagonism or disgust directed toward individuals with HIV/AIDS or behaviors perceived as putting oneself at risk for contracting HIV/AIDS. AIDS phobia may include isolation, stereotypes, verbal harassment, and physical violence.
Abbreviation for AIDS-related complex, a term used early in the AIDS epidemic to describe people with symptomatic HIV infections who have not been formally diagnosed with AIDS. Since 2000, clinical use of the term has been largely discontinued.
Red ribbon that acts as an international symbol for HIV and AIDS awareness; first adopted in the early 1990s for the Red Ribbon Project.
A Cook Islands Māori word referring to transgender people of Māori descent from the Cook Islands.
Eroticization of pain and intense sensation.
Tamil slur for effeminate gay man; directly translates to hermaphrodite.
Individuals of a privileged social identity who support, stand in solidarity with, and work to advance the interests of marginalized groups they do not belong to.
In Native American Mohave tribes, people assigned male at birth who exhibit feminine traits and could become socially female, often serving as healers.
Nation of all-female warriors in Greek mythology and Classical antiquity; from the Early Modern period, their name has become a term for woman warriors in general as well as a cultural symbol invoked in lesbian communities.
A sex toy used in anal play that consists of multiple attached spheres (or balls) that are continuously inserted through the anus into the rectum and then removed with varying speeds.
Sexual practice of inserting a fist into an anus.
Sexual activity involving penetration of the anus.
People born with AIS have XY chromosomes and testes, and their bodies have varying levels of insensitivity to androgens (including testosterone). This means that their cells do not respond typically to the testosterone that they produce. Like other variations in sex characteristics, AIS is a spectrum, with the subcategories of complete (CAIS), partial (PAIS), and mild androgen insensitivity (MAIS). The term "male androgen insensitivity syndrome" should not be used to describe this variation because many people with AIS are women.
People who have a non-binary gender that includes masculine and feminine traits.
Israeli term used in Rabbinical literature to describe both an intersex mythological creature and refer to a legal condition.
The combination of masculine and feminine characteristics.
Sexual stimulation of the anus by the tongue or mouth.
Sexual encounters between two or more people who do not know one another, typically with no expectation of future communication or interaction.
The unjust or prejudicial treatment of bisexual people due to their sexual identity; may include the denial of legal rights, employment, and housing.
Behavior involving physical force intended to harm or kill bisexual people on the basis of their identity.
Legislation designed to prevent employment, housing, education, and other forms of discrimination against protected groups of people.
Opposition to some or all forms of feminism.
The unjust or prejudicial treatment of gay men due to their sexual identity; may include the denial of legal rights, employment, and housing.
Behavior involving physical force intended to harm or kill gay men on the basis of their identity.
The unjust or prejudicial treatment of lesbians due to their sexual identity; may include the denial of legal rights, employment, and housing.
Behavior involving physical force intended to harm or kill lesbians on the basis of their identity.
Behavior involving physical force intended to harm or kill LGBTQ+ people on the basis of their identity.
The unjust or prejudicial treatment of queer people due to their identity; may include the denial of legal rights, employment, and housing.
Behavior involving physical force intended to harm or kill queer people on the basis of their identity.
The unjust or prejudicial treatment of transgender people (or others perceived to be transgressing gender norms) due to their gender identity and/or expression; may include the denial of legal rights, employment, and housing.
Behavior involving physical force intended to harm or kill transgender people on the basis of their identity.
People with aphallia have XY chromosomes, testes, and are born without a penis. They produce typical levels of testosterone, and they develop secondary sex characteristics associated with a typical testosterone puberty during adolescence.
Indian term for people who identify as women trapped in male bodies; many prefer other terms, such as hijra or thirunangai.
Collections of records and materials relating to LGBTQ+ people or LGBTQ+ communities; can include a variety of organizations and institutions from community to government archives.
Individuals who do not generally experience romantic attraction or desire.
Apprehension and detention of LGBTQ+ people by an institution or authority in order to deprive them of their freedom of movement.
The act of using sperm to induce pregnancy by natural or artificial means, especially in the context of LGBTQ+ family planning with sperm donors.
Individuals who generally do not experience sexual attraction or desire; do not use to describe individuals practicing celibacy or abstinence for religious or cultural reasons.
Term used by the Maale people in Ethiopia for people assigned male at birth who exhibit feminine characteristics; there is some question over the legitimacy of term.
LGBTQ+ people of Asian heritage or descent born in the United States or born in Asian countries who live in or have a strong connection to the United States. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Asian American.
LGBTQ+ people of Asian heritage or descent, living in Asia or part of the Asian diaspora. Only use for people who self-identify as Asian.
Intentional restriction of one's own oxygen for the purposes of sexual arousal.
The sexual act of penetrating an individual's anus with a penis or dildo.
The assignment of a female gender marker or a female sex designation shortly after birth.
The gender, typically "girl" or "boy," ascribed to a child at birth or adolescence based on the child's perceived sex.
The assignment of a male gender marker or a male sex designation shortly after birth.
Social processes through which ideas, characteristics, and behaviors come to be seen as "normal" or "natural" and accepted as such.
Any kind of sexual play that involves anal stimulation.
LGBTQ+ people who do not believe in the existence of God or gods.
Practice of sexually stimulating oneself.
Behavior modification therapy intended to displace pleasant associations evoked by homosexuality with unpleasant ones (in the form of electric shocks or nausea-inducing drugs) in order to shift the subject's homosexual orientation to a heterosexual one.
Israeli term referring to a woman with masculine development who is usually infertile.
The act of tying up or restraining the body, usually with rope, cuffs, tape, or other adhesive, for the purposes of erotic enjoyment or aesthetic appreciation.
Rooms in nightclubs, sex clubs, or bathhouses where patrons can discretely engage in sexual activity. Dark rooms were common features in gay bars and clubs in the 1960-80s and remain common among swingers today.
Newly out lesbians; only use for lesbians who self-identify as dykes.
A newly out person, particularly a newly out gay man.
Derogatory Filipino term referring to gay men who crossdress.
Filipino word for people who are assigned male at birth who adopt feminine mannerisms; often considered a third gender.
A subculture that emerged in early 20th century New York City in which primarily African-American and Latin American LGBTQ+ people perform and compete for various prizes.
Silicone, rubber, or other types of balls that are strapped in a person’s mouth to prevent them from speaking, typically during sex.
In ball culture, ballroom families (or houses) are chosen families headed by and named after established community members (e.g., the House of Xtravaganza); heads of ballroom families are typically called "mothers" or "fathers," while members are termed "children" and "siblings."
Term from the 1980s (or earlier) that describes a certain type of young Latin American or African American man who has sex with men and who dresses in stereotypical masculine urban fashion.
Filipino term for gay men who assume the clothes and/or mannerisms of women.
An offensive term developed by settler anthropologists to broadly describe Indigenous people expressing mixed gender roles; only use in historical contexts.
The practice of engaging in anal sex without using a condom.
Establishments that serve alcohol and are patronized primarily by LGBTQ+ people.
Derogatory Cebuano term used in the Philippines to describe effeminate gay men or masculine women.
Erotic preference and form of personal relationship involving the consensual use of restraint, intense sensory stimulation, and fantasy power roleplay.
A broad term including all communities of people interested in kinks and fetishes, including or overlapping with certain subcultures such as the leather community and rubber and latex communities.
Beaches set aside for use by LGBTQ+ people or beaches known to be frequented by LGBTQ+ people.
Slang used in the U.S. and other English speaking countries to describe hairy and large or muscular gay men.
Therapeutic techniques and treatments derived from cognitive psychology that are designed to identify and potentially change behaviors perceived as self-destructive or unhealthy. Includes behavioral therapy intended to alter an individual's sexual or gender identity or expression.
Strong feelings of affection arising out of kinship, personal ties, or intimate relationships between two or more LGBTQ+ people. Can be used to describe the particularities of love as experienced by LGBTQ+ people in a given culture, as well as the ways love is discussed and expressed within LGBTQ+ communities.
Individuals who are not exclusively sexually and/or romantically attracted to individuals of a single biological sex (includes bisexual, queer, pansexual, and fluid identities).
Criminal acts motivated by the victim’s actual or perceived race, nationality, religion, sexual identity, gender identity, or ability status.
Term used to describe the identities of people who have two genders.
People who identify as any two genders, either simultaneously or more fluidly.
Unwillingness to accept or affirm LGBTQ+ people or their identities in attitude or practice.
Tagalog term for individuals who possess both male and female traits.
The act of flattening or concealing the chest area with a tight fitting shirt, strap, or similar material; often practiced by transgender men and transmasculine people.
The practice of defining certain categories through a set of supposed universal or fixed characteristics or traits (e.g., defining women in terms of "female" genitalia).
The experience of being a biological parent to a child. This relationship can be genetic, gestational, or both.
Antagonism or disgust directed toward bisexuality as an identity or bisexual people due to their sexuality. Biphobia can include denial of the existence of bisexuality, stereotypes, verbal harassment, and physical violence.
Formal changes to an individual's birth certificate, typically to reflect a change to the individual's legal name or gender or sex marker.
Legal documents issued to record an individual’s birth, typically including identifying information such as the individual's name, assigned gender or sex, date and location of birth, and parentage.
The legal gender marker recorded in birth-related certifications and registries. Often but not always used synonymously with “sex assigned at birth." Also used in reference to the gendered roles and expectations associated with said gender marker.
Biological or genetic parents of a child or children placed for adoption.
Direct action and organizing to achieve political or social change and acceptance for bisexuality.
Bisexual people of African descent born in the United States or bisexual people born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to the United States. Use for individuals who self-identity as African American. Follow the individual’s preference for African American or Black whenever possible.
Bisexual people of African descent born in Canada or bisexual people born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to Canada. Use for individuals who self-identify as Afro-Canadian.
Bisexual people of African descent born in the Caribbean or bisexual people born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to the Caribbean. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Afro-Caribbean.
Bisexual people of African descent born in European countries or bisexual people born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to Europe. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Afro-European.
Bisexual people of African descent born in Latin American countries or bisexual people born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to Latin America. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Afro-Latin American.
Collections of records and materials relating to bisexual people or bisexual communities; can include a variety of organizations and institutions from community to government archives.
Bisexual people of Asian heritage or descent born in the United States or born in Asian countries who live in or have a strong connection to the United States. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Asian American.
Bisexual people of Asian heritage or descent, living in Asia or part of the Asian diaspora. Only use for people who self-identify as Asian.
Drinking establishments that primary cater to bisexual people.
Beaches set aside for use by bisexual people or beaches known to be frequented by bisexual people.
Black people who are bisexual. Use only for individuals who self-identity as Black. Follow the individual’s preference for African American or Black whenever possible.
Bookshops that sell materials intended for use by bisexual people or addressing topics related to bisexuality.
Boys (typically children younger than 18) who are bisexual.
Characters in creative works who are bisexual.
Bisexual people who have not yet reached the age of adolescence.
Bisexual people who are ordained for religious duties, particularly in the Christian Church.
Groups of people who share the experience of being bisexual.
Spaces in which people from bisexual communities meet for social, education, recreational, or organizing activities.
Partnerships in which both people are bisexual.
Institutions providing education, support, and information about bisexuality and bisexual communities to bisexual people.
Women who take a dominant role in BDSM activities; use for dominatrices who identify as bisexual.
Works of fiction written to be performed; use in reference to dramatic works focusing on bisexual characters or themes.
Families, whether biological, adoptive, or chosen, in which one or more individuals identify as bisexual.
Written works describing imagined events or people; use in reference to fictional works focusing on bisexual characters or themes.
Girls (typically children younger than 18) who are bisexual.
Term used to describe the sexual identity of individuals who are romantically and/or sexually attracted to people of more than one gender and who prefer the term bisexual over alternatives such as pansexual, polysexual, etc.
Latin American people who are bisexual; only use to describe individuals who self-identify as Latino, Latina, or Latinx. Do not conflate with Chicano/a/x or Hispanic.
Libraries that hold materials primarily pertaining to bisexual people or intended for use by bisexual people.
Written literary works about bisexuality, bisexual characters, or bisexual themes.
Marriages between individuals who do not share the same sexual orientation (e.g., bisexual-heterosexual marriage, allosexual-asexual marriage).
Bisexual people who are part of the BDSM scene and assume the dominant role in sexual relationships with a dominant/submissive dynamic.
Bisexual women who are part of the BDSM scene and assume the mistress role in sexual relationships with a mistress/submissive dynamic.
Umbrella term for activism focused on the rights of bisexual people and issues faced by bisexual communities.
Institutions dedicated to the storage, exhibition, conservation, and preservation of materials relating to bisexuality, bisexual people, or bisexual history.
People who are part of the Native peoples of the continental United States and Canada (excluding Inuit people) and self-identity as bisexual. Use more specific terms when available.
Serialized print or digital periodicals created by or for bisexual people, often with the purpose of sharing news and information related to bisexual communities and bisexual issues.
Serialized print or digital publications about bisexuality or bisexual issues (and typically produced by bisexual people or organizations) that contain news, articles, columns, correspondence, and advertisements.
Bisexual people who are members of polytheistic religions or other religions outside of the dominant culture that typically incorporate nature worship and/or the sacred feminine, such as Wicca, Druidry, Heathenry, etc. Use to describe bisexual people who self-identify as Pagan.
Individuals who are romantically and/or sexually attracted to more than one gender and who identify as bisexual; do not use to describe pansexual or polysexual people unless they also use the term bisexual.
Bisexual individuals serving in state and national armed forces.
Bisexual people who are not white and who identify as people of color.
People who act as parents to one or more bisexual person. For parents who are themselves bisexual, use the term "Bisexual parents."
Literary work, typically written in verse, that focuses on bisexual characters, themes, or identity.
Bisexual individuals working to bring about political or social change through public organizing.
Erotic or sexually explicit films featuring bisexual people.
Newspapers, magazines, or other publishing outlets aimed at bisexual audiences and/or operated by bisexual people.
Bisexual people who are members of the Protestant church.
Companies and organizations that publish materials for bisexual communities or addressing bisexual issues.
Auditory content broadcast on the radio (analog or digital) about bisexuality and bisexual issues.
Ongoing connections (romantic, sexual, or platonic) between two or more bisexual people.
Legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement held by bisexual people.
Bisexual people who are members of the Roman Catholic Church.
Colloquial or informal language related to bisexuality or used by bisexual people.
Academic field of research and study about bisexuality, bisexual individuals, and bisexual communities.
Bisexual people who have experienced and survived hate crimes; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Bisexual people who have experienced and survived rape; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Bisexual people who have experienced and survived sexual abuse; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Bisexual people who have experienced and survived war; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Bisexual people between the ages of childhood and adulthood.
Television shows featuring bisexual characters or themes.
Works in the performance arts that focus on bisexual characters, communities, or issues.
Bisexual people who have experienced hate crimes and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Bisexual people who have experienced rape and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Bisexual people who have experienced sexual abuse and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Bisexual people who have experienced war and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Bisexual people's legal rights to be informed, present, and heard within the criminal justice system after having been harmed or injured as the result of of a crime, accident, or other event.
Bisexual individuals who self-identity as women and understand their gender in terms of Western conceptions of womanness, femaleness, and/or femininity.
Written literary works for an audience of readers from 12-18 years of age, also known as young adult literature or YA; use in reference to youth literature focusing on bisexual characters or themes.
Sexual identity that is defined as attraction to more than one gender; follow the individual's preference for bisexuality, pansexuality, or polysexuality whenever possible.
Mentally and physically androgynous shamans in Bugis (Indonesia) culture.
Biting, or applying pressure with one's teeth, for the purposes of sexual arousal.
Among the Zapotec in Teotitlán del Valle, Mexico, this term refers to people assigned male at birth who exhibit feminine characteristics.
Black people who are also LGBTQ+; do not use for people of color broadly; follow the individual's preference for Black or African American whenever possible.
An accessory used to cover the eyes, traditionally a piece of cloth tied around one’s head to eliminate or limit vision.
Websites or webpages, typically run by individuals or small groups, that are written in an informal or conversational style.
Sexual practices or fetishes centering around the "vampire lifestyle"; can be a subset of BDSM communities and include roleplay, the consumption of blood, etc.
A sexual act involving the use of the mouth and tongue to stimulate another person's external genitalia (typically the penis or clitoris).
Sex toys designed to mimic parts of or the entirety of the body.
Decoration or alteration of the human body for aesthetic or cultural purposes; includes body paint, tattooing, piercing, and scarification.
Slang for young masculine or transmasculine people. The term is commonly used in lesbian communities.
Bookshops that sell materials intended for use by LGBTQ+ people or addressing LGBTQ+ topics.
In the leather and kink communities, the act of cleaning and conditioning leather.
The cohabitation of two women (often in a romantic relationship) without the financial support of a man. Originated in New England (USA) in the late 19th century.
The receptive partner during sex or kink activities.
Children or youth, typically younger than 18 years old, who identify as boys.
Connections based on affection and trust between two or more boys.
One of the two soft, protruding organs on an individual's chest.
Establishments where clients pay to engage in sexual activity with sex workers. Brothels may be illegal, decriminalized, or legal operations.
Indigenous Australian term for people who transition from female to male.
A peer-to-peer form of healthcare support for LGBTQ+ people in which volunteers (buddies) attend clinical visits with patients to provide emotional and logistical support.
Pejorative historical term for individuals who engage in sexual activities that are characterized as unnatural or immoral; commonly applied to gay men engaging in anal sex. Only use in historical contexts.
A form of aggressive behavior that can include verbal harassment, physical assault, or coercion. Bullying is typically directed repeatedly towards particular victims, often on the grounds of race, gender, sexuality, or ability.
In the Balkans, people assigned female at birth who take a vow of chastity and live as men.
Romantic, sexual, or play relationships between a masculine-identifying or -presenting person and a feminine-identifying or -presenting person. Though the terms "butch" and "femme" are most commonly used in lesbian communities, they are also used by other LGBTQ+ people. Only use to describe relationships between individuals who self-identify as butch and femme.
A masculine person of any gender, though this term is most commonly used in lesbian communities.
Colloquial term for the buttocks, or the fleshy protuberances at the back of the hips on which people sit.
A sex toy designed to be inserted into the anus for sexual stimulation or pleasure. Butt plugs tend to be shorter than dildos and have a flared base that prevents them from being lost in the rectum.
In Bugis culture, this term refers to people assigned male at birth who assume female roles.
In Bugis culture, this term refers to people assigned female at birth who assume male roles.
An aesthetic style and sensibility that values irony and bad taste.
A sexual act involving the use of the mouth and tongue to stimulate the clitoris, labia, and vagina.
Individuals assigned male at birth who have been castrated. Historically, eunuchs served in royal courts as slaves or servants; in some cases, individuals were castrated before puberty to retain childlike vocal qualities.
Removal of the testes or use of the testes, typically through surgical or chemical means. Includes castration voluntarily undertaken as a gender-affirming surgical procedure or as part of a religious rite. For involuntary castration enacted by legal authorities or as a hate crime, use the term "Forced castration."
Intermittent or isolated sexual encounters between two or more people, typically occurring outside of romantic relationships or other forms of commitment, emotional attachment, or familiarity.
Conscious abstinence from sexual activity, often associated with religious beliefs. Celibacy is distinct from asexuality; only use to describe asexual people if they are also choosing to practice conscious abstinence.
Suppression of speech, public communication, images, ideas, or other information by institutions, authorities, or other controlling bodies, typically because the material has been deemed objectionable, harmful, or sensitive.
Derogatory term for a third gender person in Karnataka culture in India.
The process by which an individual adopts a new name on legal or government-issued documents.
Rooms or areas in public or commercial spaces where people can change their clothes with varying degrees of privacy.
Characters in creative works who are LGBTQ+.
Dedicated websites or online applications used to exchange messages and images with other people, typically in real time.
LGBTQ+ people with substance use disorders
People with substance abuse disorders (LGBTQ)
Abuse of or dependence on addictive substances such as drugs or alcohol.
Dependence upon cocaine or crack; characterized by the experience of withdrawal symptoms upon cessation.
LGBTQ+ people who have been diagnosed with or regard themselves as having a substance use disorder, a medical condition that involves a pattern of substance use that is difficult to control, negatively impacts the individual's life, and results in withdrawal symptoms upon cessation. Only use to refer to individuals who describe themselves as having a substance use disorder. Follow the individual's preference for "use disorder" or "addiction" whenever possible.
Latin American people who are LGBTQ+; only use to describe individuals who self-identify as Latino, Latina, or Latinx. Do not conflate with Chicano/a/x or Hispanic.
Legal term for the guardianship of a child, or the legal and practical relationship between a parent and a child in their care. Typically used to describe legal custody, which is the right to make decisions about the child, as well as physical custody, which is the right and duty to house, provide, and care for the child.
People who have not yet reached the age of adolescence.
LGBTQ+ people who have not yet reached the age of adolescence.
Children who have one or more bisexual parent.
Children who have one or more gay father.
Children who have one or more lesbian parent.
Children who have one or more LGBTQ+ parent.
Children who have one or more transgender parent.
Children who have one or more queer parent.
The sexual behavior of children, include children's sense of their sexual orientation.
A name chosen by an individual that differs from their birth or legal name; often used to describe names chosen by LGBTQ+ people to better match their identities.
LGBTQ+ people who are Christian. Use a more specific term if possible.
Structures found in the nucleus of most living cells that carry genetic information in the form of genes. Often used in reference to sex chromosomes, a type of chromosome involved in sex determination.
Slang term used in gay communities (primarily in the United States) to describe larger or heavy-set gay men.
Men whose penises are circumcised (i.e., the foreskin of the penis has been surgically removed).
Surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis.
Men whose gender identity matches the sex or gender they were assigned at birth.
Individuals whose gender identity matches the gender or sex they were assigned at birth.
Women whose gender identity matches the sex or gender they were assigned at birth.
Individuals whose sex matches the sex or gender they were assigned at birth. Whereas cisgender refers to people who are not transgender, cissexual refers to people who are not transsexual.
Legally recognized unions with rights similar (but often not identical or equal) to those of marriage, originally created for same-sex couples in jurisdictions where they were not legally allowed to marry.
Legal documents certifying civil unions established in compliance with the laws of certain jurisdictions.
Legal rights of LGBTQ+ people to political and social freedom and equality.
Official certificates certifying civil unions established in compliance with the laws of certain jurisdictions.
Genital piercings placed directly through the hood of the clitoris, typically worn for aesthetic purposes or to enhance sexual arousal.
Surgical procedure involving the removal or reduction of the clitoris.
Erogenous external organ that is capable of erection under sexual stimulation.
People born with clitoromegaly have a clitoris that is larger than what society considers to be typical. Clitoromegaly is a trait associated with several different intersex variations, including congenital adrenal hyperplasia and progestin-induced virilization.
Historical term for gay men who dress in a particular masculine fashion; often used in the Castro District of San Francisco.
Bisexual people who do not identify as such to others.
Gay men who do not identify as such to others.
Lesbians who do not identify as such to others.
Term used to describe the experience of a trans person who is not openly trans and is choosing to pass as cisgender.
Items worn on the body for protection, insulation, and self-expression; typically made of fabric or textiles.
LGBTQ+ people who use substances recreationally
The use of substances (that are typically deemed harmful or are subject to legal restriction, such as drugs or alcohol) by LGBTQ+ people for recreational or social purposes.
The use of substances (that are typically deemed harmful or are subject to legal restriction, such as drugs or alcohol) and discussions surrounding the particular impact of substance use within LGBTQ+ communities.
A type of methamphetamine commonly referred to as ecstasy or molly
Rings or circular sex toys worn on the penis to maintain an erection and prevent orgasm.
A liquid application device used as a douche or to cleanse the bowels or vagina, or usage of such a device. Can be used for sexual or erotic purposes.
Process of accepting and sharing one’s sexual or gender identity with oneself and/or others.
Legal framework in which two partners are considered married without having formally registered their relationship as a civil or religious marriage. Common law marriage grants certain economic rights and legal privileges.
Groups of LGBTQ+ people who share interests or interact regularly, typically living in some proximity.
Spaces in which people from LGBTQ+ communities meet for social, education, recreational, or organizing activities.
Latex contraceptives used to cover penises during sexual activity for the purposes of preventing STIs and/or pregnancy.
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a group of different but related genetic variations that affect the enzymes that allow the adrenal glands to make hormones that regulate the body’s functions. People with CAH do not consistently produce the amount of cortisol or aldosterone they need, but they may naturally produce higher-than-typical levels of androgens such as testosterone to help the body compensate. Someone with CAH can be born with XX or XY chromosomes. People with CAH and XY chromosomes are usually not considered to have a variation in sex characteristics since an increased amount of androgens will not cause the development of any characteristics that are not considered typical for people assigned male at birth. In people with XX chromosomes and CAH, the increase in androgen production can result in genital differences such as a larger-than-typical clitoris, fused labia, and the fusion of the urethra and vaginal canal to form a single opening. They may also develop some characteristics like body and facial hair or increased muscle mass during childhood or puberty.
Permission or agreement for a set of actions to occur, particularly in a sexual encounter and/or within a relational dynamic.
Efforts to change the sexual or gender identity of an individual who is or is suspected to be LGBTQ+ to meet heterosexual or cisgender norms, typically under the belief that being LGBTQ+ is dangerous and/or the result of mental illness or trauma. The processes involved in conversion therapy include visualization training, spiritual interventions, and other aversion treatments.
An adoption process by which a legal child-parent relationship is established by granting the “second” parent the same rights as the “first” parent without the “first” or legal parent relinquishing any parental rights. A second or co-parent adoption can be important for LGBTQ+ parents to protect their parental rights as the relationship of the non-biological parent may not be recognized in some jurisdictions without such an adoption.
Criminal practice in which men rape lesbians, sometimes under the supervision of members of the women's families or local communities, with the purported purpose of "curing" them of homosexuality.
A garment worn to hold and train the torso into a desired shape, traditionally a smaller waist or larger bottom, for aesthetic purposes (either for the duration of wearing it or with a more lasting effect), or to support the breasts.
UK slang term for public bathrooms used as locations for sexual encounters, particularly by gay men.
UK slang term commonly used in gay communities to describe the practice of engaging in anonymous sex in a public bathroom or cruising for sexual partners there.
Partnerships in which both people are LGBTQ+.
Proclamations by a judge or panel of judges requiring or authorizing specific actions (e.g., court orders approving or denying requests for name or gender marker changes).
LGBTQ+ people who have experienced crimes and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for “victims” or “survivors” whenever possible.
Body of law relating to crime that prescribes the legality and consequences of conduct perceived as threatening, harmful, or endangering to the property, health, safety, and/or moral welfare of oneself and others.
The process by which behaviors and individuals are framed as and come to be known as criminal.
Relationships between people of different ethnic or racial backgrounds.
Individuals who wear clothes stereotypical to or associated with a gender other than their predominantly-identified gender. Crossdressers often develop a persona while crossdressing. Only use to describe individuals who self-identify as crossdressers.
The process of altering one's sex hormones using hormone blockers and/or doses of testosterone, estrogen, or progesterone.
The practice of wearing clothing stereotypical to a gender other than the individual's predominantly-identified gender.
Walking or driving about a locality in search of a sex partner, typically to engage in casual sex.
Slang commonly used in gay communities in the United States to describe younger, heavy-set gay men, usually with hairy bodies and facial hair.
Non-Euro-American gender and sexual identities
Broad term describing gender and sexual identities specific to regions outside of North America and Europe.
Body fluids produced by sexual arousal and orgasm.
Bullying or harassment that takes place online.
Erotic or sexual communication and activity between two or more people that takes place online or using technology (e.g., texting, video chatting).
Men who place particular importance upon physical appearance, refined language, and leisurely hobbies.
Software applications designed to generate connections between people interested in romantic or sexual relationships.
Online websites designed to generate connections between people interested in romantic or sexual relationships.
Daughters who have one or more bisexual parent.
Daughters who have one or more gay parent.
Daughters who have one or more lesbian parent.
Daughters who have one or more transgender parent.
Daughters who have one or more queer parent.
The act of using or referring to a person’s assigned name rather than their chosen name, commonly with malicious intent.
A way of life characterized by mannerisms and affectations marked by excess.
The process of lessening or removing criminal penalties for certain acts.
In Thailand, cisgender women who conform to feminine gender norms and who often partner with masculine-identified toms; similar to a femme in U.S. lesbian culture.
Any form of expression (written or verbal) with the intention to vilify, humiliate, or incite hatred against a individual or group of people on the basis of their actual or perceived race, religion, nationality, sexual identity, gender identity, or ability status.
People who have a partial connection to a certain gender or concept of gender.
A sexual orientation generally characterized by the lack of sexual attraction to other people unless or until emotional connections have been formed.
Individuals who do not experience sexual attraction unless they have first formed a strong emotional connection with a person.
Refusal to acknowledge or affirm one's own sexual identity, or the sexual identity of another individual.
A square sheet of latex or polyurethane used to create a barrier between the mouth and the vagina or anus during oral sex.
A person's drive or desire to have children.
Temporary physical and legal confinement of LGBTQ+ people by an institution or authority, typically pending criminal charges or deportation. Can also be used to describe individuals held in custody for political purposes or within the context of war.
Detention of LGBTQ+ people under a hospital order
Detention of LGBTQ people under a hospital order
Physical and legal confinement of LGBTQ+ people in hospitals or medical institutions, typically to receive evaluation and treatment ordered by a court or other such authority. Can be used to describe both short-term or long-term institutionalization.
Bengali term for third sex people, often referring to feminine people who were assigned male at birth.
DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, produced by the American Psychiatric Association; can be used in reference to the DSM's historical or present day descriptions of LGBTQ+ identities and practices.
An umbrella term used to refer to people born with variations in their physical sex characteristics--including genitals, gonads, chromosomes, and hormonal factors--that do not fit typical definitions of male or female bodies.
Navajo term for a person assigned female at birth who takes on the role of a boy in childhood and a man in adulthood.
Devices worn to attach a dildo to a person's body, typically so they can penetrate a partner's vagina or anus.
A sex toy, often explicitly (although not necessarily) phallic in appearance, intended for sexual penetration or other sexual activity during masturbation or with sex partners.
The unjust or prejudicial treatment of LGBTQ+ people or communities due to their sexual or gender identities; may include the denial of legal rights, employment, and housing.
Term used within medical contexts to refer to a wide range of variations in sex characteristics. Many people with intersex variations consider these terms to be stigmatizing and pathologizing, though they often still encounter them in their medical records.
Diversity in characteristics of people in age, gender, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, lifestyle, etc.
People whose marriages have been legally dissolved.
Agreements, legal or otherwise, between two unmarried people in a domestic partnership that define property rights and support obligations if the relationship ends or if one partner dies.
Domestic partnership retirement benefits
Employee benefit plans for people in domestic partnerships that can be accessed upon retirement.
Legal or personal relationships between individuals who live together and share their lives but are not married or joined by civil union.
The person who takes on the position of authority or power in a power exchange relationship or kink activity. Most commonly used by feminine identified people and professional dominants.
Individuals who donate their own biological materials, typically gametes (e.g., sperm or eggs), organs, or blood.
African American slang term that describes a subculture of Black men who identify as heterosexual but have sex with men.
Slang term used to describe people wearing masculine clothing, typically drag queens or crossdressers who also sometimes wear feminine clothing. Drab is a shortened form of the phrase "dressed as a boy" or "dress resembling a boy."
A performance genre involving dressing and/or using makeup to produce, emphasize, and/or exaggerate traits associated with a certain gender, which typically (but not always) is not the gender the performer primarily identifies with.
Events that are part of the drag ball subculture that emerged in early 20th-century New York City among primarily African-American and Latin American LGBTQ+ people. During a drag ball, individuals "walk" or perform for prizes.
Establishments (typically serving alcohol) that host drag shows or other events featuring drag performers.
Groups of people (typically drag performers) with a shared interest in drag performances and culture.
Groups of drag performers who share a community and typically live in close quarters with one another. Drag families are headed by drag mothers or drag fathers, with other members termed drag daughters and sons. Members of a drag family typically use the same last name as their drag mother or father (e.g., Xtravaganza) in social contexts or while performing.
More experienced drag kings who support less experienced drag kings as they enter the drag scene as performers.
Performers, often people assigned female at birth, who dress in stereotypically masculine attire and enact masculine personas for the purpose of entertainment.
More experienced drag queens who support less experienced drag queens as they enter the drag scene as performers.
Performers, often people assigned male at birth, who dress in stereotypically feminine attire and enact feminine personas for the purpose of entertainment.
Works of fiction written to be performed; use in reference to dramatic works focusing on LGBTQ+ characters or themes.
Legal documents authorizing individuals to operate motor vehicles; commonly used as legal proof of identity; can be used in reference to LGBTQ+ people seeking driver's licenses or changes to existing licenses (e.g., name, gender or sex marker, photo).
Umbrella term for LGBTQ+ people who use substances (that are typically deemed harmful or are subject to legal restriction, such as drugs or alcohol) for any reason. Apply more specific terms if possible.
Slang for heterosexual men who are friends with lesbians and socialize in lesbian spaces.
Use to describe cultural experiences shared by members of lesbian communities or products of lesbian culture (e.g., art and media created by and for lesbians, activism focused on lesbian issues, slang commonly used in lesbian communities, etc.).
Marches, protests, and other gatherings focused on lesbian visibility, issues, and rights. Only use to describe marches explicitly for dykes or centered on the dyke identity and politics. Otherwise, use the more general term "Lesbian pride."
A largely reclaimed slur common in the U.S. that may be used to refer to lesbians who embrace a masculine style of presentation or lesbian political activists in general. Only use for individuals who self-identify as dykes.
A chartered motorcycle club with many loosely affiliated chapters that are comprised of lesbian members who identify as dykes; known for their participation in gay pride events.
LGBTQ+ people who are members of the Eastern Orthodox Christian Church.
Political and philosophical movement that views feminism and concerns for the environment as inherently related.
Culture-specific sets of attributes, behaviors, and roles generally associated with women or girls.
Individuals of any gender who donate their own eggs for the purpose of inducing pregnancy.
This term is often used to describe internalized oppression held by and about LGBTQ+ people in general. It can also describe the more specific phenomenon in which gay men internalize or adopt homophobic beliefs (i.e., negative perceptions of and intolerance toward gay men and homosexuality) as a result of being raised or socialized within a homophobic environment or culture.
Internal conflict caused by having a sexual identity or attraction that is at odds with one’s idealized self-image.
LGBTQ+ people who are advanced in age, typically defined as older than 60 years of age.
A form of psychiatric treatment for major depression, bipolar depression, and other mental health conditions that usually consists of brief electrical pulses to the brain through electrodes on the head that induce controlled seizures. Electroshock therapy has historically been used as an attempt to "cure" homosexuality and other non-normative sexualities and sexual practices.
Historical term used to describe people assigned male at birth who adopt feminine behaviors.
Historical term for people assigned male at birth who adopt feminine behaviors.
Sexual preference for young adults between the ages of 16 and 20
Sexual or erotic acts, objects, and situations that are considered to be unusual within a given society.
Refers to a primary or exclusive sexual interest in individuals in the early years of puberty (generally ages 11-14, though onset of puberty may vary)
Persistent difficulties in achieving or maintaining erections, typically for sexual activities.
Medications used to relax muscles in the penis, increasing blood flow to allow for an erection in response to sexual stimuli.
Enlargement of the erectile tissue of the penis or clitoris due to increased blood flow; typically associated with sexual arousal.
Areas of the body that are sensitive to sexual stimulation.
Massage intended to enhance sexual arousal.
The portrayal of sexuality with high-art aspirations, typically also focusing on feelings and emotions.
The quality of being erotic, or causing sexual attraction, arousal, or desire.
Agencies that serve to connect paying clients with escorts offering services by appointment. Escort services may be less stigmatized than other forms of sex work, in part because it tends to be safer for escorts and because some escorts offer a broader range of services, including accompaniment or entertainment without the promise of sexual contact. However, the tendency to frame escorting as separate from or superior to other forms of sex work obscures the labor undertaken by escorts and perpetuates discrimination against the most marginalized and vulnerable sex workers.
Sex workers whose clients are required to make appointments for their services. Unlike sex workers who solicit clients on the street or in institutions like brothels, escorts typically advertise their services online, whether independently or through agencies. Escorting may be less stigmatized than other forms of sex work, in part because it tends to be safer for escorts and because some escorts offer a broader range of services, including accompaniment or entertainment without the promise of sexual contact. However, the tendency to frame escorting as separate from or superior to other forms of sex work obscures the labor undertaken by escorts and perpetuates discrimination against the most marginalized and vulnerable sex workers.
A category of steroid hormones including estrone, estradiol, estriol, and estetrol. Estrogens are commonly utilized in feminizing hormone therapy regimens. Estrogens are produced mainly in the ovaries, in addition to the adrenal glands and fat cells. Responsible for certain secondary sexual characteristics, including breast growth, thickening of the endometrium, menstrual cycle regulation, and sperm maturation.
Inquiries and speculations regarding the causes of sexual behaviors or diseases.
The most important gay and lesbian sporting event in Europe, hosted by license of the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation (EGLSF)
An international sport and cultural event held by the Federation of Gay Games since 1982 that promotes acceptance of LGBTQ+ people and features LGBTQ+ athletes, artists, and other individuals
Organized games or sports activities for LGBTQ+ people or communities; includes both competitive and recreational events.
A sporting and cultural event open to anyone regardless of sexual identity or qualifying standards that is intended to bring together athletes and artists from around the globe, many from countries where homosexuality remains illegal; separate from the Gay Games
A pan-European international event dedicated to LGBTQ+ pride that is hosted by a different European city each year
Organized public or social occasions for LGBTQ+ people and communities.
Annual gay pride parade and festival in Sydney, Australia
People and organizations that encourage people to resist entering or pursuing same-sex relationships, to eliminate homosexual desires, to develop heterosexual desires, and/or to enter into heterosexual relationships.
In New Zealand, Samoan people who were assigned male at birth but behave in feminine ways and may consider themselves women.
In New Zealand, Samoan people who were assigned female at birth but behave in masculine ways and may consider themselves men.
Queer people who are involved with or identify with the countercultural movement seeking to redefine queer consciousness through secular spirituality. Often but not always associated with the Radical Faeries, a loosely affiliated worldwide network that formed in the 1970s.
Slang for heterosexual women who are friends with gay men and socialize in gay spaces.
Slang for heterosexual men who enjoy the company of gay men.
Slur used chiefly in North America to refer to gay men (or, in some cases, LGBTQ+ people in general). Some gay men have reclaimed this term and use it to describe themselves.
Tongan people assigned male at birth who behave in an effeminate manner.
Families, whether biological, adoptive, or chosen, in which one or more individuals identify as LGBTQ+.
A group of people in kinship through adoption, biology, or choice.
Location and arrangement of fat on the body, typically increasing during puberty as a secondary sex characteristic.
People who assume the role of father to bisexual people. Only use to describe individuals who identify as fathers.
People who assume the role of father to gay men. Only use to describe individuals who identify as fathers.
People who assume the role of father to lesbians. Only use to describe individuals who identify as fathers.
People who assume the role of father to queer people. Only use to describe individuals who identify as fathers.
People who assume the role of father to transgender people. Only use to describe individuals who identify as fathers.
Connections based on affection and trust between two or more women.
The practice of cutting or removing the female genitals, sometimes to control sexual drive or punish lesbianism.
Historical term describing performers, often male-identified people, who enact female personas for the purpose of entertainment, often for straight audiences. Eclipsed by other terms (such as drag queen) in the late 20th century.
Form of masculinity enacted by people with a female or feminine gender identity, often by performing masculine roles, characteristics, and styles of dress.
Adults who self-identify as women and understand their gender in terms of Western conceptions of womanness, femaleness, and/or femininity. The term has typically been defined as adult female humans, though not all women identify with the term "female" depending on the context in which it is used.
FtM (female-to-male) is a mostly historical term which has been largely replaced by “trans men.” This is due in part to the term's role in the medicalization of transgender people and the assumption that trans men were previously “female” and have become “male” (typically through hormones and/or surgery).
Collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women.
Social and political movement originating in the 1800s for reforms on women’s issues stemming from social, cultural, political, and economic inequality between men and women. Feminist issues include reproductive rights, women’s liberation, and equal pay. This term encompasses the women’s movement in its entirety, including different waves of feminist thought and activism.
People who support and advocate for defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and opportunities for women.
Feminine people of any gender, though this term is commonly used in lesbian communities.
In Italy, this is a Neapolitan term for homosexual men with feminine gender expression. Often considered a third gender; associated with good luck.
Works of fiction featuring LGBTQ+ characters or themes.
Period of women's rights activism in the 19th and early 20th centuries that was primarily focused on legal rights such as women's right to vote.
The insertion of a hand (or fist) into the vagina or anus.
Sexual act involving the use of and insertion of the fingers to stimulate the vagina and/or anus.
Lightweight whips or scourges with multiple lashes that are used on oneself or a partner to increase sexual arousal.
Forced or coerced removal of the testes or use of the testes, typically through surgical or chemical means, enacted by legal authorities or as a hate crime.
The process of altering a circumcised penis to reconstruct or restore the foreskin.
A basis of parenthood understood to be in opposition to biological parenthood, that challenges the assumption that parenthood presupposes blood relation. Social parenthood is the full- or part-time care, nurturing, and protection of a child by an adult who has taken on that duty.
A person or family unit who takes in and cares for a child or children on behalf of the state.
A symbol designed by David Spada that consists of six aluminum rings in colors based on the rainbow flag; typically worn as jewelry.
A historical term for lesbians. Only use in a historical context.
Connections based on affection and trust between two or more people.
Non-penetrative sex act in which individuals rub parts of their body (usually the genitals) against another person's body. Not to be confused with "frotteurism" (nonconsensual frottage), though both are often abbreviated as "frot."
People who transition from female to unknown or not female.
Two friends who regularly have sex with one another but are not committed to a romantic relationship.
Slang term (typically regarded as vulgar) for the sexual act of penetrating another individual’s mouth, anus, or vagina with a penis or dildo. May also be used to describe sex acts in general (e.g., "They were fucking.").
Commonly characterized as an erogenous area of the front anterior wall of the vagina that, when stimulated, can lead to sexual arousal, orgasms, and/or ejaculation.
A term originating in Ancient Rome that describes eunuch priestesses who were voluntarily castrated as part of an annual celebration.
Direct action and organizing to achieve political or social change and acceptance for gay men.
Gay men of African descent born in the United States or gay men born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to the United States. Use for individuals who self-identity as African American. Follow the individual’s preference for African American or Black whenever possible.
Gay men of African descent born in Canada or gay men born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to Canada. Use for individuals who self-identify as Afro-Canadian.
Gay men of African descent born in the Caribbean or gay men born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to the Caribbean. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Afro-Caribbean.
Gay men of African descent born in European countries or gay men born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to Europe. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Afro-European.
Gay men of African descent born in Latin American countries or gay men born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to Latin America. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Afro-Latin American.
Younger gay men and lesbians, typically between the ages of childhood and adulthood or adolescence
Gay people between the ages of childhood and adulthood.
Collections of records and materials relating to gay men or gay communities; can include a variety of organizations and institutions from community to government archives.
Gay men of Asian heritage or descent born in the United States or born in Asian countries who live in or have a strong connection to the United States. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Asian American.
Gay men of Asian heritage or descent, living in Asia or part of the Asian diaspora. Only use for people who self-identify as Asian.
Drinking establishments that primarily cater to gay men.
Commercial saunas or bathhouses intended for gay men to meet and engage in sexual activities.
Beaches set aside for use by gay men or beaches known to be frequented by gay men.
Black men who are gay. Use only for individuals who self-identity as Black. Follow the individual’s preference for African American or Black whenever possible.
Bookshops that sell materials intended for use by gay men or addressing topics related to gay men.
Boys (typically children younger than 18) who are gay.
Characters in creative works who are gay men.
Organized groups of gay men who sing together.
Gay men who are ordained for religious duties, particularly in the Christian Church.
Groups of people who share the experience of being gay men.
Spaces in which people from gay communities meet for social, education, recreational, or organizing activities.
Use to describe cultural experiences shared by members of gay communities or products of gay culture (e.g., art and media created by and for gay men, activism focused on gay issues, slang commonly used in gay communities, etc.).
Nightlife entertainment venues or clubs where people dance to recorded music; use in reference to discos that primarily cater to gay men.
Works of fiction written to be performed; use in reference to dramatic works focusing on gay characters or themes.
Institutions providing education, support, and information about gay men and gay communities to gay men.
Families, whether biological, adoptive, or chosen, in which one or more individuals identify as gay men.
Written works describing imagined events or people; use in reference to fictional works focusing on gay characters or themes.
Male or female actors, pornographic stars, or sex workers who identify as heterosexual but who are paid to act or perform as if they are homosexual.
Term used to describe the sexual identity of men and mascs who are sexually and/or romantically attracted to other men and mascs. Do not use as a broader term for LGBTQ+ people.
Latin American men who are gay; only use to describe individuals who self-identify as Latino, Latina, or Latinx. Do not conflate with Chicano/a/x or Hispanic.
Connections between individuals and communities of lesbians and gay men, including historic and ongoing solidarity, advocacy, and activism.
Movement of the late 1960s and early to mid 1970s that urged lesbians and gay men to “come out" and publicly reveal their sexuality to family, friends, and colleagues as a form of activism and as a means of countering shame with pride.
Libraries that hold materials primarily pertaining to gay men or intended for use by gay men.
Written literary works about gay men, gay characters, or gay themes.
Partnerships in which both people are gay men.
Legal union between two people of the same sex who are in a partnership. In the United States, same-sex marriage differs from civil unions in that the former is recognized at the federal level, whereas the latter is only recognized at the state level and may not be recognized by other states.
Gay men who are part of the BDSM scene and assume the dominant role in sexual relationships with a master/slave dynamic.
Men who self-identify as gay and belong to gay communities. Predominately used to describe men who are exclusively or primarily romantically and/or sexually attracted to other men. While "gay" is often used as an identifier by people of all genders, this term specifically refers to gay men.
Gay men serving in state and national armed forces.
Gay men who are not white and who identify as people of color.
People who act as parents to one or more gay man. For parents who are themselves gay, use the term "Gay parents."
Umbrella term for activism focused on the rights of gay men and issues faced by gay communities.
Institutions dedicated to the storage, exhibition, conservation, and preservation of materials relating to gay men or gay history.
People who are part of the Native peoples of the continental United States and Canada (excluding Inuit people) and self-identity as gay men. Use more specific terms when available.
Serialized print or digital periodicals created by or for gay men, often with the purpose of sharing news and information related to gay communities and issues.
Serialized print or digital publications about gay men or gay issues (and typically produced by gay men or gay organizations) that contain news, articles, columns, correspondence, and advertisements.
Gay men who are members of polytheistic religions or other religions outside of the dominant culture that typically incorporate nature worship and/or the sacred feminine, such as Wicca, Druidry, Heathenry, etc. Use to describe gay men who self-identify as Pagan.
Literary work, typically written in verse, that focuses on gay characters, themes, or identity.
Gay men working to bring about political or social change through public organizing.
Organized groups centered on political change and action for gay rights that may or may not be aligned with major political parties.
Erotic or sexually explicit films featuring gay men.
Newspapers, magazines, or other publishing outlets aimed at gay audiences and/or operated by gay men.
The celebration and recognition of LGBTQ+ identities, affirming the visibility, dignity, and diversity of LGBTQ+ communities. While "gay pride" can refer to gay men specifically, it is more commonly used as an umbrella term for LGBTQ+ pride in general.
Events celebrating LGBTQ+ social and self acceptance, achievements, and rights, usually organized over the course of a week with local events, parades, marches, and rallies. Occurs at different times during the year in different places, but is typically held in June to commemorate the Stonewall uprising.
Gay men who are ordained as priests in different denominations of the Christian Church.
Gay men who are members of the Protestant Church.
Companies and organizations that publish materials for gay communities or addressing gay issues.
Auditory content broadcast on the radio (analog or digital) about gay men and gay issues.
Ongoing connections (romantic, sexual, or platonic) between two or more gay men.
Groups of people united by a religion or religious practices that are accepting and supportive of LGBTQ+ people and their identities. Includes large-scale organized groups, such as denominations or sects, as well as small-scale groups, such as specific churches, mosques, temples, or congregations.
Christian church founded in 1968 by Troy Perry as a welcoming spiritual gathering place for LGBT Christians; MCC is now an international denomination
Legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement held by gay men.
Gay men who are members of the Roman Catholic Church.
A way of reading and looking at cultural texts (books, movies, television, magazines, etc.) through a gay lens, often including the appropriation of texts otherwise thought of as heterosexual.
Movement within queer communities that is described as a radical alternative to gay culture being brought into the mainstream; directly posits an alternative view of gay pride events and activities that rejects increasing commercialization, corporate sponsors, and "safer" agendas to avoid offending heterosexual supporters and sponsors.
Colloquial or informal language related to gay men or used by gay men.
Groups of gay men formed for the purpose of playing sports; includes professional and amateur sports clubs.
Alliances to make schools, sports clubs, etc. safe and welcoming to all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Academic field of research and study about gay men, gay identity, and gay communities.
Gay men who have experienced and survived hate crimes; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Gay men who have experienced and survived rape; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Gay men who have experienced and survived sexual abuse; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Gay men who have experienced and survived war; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Television shows featuring gay men or themes.
Works in the performance arts that focus on gay characters, communities, or issues.
Groups of theatrical performers comprised of gay men; may focus on performing works written by gay men or about gay issues.
Organized groups of gay workers who are united to make decisions relating to the conditions affecting their labor.
Gay men who have experienced sexual abuse and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Gay men who have experienced hate crimes and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Gay men who have experienced rape and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Gay men who have experienced war and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Gay men's legal rights to be informed, present, and heard within the criminal justice system after having been harmed or injured as the result of of a crime, accident, or other event.
Individuals who self-identify as lesbian and belong to lesbian communities. The term has been predominately used to describe women who are exclusively or primarily romantically and/or sexually attracted to other women. However, not all lesbians are women, and gender non-conforming people who belong to lesbian communities have often identified as lesbian.
Written literary works for an audience of readers from 12-18 years of age, also known as young adult literature or YA; use in reference to youth literature focusing on gay characters or themes.
Districts or portions of towns or cities that are (typically unofficial) social and/or residential centers for LGBTQ+ people and communities.
Term describing a person's intuitive ability to identify others' sexual orientations.
A socially constructed system that gives meaning to masculinity and femininity and that unevenly distributes power and opportunity according to cultural interpretations of sex. As an element of personal identity, a gender is developed through the interaction of social roles and expectations, one’s response to those expectations, one’s physiology, and one’s internal sense of self. Gender is culturally specific, meaning that different cultures have different understandings of what gender means and how many genders should be recognized.
Any of various surgeries undertaken to affirm an individual's gender. Most often applied to transgender people, but may also refer to certain procedures undergone by cisgender and intersex people.
The practice of transgressing or "bending" expected gender roles, which often involves adopting or exaggerating stereotypically feminine or masculine traits to expose them as artificial. Gender bending is similar to drag, though drag is often associated with artistic or stage performances, whereas gender bending is typically enacted in everyday life.
Cultural conceptions of gender as two distinct and opposing categories, typically man and woman or masculine and feminine.
Gender expression that involves blending dress and behaviors associated with different genders. Do not use to describe the identities of genderqueer or non-binary people.
The systematic belief that there are only two genders (men and women) and that individuals must conform to the gender they were assigned at or shortly after birth.
An umbrella term encompassing a range of gender identities.
A psychological diagnosis (replacing the outdated and offensive "gender identity disorder") used to describe the sense of unease or dissatisfaction an individual feels as a result of incongruence between their gender identity and their assigned gender, gender expression, and/or the way their gender is perceived by others. This term is also used colloquially by individuals to describe the discomfort and distress they experience as a result of this incongruence. Though gender dysphoria is often associated with trans people, people of any identity may experience gender dysphoria when they do not feel "right" in their body or the way their gender is being expressed.
Term used to describe the way individuals express their gender identity through their appearance and behaviors, including gestures, movement, dress, and grooming.
A gender identity in which an individual's gender varies over time and across circumstances; some genderfluid people may identify as a mixture of more than one gender simultaneously.
People who identify as different genders at different times, including multiple genders at once or none at all. Only use to describe people who self-identify as genderfluid.
A person’s experience of having a particular gender, which may or may not correspond with the gender or sex they were assigned at birth. Not to be used to describe solely women’s experiences or women’s studies.
An obsolete psychological diagnosis that medicalizes trans identities and practices; only use in historical contexts.
Markers used to designate an individual's gender on official documentation, including passports, birth certificates, driver’s licenses, etc. Different jurisdictions vary significantly in the number and types of gender markers they allow on official documentation.
People who identify outside, transgress, or do not conform to a given culture's gender roles or expectations. Only use in reference to people who self-identity as gender non-conforming. Do not use to describe cisgender people whose dress or behaviors do not conform to gender roles or expectations.
The culturally specific rights, responsibilities, and connections afforded to individuals or communities of one gender by individuals or communities of another gender.
A media trope (commonly used in fanfiction and fanart) in which one or more characters switch binary sexes (e.g., a cisgender man transforms into a cisgender woman), often temporarily.
Socially-determined rules or standards for gendered behaviors. Some LGBTQ+ people identify with gender roles that exist outside of the gender binary (e.g., butches, femmes, twinks, bears). Use the term "Gender role stereotypes" to describe widely held but oversimplified or offensive ideas regarding gender roles.
Physical, legal, cultural, or rhetorical separation of people according to their gender.
Interdisciplinary academic field devoted to the study and analysis of gender in a given culture, as well as representations of gender in media and popular culture.
The systematic killing of members of a specific gender for their gender.
A form of gender expression that seeks to subvert the gender binary or gender roles by mixing and messing with (or "fucking with") traditionally masculine and feminine components. Typically used to describe gender practices and presentation, though some people identify as "genderfuck" or as "genderfuckers." Only use to describe people and the practices of people who self-identify with genderfuck.
Individuals who self-identify as genderqueer, an umbrella term for queer or non-normative gender identities and gender expressions.
The experience of parenthood as felt by parents who passed on genetic material to their child or children.
Colloquial term for gender-affirming surgical alterations of the genitalia and/or reproductive organs.
General term for erogenous and/or reproductive organs (e.g., vagina, clitoris, penis).
The experience of parenthood as felt by a person whose uterus was utilized to nurture and develop an embryo into a baby.
Slang term for the act of having sex, typically with another person.
Slang term for the act of experiencing erotic or sexual pleasure, typically referring to an orgasm.
Children or youth, typically younger than 18 years old, who identify as girls.
Connections based on affection and trust between two or more girls.
Personal names ascribed to individuals at birth, typically by their parents. Sometimes referred to as "birth names" or, in cultures where the given name precedes the family name, "first names."
Sexual activities performed using the mouth.
Acronym used to describe lesbians, gay men, bisexual people, and transgender people as a group.
Holes through walls or partitions, such as public bathroom stalls, that allow people to perform or observe sex acts, typically anonymously. Often associated with gay male culture due to the historical and ongoing use of glory holes by closeted gay men to facilitate oral or anal sex without the risk of identification or arrest.
A spiritual movement that emerged in North America, Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand in 1970s in response to male-dominated organized religion; involves worshiping the Goddess (or several goddesses), as well as a focus on women, femininity, and feminism; often associated with lesbian communities.
Use of urine and urination for sexual or erotic pleasure.
US slang term for heterosexual women who are friends with gay men in the bear community and socialize in bear spaces.
A term that refers to a group of different variations that affect the development of the gonads before birth.
A general term used to describe testes, ovaries, or ovotestes.
The children of an individual's children.
Sexual activities involving multiple people, usually understood to be more than three people.
In the Dominican Republic, this term refers to people who have undifferentiated genitalia and who are generally raised as female until puberty; may be considered a third gender.
Threadlike strands of keratin growing out of the skin on the body. Use in reference to hair as a secondary sex characteristic or as a form of self expression.
The process of removing hair from the body through shaving, waxing, depilatories, laser hair removal, etc. May have a social component related to gender identity and/or have an erotic component.
The celebration of Halloween, often called Gay Christmas, by LGBTQ+ people. Typically involves dressing in drag or elaborate costumes as a form of gender play and attending large parties in LGBTQ+ neighborhoods or establishments.
A restraint device designed to secure an individual’s wrists.
A color-coded system to indicate preferred sexual fetishes and identify whether a person is a top/dominant or bottom/submissive.
Term used in the context of sex work to describe a massage that ends with the masseuse giving the client an orgasm.
Covers a wide range of behaviors that are intended to disturb or upset. Harassment is often repetitive or occurs across an extended period of time.
LGBTQ+ people who have experienced hate crimes and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Organized measures taken for the maintenance or improvement of health via the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and/or cure of disease, illness, injury, or other conditions; use in reference to health care addressing the particular needs of LGBTQ+ individuals or communities.
Cheyenne term for a half-man, half-woman persona.
The use of plants to improve health, prevent disease, and/or treat illness.
Individuals born with variations in their genitalia, hormones, internal anatomy, and/or chromosomes that do not fully or exclusively conform to medical or social expectations for males or females. Only use to describe people who describe themselves as intersex.
Discrimination, prejudice, or bias against non-heterosexual people based on the assumption or belief that heterosexuality is the only normal or natural expression of sexual identity.
The notion or belief that heterosexuality is the normal or preferred sexual orientation.
Boys (typically children or youth younger than 18) who are heterosexual.
A form of feminism that prioritizes the experiences of heterosexual women and focuses on securing equitable economic, political, and social rights for heterosexual women. Often discussed in juxtaposition to political lesbianism.
Girls (typically children or youth younger than 18) who are heterosexual.
Term used to describe the sexual identity of individuals who are romantically and/or sexually attracted to people assigned the “opposite” sex at birth.
The legally and formally recognized union of a heterosexual man and woman as partners in a personal relationship.
Men who identify as heterosexual, or straight.
Individuals who are romantically and sexually attracted to members of the opposite sex or gender.
In sociology, this term is used to describe social relations and bonds between members of the opposite sex or gender in a given culture. Typically excludes romantic and sexual relationships.
Women who identify as heterosexual, or straight.
Heterosexual people between the ages of childhood and adulthood.
Romantic and sexual attraction to members of the opposite sex or gender, typically in a culture that understands sex and gender through the binary opposition of male/female or man/woman.
Hindi word used in South Asia to refer to people assigned male at birth who identify as women or “not-men.”
Medical tests used to determine the presence of HIV antibodies or antigens in an individual's blood, saliva, or urine.
Individuals who have not contracted HIV.
Term used to describe the period of time between exposure to a virus and when antibodies for the virus are detectable; often used in reference to HIV testing when a test changes from HIV negative to HIV positive.
Partnerships in which one person has HIV and the other does not.
The presence (seropositivity) or absence (seronegativity) of antibodies in blood serum; commonly used in in reference to HIV testing.
People who have contracted HIV and received treatment to reduce their HIV antibodies to an amount that can no longer be detected by standard HIV tests.
Intentional killing of LGBTQ+ people due to their gender and/or sexual identities.
Public monuments designed to commemorate LGBTQ+ people who have been persecuted because of their gender and/or sexual identities.
Favorable association between a nationalist ideology and LGBTQ+ people or their rights.
The projection of heteronormative ideals and constructs onto LGBTQ+ cultures and identities, predicated on the assumption that LGBTQ+ people (particularly cisgender gay men and lesbians) must conform to the norms and values of heterosexuality (e.g., the gender binary, marriage, procreation, and monogamy) in order to be viewed as "normal" and gain social acceptance.
Outdated term for lesbians and gay men. The use of the word began to disappear with the emergence of the gay liberation movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Antagonism or disgust directed towards homosexuality as an identity or men who are perceived to be or are actually gay. Homophobia can include denial of the existence of homosexuality, stereotypes, verbal harassment, and physical violence. This term is often used colloquially to encompass all LGBTQ+ phobia.
Sexual orientation with sexual and/or romantic attraction to individuals of the same sex.
A concept used to describe the social bonds that exist between members of the same sex or gender in a given culture.
Medications used to block the body from producing certain hormones in order to replace or supplement them with other types of hormones.
Regulatory substances produced in organisms and transported throughout the body to stimulate specific cells or tissues into action. Though hormones regulate digestion, respiration, sleep, and many other bodily functions, the term is most commonly used by the general public to describe the "sex hormones," or the hormones involved in puberty and sexual development, reproduction, and sexual desire.
Moral, social, and legal standards or principles for human behavior, commonly understood as fundamental to all human beings and subject to legal protection.
Refers to any type of medical treatment that intentionally leaves an individual sterile or unable to reproduce. This term encompasses both voluntary and involuntary sterilization.
In Native American Mohave tribes, hwame are people assigned female at birth who exhibit masculine traits and are socially male.
Term originating in the early 1930s and 40s to describe a man's responsibility and pride in providing for, protecting, and defending his family. It is unclear whether the term originates in Spain or Portugal. Though there are positive sides of machismo and it remains an important part of Iberian and Latin American cultures, the concept has also been criticized for its perceived role in perpetuating misogyny, harmful gender roles, and domestic and sexual violence.
Term used to describe a level or frequency of sexual desire that is perceived as excessive within a given culture. Though the medical community has not reached a consensus as to whether hypersexuality should be included as a clinical diagnosis, doctors and psychologists have historically diagnosed LGBTQ+ people with hypersexuality (or other related labels) in order to wrongly treat their identities and desires as medical disorders. Should only be used in a historical context or if an individual self-identifies with the term.
People with hypospadias are born with their urinary opening located somewhere other than the tip of the penis. In "distal hypospadias," the urinary opening is elsewhere on the glans (head) of the penis, whereas in "proximal hypospadias," it is on the underside of the penis and sometimes further back near the scrotum. Hypospadias is one of the most common and visible genital variations. People with hypospadias often have additional variations like chordee (a bend in the penis) or cryptorchidism (undescended testicles).
Surgical procedure to remove the uterus.
Medical practice of achieving fertilization by combining sperm and eggs in laboratory settings to induce pregnancy.
An institution that locates and compiles information for the LGBTQ+ community into a central database that can be accessed by the public.
Process by which information is provided to individuals or communities.
Term used to describe sexual activity between two or more people, typically involving penetration.
Ongoing connections (romantic, sexual, play, or platonic) between two or more people of different age groups or from different generations.
Utilizing online websites, applications, or forums to meet romantic or sexual partners.
Websites designed to facilitate discussion amongst users through posted messages.
Antagonism or disgust directed toward intersex people or intersex variations. Intersexphobia can include the denial of the existence of intersex people, insistence that intersex variations should be forcibly "corrected," stereotypes, verbal harassment, and physical violence.
A theoretical framework first conceptualized by Kimberlé Crenshaw to describe how different facets of social identity (such as gender, race, ethnicity, disability, socioeconomic class, religion, and sexual identity) overlap and intersect, often compounding the individual's experiences with inequality and discrimination.
Children younger than 18 years who describe themselves as intersex.
Term used to refer to a wide range of variations in sex characteristics. The term "intersex conditions" is a pathologizing term used to mean people born with variations in their physical sex characteristics also known as intersex traits.
Surgeries or other medical treatments performed, typically on newborn babies or children, to "normalize" the patient's reproductive or sexual anatomy and force their body to conform to medical or social expectations for what is male or female. IGM practices can be performed for cultural, social, or religious reasons. Though they are typically justified through a medical lens, IGM practices are medically unnecessary and non-consensual.
Used to describe the experience of selfhood of intersex people. Intersex identity is not gender identity, sexual identity, nor sexual orientation. For the subject of intersex variations, use "intersex variations" or "intersex". For the subject of intersex people, use "intersex people". Do not use in place of gender-identity-related terms such as non-binary identity or genderfluid identity.
Umbrella term for activism focused on the rights of intersex people and issues faced by intersex communities.
Legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement held by intersex people. Often used to refer to intersex people's right to bodily autonomy and, specifically, their right to delay or decline unnecessary medical interventions.
Intersex people between the age of childhood and adulthood.
Acts of violence or abuse directed against an individual by their current or former partner in a romantic, sexual, or play relationship.
LGBTQ+ people who are Inuit, or part of several Indigenous peoples inhabiting the Inuit homeland in the Arctic and subarctic regions of Greenland, Canada, and Alaska. Only use for people who identify as Inuit.
Outdated, historical term used for LGBTQ+ people.
In India, this term is used to describe people assigned male at birth who take on female dress and characteristics but who do not elect to receive castration.
A violation of a couple's assumed or stated contract regarding emotional and/or sexual exclusivity. Should not be used to refer to non-monogamy in general, as cheating is possible in both monogamous and non-monogamous relationships.
Practice of engaging in romantic or sexual relationships with more than one person simultaneously without each partner's consent.
LGBTQ+ people who are Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Slang term for masturbation; typically refers to manual stimulation of the penis.
Jewish religion and culture as practiced by LGBTQ+ people
Slang term for semen; primarily used in the United States.
In India, this term is used to describe people assigned male at birth who become genderfluid in a spiritual conversion.
A form of theatre in Japan that often features crossdressing actors. Historically, female performers played both male and female roles, but women were later banned from performing and were replaced with male performers who played both male and female roles.
A type of cancer that causes lesions to grow in the skin, lymph nodes, internal organs, and mucous membranes; often affects people with immune deficiencies, such as AIDS.
In Thailand, this term refers to a range of people of non-normative gender expressions, including intersex people, transgender women, and effeminate gay men. Some regard this term as outdated and offensive, while others self-identify with it. Only use to describe people who self-identify as katoey.
A term used in Pakistan and Northern India to describe third-gender people, typically people assigned male at birth who identify as female.
Urdu term used in Southeast Asia to describe transgender people.
A variant term for hijra used in northern India.
Touching or pressing one's lips to another person or an object to communicate a greeting, affection, reverence, love, or sexual desire.
People with Klinefelter syndrome develop with an extra copy of the X chromosome, resulting in a 47XXY pattern (instead of the typical 46XY). These individuals might have smaller-than-typical testes that produce lower amounts of testosterone and/or sperm, and they may start puberty later than typical (or may not go through puberty without hormone therapy). They may grow taller than usual, may develop breast tissue, and often experience infertility. This variation often does not cause obvious physical differences, and many people do not realize they have it.
Turkish term for male dancers who crossdress in feminine attire for entertainment purposes.
In South Asia, this term is used to describe people who are assigned male at birth who exhibit feminine characteristics. Please note that not all kothis identify as hijra or transgender.
Khmer term for third sex people. Can be considered outdated and offensive.
Symbol used to represent lesbianism and feminism.
Cebuano term for women who are attracted to women and take on male personas and cultural work.
Term coined by Sigmund Freud to describe erotic attraction towards members of the same sex or gender that is not (and may never be) consciously experienced or expressed openly.
Protective coverings for the hands made from latex, a thin-plastic like material; often used as a barrier to protect against STIs while engaging in safer sex practices.
Term used to describe the mid-20th century purge of lesbians and gay men in the U.S. government as a result of moral panic incited by Joseph McCarthy and others.
System of rules or conduct recognized and legally enforced within a country or community.
Acronym used to describe lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people as a group.
A length of rope or similar material used to control an individual, often to increase sexual arousal.
An LGBTQ+ subculture that celebrates sexual freedom, kinks and fetishes with its own fashions (especially leather garments), clubs, and events.
People who participate in leather communities and identify as leather daddies.
Multiple people who participate in leather communities and identify as a leather family.
People who participate in leather communities and identify as leather mommies.
People who participate in leather communities and identify as leathermen.
People who participate in leather communities and identify as leatherwomen.
Use in reference to laws and regulations concerning the name assigned to an individual at birth.
The status or standing of an individual or thing within a certain legal jurisdiction, including the individual's or thing's legal rights and privileges; typically used in reference to citizenship or marriage.
Direct action and organizing to achieve political or social change and acceptance for lesbians.
Lesbians of African descent born in the United States or lesbians born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to the United States. Use for individuals who self-identity as African American. Follow the individual’s preference for African American or Black whenever possible.
Lesbians of African descent born in Canada or lesbians born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to Canada. Use for individuals who self-identify as Afro-Canadian.
Lesbians of African descent born in the Caribbean or lesbians born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to the Caribbean. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Afro-Caribbean.
Lesbians of African descent born in European countries or lesbians born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to Europe. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Afro-European.
Lesbians of African descent born in Latin American countries or lesbians born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to Latin America. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Afro-Latin American.
Collections of records and materials relating to lesbians or lesbian communities; can include a variety of organizations and institutions from community to government archives.
Lesbians of Asian heritage or descent born in the United States or born in Asian countries who live in or have a strong connection to the United States. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Asian American.
Lesbians of Asian heritage or descent, living in Asia or part of the Asian diaspora. Only use for people who self-identify as Asian.
Drinking establishments that primarily cater to lesbians.
Beaches set aside for use by lesbians or beaches known to be frequented by lesbians.
Black people who are lesbians. Use only for individuals who self-identity as Black. Follow the individual’s preference for African American or Black whenever possible.
Bookshops that sell materials intended for use by lesbians or addressing topics related to lesbian communities.
Characters in creative works who are lesbians.
Organized groups of lesbians who sing together.
Lesbians who are ordained for religious duties, particularly in the Christian Church.
Groups of people who share the experience of being lesbians.
Spaces in which people from lesbian communities meet for social, education, recreational, or organizing activities.
Partnerships in which both people are lesbians.
Institutions providing education, support, and information about lesbian identity and lesbian communities to lesbians.
Women who take a dominant role in BDSM activities; use for dominatrices who identify as lesbians.
Works of fiction written to be performed; use in reference to dramatic works focusing on lesbian characters or themes.
Families, whether biological, adoptive, or chosen, in which one or more individuals identify as lesbian.
A cultural movement and critical perspective that arose in the 1970s and 1980s primarily in North America and Western Europe as a result of dissatisfaction with the women's liberation movement and the gay liberation movement. Lesbian feminism encourages women to focus their efforts, activities, and relationships toward other women rather than men, often advocating for lesbianism as the logical result of feminism.
Written works describing imagined events or people; use in reference to fictional works focusing on lesbian characters or themes.
Girls (typically children younger than 18) who are lesbians.
Term used to describe the sexual identity of women and femmes who are romantically and/or sexually attracted to other women and femmes. However, not all lesbians are women, and gender non-conforming people who belong to lesbian communities have often identified as lesbian.
Rural communities populated only by lesbians.
Latin American people who are lesbians; only use to describe individuals who self-identify as Latino, Latina, or Latinx. Do not conflate with Chicano/a/x or Hispanic.
Liberation movement that began in the 1970s to direct more attention to lesbian and feminist issues within the larger gay liberation movement and in national discourse.
Libraries that hold materials primarily pertaining to lesbians or intended for use by lesbians.
Written literary works about lesbian characters or themes.
Lesbians who are part of the BDSM scene and assume the mistress role in sexual relationships with a mistress/submissive dynamic.
Umbrella term for activism focused on the rights of lesbians and issues faced by lesbian communities.
Institutions dedicated to the storage, exhibition, conservation, and preservation of materials relating to lesbians and lesbian history.
Genre of music by women, for women, and about women that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s as a form of musical expression of the second-wave feminist movement.
An imagined autonomous, international lesbian community that is set apart from men.
People who are part of the Native peoples of the continental United States and Canada (excluding Inuit people) and self-identity as lesbians. Use more specific terms when available.
Serialized print or digital periodicals created by or for lesbians, often with the purpose of sharing news and information related to lesbian communities and lesbian issues.
Serialized print or digital publications about lesbians or lesbian issues (and typically produced by lesbians or lesbian organizations) that contain news, articles, columns, correspondence, and advertisements.
Lesbians who are members of polytheistic religions or other religions outside of the dominant culture that typically incorporate nature worship and/or the sacred feminine, such as Wicca, Druidry, Heathenry, etc. Use to describe lesbians who self-identify as Pagan.
Literary work, typically written in verse, that focuses on lesbian characters, lesbian themes, or lesbian identity.
Lesbians working to bring about political or social change through public organizing.
Organized groups centered on political change and action for lesbian rights; may include advocating for lesbianism as a political and feminist choice against sexism.
Erotic or sexually explicit films featuring lesbians.
Newspapers, magazines, or other publishing outlets aimed at lesbian audiences and/or operated by lesbians.
The celebration and recognition of lesbian identity, affirming the visibility, dignity, and diversity of lesbian communities.
Lesbians who are members of the Protestant Church.
Companies and organizations that publish materials for lesbian communities or addressing lesbian issues.
Auditory content broadcast on the radio (analog or digital) about lesbians and lesbian issues.
Ongoing connections (romantic, sexual, or platonic) between two or more lesbians.
Legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement held by lesbians.
Lesbians who are members of the Roman Catholic Church.
A way of reading and looking at cultural texts (books, movies, television, magazines, etc.) through a lesbian lens, often including the appropriation of texts otherwise thought of as heterosexual.
Ideological, social, cultural, and physical separation between men and women or between lesbians and heterosexual women.
Colloquial or informal language related to lesbians or used by lesbians.
Groups of lesbians formed for the purpose of playing sports; includes professional and amateur sports clubs.
Academic field of research and study about lesbian identity and lesbian communities.
Lesbians who have experienced and survived hate crimes; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Lesbians who have experienced and survived rape; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Lesbians who have experienced and survived sexual abuse; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Lesbians who have experienced and survived war; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Lesbians who are between the ages of childhood and adulthood.
Television shows featuring lesbian characters or themes.
Works in the performance arts that focus on lesbian characters, lesbian communities, or lesbian issues.
Groups of theatrical performers comprised of lesbians; may focus on performing works by lesbians or about lesbian issues.
Organized groups of lesbian workers who are united to make decisions relating to the conditions affecting their labor.
Lesbians who have experienced hate crimes and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Lesbians who have experienced rape and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Lesbians who have experienced sexual abuse and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Lesbians who have experienced war and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Lesbians' legal rights to be informed, present, and heard within the criminal justice system after having been harmed or injured as the result of of a crime, accident, or other event.
Written literary works for an audience of readers from 12-18 years of age, also known as young adult literature or YA; use in reference to youth literature focusing on lesbian characters or themes.
Sexual orientation of women and femmes who are sexually and/or romantically attracted to other women and femmes. However, not all lesbians are women, and gender non-conforming people who belong to lesbian communities have often identified as lesbian.
Lesbians serving in state and national armed forces.
Lesbians who are not white and who identify as people of color.
People who act as parents to one or more lesbian. For parents who are themselves lesbians, use the term "Lesbian parents."
Antagonism or disgust directed towards lesbianism as an identity or lesbians due to their sexuality, perceived or actual. Lesbophobia can include denial of the existence of lesbianism, stereotypes, verbal harassment, and physical violence.
Acronym used to describe lesbians, gay people, and bisexuals as a group. This acronym has often been used to exclude transgender people.
Acronym used to describe lesbians, gay men, bisexual people, transgender people, and intersex people as a group.
Acronym used to describe lesbians, gay men, bisexual people, transgender people, and queer people as a group.
Acronym used to describe lesbians, gay men, bisexual people, transgender people, queer people, and any other sexual and gender minorities as a group.
A series of organized events or efforts centered around raising awareness or achieving a particular political, social, or cultural goal or action benefiting LGBTQ+ people and communities.
Adoption of a child or children, either by legal or informal processes, by LGBTQ+ people.
Families including adopted children in which one or more individuals identify as LGBTQ+.
The experiences involved in adoptive parenting, as experienced by LGBTQ+ people.
Parents who adopt and who are LGBTQ+ people.
LGBTQ+ people who belong to a religion or hold religious beliefs. For LGBTQ+ people who hold spiritual beliefs or engage in spiritual practices but do not belong to an organized religion, use the term "LGBTQ+ spiritual people."
Suppression or prohibition of art by LGBTQ+ artists or about LGBTQ+ issues; includes censorship on the basis of religious, moral, political, and/or social objections.
Umbrella term for different forms of creative activity, including visual, material, and performing arts, by LGBTQ+ artists or about LGBTQ+ topics and communities. Use a more specific term if possible.
Prizes or forms of recognition given in honor of achievements by LBGTQ+ individuals or in support of LGBTQ+ issues or communities.
Biological or genetic parents who are LGBTQ+ people. For adoption contexts, use LGBTQ+ birth parents.
LGBTQ+ people who belong to two or more racial groups.
In an adoption context, biological or genetic parents who are LGBTQ+ people.
LGBTQ+ people with significant or total loss of vision.
Websites featuring informal, often personal writing and reflections created by LGBTQ+ people or about LGBTQ+ communities and issues.
LGBTQ+ people who give blood for transfusion and medical purposes.
The suppression or prohibition of written texts by LGBTQ+ authors and/or about LGBTQ+ issues due to religious, moral, political, and/or social objections.
Groups of people gathering regularly to read and discuss written works; use in reference to book clubs with primarily LGBTQ+ membership or book clubs focused on books by LGBTQ+ authors or featuring LGBTQ+ characters and themes.
Written works featuring LGBTQ+ characters or themes, or works intended to be read by LGBTQ+ people.
Satirical drawings created by LGBTQ+ cartoonists or that depict someone or something relating to LGBTQ+ culture.
Suppression or prohibition of the discussion, education, or circulation of information related to LGBTQ+ people and identities in media, schools, and/or in the general public.
Spaces dedicated for use by members of LGBTQ+ communities engaging in various activities, including education, health and wellness services, community support and outreach, etc. Use a more specific term if possible.
Books about LGBTQ+ people and issues or written by LGBTQ+ authors that individuals or organizations have attempted to restrict or remove from school curricula, library circulation, or sale.
Online websites or applications for virtual, instant communication; use in reference to chatrooms focusing on LGBTQ+ communities or issues, as well as chatrooms with primarily LGBTQ+ members.
Organized groups of LGBTQ+ people who sing together.
Groups of LGBTQ+ people who have intentionally chosen to nurture, support, and love one another as family, whether or not they have biological or legal relationships.
The active, professed refusal of LGBTQ+ people to obey certain laws or governmental orders as a form of activism and resistance.
Groups or organizations of LGBTQ+ people dedicated to a particular interest or activity.
Co-parenting fathers who are LGBTQ+ people. They may or may not be partners.
Co-parenting mothers who are LGBTQ+ people. They may or may not be partners.
The state, experience, and condition of being an LGBTQ+ parent who is parenting with one or more people.
Co-parenting people who are LGBTQ+ people. They may or may not be partners.
Works consisting of sequential images often accompanied by text; use in reference to comics focusing on LGBTQ+ characters or themes.
Groups of LGBTQ+ people living in community and sharing possessions and responsibilities.
Umbrella term used to describe the processes by which LGBTQ+ people conceive children, including an LGBTQ+ person, their partner, or a third party becoming pregnant with a child that will be raised by an LGBTQ+ person, as well as LGBTQ+ people conceiving children that will be raised by other parents.
LGBTQ+ people exercising their right to refuse to perform military service or participate in same-sex marriages on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion.
Voyages on a ship taken for pleasure or as a vacation; use in reference to cruises catered toward LGBTQ+ clientele.
Software applications designed to generate connections between LGBTQ+ people interested in romantic or sexual relationships.
Websites designed to generate connections between LGBTQ+ people interested in romantic or sexual relationships.
Experiences related to LGBTQ+ people approaching or having reached the end of their lives.
Public announcements in periodicals, online information centers, or social media about the death of an LGBTQ+ person, typically including details about funerals and memorial services.
Publication and dissemination of false statements about LGBTQ+ people, groups, or communities in order to harm their reputations.
Action taken by large groups of people in protest of the discrimination of or in support for LGBTQ+ individuals, communities, topics, or rights; typically includes marches and rallies with speakers.
Written literary works about the investigation of crime or the work of detectives; use in reference to mystery and detective fiction focusing on LGBTQ+ characters and themes.
Use to describe a group of LGBTQ+ people taking action that is intended to reveal an existing problem, highlight an alternative, or demonstrate a possible solution to a social issue.
Legal dissolution of marriages involving one or more LGBTQ+ people.
Acts of violence and abuse directed toward individuals in private, domestic settings; can be used to describe singular or repeated incidents.
Organized groups that serve the needs and interests of older LGBTQ+ people, typically those 60 years and older.
Term used to describe efforts to obtain LGBTQ+ political rights or equality.
Feelings of close familiarity or connection between two or more LGBTQ+ people that can be romantic, sexual, or platonic in nature. Can be used to describe the particularities of intimacy as experienced by LGBTQ+ people, as well as the ways intimacy is discussed and expressed within LGBTQ+ communities.
Literary works that have erotic or sexual elements; use in reference to erotic literature focusing on LGBTQ+ characters or themes.
Groups of people who share an identity based on a common nationality, culture, ancestry, language, religion, etc. and who also identify as LGBTQ+. Do not use to describe migrants.
LGBTQ+ people who have served in but are no longer active members of the military or armed forces.
Gender-neutral term for former sexual, romantic, or play partners who are also LGBTQ+.
The practice of determining the shape of a family by LGBTQ+ people.
Genre that uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, and/or setting; use for fantasy fiction focusing on LGBTQ+ characters or themes.
Fatherhood experiences, as experienced by LGBTQ+ people.
The suppression or prohibition of films by LGBTQ+ filmmakers or about LGBTQ+ people and issues; includes censorship due to religious, moral, political, or social objections.
Organized presentations of films in a single location, often with prizes awarded in various categories; use in reference to film festivals focusing on films created by LGBTQ+ people or featuring LGBTQ+ characters and themes.
Series of moving images edited to tell a story or capture an event; use in reference to films focusing on LGBTQ+ characters or themes.
Families including foster children in which one or more individuals identify as LGBTQ+.
The experiences involved in foster parenting, as experienced by LGBTQ+ people.
Places, policies, people, or institutions that are open and welcoming to LGBTQ+ people.
Works consisting of sequential images often accompanied by text that generally contain stand-alone stories; used in reference to graphic novels focusing on LGBTQ+ characters or themes.
LGBTQ+ people who are Romani, or part of the traditionally nomadic Indo-European people.
Institutions providing health services for LGBTQ+ people.
Instruction about health for LGBTQ+ people, including topics such as gender-affirming healthcare and safer sex practices.
Historical terms for LGBTQ+ people, identities, and practices that are now considered outdated and/or offensive.
LGBTQ+ people who do not have access to stable, safe, and adequate housing; includes people living in emergency shelters; transitional housing, and on the street.
LGBTQ+ people between the ages of childhood and adulthood who do not have access to stable, safe, and adequate housing; includes youth living in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and on the street.
Establishments providing accommodations, meals, and other services for travelers; use in reference to hotels catering to LGBTQ+ people or commonly used by LGBTQ+ people.
Acronym used to describe describe lesbians, gay people, bisexuals, transgender people, queer people, intersex people, and asexual people as a group.
Legal and social entitlement to freedom, equality, and protection held by LGBTQ+ immigrants.
Confinement, including physical and/or legal restraint, of LGBTQ+ people by an institution or authority. Typically used to describe confinement to a public or private prison that is sentenced by a court within a penal system.
LGBTQ+ people who have experienced incest and may or may not have survived; follow individuals' preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
LGBTQ+ people who are part of an Indigenous people, or culturally distinct ethnic group whose members are directly descended from the earliest known inhabitants of a particular region and, to some extent, maintain the language and culture of those people. Only use to describe people who identify as Indigenous; use more specific terms whenever possible.
LGBTQ+ people who are deprived of their liberty against their will by an institution or authority. Typically used to describe individuals sentenced to confinement in a public or private prison by a court within a penal system, but may also include people forcibly confined to hospitals and other institutions.
Websites that facilitate online conversations between LGBTQ+ people, often about LGBQ+ issues.
Prizes or forms of recognition given in honor of influential LGBTQ+ writers or literary works featuring LGBTQ+ characters and themes.
Social gatherings, typically hosted by a notable public figure, for discussing literature or other shared topics; use in reference to literary salons with primarily LGBTQ+ membership or literary salons focused on works featuring LGBTQ+ characters and themes.
Actions taken by individuals or groups to influence legislative action (or non-action), policies, or decisions of government officials in favor of LGBTQ+ people, communities, or issues.
LGBTQ+ people engaging in sexual or romantic relationships with other people; typically used to describe people who are not married.
Print or digital publications about LGBTQ+ people and LGBTQ+ issues (typically produced by LGBTQ+ people or LGBTQ+ organizations) that contain articles, photographs, and illustrations, and advertisements.
Japanese comics or graphic novels focused on LGBTQ+ people or themes.
Term used by the Māori people, or people who are part of the Indigenous Polynesian people of mainland Aotearoa (New Zealand), that was historically used to describe an "intimate companion of the same sex." In the 1980s, the term was reclaimed for use by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex people, and other members of Rainbow communities. Only use to refer to individuals who identify as Takatāpui.
Marketing strategies and campaigns specifically targeting LGBTQ+ people.
Physical or online spaces in which LGBTQ+ people meet.
Projects, events, monuments, and sculptures created to memorialize or celebrate LGBTQ+ people, communities, or events.
LGBTQ+ people who temporarily or permanently move away from their place of residence within a country or across an international border.
LGBTQ+ people who belong to more than one racial group.
LGBTQ+ people who are members of the Mormon Church.
Motherhood experiences, as experienced by LGBTQ+ people.
Organized groups of LGBTQ+ people formed around shared interest in and activities related to motorcycles.
LGBTQ+ people who create and/or perform music.
Nighttime social activities and entertainment catering to LGBTQ+ people, often located at bars and clubs.
Actions taken to promote social change for LGBTQ+ people and communities through non-violent means, including protests, boycotts, and organized non-cooperation.
Public notices published shortly after an LGBTQ+ person's death to inform others of their passing and celebrate their life.
LGBTQ+ members of the anti-papal-primacy Christian denomination that originated with groups that split from the Holy See because they disagreed with essential doctrines.
LGBTQ+ people who are Papuan, or part of the Indigenous peoples of new Guinea; only use for people who identify as Papuan.
The experiences of being an LGBTQ+ parent and the responsibilities involved.
Self-identified lesbians, gay men, bisexual people, transgender people, queer people, and other sexual and gender minorities.
LGBTQ+ people with physical disabilities
People with physical disabilities (LGBTQ)
Legal regulations and laws addressing changes to LGBTQ people’s legal names or gender markers, as well as LGBTQ people’s family relationships, including cohabitation, marriage, adoption, parent-child relationships, divorce, and child custody.
Written requests for political or social action that are addressed to government officials or public entities and signed by numerous people; use in reference to petitions created by or addressing LGBTQ+ organizations, communities, and/or concerns.
Antagonism or disgust directed towards LGBTQ+ identities or people due to their sexuality or gender, perceived or actual. LGBTQ+ phobia can include denial of the existence of certain LGBTQ+ identities, stereotypes, verbal harassment, and physical violence.
Deep feelings of affection between two or more LGBTQ+ people that is neither sexual nor romantic.
Works of drama consisting primarily of dialogue between characters and intended for theatrical performance; use in reference to plays focusing on LGBTQ+ characters or themes.
Erotic or sexually explicit magazines featuring LGBTQ+ people.
LGBTQ+ people who are imprisoned because of their sexual or gender identities; may also be used to describe LGBTQ+ individuals imprisoned because of their race, religion, or political views.
A drinking establishment that serves food and acts as a community gathering place; use in reference to pubs that primarily cater to LGBTQ+ people.
LGBTQ+ people who have fled to another country to escape war, persecution, natural disaster, or other forms of conflict. Only use for people legally recognized as refugees; otherwise, use LGBTQ+ asylum seekers.
Commercial establishments providing lodging, entertainment, food, drinks, sporting, and shopping; use in reference to resorts that cater primarily to LGBTQ+ people or are known to be frequented by LGBTQ+ people.
Commercial establishments that prepare and serve food and drinks; use in reference to restaurants that cater primarily to LGBTQ+ people or are known to be frequented by LGBTQ+ people.
Multi-residence facilities that provide assisted living services to elderly people; use in reference to retirement homes that primarily cater to LGBTQ+ people.
Civil disorder directed against authorities, property, and other individuals, typically in response to grievances, conflicts, or injustice; use in reference to riots involving LGBTQ+ people or in response to LGBTQ+ issues.
Educational institutions providing instruction and resources specifically for LGBTQ+ youth.
Written literary work about imaginative or futuristic concepts incorporating science, technology, space, time travel, and other speculative elements; use in reference to science fiction focusing on LGBTQ+ characters or themes.
Countermeasures taken by an LGBTQ+ person to protect their own health or well being from harm.
Restraint or denial of one’s own thoughts, wishes, feelings or identity, as experienced by LGBTQ+ people.
Arrangement mutually agreed upon or ordered by a judge for married LGBTQ+ people to live apart while remaining legally married.
Acts of sexual abuse and violence directed towards LGBTQ+ people.
LGBTQ+ people who are shamans either through traditional community practices or self-designation.
LGBTQ+ people who are fathers but are not married or part of a long-term partnership.
LGBTQ+ people who are mothers but are not married or part of a long-term partnership.
Families headed by a single parent; use in reference to single parent families headed by or including LGBTQ+ people.
LGBTQ+ people who are parents but are not married or part of a long-term partnership.
The experiences involved in social parenting, as experienced by LGBTQ+ people.
Web-based and mobile technologies that facilitate interactive dialogue, as used by or designed for LGBTQ+ people.
Forms of social interaction that occur repeatedly; use to describe the ways in which LGBTQ+ people interact and establish social relationships.
LGBTQ+ people who hold spiritual beliefs or engage in spiritual practices, typically involving an understanding of something greater than human existence, whether divine or cosmic in nature.
Organized groups of LGBTQ+ people formed for the purpose of playing sports; includes professional and amateur sports clubs.
Organized groups primarily composed of LGBTQ+ students.
Deaths of LGBTQ+ people as a result of intentional, self-inflicted harm or injury.
Groups of LGBTQ+ people meeting to offer encouragement, comfort, and advice to one another, typically relating to common experiences and issues related to being LGBTQ+.
Characters, signs, or objects used to represent LGBTQ+ people, identities, communities, and/or specific historical events.
Industry centered around LGBTQ+ people traveling to and staying in various locations for recreation or leisure.
Attraction to another person that is not reciprocated, by LGBTQ+ people
LGBTQ+ people who have experienced rape and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
LGBTQ+ people who have experienced sexual abuse and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Visibility of LGBTQ+ people in society, meaning the extent to which LGBTQ+ people and identities are recognized by the general public.
LGBTQ+ people who have experienced war and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Public web pages that primarily address LGBTQ+ communities and issues, as well as web pages intended for use by LGBTQ+ people.
Marriage ceremonies and the accompanying festivities; use to describe weddings in which both partners are LGBTQ+.
Spaces in which LGBTQ+ young people meet for social, education, recreational, or organizing activities.
Independent, small-circulation publications usually reproduced via photocopier; use for zines created by LGBTQ+ people and/or focusing on LGBTQ+ identities, issues, or cultures.
Native American Zuni people assigned male at birth who exhibit mixed gender traits.
A person's overall sexual drive or desire for sexual activity.
Libraries that hold materials primarily pertaining to LGBTQ+ people or intended for use by LGBTQ+ people.
To touch or pass over with the tongue to moisten or taste; use to describe licking associated in the context of sexual practices or sexual arousal.
Category of clothing that includes bras, underwear, hosiery, and robes; typically refers to undergarments and sleepwear designed to be sexually appealing and worn in erotic contexts.
Lesbians whose appearance or mannerisms are more traditionally feminine.
Written literary works featuring LGBTQ+ characters and themes.
Structure or composition of an individual's household or living environment, including the number of household members and their relationships to each other.
Places where people engage in sexual activities, including private and public spaces.
Rooms or areas in public or commercial spaces where people change clothes, bathe, and store items or personal belongings. LGBTQ+ people, particularly trans people, are often restricted from using locker rooms under the pretense of public safety.
Polyamorous relationships that involve three people in various arrangements.
Liquids or gels used during sexual activity, typically to ease the act of penetration by a penis or a sex toy.
Subculture of gay men who display characteristics associated with machismo (e.g., masculine pride, self-reliance, physical strength). Though "macho men" can be used more broadly, this term refers to gay men who embrace machismo and traditional masculinity through their dress and behavior.
Term used in Hawaiian and Tahitian cultures for third gender people who blend genders and often hold spiritual roles.
Term used in Malaysia for transgender women.
Friendship and connection between two or more male-identified people.
Connections based on affection and trust between two or more men.
Historical term used to describe performers, often female-identified people, who enact male personas for the purpose of entertainment, typically for straight audiences. Only use in historical contexts.
Adults who self-identify as men and understand their gender in terms of Western conceptions of manliness, maleness, and/or masculinity. The term has typically been defined as adult male humans, though not all men identify with the term "male" depending on the context in which it is used.
MtF (male-to-female) is a mostly historical term that has been largely replaced by "trans women." This is due in part to the term’s connection to the medicalisation of transgender people and its assumption that trans women are "born" male and become female (typically through hormones and/or surgery).
Sexual activity involving manual stimulation of erogenous zones using the hands.
A person's state of being single, married, separated, divorced, or widowed, as defined by a government or legal authority.
Legal union between two or more people in a personal relationship that may or may not grant certain economic, legal, and social rights.
Government-issued documents that serve as official records of marriages; can be used in reference to LGBTQ+ people's marriage certificates or their efforts to acquire marriage certificates.
Legal regulations and laws dictating where, when, under what conditions, and who can be legally married in a certain jurisdiction.
Legal documents issued by a religious organization or local authority that authorizes marriage. In some jurisdictions a license is necessary to legalize a union, but this varies by locale.
Individuals who are currently married, or part of a legal union involving two or more people in a personal relationship that may or may not grant certain economic, legal, and social rights.
Culture-specific sets of attributes, behaviors, and roles generally associated with men or boys.
Swahili term for people assigned male at birth who engage in sex with men and who may dress as women.
Erotic or sexual enjoyment of pain and intense sensations.
Manipulation of the body through techniques like rubbing and kneading muscles and joints with the hands, typically to relieve tension and pain or to provide erotic stimulation.
The person who takes on the position of authority or power in a power exchange relationship or kink activity.
Sexual stimulation of one's own genitals for sexual pleasure.
The state, condition, or fact of being a mother.
Surinamese-Creole women who have sexual relations with other women but also have had or do have relationships with men.
Organized measures taken for the maintenance or improvement of health via the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or cure of disease, illness, injury, or other condition.
Official documents from medical practitioners (e.g., doctors, nurses, therapists) diagnosing a patient's gender dysphoria and, typically, recommending gender-affirming healthcare; sometimes required for an individual's gender-affirming healthcare to be covered under insurance or for an individual to legally change their name or gender marker.
Process by which human conditions and experiences come to be defined and treated as medical conditions and thus become the subject of medical study, diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment. Use in reference to non-medical problems, such as LGBTQ+ identities and practices, that have been wrongly treated as medical issues.
Non-recreational drugs as used by members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Men who engage in sexual activity with other men, whether or not they identify as gay or bisexual.
Movement that began in the 1960s and 1970s (primarily in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia) in response to the women's movement. Consists of groups and organizations of men and their allies working to address gender issues and their impact on men. Different men's movement groups vary significantly in how they frame their relationship to the women's movement and society at large. Not to be confused with the men's or father's rights movement, which focuses on perceived inequalities faced by men and seeks to maintain patriarchal values.
Medical conditions defined by changes or disturbances in an individual's thinking, feeling, mood, and behavior.
Organized measures taken for the diagnosis, maintenance, treatment, or improvement of mental health or psychological well being; use in reference to mental health care addressing the particular needs of LGBTQ+ individuals or communities.
Officially recognized third gender in Nepal; predominantly used to refer to transgender women.
A person born with a micropenis has a penis that is smaller than the typical size range for an infant. People may also develop a micropenis as a result of several different intersex variations. The size of a person’s penis does not generally affect its functionality.
The act of referring to a person's gender incorrectly, often by using pronouns they do not identify with.
LGBTQ+ women who are part of the BDSM scene and assume the mistress role in sexual relationships with a mistress/submissive dynamic.
Relationship orientation in which individuals are exclusively committed to one partner at a time.
People with mosaic chromosomes have different chromosome patterns in some cells of their body than in others. Mosaicism results from random differences in how cells divide while an embryo is growing, resulting in different numbers of chromosomes in different cells (such as 45X/46XX or 45X/46XY, which are both variants of Turner syndrome, or 46XY/47XXY or 46XX/47XXY, which are both variants of Klinefelter syndrome). If someone specifically has 46XX chromosomes in some cells and 46XY in others, their variation is probably chimerism instead of mosaicism. Having mosaic chromosomes can cause someone to develop variations in their genitals, gonads, or hormone function. For example, if they have at least one Y chromosome, they may have both ovarian and testicular tissue, or genital differences like hypospadias, or they may develop some secondary sex characteristics at puberty that are not expected for the sex they were assigned. People who have mosaicism without a Y chromosome (e.g., 45X/46XX, or 46XX/47XXX) may have streak gonads or ovaries that stop functioning at an earlier age than typical, which can affect development during puberty and fertility. Other people may not have any noticeable signs of their mosaicism at all.
A person who assumes the role of mother to a bisexual person; use only for individuals who self-identify as mothers.
A person who assumes the role of mother to a gay man; use only for individuals who self-identify as mothers.
A person who assumes the role of mother to a lesbian; use only for individuals who self-identify as mothers.
A person who assumes the role of mother to a transgender person; use only for individuals who self-identify as mothers.
Refers to various social and political movements aimed at securing equity and equal representation for LGBTQ+ people.
People who transition from male to unknown or not male.
Sexual activities that take place outside in mud.
A term used in classical Arabic to refer to men who are perceived as effeminate.
Institutions dedicated to the storage, exhibition, conservation, and preservation of materials relating to LGBTQ+ people, LGBTQ+ communities, and LGBTQ+ history.
Films or theatrical productions in which singing and/or dancing are essential elements. Use for musicals created by LGBTQ+ directors, depicting LGBTQ+ people, or that are regarded as important within LGBTQ+ culture.
Sex act in which two or more people simultaneously stimulate their own genitalia.
In Zapotec cultures of Oaxaca (southern Mexico), this term refers to people assigned male at birth who dress and behave in feminine ways; sometimes considered a third gender.
Term used in Native American Navajo tribes to describe people assigned male at birth who take on the role of girls in childhood and women in adulthood.
People who are part of the Native peoples of the continental United States and Canada (excluding Inuit people) and self-identity as LGBTQ+. Use more specific terms when available.
Practice of engaging in social activities while nude, either in private or public. This term also refers to the cultural movement advocating for nudism as an alternative, healthy lifestyle.
Traditionally refers to a wide range of practices in Hindu and Buddhist yoga usually involving the ritual exercise of sexuality. Do not use outside of these contexts.
A surgically constructed vagina; typically made using tissue grafted from other parts of the body.
Print or digital periodicals created by or for LGBTQ+ people, often with the purpose of sharing community news and information about related issues.
Serialized print or digital publications about LGBTQ+ people and LGBTQ+ issues (typically produced by LGBTQ+ people or LGBTQ+ organizations) that contain news, articles, columns, correspondence, and advertisements.
Native American Ojibwa term for Two-Spirit people.
Used in Native American Blackfoot tribes for people assigned female at birth who are not constrained to the social roles of women; translates to "manly-hearted woman."
Sex toys consisting of clamps, usually connected by a chain, that are attached to the nipples to cause pain and erotic pleasure.
Sexual acts involving stimulation of the nipples.
Individuals who have not undergone hormone treatment; typically used to describe trans people who have not undergone and/or do not plan to undergo hormone treatment.
Individuals whose gender identity exists outside of the gender binary; only use to describe individuals who self-identify as non-binary.
The medical status of individuals who do not plan to undertake a surgical procedure. Commonly used to describe trans people who have not and do not plan to undertake gender affirming surgery.
Images of naked individuals, including those taken by amateurs or professionals; may be produced for aesthetic or erotic purposes.
Works of art depicting naked individuals, either for aesthetic or erotic purposes; includes paintings, photographs, sculptures, etc.
Legal documents issued by a government or institution to individuals that include identifying information and, typically, grant certain legal or governmental rights and responsibilities (e.g., driver's license, birth certificate, passport).
Bisexual people who are advanced in age, typically over 60 years of age.
Gay men who are advanced in age, typically over 60 years of age.
Lesbians who are advanced in age, typically over 60 years of age.
Queer people who are advanced in age, typically over 60 years of age.
Transgender people who are advanced in age, typically over 60 years of age.
Families headed by a single parent. For single parent families headed by or including LGBTQ+ people, use the term "LGBTQ+ single parent families."
Medical procedure to remove one or more testes; often part of gender affirming surgery, though it can be performed for other reasons.
Organizations for sexual research and sexual reform
Organisations for sexual research and sexual reform
Institutions or groups dedicated to research, education, policy work, and advocacy regarding human sexuality and sexual behavior, particularly to challenge taboos and encourage more open discussion of sex and sexuality within society.
Climax of sexual excitement, typically characterized by feelings of pleasure and physical sensations including rapid muscle contractions, higher blood pressure and heart rate, release of endorphins, and ejaculation.
U.S. slang term term for gay men who blend the physical and social traits of bears and twinks.
The act of disclosing a person's sexual or gender identity without that person's consent.
People with this variation are born with both ovarian and testicular tissue. A person can develop one testis and one ovary, or they may develop one or more ovo-testes, which means that a single gonad is made up of both ovarian and testicular cells. The levels of hormones they produce can vary and how their genitals and secondary sex characteristics develop will depend partially on the levels of estrogen and testosterone that their bodies make. In adolescence, people with ovo-testes may develop features associated with either a typical estrogen puberty or a typical testosterone puberty, or they may develop some of each. Sometimes a person with an ovary and a testis or with ovo-testes can produce viable sperm and viable eggs.
The act of wearing padding or a phallic object in the front of the pants or underwear to give the appearance of having a bulge.
A tool with a short handle at one end and a wide, flat surface at the other that is used to strike the buttocks as a form of impact play.
LGBTQ+ people who are members of polytheistic religions or other religions outside of the dominant culture that typically incorporate nature worship and/or the sacred feminine, such as Wicca, Druidry, Heathenry, etc. Use to describe LGBTQ+ people who self-identify as Pagan.
Chamorro (Mariana Islands) term for third gender people.
Gender identity that encompasses multiple or all genders.
People who identify as multiple or all genders.
Individuals who self-identify as pansexual, meaning that they are sexually attracted to people of all genders. Some but not all pansexual people also identify as "gender-blind" because gender is insignificant or irrelevant in determining their attraction.
The legal parent-child relationship that may be established by biological relations, at birth, or through adoption. These rights may include child custody and visitation, decision-making authority, and informational access.
People who act as parents to one or more crossdresser. Only use to describe the parents of someone who self-identifies as a crossdresser.
People who act as parents to one or more queer person. For parents who are themselves queer, use the term "Queer parents."
People who act as parents to one or more transgender person. For parents who are themselves transgender, use the term "Transgender parents."
People with partial androgen insensitivity (PAIS) have some response to testosterone, but not as much as is typical for people with XY chromosomes without androgen insensitivity. People with PAIS may be born with testes that are undescended or partially descended and with genital differences such as a vaginal opening that is shallower than typical, a phallus that may be perceived as a large clitoris or a small penis, and variations affecting their urethra. They might also be born with genitals that look more like a penis or like a vulva and vagina. In adolescence, people with PAIS may develop some features that are associated with a typical testosterone puberty and others that are associated with a typical estrogen puberty since their body responds to some of the testosterone that their gonads produce while the rest is converted into estrogen.
The practice of notifying the sexual partners of a person who has been newly diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection to inform them that they have been exposed to the infection.
An enduring pattern of desire for connection and relationships (romantic, sexual, or play) with people of specific identities or within specific relationship orientations (monogamy, polyamory, polygamy).
Legal, economic, social, and cultural rights afforded to individuals who are in long-term partnerships (e.g., marriage, domestic partnership, civil union) that can include shared health insurance, life insurance benefits, adoption rights, and the authority to make medical and financial decisions on behalf of one's partner.
Gender-neutral term for sexual, romantic, or play partners who are also LGBTQ+.
People whose sexual, romantic, or play partner is bisexual.
People whose sexual, romantic, or play partner is a crossdresser. Only use to describe individuals whose partners self-identify as crossdressers.
People whose sexual, romantic, or play partner is a gay man.
People whose sexual, romantic, or play partner is a lesbian.
People whose sexual, romantic, or play partner is queer.
People whose sexual, romantic, or play partner is transgender.
An individual's ability to "pass," or be accepted or regarded as a member of the gender they identify with. "Passing" has historically been used to describe an individual's ability to "pass" as a certain race or ethnicity, though the term was later appropriated by the LGBTQ+ community.
A medical treatment in which a person receives laboratory-made antibodies to help fight an infection or disease.
Official documentation issued by a government that certifies the holder’s identity and citizenship, entitling them to travel under to and from other countries.
The experience of acting as a father, including the responsibilities involved in fathering and raising children.
Adult men who have sexual and mentor/protégé relationships with adolescent boys. This term has historically been used to describe gay men. Only use in historical contexts.
Term used to describe the practices of adult men who engage in sexual and mentor/protégé relationships with adolescent boys. This term has historically been used to describe the practices of gay men. Only use in historical contexts.
Live sex shows or pornographic movies viewed through a small opening or magnifying lens, typically from a coin-operated booth.
Assessments of penile tumescence in response to erotic stimuli in order to test an individual's sexual preference or excitement.
LGBTQ+ people serving in state and national armed forces.
LGBTQ+ people who are not white and who identify as people of color.
Art created through actions performed by the artist or other participants, typically for a live audience.
Systematic mistreatment of bisexual people on the basis of their sexual identity.
Systematic mistreatment of gay men on the basis of their sexual identity.
Systematic mistreatment of lesbians on the basis of their sexual identity.
Systematic mistreatment of queer people on the basis of their gender and/or sexual identities.
Systematic mistreatment of transgender people on the basis of their gender identity.
Systematic mistreatment of LGBTQ+ people on the basis of their gender or sexual identities.
Sexual stimulation or sexual practices involving penises or phallic objects (e.g., dildos).
Sexual encounters that take place over the phone, whether in a phone call or on a video call using a smartphone.
Touch between two or more people intended to arouse or convey feelings of closeness; can be used to express sexual or non-sexual intimacy and includes actions such as kissing, cuddling, embracing, and holding hands.
Organized measures taken for the maintenance, treatment, or improvement of physical health or conditions of the body; use in reference to physical health care addressing the particular needs of LGBTQ+ individuals or communities.
Small holes or openings made in parts of the body to insert jewelry or implants, whether for aesthetic purposes, spiritual or religious reasons, or sexual pleasure.
Form of manual stimulation involving gripping, pulling, or putting tension on parts of one’s body or another person's body for sexual stimulation, arousal, or pleasure.
International symbol of gay pride and the gay rights movement that symbolizes the reclamation of the pink triangles used in Nazi Germany to identify gay men (and, later, bisexual men and transgender women) who were sent to concentration camps.
A variety of marketing and political strategies aimed at promoting products, countries, people, or entities to LGBTQ+ people; using LGBTQ+-related symbols in order to be perceived as progressive, modern, and tolerant; and/or utilizing concern for LGBTQ+ people and rights to justify or deviate attention from settler-colonialism, genocide, invasion, and intervention in other countries.
Poetry about LGBTQ+ people or relating to LGBTQ+ issues.
A civil force empowered by the state to enforce the law and maintain public order.
A practice in which law enforcement agents or agents of the state coerce an individual to commit a "crime" they would have otherwise been unlikely or unwilling to commit. Legal definitions of entrapment vary widely depending on the jurisdiction, but the term is often used colloquially to refer to police acting dishonestly or in bad faith, as well as policing focused on anticipating and inducing crime, rather than responding to reports of crime.
Any of various forms of inappropriate conduct, illegal actions, or abuses of power undertaken by law enforcement agents or agents of the state against members of the public. This includes but is not limited to racial, ethnic, and other forms of profiling; unwarranted surveillance, searches, and seizure; selective enforcement; excessive use of force; sexual misconduct; intimidation and witness tampering; falsification of evidence; coerced confessions; false arrests and imprisonment; and bribing or lobbying.
Unexpected and unannounced entry into and searches of residences or establishments by law enforcement officers with the aim of using surprise to seize evidence or arrest suspects. Police raids may be undertaken legally using a search warrant or through exigent circumstances, such as probable cause, though the latter is highly subjective and civilians often have little resources to appeal illegal raids.
Practice of engaging in romantic, sexual, or play relationships with more than one person simultaneously, with the knowledge and consent of all parties involved.
The practice of engaging in romantic, sexual, or play relationships where the dominant partner has multiple spouses, though these marriages are not always recognized by law or within society.
A slang term commonly used in LGBTQ+ subcultures to describe alkyl nitrites, a class of drug that produces a high when inhaled. Poppers are often associated with gay nightlife because they can be used to facilitate anal sex by relaxining the anal muscles.
Businesses that sell pornography, or materials intended for sexual arousal, including images, videos, literature, etc.
The depiction of sexual acts for other people's viewing.
Individuals who have recently undergone a surgical operation; commonly used to describe trans people who have undergone gender affirming surgery.
Medication taken to prevent the contraction of HIV.
The medical status of individuals who plan to undertake a surgical procedure but have not yet done so. Commonly used to describe trans people who have not yet undergone gender affirming surgery but plan to do so.
Newspapers, magazines, or other publishing outlets aimed at LGBTQ+ audiences and/or operated by LGBTQ+ people.
Special rights or immunities granted to specific people or groups that are used to falsely homogenize or discriminate against other people or groups.
People born with progestin-induced virilization have XX chromosomes and may have visible genital variations at birth such as a larger-than-typical clitoris, sometimes also with fused or partially fused labia. They usually have a typical uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes, though their vagina may or may not have differences. This variation develops in utero as a result of the individual's parent taking progestin medication while pregnant. Being exposed to these additional hormones before birth can change how someone’s genitals develop, but it generally will not change how their own body will produce or respond to hormones later on. This means that someone born with progestin-induced virilization will usually develop features associated with a typical estrogen puberty.
Words used in place of a noun. Typically used in the context of "personal pronouns," or pronouns used to describe people (e.g., she, he, they, ze).
LGBTQ+ people who are members of the Protestant Church.
Group of medications used to inhibit puberty.
Laws or policies instituted to prevent trans and non-binary individuals from using public bathrooms and facilities, such as locker rooms, shower rooms, changing rooms, and other sex-segregated spaces, on the basis of their gender identity.
Rooms or small buildings with one or more toilets (or urinals) available for use by the general public or by customers or employees of a business.
Buildings, recreational areas, and other types of properties that are owned and maintained by state or local government and are thus available for use by the public.
Sex in public places such as beaches, parks, cottages, etc.
Public or commercial facilities equipped with showers or places to bathe.
Publishers that publish materials for LGBTQ+ communities or materials addressing LGBTQ+ issues.
Individuals who take on the pup or puppy role in puppy play, a form of animal roleplay that is often but not always associated with BDSM and kink communities.
Queer people who are not white and who identify as people of color.
North American Inca term for people assigned male at birth who fulfill a third gender role that is often spiritual in nature.
Slang term for effeminate gay men; predominantly used in the United States.
A term commonly used in academic disciplines to describe actions that address sexual and gender normativity, expose systems of oppression, and attempt to undermine those systems.
Direct action and organizing to achieve political or social change and acceptance for queer people.
Queer people of African descent born in the United States or queer people born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to the United States. Use for individuals who self-identity as African American. Follow the individual’s preference for African American or Black whenever possible.
Queer people of African descent born in Canada or queer people born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to Canada. Use for individuals who self-identify as Afro-Canadian.
Queer people of African descent born in the Caribbean or queer people born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to the Caribbean. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Afro-Caribbean.
Queer people of African descent born in European countries or queer people born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to Europe. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Afro-European.
Queer people of African descent born in Latin American countries or queer people born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to Latin America. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Afro-Latin American.
Collections of records and materials relating to queer people or queer communities; can include a variety of organizations and institutions from community to government archives.
Queer people of Asian heritage or descent born in the United States or born in Asian countries who live in or have a strong connection to the United States. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Asian American.
Queer people of Asian heritage or descent, living in Asia or part of the Asian diaspora. Only use for people who self-identify as Asian.
Drinking establishments that primarily cater to queer people.
Beaches set aside for use by queer people or beaches known to be frequented by queer people.
Black people who are queer. Use only for individuals who self-identity as Black. Follow the individual’s preference for African American or Black whenever possible.
Bookshops that sell materials intended for use by queer people or addressing topics related to queerness.
Characters in creative works who are queer.
Queer people who have not yet reached the age of adolescence.
Queer people who are ordained for religious duties, particularly in the Christian Church.
Groups of people who share the experience of being queer.
Spaces in which people from queer communities meet for social, education, recreational, or organizing activities.
Partnerships in which both people are queer.
Works of fiction written to be performed; use in reference to dramatic works focusing on queer characters or themes.
Women who take a dominant role in BDSM activities; use for dominatrices who identify as queer.
Families, whether biological, adoptive, or chosen, in which one or more individuals identify as queer.
Written works that describe imagined events or people; use in reference to fictional works focusing on queer characters or themes.
Identity term that can be used to describe several not-necessarily-mutually-exclusive understandings of queerness. Queerness can describe identities that exist outside of or between different identities, and also identities that actively resist normative understandings of sexuality and/or gender. This term should only be used for those who self-identify as queer.
Institutions that provide education, support, and information about queerness and queer communities to queer people.
Latin American people who are queer; only use to describe individuals who self-identify as Latino, Latina, or Latinx. Do not conflate with Chicano/a/x or Hispanic.
Libraries that hold materials primarily pertaining to queer people or intended for use by queer people.
Written literary works about queerness, queer characters, or queer themes.
Queer people who are part of the BDSM scene and assume the dominant role in sexual relationships with a dominant/submissive dynamic.
Queer women who are part of the BDSM scene and assume the mistress role in sexual relationships with a mistress/submissive dynamic.
Umbrella term for activism focused on the rights of queer people and issues faced by queer communities.
Institutions dedicated to the storage, exhibition, conservation, and preservation of materials relating to queerness, queer people, or queer history.
People who are part of the Native peoples of the continental United States and Canada (excluding Inuit people) and self-identity as queer. Use more specific terms when available.
Serialized print or digital periodicals created by or for queer people, often with the purpose of sharing news and information related to queer communities and queer issues.
Serialized print or digital publications about queer people or queer issues (and typically produced by queer people or queer organizations) that contain news, articles, columns, correspondence, and advertisements.
Queer people who are members of polytheistic religions or other religions outside of the dominant culture that typically incorporate nature worship and/or the sacred feminine, such as Wicca, Druidry, Heathenry, etc. Use to describe queer people who self-identify as Pagan.
Individuals who identify with non-normative gender and/or sexual identities, typically people who are not heterosexual and/or are not cisgender. Only use for people who identify as queer.
Queer people serving in state and national armed forces.
Literary works, typically written in verse, that focus on queer characters, themes, or identity.
Queer people working to bring about political or social change through public organizing.
Erotic or sexually explicit films featuring queer people.
Newspapers, magazines, or other publishing outlets aimed at queer audiences and/or operated by queer people.
Queer people who are members of the Protestant Church.
Companies and organizations that publish materials for queer communities or addressing queer issues.
Auditory content broadcast on the radio (analog or digital) about queer people and queer issues.
Ongoing connections (romantic, sexual, or platonic) between two or more queer people.
Legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement held by queer people.
Queer people who are members of the Roman Catholic Church.
Colloquial or informal language related to queer people or used by queer people.
Academic field of research and study about queer people, queer identity, and queer communities.
Queer people who have experienced and survived hate crimes; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Queer people who have experienced and survived rape; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Queer people who have experienced and survived sexual abuse; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Queer people who have experienced and survived war; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Queer people who are between the ages of childhood and adulthood.
Television shows featuring queer people or queer themes.
Works in the performance arts that focus on queer characters, communities, or issues.
A theological method that developed out of queer theory. Queer theology, which encompasses the previously commonly used terms gay theology and lesbian theology, can variously be understood as (1) theology done by, with, and for LGBTQ+ people according to their needs; (2) theology that purposefully opposes social and cultural norms surrounding gender and sexuality; and (3) theology that broadly challenges and deconstructs harmful historical boundaries.
Field of critical theory that emerged in the 1990s out of queer studies and women's studies. Queer theory involves the study and theorization of gender and sexual practices and identities that exist outside of heterosexuality and which challenge heteronormativity and essentialism.
Queer people who identify as transgender.
Queer people who have experienced hate crimes and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Queer people who have experienced rape and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Queer people who have experienced sexual abuse and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Queer people who have experienced war and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Queer people’s legal rights to be informed, present, and heard within the criminal justice system after having been harmed or injured as the result of a crime, accident, or other event.
Written literary works for an audience of readers from 12-18 years of age, also known as young adult literature or YA; use in reference to youth literature focusing on queer characters or themes.
Antagonism or disgust directed towards queerness as an identity or queer people due to their identity, perceived or actual. Queerphobia can include denial of the existence of queerness, stereotypes, verbal harassment, and physical violence.
Perspective within feminism that calls for a radical reordering of society in which male supremacy is eliminated in all social and economic contexts.
Auditory content broadcast on the radio (analog or digital) about LGBTQ+ people and/or LGBTQ+ issues.
Rainbow-striped flags that symbolize LGBTQ+ pride and LGBTQ+ social movements. The first rainbow pride flag, which had eight colors, was created by Gilbert Baker, Lynn Segerblom, and others in San Francisco, California in 1978. Due to difficulties obtaining hot pink fabric and a desire for an even number of stripes, Baker modified his design in 1979 to contain six colors. The six-color version of the flag has been the most popular design since then.
Slang term for the act of identifying (or reading) someone in public as trans, non-binary, crossdressing, or in drag. Unlike Clocking (Gender), which is typically understood as a threat (of violence or outing) against the person being clocked or read, Reading (Gender) refers to shared identification or recognized kinship between two individuals who are both gender minorities.
A medical procedure in which the egg of one partner is fertilized with donor sperm and then transferred to the uterus of the other partner to bring to term.
Ongoing connections (romantic, sexual, or platonic) between two or more LGBTQ+ people.
Binding tools, devices, and accessories such as handcuffs, legcuffs, ropes, chains, straps, or straitjackets.
Behaviors that may put someone at increased risk of contracting HIV or STIs.
Non-reciprocal genital contact, typically fellatio, between younger and older men that takes place during initiation rituals practiced by the Sambari people of Papua New Guinea. This term was developed by Western outsiders and has been strongly criticized by the affected community.
Behavior determining one's response to a social situation, as influenced by social norms; internal and external expectations; and social sanctions and rewards.
Practice in which one or more people take on a different identity or role to fulfill a desire or fantasy.
Bondage involving the use of rope for sexual stimulation.
LGBTQ+ people who are members of the Roman Catholic Church.
Very close but non-sexual relationships between friends, often involving a degree of physical closeness beyond that which is common in modern Western societies; this may include, for example, friends holding hands, cuddling, kissing, and/or sharing a bed.
Eroticization of rubber, latex, and related materials.
Communities of people with an interest in rubber or latex materials for fashion and kink.
Men who have fetishes for or engage in fetish activities involving rubber and belong to the rubber community; frequently associated with U.S. LGBTQ+ subcultures.
Women who have fetishes for or engage in fetish activities involving rubber and belong to the rubber community; frequently associated with U.S. LGBTQ+ subcultures.
Erotic or sexual enjoyment of the application of pain or intense sensations. Derived from the literary works of the Marquis de Sade.
A set of practices aimed to minimize the risk of STI transmission, including but not limited to using condoms and dental dams, taking PrEP, and participating in regular STI testing.
Social gatherings or events originating from Black lesbian communities in the Southern United States in the 1990s. Safer sex parties are typically held at private locations where organizers and participants discuss safer sex practices, sexuality, and sexual experiences.
Term used in Cambodia for people assigned male at birth who identify as women; translates to "long hairs."
Culturally affirming term for sexual identity that is often used to describe African American homosexual people.
A legal proceeding undertaken to dissolve a marriage between two individuals of the same sex.
In Jewish culture, this term is used to refer to individuals who were assigned male at birth but later developed feminine characteristics..
Practice of watching or listening to others, typically without their awareness or consent. In consensual sexual encounters, voyeurism involves watching or listening to someone undress or engage in sexual activity without actively participating.
Term used before the 1960s to describe gay men who worked aboard ships, mainly merchant vessels.
Features that appear during puberty that are not directly related to reproduction, like changes in the voice and the development of body hair.
Period of feminist political activity (also referred to as women’s liberation) beginning in the early 1960s that critiqued male-dominated institutions and cultural practices in society.
The state of being intentionally withheld, concealed, or kept secret; use in reference to LGBTQ+ individuals who conceal their (or others’) identities, whether out of preference or for safety reasons.
Enticing or tempting someone into something, typically sexual attraction or activity, through the use of persuasion, flattery, and/or promises.
Egyptian term that refers to a range of people of non-normative gender and sexual identities, including gay people, eunuchs, trans people, etc. Only use to describe people who self-identify as sekhet.
In Madagascar, this term refers to people of a third gender who were assigned male at birth and present feminine characteristics.
The practice of using collected sperm to induce one's own pregnancy outside of a clinical environment.
Objects, devices, or articles of clothing used for sexual stimulation or to enhance sexual pleasure and experiences.
The act of engaging in a physical and/or mental interaction with another person or object with the specific intent to elicit sexual arousal or climax.
The process of determining an individual’s sex relatively shortly after birth, usually documented on official records, such as a birth certificate. Determination is usually based on the appearance of external genitalia but may use other methodologies. In practice, sex assigned at birth is often culturally variable; the term “gender assigned at birth” is often more applicable or accurate.
The category assigned to an individual to describe their body and its role in sexual reproduction, usually based on external anatomy, but also including chromosomes, gene expression, hormones, and internal and external reproductive/sexual organs. Although sex is often described as binary, it exists as a spectrum with significant variation in the biological attributes that comprise sex and the way it is defined in different cultural contexts.
Establishments where patrons can engage in sex with other patrons, as well as formal or informal groups that organize sex-related activities.
Instruction about sexual health and sexuality, including topics such as consent, safer sex, transmission of STIs, and reproduction.
Social gatherings or events, typically held in private residences or at sex clubs, in which participants engage in or observe group sexual activities.
Public scandals surrounding sensational cases of sexual indecency or sex crimes.
A form of counseling intended to address sexual dysfunction and other sex-related issues.
The practice of traveling with the intention of soliciting sex work, typically to countries where sex work is legal, decriminalized, or less stigmatized. Sex tourism often presents ethical concerns, such as the economic gap between tourists and residents, differences in age of consent laws globally, and the selective enforcement of anti-sex work laws by police.
The exchange of sexual services, performances, or products for material compensation; includes activities involving direct physical contact between buyers and sellers, as well as indirect sexual stimulation.
Discrimination, prejudice, or bias directed against a particular sex or gender based on the assumption that this sex or gender is intrinsically inferior to another.
People who professionally study sexology, or human sexual behavior and sexual relationships.
Scientific study of human sexuality including sexual interests, behaviors, and functions that utilizes tools from other academic fields like anthropology, biology, medicine, and psychology.
Act of sending sexually explicit messages or photographs, primarily between mobile phones.
Practice of abstaining or not participating in some or all forms of sexual activity, whether for medical, psychological, social, moral, or religious reasons. Sexual abstinence may be voluntary or involuntary.
LGBTQ+ people experiencing addiction to or dependency upon sexual activities. Only use to refer to individuals who describe themselves as having sexual addictions, not individuals whose sexual practices are perceived as promiscuous or unsafe by others.
Term describing the physiological and psychological response to sexual stimulation.
Sexual behavior or contact targeting an individual who has not consented; includes nonconsensual sex acts that may not be illegal or punishable by law in the given location or time period.
One’s ability or prerogative to freely choose when, with whom, and under what circumstances they engage in sexual activity or relationships.
Term used to describe changes in behavior related to safer sexual practices (e.g., condom use, STI testing).
The most intense or highest point of pleasure in sexual activities; the peak of an orgasm.
Legislation determining the kinds of sexual behaviors and activities that are legally permissible. Laws vary by jurisdiction but typically address crimes like sexual coercion, sexual assault, incest, and sex trafficking. Historically and in the present day, sexual offenses laws have also served to criminalize consensual but non-normative sexual practices, such as anal sex and homosexuality.
Diversity of sexual orientation or sexuality among members of a group or within a given society.
Recurring problems or difficulties with sexual response, desire, or pleasure. Includes dysfunction occurring at any time in the sexual response cycle that causes distress or prevents one’s typical sexual function.
The process by which an individual's body experiences and reacts to sexual stimuli.
Unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature, including unwanted advances or requests for sexual favors.
State of physical, emotional, mental, and social well being in relation to sexuality. This includes one’s ability to have responsible, satisfying, and safer sex free of violence or coercion.
How an individual understands their identity in relation to their romantic or sexual attraction to other people.
Historical term for homosexuality used by sexologists to refer to an inborn reversal of gender traits or roles. Only use in historical contexts.
People whose sexual practices differ from those of the dominant culture.
The direction of an individual's sexual attraction towards other individuals of the same, opposite, or multiple sexes; commonly understood to be biologically and physiologically dictated, rather than sociologically determined.
Activities associated with physical and/or mental sexual stimuli, including but not limited to intercourse and sexual pleasure.
An enduring pattern of sexual attraction towards a certain sex or multiple sexes, as well as characterizations, objects, situational fantasies, or behaviors; generally understood to be either or both biologically determined and culturally and/or sociologically dictated.
Term used to describe the European movements for sexual reform in the 20th century.
Ongoing connections between two or more individuals involving sexual behaviors or activities.
Social perspective from the 1960s into the 1970s that challenged traditional codes of behavior related to sexuality and interpersonal relationships throughout the Western world.
An erotic identity an individual assumes during sexual play with one or more people; this identity can either be restricted to the bedroom or extended into day-to-day life.
Sexual acts or attempts to coerce sexual acts that involve the use of non-consensual violence. This term encompasses sexual assault, rape, and sexual abuse.
Term used to describe the ways in which individuals experience and express themselves sexually, including the types of people and practices they are sexually interested in.
LGBTQ+ children younger than 18 years of age who are currently experiencing or have experienced sexual abuse.
Diseases or infections that are transmitted via sexual contact or activity.
Term used in the Andhra Pradesh region of India to describe transgender people who are considered to be married to the gods (particularly Shiva). They often serve as astrologers and spiritual healers and their community is guarded by gurus who induct disciples and train them.
Individuals who share the same parent or parents.
An individual's partner or partners in an established, ongoing romantic or sexual relationship.
People who are not involved in any committed sexual or romantic relationships, including marriages, civil unions, or other established partnerships.
Pejorative term applied to boys or men who are perceived to be effeminate or do not conform to traditional masculine roles.
Indigenous Australian term for people who transition from male to female.
Sexual behaviors that depart from an individual's typical behaviors or preferences as a result of social pressures that permit, encourage, or compel certain behaviors.
A sect within the larger Spiritual Christianity movement in the Russian Empire that emerged in the 18th century. This sect is most commonly known for conducting castrations and mastectomies in order to suppress sexual desire.
Colloquial or informal language related to LGBTQ+ people or used by LGBTQ+ people.
The person who takes on the position of submission or service in a power exchange relationship or during kink activities.
Organizing and activism focused on increasing awareness and acceptance of kinks, fetishes, sadomasochism, leather and related subcultures, closely associated with LGBTQ+ activism and the sex-positive feminist movement.
Belief or theory that categories of gender, sexual orientation, and ethnicity are cultural constructs rather than intrinsic categories of nature.
Web-based and mobile technologies used to turn communication into interactive dialogues.
Organized efforts by groups of people to achieve certain political, social, economic, or cultural goals. Social movements are often intended to carry out, resist, or undo social changes.
Group-held beliefs about how members of that group should behave in a given context.
Official documents issued by governments that ascribe unique numeral identifiers to citizens to track their income and determine retirement benefits.
Historical term for "unnatural" sexual acts unrelated to procreation, including oral sex and anal sex.
Laws and regulations regarding the legality of sodomy, particularly in the United States, Great Britain, and/or former British colonies.
People who are somewhat or slightly masculine in their appearance; commonly used in lesbian communities.
Sexual acts involving only one person, such as masturbation, as opposed to sex with a partner.
Sons who have one or more bisexual parent. For sons who are themselves bisexual, use the term "Bisexual sons."
Sons who have one or more gay parent. For sons who are themselves gay, use the term "Gay sons."
Sons who have one or more lesbian parent.
Sons who have one or more transgender parent. For sons who are themselves transgender, use the term "Transgender sons."
Sons who have one or more queer parent. For sons who are themselves queer, use the term "Queer sons."
Striking the buttocks, usually with the hand or paddle, as a form of impact play.
Individuals of any gender who donate their own sperm for the purpose of inducing pregnancy.
A type of bondage device consisting of a wooden or metal bar with cuffs at either end that are used to keep an individual's arms or legs apart.
Term used in Cambodia for people assigned male at birth who identify as women; translates to "charming girls."
A person’s natural height in an upright position.
Individuals whose gender expression and/or identity is masculine-presenting and who usually do not like to be sexually touched, though they will still provide their partners with sexual pleasure; commonly used in lesbian communities.
The series of spontaneous demonstrations and protests against the police raid that took place on June 28, 1969 at the Stonewall Inn in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City.
Sexual intercourse in which a dildo attached to a harness is used for either vaginal or anal penetration.
A form of erotic dance during which the performer gradually undresses in a seductive and sexually suggestive manner.
Groups of people belonging to cultures that differentiate them from the larger culture to which they belong. Subcultures develop their own norms and values regarding cultural, political, and sexual matters.
Women who seek the right to vote, often through organized protest; typically used to describe members of political movements in the late 1800s and early 1900s focusing on women’s right to vote in the U.S. and Britain.
A method or agreement whereby a person consents to carry a pregnancy for another person or people who will become the child's parent(s) after birth.
People who have experienced and survived anti-LGBTQ+ violence; follow individuals’ preference for “victims” or “survivors” whenever possible.
LGBTQ+ people who have experienced and survived hate crimes; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
LGBTQ+ people who have experienced and survived rape; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
LGBTQ+ people who have experienced and survived sexual abuse; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
LGBTQ+ people who have experienced and survived war; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Slang term for individuals who alternate between being the giving partner and the receiving partner in sexual encounters; typically used as a noun (e.g., "They're a switch").
Swyer syndrome occurs when a person is born with XY chromosomes, but their gonads have not developed into testes. It is a form of gonadal dysgenesis, meaning that a person with this variation will have streak gonads that do not produce hormones. Since they do not produce testosterone, their body does not develop a penis and usually develops a vulva and vagina instead. Since they do not produce another hormone known as anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), people with Swyer syndrome often develop a uterus and fallopian tubes as well. They will not usually start puberty or begin menstruating, but some people with Swyer syndrome do menstruate (without ovulating) if they receive estrogen therapy.
Body modifications in which permanent ink is inserted into the skin to form a design.
U.S. slang term that refers to anonymous sex in a public bathroom or the practice of cruising for sexual partners in public bathrooms.
U.S. slang term for public bathrooms that are used as locations for sexual encounters.
Television shows featuring LGBTQ+ characters or themes.
End-of-life care for those with AIDS and their families; aimed at optimizing quality of life and mitigating suffering.
Reproductive gland or gonad that produces sperm and androgens, primarily testosterone.
A steroid hormone that is produced in the testes, ovaries, and adrenal cortex. Testosterone is commonly utilized in masculinizing hormone therapy regimens for certain secondary sexual characteristics, such as increased muscle mass and growth of body hair.
Works in the performance arts that focus on LGBTQ+ characters, communities, or issues.
Systems of ideas intended to explain a particular phenomenon.
Treatments addressing impairments, illnesses, diseases, or disorders through counseling and rehabilitation.
Devices worn to attach a dildo to a person's thigh, typically so they can penetrate a partner's vagina or anus.
Social category present in societies that recognize three or more genders.
Individuals who are categorized (by their will or by social consensus) as neither man nor woman.
Regional term in Tamil Nadu, India for people assigned male at birth who identify as women.
Regional term in Tamil Nadu, India for people assigned female at birth who identify as men.
In Venezuela's indigenous Warao culture, this term refers to people assigned male at birth who are thought to possess two spirits and often assume a spiritual role; translates to "twisted women."
In Thailand, this term is used to describe people assigned female at birth who exhibit masculine traits, often partnering with feminine dees; similar to a butch in U.S. lesbian culture.
Girls who exhibit some characteristics associated with gender expectations for boys.
Contemporary term for LGBTQ+ people in China and Taiwan.
Slang term for individuals who act as the giving partner in sexual encounters.
Set of attitudes, behaviors, and cultural norms stereotypically associated with or expected of men and which are regarded as having a negative impact on men and society at large.
Broad term for people who do not conform to their gender assigned at birth. Add more specific terms when possible.
Marches and gatherings focused on trans issues and rights.
Term used to describe the identity of people who transition from female to male or male to female. Generally refers to individuals who transition their physical bodies to align with their gender identities. Though this term was popular in the 20th century and is still in use today, it has been largely replaced by "transgender identity" and "trans identity." Some but not all people regard this term as outdated and offensive. Only use to describe people who self-identify as transsexual.
Individuals who transition from female to male or male to female. Generally refers to individuals who transition their physical bodies to align with their gender identities. Though this term was popular in the 20th century and is still in use today, it has been largely replaced by "transgender people" and "trans people." Some but not all people regard this term as outdated and offensive. Only use to describe people who self-identify as transsexual.
People who identify partially or fully with a feminine gender identity and who were typically (but not always) assigned male at birth.
Direct action and organizing to achieve political or social change and acceptance for transgender people.
Transgender people of African descent born in the United States or transgender people born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to the United States. Use for individuals who self-identity as African American. Follow the individual’s preference for African American or Black whenever possible.
Transgender people of African descent born in Canada or transgender people born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to Canada. Use for individuals who self-identify as Afro-Canadian.
Transgender people of African descent born in the Caribbean or transgender people born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to the Caribbean. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Afro-Caribbean.
Transgender people of African descent born in European countries or transgender people born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to Europe. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Afro-European.
Transgender people of African descent born in Latin American countries or transgender people born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to Latin America. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Afro-Latin American.
Collections of records and materials relating to transgender people or transgender communities; can include a variety of organizations and institutions from community to government archives.
Artists who are known to be transgender.
Transgender people of Asian heritage or descent born in the United States or born in Asian countries who live in or have a strong connection to the United States. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Asian American.
Transgender people of Asian heritage or descent, living in Asia or part of the Asian diaspora. Only use for people who self-identify as Asian.
Drinking establishments that primarily cater to transgender people.
Beaches set aside for use by transgender people or beaches known to be frequented by transgender people.
Black people who are transgender. Use only for individuals who self-identity as Black. Follow the individual’s preference for African American or Black whenever possible.
Bookshops that sell materials intended for use by transgender people or addressing topics related to transgender experiences.
Characters in creative works who are transgender.
Transgender people who have not yet reached the age of adolescence.
Transgender people who are ordained for religious duties, particularly in the Christian Church.
Groups of people who share the experience of being transgender.
Spaces in which people from transgender communities meet for social, education, recreational, or organizing activities.
Partnerships in which both people are transgender.
Cultural experiences shared by members of transgender communities or products of transgender culture (e.g., art and media created by and for transgender people, activism focused on transgender issues, slang commonly used in transgender communities, etc.).
International day of observance recognized annually on November 20 to honor the memory and lives of trans people who were murdered in the previous 12 months and to draw attention to the continued violence against trans people. Transgender Day of Remembrance (abbreviated TDoR) was founded in 1999 by a small group of trans people, including Gwendolyn Ann Smith, to memorialize Rita Hester, a trans woman murdered in Allston, Massachusetts.
Institutions providing education, support, and information about transgender issues and transgender communities to transgender people.
Women who take a dominant role in BDSM activities; use for dominatrices who identify as transgender.
Works of fiction written to be performed; use in reference to dramatic works focusing on transgender characters or themes.
Families, whether biological, adoptive, or chosen, in which one or more individuals identify as transgender.
Written works describing imagined events or people; use in reference to fictional works focusing on transgender characters or themes.
Identity term used to describe people who cross or transgress the gender they were assigned at birth.
Latin American people who are transgender; only use to describe individuals who self-identify as Latino, Latina, or Latinx. Do not conflate with Chicano/a/x or Hispanic.
Libraries that hold materials primarily pertaining to transgender people or intended for use by transgender people.
Written literary works about transgender characters or themes.
Transgender people who are part of the BDSM scene and assume the dominant role in sexual relationships with a dominant/submissive dynamic.
Transgender women who are part of the BDSM scene and assume the mistress role in sexual relationships with a mistress/submissive dynamic.
Umbrella term for activism focused on the rights of transgender people and issues faced by transgender communities.
Institutions dedicated to the storage, exhibition, conservation, and preservation of materials relating to transgender people and transgender history.
People who are part of the Native peoples of the continental United States and Canada (excluding Inuit people) and self-identity as transgender. Use more specific terms when available.
Serialized print or digital periodicals created by or for transgender people, often with the purpose of sharing news and information related to transgender communities and transgender issues.
Serialized print or digital publications about transgender people or transgender issues (and typically produced by transgender people or transgender organizations) that contain news, articles, columns, correspondence, and advertisements.
Transgender people who are members of polytheistic religions or other religions outside of the dominant culture that typically incorporate nature worship and/or the sacred feminine, such as Wicca, Druidry, Heathenry, etc. Use to describe transgender people who self-identify as Pagan.
Transgender people serving in state and national armed forces.
Transgender people who are not white and who identify as people of color.
Literary works, typically written in verse, that focus on transgender characters, transgender themes, or transgender identity.
Transgender people working to bring about political or social change through public organizing.
Erotic or sexually explicit films featuring transgender people.
Newspapers, magazines, or other publishing outlets aimed at transgender audiences and/or operated by transgender people.
Transgender people who are members of the Protestant Church.
Companies and organizations that publish materials for transgender communities or addressing transgender issues.
Auditory content broadcast on the radio (analog or digital) about transgender people and transgender issues.
Ongoing connections (romantic, sexual, or platonic) between two or more transgender people.
Legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement held by transgender people.
Transgender people who are members of the Roman Catholic Church.
Colloquial or informal language related to transgender identity or used by transgender people.
Academic field of research and study about transgender people, transgender identity, and transgender communities.
Transgender people who have experienced and survived hate crimes; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Transgender people who have experienced and survived rape; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Transgender people who have experienced and survived sexual abuse; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Transgender people who have experienced and survived war; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Transgender people who are between the ages of childhood and adulthood.
Television shows featuring transgender characters or themes.
Works in the performance arts that focus on transgender characters or themes.
Transgender people who have experienced hate crimes and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Transgender people who have experienced rape and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Transgender people who have experienced sexual abuse and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Transgender people who have experienced war and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Transgender people’s legal rights to be informed, present, and heard within the criminal justice system after having been harmed or injured as the result of of a crime, accident, or other event.
Written literary works for an audience of readers from 12-18 years of age, also known as young adult literature or YA; use in reference to youth literature focusing on transgender characters or themes.
Pathologizing term often used in the medicalization of transgender people; use only in historical contexts.
Term used to describe a person’s current status in their gender transition.
The process of changing one's gender presentation to affirm one's internal sense of gender; can include social or medical transition.
Trans people assigned female at birth who identify partially or fully with a masculine gender.
Antagonism or disgust directed toward trans individuals (or others perceived to be transgressing gender norms) due to their gender identity and/or expression. Transphobia can include denial of the existence of trans identities, stereotypes, verbal harassment, and physical violence.
An individual's identification with a gender inconsistent with or not culturally associated with their assigned sex.
U.S. historical term used to describe the practices of individuals who wear clothes associated with a gender other than their gender assigned at birth; generally considered to be a derogatory term; use only in historical contexts.
U.S. historical term used to describe individuals who wear clothes associated with a gender other than their gender assigned at birth; generally considered to be a derogatory term; use only in historical contexts.
Spanish term for people assigned male at birth who have a feminine gender identity; commonly used in South America.
Historical term for individuals who engage in the sexual practice of tribadism; use only in historical contexts.
Gender identity including three genders, typically male, female, and a third (often non-binary) gender.
People whose gender continually moves between or among three gender identities, typically male, female, and a third gender.
Ancient Hindu term for a third gender that is typically described as fluid and/or continuously transformative.
Slang term describing various methods used to visually conceal the penis to give a flatter appearance in clothing.
Term originating in Rabbinic Judaism to refer to someone with an unknown sex; literally translates to "hidden." Used historically to refer to intersex variations where the genitals were covered by skin. Only use for individuals who are Jewish and who self-identify as Tumtum.
Turner syndrome is a variation in which a person is born with a 45X chromosome pattern (sometimes called 45XO) rather than the typical 46XX. People with Turner syndrome often share specific physical features such as short stature, a webbed neck and broad chest, and heart issues. They can also develop variations in their other sex characteristics, such as smaller-than-typical ovaries that may stop producing hormones at a younger age than typical, and they might not menstruate or experience pubertal changes.
U.S. slang term for young gay men who are typically small in stature, hairless, and considered effeminate.
Indigenous people in North America who self-identify as Two-Spirit to reconnect with the multiple gender and sexual roles in Native cultures.
Men whose penises are uncircumcised (i.e., the foreskin of the penis has not been surgically removed).
LGBTQ+ people who do not have official documentation to remain legal residents of the countries in which they live.
Romantic and/or sexual partnerships of two people who are unmarried.
19th century term used to refer to gender and sexual minorities; use only in historical contexts.
The process of gently and incrementally stretching the vagina using vaginal dilators.
Sexual practice of inserting a fist into a vagina.
Internal muscular channel connected to external genital organs.
A condition characterized by painful, spasmodic contractions of the vagina in response to physical contact, pressure, or insertion.
Electric-powered sex toys that produce different levels of vibrations or pulses to aid in sexual stimulation and pleasure.
LGBTQ+ people’s legal rights to be informed, present, and heard within the criminal justice system after having been harmed or injured as the result of a crime, accident, or other event.
Term used to describe the sexual status of people who have never engaged in sexual activity.
A highly stylized form of dance originating in the Harlem ballroom scene in the 1980s and 1990s.
Sound produced by the larynx and vocal tract that is used for communication and expression.
Any non-surgical technique used to make the human voice sound either more feminine or masculine.
External genitalia surrounding the vagina.
Slang term for masturbation that is commonly used in the United States.
In Māori culture in New Zealand, this term is used to describe people assigned female at birth who pursue traditionally male roles.
Slang term for masturbation commonly used in the United Kingdom and Ireland; typically refers to the manual stimulation of the penis.
Third gender people in Indonesia who are assigned male at birth but who express femininity and may identify as women.
In Māori culture in New Zealand, this term is used to describe people assigned male at birth who pursue traditionally female roles.
Sticks, cords, or straps, usually with stiff handles, that are used for striking individuals. Often used in BDSM circles to enhance sexual arousal.
People whose spouses or partners have died.
A way of spelling "women" that is used in certain feminist circles. First used by George P. Krapp (1872-1934) and then appeared in 19th century Black American English renderings before being used by feminists in the 20th century.
North American Lakota word referring to people assigned male at birth who adopt feminine roles; translates to "to be like a woman."
U.S. slang term for heavy-set, masculine gay men who are often characterized as having hairy bodies and facial hair; typically used for individuals who are more aggressive and overtly masculine than bears.
Women who engage in sexual activity with other women.
Bookshops that sell materials intended for use by women or addressing topics related to women.
Spaces in which women meet for social, educational, recreational, and organizing activities.
Libraries that contain materials primarily pertaining to women or for use by women.
Same-gender marriage tradition between two women in Africa conducted according to African culture and traditions.
Organized events typically lasting more than one day that feature performances by women’s musical groups and performers. Though centered on music, women’s music festivals may also incorporate aspects of lesbian and feminist culture by offering workshops, arts and crafts, and community resources.
A spelling of "woman" or "women" that first appeared in print in 1976 and is used in certain feminist circles to avoid having the suffix of "men." Some contemporary transgender activists have criticized use of the word "womyn" due to its prevalence in trans-exclusionary radical feminist (TERF) circles following the exclusion of trans women from the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival.
Arabic word used in Oman for people who assigned male at birth who adopt feminine mannerisms and/or roles.
Japanese term for people who do not fit within the categories of man or woman; includes individuals born intersex, female, or male, and is often abbreviated using FTX, MTX, or XTX to describe individuals' transitions; some definitions equate the term to genderqueer or beyond the binary identities.
Chinese word for individuals who are both female (yin) and male (yang).
The time period between childhood and adulthood.
LGBTQ+ people who are between the ages of childhood and adulthood.
Written literary works for an audience of readers from 12-18 years of age, also known as young adult literature or YA; use in reference to youth literature focusing on LGBTQ+ characters or themes.
In northern India and Pakistan, this term is used to refer to effeminate people.
A twelve step program based in the U.S. that treats alcoholism as a disease and aims to address its impact on the adult lives of children of alcoholics; may be used in reference to LGBTQ+ members of ACA or LGBTQ+-focused chapters of ACA
An international organization aimed toward supporting alcoholics in sobriety through a twelve-step program; may be used in reference to LGBTQ+ individuals in AA or LGBTQ+ chapters of AA
Recovery groups, or voluntary associations of people in recovery from use disorders, conditions, or addictions, that are accepting and supportive of LGBTQ+ people and their identities.
LGBTQ+ people with alcohol use disorders
Individuals who are addicted to alcohol or have alcohol dependencies
LGBTQ+ people who have been diagnosed with or regard themselves as having an alcohol use disorder, a medical condition that involves a pattern of alcohol use that is difficult to control, negatively impacts the individual's life, and results in withdrawal symptoms upon cessation. Only use to refer to individuals who describe themselves as having an alcohol use disorder. Follow the individual's preference for "use disorder" or "addiction" whenever possible.
A sexual orientation generally characterized by the occurrence of sexual attraction or the desire for partnered sexual experiences.
The assumption that all people share a desire for romantic relationships and that this is a preferential life goal.
The belief that everyone should be either sexually available or in a sexual relationship.
Condition characterized by an individual's persistent and often mistaken belief that another person is infatuated or in love with them. Can also be used to describe a level or frequency of sexual desire perceived as excessive within a given culture. Medical doctors and psychologists have historically diagnosed LGBTQ+ people with erotomania in order to wrongly treat their identities and desires as medical disorders. Should only be used in a historical context or if an individual self-identifies with the term.
LGBTQ+ people with internet sex addictions
LGBTQ+ people with internet sexual addictions
LGBTQ+ people with pornography addictions
LGBTQ+ people experiencing addiction to or dependency upon sexual activities involving the internet, including watching pornography, engaging in sexual conversations online, etc. Only use to refer to individuals who describe themselves as having internet sex addictions, not individuals who sexual practices are perceived as promiscuous or excessive by others.
LGBTQ+ people in Adult Children of Alcoholics
LGBTQ people in Adult Children of Alcoholics
LGBTQ+ people who are members of recovery groups, or voluntary associations of people in recovery from use disorders, conditions, or addictions.
LGBTQ+ people currently in recovery from use disorders, conditions, or addictions. Follow the individual's preference for "recovery" or "sobriety" whenever possible.
Umbrella term for LGBTQ+ people experiencing addictions, dependencies, or use disorders of some kind. Only use to refer to individuals who describe themselves as having addictions. Apply more specific terms if possible.
Bars or clubs that cater to or which are known to be especially friendly to the leather community.
In polyamory or open relationships, metamours are the partners of an individual's partner, with whom the individual does not have a direct sexual or romantic relationship.
The belief that all people share a desire for monogamous relationships and that this is a preferential life goal.
A sexuality that involves attraction to only one gender; includes homosexuality and heterosexuality.
Term used to describe the sexual identity of individuals who experience attraction to more than one gender; includes bisexuality and pansexuality.
Terms that have been or are currently used in derogatory ways but have been reclaimed by certain groups or in certain circumstances.
Insulting or discriminating remarks, innuendos, or names intended to demoralize a person, typically by disparaging that person's identity or social group. Generally, for a term to be considered a slur, it must be derogatory towards a particular person or group, it must be used to subordinate them within some structure of power relations, and the derogated person or group must be defined by an intrinsic property such as their race, sexual orientation, gender identity, etc. This category includes terms considered slurs at any point in their usage. Therefore, some of these terms may no longer be considered universally derogatory, may be in common usage, or may be selectively reclaimed by certain groups.
Widespread disapproval of a group of people or set of behaviors based on preconceived ideas.
Conscious abstinence from addictive or mind-altering substances, typically alcohol or drugs.
LGBTQ+ people intentionally refraining from substance use (typically drugs or alcohol). Follow the individual's preference for "sobriety" or "recovery" whenever possible.
Umbrella term used to describe individuals who "trans" gender regardless of their identification; sometimes used as a way to historicize non-binary identities.
Historical term originating from the German "Uranismus" coined by Karl Heinrich Ulrichs as an umbrella term for what are now referred to as gender and sexual minorities; use only in historical contexts.
Written works that include magical or fantastical elements; use in reference to fantasy fiction focusing on lesbian characters or themes.
Written works that include magical or fantastical elements; use in reference to fantasy fiction focusing on gay characters or themes.
Written works that include magical or fantastical elements; use in reference to fantasy fiction focusing on bisexual characters or themes.
Written works that include magical or fantastical elements; use in reference to fantasy fiction focusing on transgender characters or themes.
Written works that include magical or fantastical elements; use in reference to fantasy fiction focusing on queer characters or themes.
Written literary works about imaginative or futuristic concepts incorporating science, technology, space, time travel, and other speculative elements; use in reference to science fiction focusing on lesbian characters and themes.
Written literary works about imaginative or futuristic concepts incorporating science, technology, space, time travel, and other speculative elements; use in reference to science fiction focusing on gay characters or themes.
Written literary work about imaginative or futuristic concepts incorporating science, technology, space, time travel, and other speculative elements; use in reference to science fiction focusing on bisexual characters or themes.
Written literary works about imaginative or futuristic concepts incorporating science, technology, space, time travel, and other speculative elements; use in reference to science fiction focusing on transgender characters and themes.
Written literary works about imaginative or futuristic concepts incorporating science, technology, space, time travel, and other speculative elements; use in reference to science fiction focusing on queer characters or themes.
Written literary works about the investigation of crime or the work of detectives; use in reference to mystery and detective fiction focusing on lesbian characters and themes.
Written literary works about the investigation of crime or the work of detectives; use in reference to mystery and detective fiction focusing on gay characters or themes.
Written literary works about the investigation of crime or the work of detectives; use in reference to mystery and detective fiction focusing on bisexual characters or themes.
Transgender mystery and detective fiction
Written literary works about the investigation of crime or the work of detectives; use in reference to mystery and detective fiction focusing on transgender characters and themes.
Written literary works about the investigation of crime or the work of detectives; use in reference to mystery and detective fiction focusing on queer characters and themes.
Written works of fiction intended to frighten, scare, or disgust; use in reference to horror fiction focusing on LGBTQ+ characters or themes.
Written works of fiction intended to frighten, scare, or disgust; use in reference to horror fiction focusing on lesbian characters or themes.
Written works of fiction intended to frighten, scare, or disgust; use in reference to horror fiction focusing on gay characters or themes.
Written works of fiction intended to frighten, scare, or disgust; use in reference to horror fiction focusing on bisexual characters or themes.
Written works of fiction intended to frighten, scare, or disgust; use in reference to horror fiction focusing on transgender characters or themes.
Written works of fiction intended to frighten, scare, or disgust; use in reference to horror fiction focusing on queer characters or themes.
Works of fiction revolving around romantic and/or sexual relationships between the main characters; use in reference to romance fiction focusing on LGBTQ+ characters.
Works consisting of sequential images often accompanied by text; use in reference to comics focusing on lesbian characters or themes.
Works consisting of sequential images often accompanied by text; use in reference to comics focusing on gay characters or themes.
Works consisting of sequential images often accompanied by text; use in reference to comics focusing on bisexual characters or themes.
Works consisting of sequential images often accompanied by text; use in reference to comics focusing on transgender characters or themes.
Works consisting of sequential images often accompanied by text; use in reference to comics focusing on queer characters or themes.
Written literary works focusing on romantic relationships and love between people; use in reference to romance fiction focusing on lesbian characters and themes.
Written literary work focusing on romantic relationships and love between people; use in reference to romance fiction focusing on gay characters or themes.
Written literary work focusing on romantic relationships and love between people; use in reference to romance fiction focusing on bisexual characters or themes.
Written literary works focusing on romantic relationships and love between people; use in reference to romance fiction focusing on transgender characters and themes.
Written literary work focusing on romantic relationships and love between people; use in reference to romance fiction focusing on queer characters or themes.
Literary works that have erotic or sexual elements; use in reference to erotic literature focusing on lesbian characters or themes.
Literary works with erotic or sexual elements; use in reference to erotic literature focusing on gay characters or themes.
Literary works that have erotic or sexual elements; use in reference to erotic literature focusing on bisexual characters or themes.
Literary works that have erotic or sexual elements; use in reference to erotic literature focusing on transgender characters or themes.
Literary works that have erotic or sexual elements; use in reference to erotic literature focusing on queer characters or themes.
The study, evaluation, and interpretation of literary works focusing on LGBTQ+ characters or themes; can also include interpretation of literature through the lens and frameworks associated with LGBTQ+ studies.
The study, evaluation, and interpretation of literary works focusing on lesbian characters or themes; can also include interpretation of literature through the lens and frameworks of lesbian studies.
The study, evaluation, and interpretation of literary works focusing on gay characters or themes; can also include interpretation of literature through the lens and frameworks of gay studies.
The study, evaluation, and interpretation of literary works focusing on bisexual characters or themes; can also include interpretation of literature through the lens and frameworks of bisexuality.
The study, evaluation, and interpretation of literary works focusing on transgender characters or themes; can also include interpretation of literature through the lens and frameworks of transgender studies.
The study, evaluation, and interpretation of literary works focusing on queer characters or themes; can also include interpretation of literature through the lens and frameworks of queer theory.
Written literary works that are short in length and detail a self-contained incident or concept; use in reference to short stories focusing on LGBTQ+ characters or themes.
Written literary works that are short in length and detail a self-contained incident or concept; use in reference to short stories focusing on lesbian characters or themes.
Written literary works that are short in length and detail a self-contained incident or concept; use in reference to short stories focusing on gay characters or themes.
Written literary works that are short in length and detail a self-contained incident or concept; use in reference to short stories focusing on bisexual characters or themes.
Written literary works that are short in length and detail a self-contained incident or concept; use in reference to short stories focusing on transgender characters or themes.
Written literary works that are short in length and detail a self-contained incident or concept; use in reference to short stories focusing on queer characters or themes.
Written accounts of the lives of individuals known to be LGBTQ+.
Written accounts of the lives of individuals known to be lesbians.
Written accounts of the lives of gay men.
Written accounts of the lives of people known to be bisexual.
Written accounts of the lives of individuals known to be transgender.
Written accounts of the lives of individuals known to be queer.
A surgical procedure aimed at increasing breast size using a prosthetic implant; often undergone by transgender women as a gender affirming surgery.
A surgical procedure to decrease breast size. Often undertaken by transgender men or non-binary people as a gender affirming surgery.
The dimensions of an individual's breast tissue; can be used as an approximation (e.g., large breasts, small breasts) or to reference to standards of measurement for bras and other support garments.
LGBTQ+ people who are ordained for religious duties, particularly in the Christian Church.
Abbreviation for "don’t ask don’t tell relationships," where partners agree that they have each have multiple romantic and/or sexual relationships as long as they do not discuss it with their primary partner or let it interfere with their partner’s daily life.
A sexual orientation generally characterized by infrequent, rare, or low-intensity sexual attraction.
People who experience infrequent, rare, or low-intensity sexual attraction.
A term used in the swinging community to describe a type of partner swapping in which sexual activities happen in different spaces or rooms where partners may not necessarily be in sight of each other.
A form of consensual non-monogamy in which a person has multiple partners who are not "equal" to one another in terms of time, emotional intensity, financial, or scheduling matters.
Breasts considered large within a given cultural context. Note that large breasts have various health issues associated with them and may carry stigmatized medical associations (such as terms like gigantomastia and macromastia). These terms have more specific medical meanings but should not be used outside of those specific contexts.
A surgical procedure aimed at removing the breast or as much breast tissue as possible; often undergone as part of "top surgery" for transgender men or nonbinary people.
A sexual orientation generally characterized by a person's lack of emotional connection to other people unless or until they have formed a strong sexual connection with them first.
People who do not experience strong emotional connections to other people unless they form strong sexual connections with them first.
Any of various fetishes regarding a specific part of the body.
A term used in hierarchical polyamory to refer to the partner whose interests and desires come before those of any secondary partner(s).
An individual's preference toward or away from a particular relationship model.
People whose relationship practices differ from those of the dominant culture.
A term used in hierarchical polyamory to refer to partners whose interests and desires come second to those of the primary partner(s).
Breasts considered small within a given cultural context. In certain situations, medical professionals may refer to such breasts as "underdeveloped" or "hypoplastic." These terms can be considered offensive and should not be used outside of specific medical contexts. The alternate labels included here are intended to aid search tools only and should not be used in other contexts.
A term used in the swinging community to describe a type of partner swap in which sexual activities happen in the same shared space so that all partners are within sight of one another.
An agreement, sexual practice, or relationship in which a couple engages in group sex or the swapping of sexual partners within a group, often on a habitual basis.
Women whose gender assigned at birth was not female. Do not use for intersex people unless the intersex person identifies as a trans woman.
Men whose gender assigned at birth was not male. Do not use for intersex people unless the intersex person identifies as a trans man.
A romantic orientation generally characterized by a lack of romantic attraction or desire.
A term used in non-monogamous communities to refer to a long-term partner with multiple commitments. Often used in place of language that is seen as hierarchical (e.g., primary/secondary partner).
The assignment of an "X" gender marker or "X" sex designation shortly after birth. It is uncommon for intersex people to be assigned intersex or X at birth.
An individual's sex as determined by a medical practitioner or provider. Determination is usually based on the appearance of external genitalia but may use other methodologies. In practice, sex assigned at birth is often culturally variable; the term "assigned gender" is often more applicable or accurate.
The positive emotion an individual may experience in regards to their partner's relationship with another partner. Often defined as the opposite of jealousy.
The assumption that all people share a desire for monogamous relationships and that this is a preferential life goal.
Practice of romantic or sexual relationships with more than one person simultaneously and with all the consent of all partners involved.
People who partially, but not fully, identify women or girls irrespective of their assigned genders. Used by cisgender, transgender, transfeminine, or nonbinary people who feel more strongly aligned with women physically or socially, but not strongly enough to identify solely as one.
People who partially, but not fully, identify as men or boys irrespective of their assigned genders. Used by cisgender, transgender, transmasculine, or nonbinary people who feel more aligned with men physically or socially, but not strongly enough to identify solely as one.
Gay subculture popularized in the 1970s via homoerotic bodybuilder magazines. Often includes aesthetics modeled after ancient Greek gymnasiums. Especially popular in San Francisco, West Hollywood, and New York City.
A period of time in a relationship characterized by passionate love as well as intense feelings of attraction and ecstasy, sometimes accompanied by idealization of a partner or the shared relationship.
Term used to describe relationships that are mostly monogamous with occasional exceptions made for sexual play.
A term used in non-monogamous communities to refer to partners an individual lives with. Often used in place of language that is seen as hierarchical (e.g., primary partner, secondary partner).
Practice of engaging in romantic or sexual relationships with more than one person simultaneously.
People who practice romantic or sexual relationships with more than one person simultaneously.
A strong, almost giddy feeling of excitement and infatuation common in the beginning of a new romantic relationship. Often used in polyamory contexts.
In polyamory contexts, paramours are the partners of an individual's partner, typically as part of a relationship the primary partner is unaware of. In other contexts, this term is used broadly as a synonym for lovers.
People who engage in romantic, sexual, or play relationships with more than one person simultaneously, with the knowledge and consent of all parties involved.
In polyamory circles, this term refers to the practice of engaging in multiple-partner relationships that are "closed off" to new participants per the agreement of those involved.
People who practice a type of non-monogamy characterized by application of anarchist principles (such as autonomy, anti-normativity, anti-hierarchical practices, refusal of state governance) to relationships. Often contrasted with hierarchical polyamory.
A type of non-monogamy characterized by application of anarchist principles (such as autonomy, anti-normativity, anti-hierarchical practices, refusal of state governance) to relationships. Often contrasted with hierarchical polyamory.
Typically, a sexual activity in which two women rub their genitalia against one another while intertwining their legs.
Someone who is both trans and genderqueer and who identifies as transgenderqueer.
A mostly antiquated term used either to refer to scissoring, to any sexual activity between women, or to the general concept of being a lesbian ("lesbianism").
Non-binary gender identity that is not defined in relation to human understandings of gender (i.e., female or male, woman or man), but instead in relation to animals, plants, or other things
A person who identifies their gender in relation to non-human understandings of gender and relates to animals, plants, or other things.
Personal pronouns that are not officially (i.e., in dictionaries, style guides, etc.) recognized by the language that they are used in. Often intended to be gender neutral.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Ae went to the Homosaurus website. I watched aer browse the Homosaurus. Ae uses the Homosaurus aerself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Co went to the Homosaurus website. I watched co browse the Homosaurus. Co uses the Homosaurus coself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Cy went to the Homosaurus website. I watched cyb browse the Homosaurus. Cy uses the Homosaurus cyberself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: E went to the Homosaurus website. I watched em browse the Homosaurus. E uses the Homosaurus emself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Ey went to the Homosaurus website. I watched em browse the Homosaurus. Ey uses the Homosaurus eirself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Fe went to the Homosaurus website. I watched fem browse the Homosaurus. Fe uses the Homosaurus femself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Fae went to the Homosaurus website. I watched faer browse the Homosaurus. Fae uses the Homosaurus faerself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Fey went to the Homosaurus website. I watched fem browse the Homosaurus. Fey uses the Homosaurus femself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: He went to the Homosaurus website. I watched him browse the Homosaurus. He uses the Homosaurus himself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Hu went to the Homosaurus website. I watched hum browse the Homosaurus. Hu uses the Homosaurus humself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: It went to the Homosaurus website. I watched it browse the Homosaurus. It uses the Homosaurus itself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Jee went to the Homosaurus website. I watched jem browse the Homosaurus. Jee uses the Homosaurus jemself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Kit went to the Homosaurus website. I watched kit browse the Homosaurus. Kit uses the Homosaurus kitself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Ne went to the Homosaurus website. I watched nir browse the Homosaurus. Ne uses the Homosaurus nemself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Ne went to the Homosaurus website. I watched nem browse the Homosaurus. Ne uses the Homosaurus nis.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Peh went to the Homosaurus website. I watched pehm browse the Homosaurus. Peh uses the Homosaurus pehself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Per went to the Homosaurus website. I watched per browse the Homosaurus. Per uses the Homosaurus perself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Sie went to the Homosaurus website. I watched hir browse the Homosaurus. Sie uses the Homosaurus hirself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Se went to the Homosaurus website. I watched ser browse the Homosaurus. Se uses the Homosaurus serself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: She went to the Homosaurus website. I watched her browse the Homosaurus. She uses the Homosaurus herself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Shi went to the Homosaurus website. I watched hir browse the Homosaurus. Shi uses the Homosaurus hirself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Si went to the Homosaurus website. I watched hyr browse the Homosaurus. Si uses the Homosaurus hyrself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: They went to the Homosaurus website. I watched them browse the Homosaurus. They use the Homosaurus themselves.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: They went to the Homosaurus website. I watched them browse the Homosaurus. They use the Homosaurus themself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Thon went to the Homosaurus website. I watched thon browse the Homosaurus. Thon uses the Homosaurus thonself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Ve went to the Homosaurus website. I watched ver browse the Homosaurus. Ve uses the Homosaurus verself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Ve went to the Homosaurus website. I watched vem browse the Homosaurus. Ve uses the Homosaurus verself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Voi went to the Homosaurus website. I watched void browse the Homosaurus. Voi uses the Homosaurus voidself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Vi went to the Homosaurus website. I watched ver browse the Homosaurus. Vi uses the Homosaurus virself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Vi went to the Homosaurus website. I watched vim browse the Homosaurus. Vi uses the Homosaurus virself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Xie went to the Homosaurus website. I watched xer browse the Homosaurus. Xie uses the Homosaurus xerself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Xe went to the Homosaurus website. I watched xyr browse the Homosaurus. Xe uses the Homosaurus xemself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Xey went to the Homosaurus website. I watched xem browse the Homosaurus. Xey uses the Homosaurus xyr.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Xey went to the Homosaurus website. I watched xem browse the Homosaurus. Xey uses the Homosaurus xeir.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Yo went to the Homosaurus website. I watched yo browse the Homosaurus. Yo uses the Homosaurus yosself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Ze went to the Homosaurus website. I watched zir browse the Homosaurus. Ze uses the Homosaurus zirself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Ze went to the Homosaurus website. I watched hir browse the Homosaurus. Ze uses the Homosaurus hirself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Ze went to the Homosaurus website. I watched zem browse the Homosaurus. Ze uses the Homosaurus zirself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Ze went to the Homosaurus website. I watched mer browse the Homosaurus. Ze uses the Homosaurus zemself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Zee went to the Homosaurus website. I watched zed browse the Homosaurus. Zee uses the Homosaurus zedself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Zie went to the Homosaurus website. I watched zir browse the Homosaurus. Zie uses the Homosaurus zirself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Zie went to the Homosaurus website. I watched zem browse the Homosaurus. Zie uses the Homosaurus zirself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Zie went to the Homosaurus website. I watched hir browse the Homosaurus. Zie uses the Homosaurus hirself.
A set of pronouns. Used in this manner: Zme went to the Homosaurus website. I watched zmyr browse the Homosaurus. Zme uses the Homosaurus zmyrself.
Creators of written works who are known to be LGBTQ+.
Creators of written works who are known to be lesbians.
Creators of written works who are known to be gay.
Creators of written works who are known to be bisexual.
Creators of written works who are known to be transgender.
Creators of written works who are known to be queer.
Accounts of individuals' lives written by those individuals; use for autobiographies written by LGBTQ+ authors.
Accounts of individuals' lives written by those individuals; use for autobiographies written by lesbian authors.
Accounts of individuals' lives written by those individuals; use for autobiographies written by gay authors.
Accounts of individuals' lives written by those individuals; use for autobiographies written by bisexual authors.
Accounts of individuals' lives written by those individuals; use for autobiographies written by transgender authors.
Accounts of individuals' lives written by those individuals; use for autobiographies written by queer authors.
Businesses focusing on LGBTQ+ clientele and products related to LGBTQ+ communities.
Businesses focusing on lesbian clientele and products related to lesbian communities.
Businesses focusing on gay clientele and products related to gay communities.
Businesses focusing on bisexual clientele and products related to bisexual communities.
Businesses focusing on transgender clientele and products related to transgender communities.
Businesses focusing on queer clientele and products related to queer communities.
Creators of written works who are known to be asexual.
Creators of written works who are known to be aromantic.
Creators of written works who are known to be intersex.
Creators of written works who are known to be Two-Spirit.
Written works describing imagined events or people; use in reference to fictional works focusing on Two-Spirit characters or themes.
Written works of fiction featuring intersex characters or addressing intersex themes.
Written works describing imagined events or people; use in reference to fictional works focusing on aromantic characters or themes.
Written works describing imagined events or people; use in reference to fictional works focusing on asexual characters or themes.
A broad grouping term for galleries, libraries, archives, museums, and special collections (GLAMS) that hold materials primarily pertaining to LGBTQ+ people or intended for use by LGBTQ+ people.
Term used to describe people, typically children, who do not conform to traditional gender norms and instead creatively interweave their internal and external experiences to understand their gender identity and expression. May also be used to describe a way of raising children outside of traditional gender norms.
Families, whether biological, adoptive, or chosen, in which one or more individuals identify as aromantic.
Families, whether biological, adoptive, or chosen, in which one or more individuals identify as asexual.
Families, whether biological, adoptive, or chosen, in which one or more individuals are intersex.
Families, whether biological, adoptive, or chosen, in which one or more individuals identify as Two-Spirit.
Children who have one or more aromantic parent.
Children who have one or more asexual parent.
Children who have one or more intersex parent.
Children who have one or more Two-Spirit parent.
Behavior involving physical force intended to harm or kill Two-Spirit people on the basis of their identity.
Behavior involving physical force intended to harm or kill intersex people because they are intersex.
LGBTQ+ people who are trained, professional cooks, typically holding a leadership role in the kitchen in which they are employed.
Lesbians who are trained, professional cooks, typically holding a leadership role in the kitchen in which they are employed.
Gay men who are trained, professional cooks, typically holding a leadership role in the kitchen in which they are employed.
Bisexual people who are trained, professional cooks, typically holding a leadership role in the kitchens in which they are employed.
Transgender people who are trained, professional cooks, typically holding a leadership role in the kitchen in which they are employed.
Queer people who are trained, professional cooks, typically holding a leadership role in the kitchen in which they are employed.
Intersex people who are trained, professional cooks, typically holding a leadership role in the kitchen in which they are employed.
Two-Spirit people who are trained, professional cooks, typically holding a leadership role in the kitchen in which they are employed.
Slang term for individuals who alternate between being the giving partner and the receiving partner in sexual encounters; typically used as an adjective (e.g., "They're vers.").
Abbreviated form of the phrase "trans for trans," a label used to describe trans people who prioritize engaging in romantic, sexual, or other relationships with other trans people.
Slang term for the act of identifying (or clocking) someone in public as trans, crossdressing, or in drag when that person is intending to pass or be read by others as cisgender, typically for their personal safety. Clocking is often understood to be a threat (of violence or public outing) against the person being clocked. Use the term "Reading (Gender)" to refer to shared identification or recognized kinship between two individuals who are both gender minorities.
Black queer people who recognize their queer identity as salient to their Blackness and vice versa; only use to describe individuals who identify as Blaqueer or BlaQ.
LGBTQ+ people who do not identify as such to others.
Transgender people who do not identify as such to others.
Queer people who do not identify as such to others.
Intersex people who do not disclose the fact that they are intersex to others.
Two-Spirit people who do not identify as such to others.
Individuals who pose as the date or partner of someone they are not in a relationship with, typically to prevent that person's sexuality from becoming public knowledge; most commonly used to refer to a woman pretending to be dating a gay man.
Abbreviation used to describe Two-Spirit people, lesbians, gay men, bisexual people, transgender people, queer people, and other gender and sexual minorities as a group; commonly used in Canada to emphasize the particularities of Indigenous people's experiences.
Padding or phallic objects designed to be worn in the front of an individual's pants or underwear to give the appearance of having a bulge.
A romantic orientation characterized by the occurrence of romantic attraction or desire in a frequent and consistent manner, often alongside sexual attraction.
A romantic orientation characterized by the occurrence of romantic attraction or desire in a frequent and consistent manner toward more than one sex or gender.
A romantic orientation characterized by the occurrence of romantic attraction or desire in a frequent and consistent manner toward members of the same sex or gender.
A romantic orientation characterized by the occurrence of romantic attraction or romantic desire in a frequent and consistent manner toward members of the opposite sex or gender.
A romantic orientation characterized by the occurrence of romantic attraction or romantic desire in a frequent and consistent manner irrespective of sex or gender.
Lesbians who belong to two or more racial groups.
Gay men who belong to two or more racial groups.
Bisexual people who belong to two or more racial groups.
Transgender people who belong to two or more racial groups.
Queer people who belong to two or more racial groups.
Sexual attraction or erotic desire between members of the same sex or gender; typically used to describe temporary, latent, or unfulfilled desire rather than a more permanent sexual identity or orientation.
Statements used to caution individuals that materials may be disturbing or offensive. Includes warnings assigned to fanworks (usually by the creator) that give information about possibly upsetting, triggering, or controversial elements within a work.
Sets of clothing worn to emulate a particular person, place, thing, or time period.
Indigenous queer people who recognize their queer identity as salient to their Indigenous identity and vice versa; some but not all Indigiqueer people also identify as Two-Spirit; only use to describe individuals who self-identify as Indigiqueer.
Term used to describe the identity of people who are both Indigenous and queer and view those identities as inherently related and interconnected.
A group of Two-Spirit people united by their shared identity.
Pacific Islander American people (LGBTQ)
LGBTQ+ people who identify as both Pacific Islanders (or of Pacific Islander ancestry) and American.
Special collections that hold materials primarily pertaining to LGBTQ+ people or intended for use by LGBTQ+ people. Special collections tend to be a blend of institutional types (e.g., an archives with a museum component). This term should be applied to institutions that refer to themselves as special collections; otherwise, use the term "LGBTQ+ cultural heritage institutions."
Individuals who express fetishistic interest in and pursue sexual encounters with others based solely on their affiliation with a (typically marginalized) group that the chaser does not belong to. Often coupled with other terms to identify the type of chaser.
LGBTQ+ people who have moved to another country.
Behaviors, acts, or forms of expression that contradict or do not conform to a given culture's norms surrounding gender.
Individuals whose gender identities and practices differ from those of the dominant culture. Use the term "Sexual minorities" for individuals whose sexual identities, orientations, and practices differ from those of the dominant culture.
The practice or policy of providing equal access and support to trans people.
The practice or policy of denying equal access and support to trans people.
Masculine-aligned identities or practices of trans people.
Feminine-aligned identities or practices of trans people.
A term originating from Greek mythology that refers to beings that are both fully female and fully male. The term was once adopted in the medical realm to describe people with intersex variations generally (and later to describe someone with both ovarian and testicular tissue specifically), but it is now recognized to be stigmatizing, imprecise, and misleading. Many people in the intersex community consider the use of this term to be pathologizing and deeply offensive, while other intersex people have chosen to reclaim the term to describe themselves and their bodies. Do not use this term to describe an individual unless they explicitly identify with it and have chosen to use it.
Individuals who experience romantic attraction or desire in a frequent and consistent manner, often alongside sexual attraction.
Individuals who experience romantic attraction or desire in a frequent and consistent manner toward people of more than one sex or gender.
Individuals who experience romantic attraction or desire in a frequent and consistent manner toward members of the same sex or gender.
Individuals who experience romantic attraction or romantic desire in a frequent and consistent manner toward members of the opposite sex or gender.
Individuals who experience romantic attraction or romantic desire toward others in a frequent and consistent manner irrespective of sex or gender.
The direction or nature of an individual's romantic attraction toward others.
Individuals whose romantic orientations and/or practices differ from those of the dominant culture.
Publications or serials by or about LGBTQ+ people; use a more specific term if possible.
Cultural experiences shared by members of LGBTQ+ communities or products of LGBTQ+ culture (e.g., art and media created by and for LGBTQ+ culture, activism focused on LGBTQ+ issues, slang commonly used in LGBTQ+ communities, etc.). Use a more specific term if possible.
Cultural experiences shared by members of queer communities or products of queer culture (e.g., art and media created by and for queer people, activism focused on queer issues, slang commonly used in queer communities, etc.).
Use to describe cultural experiences shared by members of bisexual communities or products of bisexual culture (e.g., art and media created by and for bisexual people, activism focused on bisexual issues, slang commonly used in bisexual communities, etc.).
Ceasing or reversing the process of gender transition for any reason, including personal safety, stigma, costs associated with transitioning, health concerns, to regain fertility, etc.
Restarting the process of gender transition after a period of detransitioning.
No longer identifying as transgender, or, more broadly, no longer identifying as some particular gender.
Any of various surgeries that involve modifying the face or facial features to affirm the patient's gender.
Any of various surgeries undertaken to masculinize the face or facial features.
Any of various surgeries undertaken to feminize the face or facial features.
Colloquial term for gender-affirming surgical alterations of the chest.
Reconstruction of the chest, typically following a mastectomy, to give the chest a more masculine appearance.
Any of various surgical procedures undertaken to feminize the voice.
Any of various surgical procedures undertaken to masculinize the voice.
Surgical construction of the clitoris, often undertaken as a form of gender affirming surgery.
Surgical procedure in which the urethra is elongated and placed along a neophallus, typically to allow for standing urination.
A surgery in which the laryngeal prominence, colloquially referred to as the Adam's apple, is reduced in size, often as part of facial feminization surgery for transfeminine people. Cisgender men and cisgender women may also undergo tracheal shaves if they feel their laryngeal prominence is too prominent.
Devices designed to allow individuals to pee while standing up; often used by trans men or transmasculine people to pee in public urinals without risking their safety.
LGBTQ+ people who have left their home countries and are seeking protection from persecution and/or human rights violations in other countries but have not yet been legally recognized as refugees.
LGBTQ+ people with significant or total hearing loss who may or may not consider themselves d/Deaf.
Lesbians with significant or total hearing loss who may or may not consider themselves d/Deaf.
Gay men with significant or total hearing loss who may or may not consider themselves d/Deaf.
Bisexual people with significant or total hearing loss who may or may not consider themselves d/Deaf.
Transgender people with significant or total hearing loss who may or may not consider themselves d/Deaf.
Queer people with significant or total hearing loss who may or may not consider themselves d/Deaf.
LGBTQ+ people with significant or total hearing loss. Some but not all Deaf people prefer to capitalize Deaf in recognition of the cultural and linguistic identity they share with other Deaf people.
Lesbians with significant or total hearing loss. Some but not all Deaf people prefer to capitalize Deaf in recognition of the cultural and linguistic identity they share with other Deaf people.
Gay men with significant or total hearing loss. Some but not all Deaf people prefer to capitalize Deaf in recognition of the cultural and linguistic identity they share with other Deaf people.
Bisexual people with significant or total hearing loss. Some but not all Deaf people prefer to capitalize Deaf in recognition of the cultural and linguistic identity they share with other Deaf people.
Transgender people with significant or total hearing loss. Some but not all Deaf people prefer to capitalize Deaf in recognition of the cultural and linguistic identity they share with other Deaf people.
Queer people with significant or total hearing loss. Some but not all Deaf people prefer to capitalize Deaf in recognition of the cultural and linguistic identity they share with other Deaf people.
Lesbians with significant or total loss of vision.
Gay men with significant or total loss of vision.
Bisexual people with significant or total loss of vision.
Transgender people with significant or total loss of vision.
Queer people with significant or total loss of vision.
The community of Deaf LGBTQ+ people who share a cultural and/or linguistic identity.
LGBTQ+ people who have long-term health conditions that require continued medical attention and/or significantly impact or limit daily life; some but not all people with chronic illnesses consider themselves disabled.
Lesbians who have long-term health conditions that require continued medical attention and/or significantly impact or limit daily life; some but not all people with chronic illnesses consider themselves disabled.
Gay men who have long-term health conditions that require continued medical attention and/or significantly impact or limit daily life; some but not all people with chronic illnesses consider themselves disabled.
Bisexual people who have long-term health conditions that require continued medical attention and/or significantly impact or limit daily life; some but not all people with chronic illnesses consider themselves disabled.
Transgender people with chronic illnesses
Transgender people who have long-term health conditions that require continued medical attention and/or significantly impact or limit daily life; some but not all people with chronic illnesses consider themselves disabled.
Queer people who have long-term health conditions that require continued medical attention and/or significantly impact or limit daily life; some but not all people with chronic illnesses consider themselves disabled.
The unjust or prejudicial treatment of Two-Spirit people due to their identity; may include the denial of legal rights, employment, and housing.
A shortened form of the word "cripple" that has been reclaimed by disabled people to express pride and identify their political and community ties. Only use in reference to individuals or organizations that self-identify as crip. Because of the many intersections between crip theory/culture and queer theory/culture, the two are often but not always viewed as related.
The intersection of transphobia and misogyny as directed toward trans women and transfeminine people.
The unjust or prejudicial treatment of intersex people due to the fact that they are intersex; may include the denial of legal rights, employment, and housing.
A surgically constructed penis; typically made using tissue grafts from other parts of the body.
Term used in the 18th and 19th centuries to describe the act of dressing in disguise, often to emulate another gender. Only use in historical contexts.
The state of individuals born with the sexual anatomy, reproductive system, and chromosomes associated with their assigned sex (i.e., not intersex).
Individuals born with the sexual anatomy, reproductive system, and chromosomes associated with their assigned sex (i.e., people who are not intersex).
Masculine identity associated with Black lesbian communities in the United States.
Gender expression that does not conform to a single, distinct gender identity.
Slang term used in drag and ballroom communities to describe the act of playfully or wittily insulting someone's appearance or behavior; described by drag queen Dorian Corey as "the art form of the insult."
The ability of a person who is not heterosexual to "pass," or be accepted or regarded as heterosexual by others. "Passing" has historically been used to describe an individual's ability to "pass" as a certain race or ethnicity, though the term was later appropriated by the LGBTQ+ community.
A multidiscplinary field of study and intellectual framework used by scholars and activists to examine the intersections of race, class, and law in the United States, as well as to challenge mainstream U.S. liberal approaches to racial justice. Key concepts of CRT include the argument that race is a social construct with no biological basis and that racism and disparate racial outcomes are the result of complex, changing, and often subtle social and institutional dynamics, rather than individuals' explicit and intentional prejudices.
Term coined by coined by Trudy of the womanist blog Gradient Lair to describe the intersection of transphobia, misogyny, and anti-Black racism as directed toward Black trans women.
Term coined by scholar Moya Bailey to describe the intersection of misogyny and anti-Black racism as directed toward Black women.
Popularized by the gay liberation group Gays Activists Alliance, zaps are public demonstrations focused on confronting or embarrassing specific politicians or public officials while calling attention to the liberation movement.
Performers who dress and/or use makeup to produce, emphasize, and/or exaggerate traits associated with a certain gender, which may or may not be the gender the performer primarily identifies with.
LGBTQ+ practitioners of Wicca or other Pagan religions who self-identify as witches.
Lesbians who practice Wicca or other Pagan religions and self-identify as witches.
Gay men who practice Wicca or other Pagan religions and self-identify as witches.
Bisexual practitioners of Wicca or other Pagan religions who self-identify as witches.
Transgender practitioners of Wicca or other Pagan religions who self-identify as witches.
Queer practitioners of Wicca or other Pagan religions who self-identify as witches.
Intersex practitioners of Wicca or other Pagan religions who self-identify as witches.
Identity term used by Indigenous people in North America to reconnect with the multiple gender and sexual roles in Indigenous cultures.
Individuals who are attracted to only one gender; includes gay people and straight people.
Individuals who engage in sexual or romantic relationships with only one person at a time.
Individuals who generally experience sexual attraction or the desire for partnered sexual experiences.
Identity term used to describe the intersection of trans identity and genderqueer identity.
Individuals who experience sexual attraction to more than one gender; includes bisexual and pansexual people.
Gender identity that exists outside of the gender binary; may be used as a specific gender identity or as an umbrella term in the Euro-American gender system for gender identities outside of the gender binary.
Gender identity that does not conform to the gender binary and emphasizes alignment with queer politics.
Gender identity that does not conform to the gender binary, not to be confused with gender non-conforming practices engaged in by cisgender people.
Umbrella term for gender identities that emphasize a partial connection to a certain gender or concept of gender.
Term used to describe people who identify with the sex they were assigned at birth.
Term used to describe the identity of people who identify with the sex or gender they were assigned at birth.
Sexual identity used to describe sexual and/or romantic attraction to people of all genders.
Identity term used to describe people who do not have genders or who identify with genderlessness.
Acronym primarily used in the United States to describe Black, Indigenous, and people of color as a group, while also centering the specific experiences of Black and Indigenous people.
Professional or amateur sports players who self-identify as LGBTQ+.
Professional or amateur/recreational sports players who self-identify as lesbians.
Professional or amateur/recreational sports players who self-identify as gay men.
Professional or amateur/recreational sports players who are bisexual.
Professional or recreational sports players who self-identify as transgender.
Professional or recreational sports players who self-identify as queer.
Professional or amateur sports players who are intersex.
Professional or recreational sports players who self-identify as Two-Spirit.
Lesbians who identify as both Pacific Islanders (or of Pacific Islander ancestry) and American.
Gay men who identify as both Pacific Islanders (or of Pacific Islander ancestry) and American.
Pacific Islander American bisexual people
Bisexual Pacific Islander American people
Bisexual people who identify as both Pacific Islanders (or of Pacific Islander ancestry) and American.
Pacific Islander American transgender people
Transgender Pacific Islander American people
Transgender people who identify as both Pacific Islanders (or of Pacific Islander ancestry) and American.
Queer people who identify as both Pacific Islanders (or of Pacific Islander ancestry) and American.
Pacific Islander American intersex people
Intersex Pacific Islander American people
Intersex people who identify as both Pacific Islanders (or of Pacific Islander ancestry) and American.
Lesbians who are Papuan, or part of the Indigenous peoples of new Guinea; only use for people who identify as Papuan.
Gay men who are Papuan, or part of the Indigenous peoples of new Guinea; only use for people who identify as Papuan.
Bisexual people who are Papuan, or part of the Indigenous peoples of new Guinea; only use for people who identify as Papuan.
Transgender people who are Papuan, or part of the Indigenous peoples of new Guinea; only use for people who identify as Papuan.
Queer people who are Papuan, or part of the Indigenous peoples of new Guinea; only use for people who identify as Papuan.
Intersex people who are Papuan, or part of the Indigenous peoples of new Guinea; only use for people who identify as Papuan.
Lesbians who are Romani, or part of the traditionally nomadic Indo-European people.
Gay men who are Romani, or part of the traditionally nomadic Indo-European people.
Bisexual people who are Romani, or part of the traditionally nomadic Indo-European people.
Transgender people who are Romani, or part of the traditionally nomadic Indo-European people.
Queer people who are Romani, or part of the traditionally nomadic Indo-European people.
Intersex people who are Romani, or part of the traditionally nomadic Indo-European people.
LGBTQ+ people who are part of the Indigenous people of Mokupuni o Hawai‘i, or the Hawaiian Islands; only use to refer to people who identify as Kanaka Maoli.
Lesbians who are part of the Indigenous people of Mokupuni o Hawai‘i, or the Hawaiian Islands; only use to refer to people who identify as Kanaka Maoli.
Gay men who are part of the Indigenous people of Mokupuni o Hawai‘i, or the Hawaiian Islands; only use to refer to people who identify as Kanaka Maoli.
Bisexual people who are part of the Indigenous people of Mokupuni o Hawai‘i, or the Hawaiian Islands; only use to refer to people who identify as Kanaka Maoli.
Transgender people who are part of the Indigenous people of Mokupuni o Hawai‘i, or the Hawaiian Islands; only use to refer to people who identify as Kanaka Maoli and transgender.
Queer people who are part of the Indigenous people of Mokupuni o Hawai‘i, or the Hawaiian Islands; only use to refer to people who identify as Kanaka Maoli.
Intersex people who are part of the Indigenous people of Mokupuni o Hawai‘i, or the Hawaiian Islands; only use to refer to people who identify as Kanaka Maoli.
Lesbians who are Inuit, or part of several Indigenous peoples inhabiting the Inuit homeland in the Arctic and subarctic regions of Greenland, Canada, and Alaska. Only use for people who identify as Inuit.
Gay men who are Inuit, or part of several Indigenous peoples inhabiting the Inuit homeland in the Arctic and subarctic regions of Greenland, Canada, and Alaska. Only use for people who identify as Inuit.
Bisexual people who are Inuit, or part of several Indigenous peoples inhabiting the Inuit homeland in the Arctic and subarctic regions of Greenland, Canada, and Alaska. Only use for people who identify as Inuit.
Transgender people who are Inuit, or part of several Indigenous peoples inhabiting the Inuit homeland in the Arctic and subarctic regions of Greenland, Canada, and Alaska. Only use for people who identify as Inuit.
Queer people who are Inuit, or part of several Indigenous peoples inhabiting the Inuit homeland in the Arctic and subarctic regions of Greenland, Canada, and Alaska. Only use for people who identify as Inuit.
Intersex people who are Inuit, or part of several Indigenous peoples inhabiting the Inuit homeland in the Arctic and subarctic regions of Greenland, Canada, and Alaska. Only use for people who identify as Inuit.
Lesbians who are part of an Indigenous people, or culturally distinct ethnic group whose members are directly descended from the earliest known inhabitants of a particular region and, to some extent, maintain the language and culture of those people. Only use to describe people who identify as Indigenous; use more specific terms whenever possible.
Gay men who are part of an Indigenous people, or culturally distinct ethnic group whose members are directly descended from the earliest known inhabitants of a particular region and, to some extent, maintain the language and culture of those people. Only use to describe people who identify as Indigenous; use more specific terms whenever possible.
Bisexual people who are part of an Indigenous people, or culturally distinct ethnic group whose members are directly descended from the earliest known inhabitants of a particular region and, to some extent, maintain the language and culture of those people. Only use to describe people who identify as Indigenous; use more specific terms whenever possible.
Transgender people who are part of an Indigenous people, or culturally distinct ethnic group whose members are directly descended from the earliest known inhabitants of a particular region and, to some extent, maintain the language and culture of those people. Only use to describe people who identify as Indigenous; use more specific terms whenever possible.
Queer people who are part of an Indigenous people, or culturally distinct ethnic group whose members are directly descended from the earliest known inhabitants of a particular region and, to some extent, maintain the language and culture of those people. Only use to describe people who identify as Indigenous; use more specific terms whenever possible.
Intersex people who are part of an Indigenous people, or culturally distinct ethnic group whose members are directly descended from the earliest known inhabitants of a particular region and, to some extent, maintain the language and culture of those people. Only use to describe people who identify as Indigenous; use more specific terms whenever possible.
Lesbians who belong to one or more of the various Indigenous peoples of Australia; do not use to refer to the Indigenous people of the Torres Strait Islands, who are considered ethnically and culturally distinct. Only use to describe people who identify as Aboriginal Australian.
Gay men who belong to one or more of the various Indigenous peoples of Australia; do not use to refer to the Indigenous people of the Torres Strait Islands, who are considered ethnically and culturally distinct. Only use to describe people who identify as Aboriginal Australian.
Bisexual people who belong to one or more of the various Indigenous peoples of Australia; do not use to refer to the Indigenous people of the Torres Strait Islands, who are considered ethnically and culturally distinct. Only use to describe people who identify as Aboriginal Australian.
Aboriginal Australian transgender people
Transgender Aboriginal Australian people
Transgender people who belong to one or more of the various Indigenous peoples of Australia; do not use to refer to the Indigenous people of the Torres Strait Islands, who are considered ethnically and culturally distinct. Only use to describe people who identify as Aboriginal Australian.
Queer people who belong to one or more of the various Indigenous peoples of Australia; do not use to refer to the Indigenous people of the Torres Strait Islands, who are considered ethnically and culturally distinct. Only use to describe people who identify as Aboriginal Australian.
Intersex people who belong to one or more of the various Indigenous peoples of Australia; do not use to refer to the Indigenous people of the Torres Strait Islands, who are considered ethnically and culturally distinct. Only use to describe people who identify as Aboriginal Australian.
The original name for AIDS, proposed after public health scientists noticed clusters of Kaposi's sarcoma and Pneumocystis pneumonia among gay men in California and New York City. Should only be used in historical contexts.
HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy)
Treatment that involves the use of three or more drugs in combination to treat HIV infection by preventing the virus from making copies of itself in the body; can lessen the damage to the immune system caused by HIV, slow down the development of AIDS, and prevent the transmission of HIV to others.
Short amateur films or videos created primarily to preserve memories; use in reference to home movies created by or featuring LGBTQ+ people.
A form of online blogging via short videos about an individual's life; use in reference to vlogs created by LGBTQ+ people or focusing on LGBTQ+ issues.
The small protuberance of a mammary gland.
Individuals who experience romantic attraction to other people only after forming emotional bonds.
Romantic orientation in which romantic attraction to other people is only experienced after forming emotional bonds.
Individuals who experience rare, infrequent, or low-intensity romantic attraction.
An umbrella term for romantic orientations generally characterized by rare, infrequent, or low-intensity romantic attraction.
LGBTQ+ people who have experienced bullying due to their gender or sexual identity and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Lesbians who have experienced bullying due to their sexual identity and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Gay men who have experienced bullying due to their sexual identity and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Bisexual people who have experienced bullying due to their sexual identity and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Transgender people who have experienced bullying due to their gender identity and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Queer people who have experienced bullying due to their gender or sexual identity and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Asexual people who have experienced bullying due to their sexual identity and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Intersex people who have experienced bullying directed toward them because they are intersex and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Two-Spirit people who have experienced bullying due to their gender or sexual identity and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
LGBTQ+ people who have experienced and survived bullying due to their gender or sexual identity; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Lesbians who have experienced and survived bullying due to their sexual identity; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Gay men who have experienced and survived bullying due to their sexual identity; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Bisexual people who have experienced and survived bullying due to their sexual identity; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Transgender people who have experienced and survived bullying due to their gender identity; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Queer people who have experienced and survived bullying due to their gender or sexual identity; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Asexual people who have experienced and survived bullying due to their sexual identity; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Intersex people who have experienced and survived bullying directed toward them because they are intersex; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Two-Spirit people who have experienced and survived bullying due to their gender or sexual identity; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
LGBTQ+ people of Mexican descent born in the United States; only use to describe people who self-identify as Chicano, Chicana, or Chicanx. Do not conflate with Latino/a/x or Hispanic people.
Lesbians of Mexican descent born in the United States; only use to describe people who self-identify as Chicano, Chicana, or Chicanx. Do not conflate with Latino/a/x or Hispanic people.
LGBTQ+ people who are from Arab countries and/or are descended from Arab peoples. Do not conflate with Muslim people.
Lesbians from Arab countries and/or are descended from Arab peoples. Do not conflate with Muslim people.
Gay men who are from Arab countries and/or are descended from Arab peoples. Do not conflate with Muslim people.
Bisexual people who are from Arab countries and/or are descended from Arab peoples. Do not conflate with Muslim people.
Transgender people who are from Arab countries and/or are descended from Arab peoples. Do not conflate with Muslim people.
Queer people who are from Arab countries and/or are descended from Arab peoples. Do not conflate with Muslim people.
Asexual people who are from Arab countries and/or are descended from Arab peoples. Do not conflate with Muslim people.
Intersex people who are from Arab countries and/or are descended from Arab peoples. Do not conflate with Muslim people.
Gay men of Mexican descent born in the United States; only use to describe people who self-identify as Chicano, Chicana, or Chicanx. Do not conflate with Latino/a/x or Hispanic people.
Bisexual people of Mexican descent born in the United States; only use to describe people who self-identify as Chicano, Chicana, or Chicanx. Do not conflate with Latino/a/x or Hispanic people.
Transgender people of Mexican descent born in the United States; only use to describe people who self-identify as Chicano, Chicana, or Chicanx. Do not conflate with Latino/a/x or Hispanic people.
Queer people of Mexican descent born in the United States; only use to describe people who self-identify as Chicano, Chicana, or Chicanx. Do not conflate with Latino/a/x or Hispanic people.
Intersex people of Mexican descent born in the United States; only use to describe people who self-identify as Chicano, Chicana, or Chicanx. Do not conflate with Latino/a/x or Hispanic people.
LGBTQ+ people who speak Spanish, are from Spanish-speaking countries, and/or are descended from Spanish-speaking cultures; only use for individuals who self-identify as Hispanic. Do not conflate with Latino/a/x or Chicano/a/x.
Lesbians who speak Spanish, are from Spanish-speaking countries, and/or are descended from Spanish-speaking cultures; only use for individuals who self-identify as Hispanic. Do not conflate with Latino/a/x or Chicano/a/x.
Gay men who speak Spanish, are from Spanish-speaking countries, and/or are descended from Spanish-speaking cultures; only use for individuals who self-identify as Hispanic. Do not conflate with Latino/a/x or Chicano/a/x.
Bisexual people who speak Spanish, are from Spanish-speaking countries, and/or are descended from Spanish-speaking cultures; only use for individuals who self-identify as Hispanic. Do not conflate with Latino/a/x or Chicano/a/x.
Transgender people who speak Spanish, are from Spanish-speaking countries, and/or are descended from Spanish-speaking cultures; only use for individuals who self-identify as Hispanic. Do not conflate with Latino/a/x or Chicano/a/x.
Queer people who speak Spanish, are from Spanish-speaking countries, and/or are descended from Spanish-speaking cultures; only use for individuals who self-identify as Hispanic. Do not conflate with Latino/a/x or Chicano/a/x.
Intersex people who speak Spanish, are from Spanish-speaking countries, and/or are descended from Spanish-speaking cultures; only use for individuals who self-identify as Hispanic. Do not conflate with Latino/a/x or Chicano/a/x.
The presence of LGBTQ+ people in the workplace, including acceptance of and issues faced by LGBTQ+ workers.
The presence of lesbians in the workplace, including acceptance of and issues faced by lesbian workers.
The presence of gay men in the workplace, including acceptance of and issues faced by gay workers.
The presence of bisexual people in the workplace, including acceptance of and issues faced by bisexual workers.
The presence of transgender people in the workplace, including acceptance of and issues faced by transgender workers.
The presence of queer people in the workplace, including acceptance of and issues faced by queer workers.
The presence of Two-Spirit people in the workplace, including acceptance of and issues faced by Two-Spirit workers.
The presence of intersex people in the workplace, including acceptance of and issues faced by intersex workers.
The presence of asexual people in the workplace, including acceptance of and issues faced by asexual workers.
The belief that groups of human beings possess different inherent behavioral traits that correspond to inherited attributes and can be divided based on the superiority of one race over another. This term also encompasses prejudice, discrimination, and antagonism (whether personal or systematic) directed against other people because of their race and its perceived inferiority.
The extension of feminism into theoretical, fictional, or philosophical discourse, often seeking to understand the nature of gender inequity.
A term used to describe the depiction of women in media and the arts as subjects with agency and whose perspective a text may be presented from. Often used in contrast to the male gaze.
A term used to describe the sexualized and objectified depiction of women in media and the arts from the perspective of and for the pleasure of the heterosexual man/male viewer. Originally used solely to describe the heterosexual, cisgender gaze but has since been expanded.
A term used to describe the ways LGBTQ+ people create and engage with media and art, in contrast to the male gaze, female gaze, or straight gaze.
Term used to describe individuals whose gender expression is more feminine than androgynous. Generally used as a self-descriptor within LGBTQ+ communities.
LGBTQ+ people who belong to or are descended from the ethnolinguistic groups of South Asia.
Lesbians who belong to or are descended from the ethnolinguistic groups of South Asia.
Gay men who belong to or are descended from the ethnolinguistic groups of South Asia.
Bisexual people who belong to or are descended from the ethnolinguistic groups of South Asia.
Queer people who belong to or are descended from the ethnolinguistic groups of South Asia.
Intersex people who belong to or are descended from the ethnolinguistic groups of South Asia.
Transgender people who belong to or are descended from the ethnolinguistic groups of South Asia.
Asexual people who belong to or are descended from the ethnolinguistic groups of South Asia.
LGBTQ+ people who were born in India or are of Indian descent. Do not conflate with the Indigenous peoples of the United States.
Lesbians who were born in India or are of Indian descent. Do not conflate with the Indigenous peoples of the United States.
Gay men who were born in India or are of Indian descent. Do not conflate with the Indigenous peoples of the United States.
Bisexual people who were born in India or are of Indian descent. Do not conflate with the Indigenous peoples of the United States.
Queer people who were born in India or are of Indian descent. Do not conflate with the Indigenous peoples of the United States.
Intersex people who were born in India or are of Indian descent. Do not conflate with the Indigenous peoples of the United States.
Transgender people who were born in India or are of Indian descent. Do not conflate with the Indigenous peoples of the United States.
Asexual people who were born in India or are of Indian descent. Do not conflate with the Indigenous peoples of the United States.
LGBTQ+ people who are a part of the socio-ethnic Assamese peoples, speak the Assamese language, or reside in the Indian state of Assam. Only use for people who identify as Assamese.
Term used to describe individuals whose gender expression is more masculine than androgynous. Generally used as a self-descriptor within LGBTQ+ communities.
LGBTQ+ people who have experienced and survived incest; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Lesbians who are a part of the socio-ethnic Assamese peoples, speak the Assamese language, or reside in the Indian state of Assam.
Gay men who are a part of the socio-ethnic Assamese peoples, speak the Assamese language, or reside in the Indian state of Assam.
Bisexual people who are a part of the socio-ethnic Assamese peoples, speak the Assamese language, or reside in the Indian state of Assam.
Queer people who are a part of the socio-ethnic Assamese peoples, speak the Assamese language, or reside in the Indian state of Assam.
Intersex people who are a part of the socio-ethnic Assamese peoples, speak the Assamese language, or reside in the Indian state of Assam.
Transgender people who are a part of the socio-ethnic Assamese peoples, speak the Assamese language, or reside in the Indian state of Assam.
Asexual people who are a part of the socio-ethnic Assamese peoples, speak the Assamese language, or reside in the Indian state of Assam.
LGBTQ+ people who speak the Awadhi dialect and reside in or are descended from those who resided in the Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh.
Lesbians who speak the Awadhi dialect and reside in or are descended from those who resided in the Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh.
Gay men who speak the Awadhi dialect and reside in or are descended from those who resided in the Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh.
Bisexual people who speak the Awadhi dialect and reside in or are descended from those who resided in the Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh.
Queer people who speak the Awadhi dialect and reside in or are descended from those who resided in the Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh.
Transgender people who speak the Awadhi dialect and reside in or are descended from those who resided in the Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh.
Intersex people who speak the Awadhi dialect and reside in or are descended from those who resided in the Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh.
Asexual people who speak the Awadhi dialect and reside in or are descended from those who resided in the Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh.
LGBTQ+ people who speak the Bhojpuri language and live in or are descended from those who inhabited the Bhojpuri-Purvanchal region of India and Nepal.
Lesbians who speak the Bhojpuri language and live in or are descended from those who inhabited the Bhojpuri-Purvanchal region of India and Nepal.
Gay men who speak the Bhojpuri language and live in or are descended from those who inhabited the Bhojpuri-Purvanchal region of India and Nepal.
Bisexual people who speak the Bhojpuri language and live in or are descended from those who inhabited the Bhojpuri-Purvanchal region of India and Nepal.
Queer people who speak the Bhojpuri language and live in or are descended from those who inhabited the Bhojpuri-Purvanchal region of India and Nepal.
Transgender people who speak the Bhojpuri language and live in or are descended from those who inhabited the Bhojpuri-Purvanchal region of India and Nepal.
Intersex people who speak the Bhojpuri language and live in or are descended from those who inhabited the Bhojpuri-Purvanchal region of India and Nepal.
Asexual people who speak the Bhojpuri language and live in or are descended from those who inhabited the Bhojpuri-Purvanchal region of India and Nepal.
LGBTQ+ people who speak the Bengali language or are of Bengali descent.
Lesbians who speak the Bengali language or are of Bengali descent.
Gay men who speak the Bengali language or are of Bengali descent.
Bisexual people who speak the Bengali language or are of Bengali descent.
Queer people who speak the Bengali language or are of Bengali descent.
Transgender people who speak the Bengali language or are of Bengali descent.
Intersex people who speak the Bengali language or are of Bengali descent.
Asexual people who speak the Bengali language or are of Bengali descent.
LGBTQ+ people who speak the Bhil language and belong to or are descended from the Bhil tribal group.
Lesbians who speak the Bhil language and belong to or are descended from the Bhil tribal group.
Gay men who speak the Bhil language and belong to or are descended from the Bhil tribal group.
Bisexual people who speak the Bhil language and belong to or are descended from the Bhil tribal group.
Queer people who speak the Bhil language and belong to or are descended from the Bhil tribal group.
Transgender people who speak the Bhil language and belong to or are descended from the Bhil tribal group.
Intersex people who speak the Bhil language and belong to or are descended from the Bhil tribal group.
Asexual people who speak the Bhil language and belong to or are descended from the Bhil tribal group.
LGBTQ+ people who belong to or are descended from the Chakma tribal group.
Lesbians who belong to or are descended from the Chakma tribal group.
Gay men who belong to or are descended from the Chakma tribal group.
Bisexual people who belong to or are descended from the Chakma tribal group.
Queer people who belong to or are descended from the Chakma tribal group.
Intersex people who belong to or are descended from the Chakma tribal group.
Transgender people who belong to or are descended from the Chakma tribal group.
Asexual people who belong to or are descended from the Chakma tribal group.
LGBTQ+ people who belong to or are descended from the people indigenous to the Chitral and Ghizer districts of modern-day Pakistan.
Lesbians who belong to or are descended from the people indigenous to the Chitral and Ghizer districts of modern-day Pakistan.
Gay men who belong to or are descended from the people indigenous to the Chitral and Ghizer districts of modern-day Pakistan.
Bisexual individuals who belong to or are descended from the people indigenous to the Chitral and Ghizer districts of modern-day Pakistan.
Transgender individuals who belong to or are descended from the people indigenous to the Chitral and Ghizer districts of modern-day Pakistan.
Queer individuals who belong to or are descended from the people indigenous to the Chitral and Ghizer districts of modern-day Pakistan.
Intersex individuals who belong to or are descended from the people indigenous to the Chitral and Ghizer districts of modern-day Pakistan.
Asexual individuals who belong to or are descended from the people indigenous to the Chitral and Ghizer districts of modern-day Pakistan.
LGBTQ+ people who belong to or are descended from the people native to the Maldives (including the island of Minicoy) and speak the Maldivian language.
Lesbians who belong to or are descended from the people native to the Maldives (including the island of Minicoy) and speak the Maldivian language.
Gay men who belong to or are descended from the people native to the Maldives (including the island of Minicoy) and speak the Maldivian language.
Bisexual individuals who belong to or are descended from the people native to the Maldives (including the island of Minicoy) and speak the Maldivian language.
Queer individuals who belong to or are descended from the people native to the Maldives (including the island of Minicoy) and speak the Maldivian language.
Transgender individuals who belong to or are descended from the people native to the Maldives (including the island of Minicoy) and speak the Maldivian language.
Intersex individuals who belong to or are descended from the people native to the Maldives (including the island of Minicoy) and speak the Maldivian language.
Asexual individuals who belong to or are descended from the people native to the Maldives (including the island of Minicoy) and speak the Maldivian language.
LGBTQ+ people who are of the Dogra people of India and Pakistan and speak the Dogri language.
Lesbians who are of the Dogra people of India and Pakistan and speak the Dogri language.
Gay men who are of the Dogra people of India and Pakistan and speak the Dogri language.
Bisexual people who are of the Dogra people of India and Pakistan and speak the Dogri language.
Queer people who are of the Dogra people of India and Pakistan and speak the Dogri language.
Transgender people who are of the Dogra people of India and Pakistan and speak the Dogri language.
Intersex people who are of the Dogra people of India and Pakistan and speak the Dogri language.
Asexual people who are of the Dogra people of India and Pakistan and speak the Dogri language.
LGBTQ+ people who belong to or are descended from those native to Garhwal in Uttarakhand and who speak Garhwali.
Lesbians who belong to or are descended from the people native to Garhwal in Uttarakhand and who speak Garhwali.
Gay men who belong to or are descended from the people native to Garhwal in Uttarakhand and who speak Garhwali.
Bisexual people who belong to or are descended from the people native to Garhwal in Uttarakhand and who speak Garhwali.
Queer people who belong to or are descended from the people native to Garhwal in Uttarakhand and who speak Garhwali.
Transgender people who belong to or are descended from the people native to Garhwal in Uttarakhand and who speak Garhwali.
Intersex people who belong to or are descended from those native to Garhwal in Uttarakhand and who speak Garhwali.
Asexual people who belong to or are descended from those native to Garhwal in Uttarakhand and who speak Garhwali.
Fanfiction that focuses on, incorporates, or details the relationships of real-life actors, often of the same sex or gender.
Alternate universe settings (Fanfiction)
Settings alternative to the canonical universe of a text in which fanfiction might take place.
The fan community that focuses on, incorporates, or details the relationships of characters derived from anime or manga.
The participation and inclusion of aromantic people in fan communities.
The participation and inclusion of asexual people in fan communities.
Fanfiction that focuses on, incorporates, or details the romantic or sexual relationships between same-gender or same-sex musicians who exist in the real world, usually men.
A genre of Japanese art created primarily by gay men for other gay men that emphasizes masculinity, muscles, body fat, and hair (similar to Bears and Gym subculture in the United States).
The fan community that focuses on, incorporates, or details the relationships of characters from bara manga and anime.
The participation and inclusion of bisexual people in fan communities.
Japanese word that means "beautiful boy" and is used to describe a particular aesthetic of androgynous male beauty. While in Japanese "bishounen" refers specifically to youths under the age of twenty and "biseinen" is used to describe beautiful adult men, English-speaking anime and manga fan communities often use "bishounen" in reference to any good-looking male character, regardless of age.
The manga and anime genre of fictional male-male romance created for a primarily female audience; sometimes used interchangeably with "Yaoi" in English (but not in Japanese).
The trope in fiction that requires that LGBTQ+ characters die or meet some other type of unhappy ending. The trope is also known as "dead lesbian syndrome" due to the tendency for lesbian characters and bisexual female characters to be the targets. Transgender characters have also often been subjected to this trope.
Art created by fans that relates to media properties or other subjects of fandom.
Communities of people who are fans of a particular work or media property. Participation in fandom can include writing and reading fanfiction, creating and viewing fanart, attending conventions, cosplaying, and/or roleplaying.
Conventions dedicated to a particular fandom or fandom as a broad category.
Jargon or slang commonly used in fan communities, such as "slash" and "shipping."
Written works of fiction created by fans that use the characters, settings, and/or plots of other media properties in a transformative way.
Tropes and genres commonly used in fanfiction. Examples include "there was only one bed" and "enemies to lovers" romance plots.
Works, such as fanfiction or fanart, created by fans using characters, settings, and/or plots of other media properties.
A genre of fanworks in which two or more women are placed in a sexual or romantic situation with one another. Works of femslash are commonly erotic or pornographic. In recognition of the fact that the term "slash" has recently been broadened to include LGBTQ+ relationships other than those between two men, slash terms (e.g., Slash art, Slash roleplay, Slash vidding) should be used to describe specific types of femslash.
Japanese word that literally translates to "rotten girl" and is used to describe young women who enjoy media or fanworks focused on romantic or sexual relationships between men. Some fans self-identify as fujoshis, typically as a form of playful self-deprecation, but it can also be considered derogatory.
Individuals who are interested in anthropomorphized animals, as well as fiction and artwork featuring anthropomorphized animals. Many furries identify with anthropomorphized animal versions of themselves, which are called fursonas.
Conventions for furries that focus on furry fanworks.
The fan community that focuses on, incorporates, or details anthropomorphized animals.
Anthropomorphized animal versions of people. Fursonas, which are created by members of the furry fandom, are not necessarily animals with fur; they can also be reptiles, birds, or fictional animals, for example.
Costumes worn by furries that represent their fursonas (i.e., anthropomorphized animal versions of themselves).
The participation and inclusion of gay men in fan communities.
Issues and discussions about gender in fan spaces and works.
A genre of anime and manga characterized by explicit sexual content; can also include hentai video games.
The fan community that focuses on, incorporates, or details the relationships of characters in hentai, or sexually explicit anime and manga.
Issues and discussions about the presence of homophobia in fan spaces and works.
The participation and inclusion of intersex people in fan communities.
Representations of non-conventional or marginalized sexual practices in fanfiction.
The homoerotic fan pairing of Kirk and Spock from Star Trek: The Original Series. The Kirk/Spock fandom originated much of the terminology and practices associated with fandom today--for example, the word "slash" comes from the forward slash in Kirk/Spock.
The participation and inclusion of lesbians in fan communities.
Fanfiction that primarily focuses on LGBTQ+ people, communities, and relationships, often using characters who are not stated to be LGBTQ+ in canon.
Fans' personal interpretations of media properties and texts, particularly relating to the personalities and behaviors of characters. Use to describe headcanons that certain characters or relationships are LGBTQ+, as well as headcanons about other LGBTQ+ people and issues in the universe of the text.
The participation and inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in fan communities.
The participation and inclusion of men in fan communities.
Issues and discussions about the presence of misogyny in fan spaces and works.
The fandom trope in which cisgender men can become pregnant. This term should not be used to describe pregnant trans men.
The participation and inclusion of non-binary people in fan communities.
The alternate universe fanworks trope in which society is divided into three categories of people: alphas, betas, and omegas. Fanworks in the omegaverse often depict characters with genitalia and breeding behaviors (such as heat cycles) similar to wolves. Use to describe fanworks in the omegaverse that focus on LGBTQ+ people and issues.
Slang term referring to a fan's primary "ship" or preferred relationship within a fandom.
Original works of creative fiction that focus on same-sex or same-gender relationships and incorporate tropes from fanfiction; includes femslash fiction.
The relationships (primarily romantic or sexual) between characters in fanworks, including relationships that are not present within the canon text.
The participation and inclusion of people of color in fan communities.
Marketing tactic in which creators of a piece of media purposefully hint at but do not explicitly depict or follow through with queer relationships or queer representation. Queerbaiting is distinct from queer coding in that queer coding is not typically used as a marketing tactic.
Purposeful subtextual coding of a character or relationship in a piece of media as queer. Queer coding is distinct from the practice of queerbaiting in that the queer codes are intentionally present rather than falsely implied and are not typically used as a marketing tactic.
The participation and inclusion of queer people in fan communities.
Issues and discussions about the presence of racism in fan spaces and works.
A content warning applied to fanworks to signal the presence of rape, non-consensual sexual encounters, or dubiously consensual sexual encounters.
Fanfiction about real people, such as actors or musicians; often but not always used to describe fanfiction focusing on (real or imagined) same-sex or same-gender relationships between celebrities.
Term used in yaoi or yaoi fan communities to describe the giving or dominant parter in a fictional male-male relationship.
Names used to describe common pairings in fandom. Ship names are often portmanteaus of the names of two (or more) characters in the ship (e.g., Spirk for Spock and Kirk).
Term used to describe fans' desire to see certain characters in sexual or romantic relationships, as well as the practice of pairing those characters in fanworks. The terms "shipping" and "ship" come from "relationship."
A genre of fanworks in which two or more characters of the same sex or gender are placed in sexual or romantic situations with one another. Slash fanworks are commonly erotic or pornographic. While the term "slash" has historically been used for male/male couples only, it has been recently been broadened to include LGBTQ+ relationships other than those between two men.
Artwork depicting same-sex or same-gender couples that is usually erotic or pornographic in nature. Historically used for male-male couples only, but is now used more broadly; includes femslash art.
Conventions focused on slash, or fanworks depicting same-sex or same-gender couples that are typically erotic or pornographic in nature. Historically used for male-male couples only, but is now used more broadly; includes femslash conventions.
The fan community that focuses on, incorporates, or details relationships between two characters of the same sex or gender (usually fictional, with "Real person fiction" as an exception). Historically used for male-male couples only, but is now used more broadly; includes femslash fandom.
Works created by fans that focus on romantic or sexual relationships between characters of the same sex or gender. Typically erotic or pornographic in nature. Historically used for male-male couples only, but is now used more broadly; includes femslash fanworks.
Fanfiction focusing on sexual or romantic relationships between characters of the same sex or gender that is typically erotic or pornographic in nature. Historically used for male-male couples only, but is now used more broadly; includes femslash fiction.
Fan-created photo manipulations or deepfakes depicting sexual or romantic relationships between characters from various media properties. Typically erotic or pornographic in nature. Historically used for male-male couples only, but is now used more broadly; includes femslash manips.
The act of pretending to be and behaving as a character in a sexual or romantic relationship with another character of the same sex or gender, sometimes to generate ideas for fanworks. Typically erotic or pornographic in nature. Historically used for male-male couples only, but is now used more broadly; includes femslash roleplay.
Slang relating to fanworks about sexual or romantic relationships between characters of the same sex or gender. Historically used for male-male couples only, but is now used more broadly; includes femslash terminology.
Creating videos about sexual or romantic relationships between same-sex or -gender couples using scenes from television, movies, or video games. Historically used for male-male couples only, but is now used more broadly; includes femslash vidding.
Term used to describe fanfiction about trans characters, typically characters who are not stated to be transgender, transsexual, or gender diverse in the canon text
The participation and inclusion of transgender people in fan communities.
Issues and discussions about the presence of transphobia in fan spaces and works.
The participation and inclusion of Two-Spirit people in fan communities.
Term used in yaoi and yaoi fan communities to describe the receiving or submissive partner in a fictional male-male relationship.
A content warning applied to fanworks to signal the depiction of people under the age of consent in sexual situations, either with other underage people or adults.
The participation and inclusion of women in fan communities.
Japanese word used by English-speaking anime and manga fans to describe explicit or pornographic works featuring male-male couples that are typically created by heterosexual female authors for heterosexual female readers. Note that the Japanese meaning and usage of "yaoi" and related terms differ considerably.
The fan community that focuses on, incorporates, or details the sexual or romantic relationships between male characters from anime and manga.
Slang term used by members of the furry fandom to describe the act of sex.
A genre focusing on the romantic or sexual relationships between female characters from anime and manga.
The fan community that focuses on, incorporates, or details the romantic or sexual relationships between female characters from anime and manga.
Non-binary people who have not yet reached the age of adolescence.
Non-binary people who are between the ages of childhood and adulthood.
Individuals who have one or more LGBTQ+ child.
Individuals who have one or more non-binary child.
LGBTQ+ people who use substances for medical purposes
People who use substances for medical purposes (LGBTQ)
LGBTQ+ people who use substances (that are typically deemed harmful or are subject to legal restriction, such as drugs or alcohol) in order to manage pain and other symptoms related to a medical condition or disability.
Pejorative term used chiefly in North America to describe gay men (or men assumed to be gay) and insult their perceived femininity. Some gay men have reclaimed this term and use it to describe themselves. Not to be confused with Faeries, the queer spiritual group.
LGBTQ+ people who reside in or are descended from those indigenous to the Indian state of Gujarat.
Lesbians who reside in or are descended from those indigenous to the Indian state of Gujarat.
Gay men who reside in or are descended from those indigenous to the Indian state of Gujarat.
Bisexual people who reside in or are descended from those indigenous to the Indian state of Gujarat.
Transgender people who reside in or are descended from those indigenous to the Indian state of Gujarat.
Asexual people who reside in or are descended from those indigenous to the Indian state of Gujarat.
Queer people who reside in or are descended from those indigenous to the Indian state of Gujarat.
Intersex people who reside in or are descended from those indigenous to the Indian state of Gujarat.
LGBTQ+ people who are indigenous to or descended from those indigenous to what is now the Indian state of Haryana. This term can also apply to those who currently reside in Haryana.
Lesbians who are indigenous to or descended from those indigenous to what is now the Indian state of Haryana. This term can also apply to those who currently reside in Haryana.
Gay men who are indigenous to or descended from those indigenous to what is now the Indian state of Haryana. This term can also apply to those who currently reside in Haryana.
Bisexual people who are indigenous to or descended from those indigenous to what is now the Indian state of Haryana. This term can also apply to those who currently reside in Haryana.
Transgender people who are indigenous to or descended from those indigenous to what is now the Indian state of Haryana. This term can also apply to those who currently reside in Haryana.
Queer people who are indigenous to or descended from those indigenous to what is now the Indian state of Haryana. This term can also apply to those who currently reside in Haryana.
Intersex people who are indigenous to or descended from those indigenous to what is now the Indian state of Haryana. This term can also apply to those who currently reside in Haryana.
Asexual people who are indigenous to or descended from those indigenous to what is now the Indian state of Haryana. This term can also apply to those who currently reside in Haryana.
LGBTQ+ people who belong to the indigenous Kalasha people and reside in the Chitral District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan.
Lesbians who belong to the indigenous Kalasha people and reside in the Chitral District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan.
Gay men who belong to the indigenous Kalasha people and reside in the Chitral District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan.
Bisexual people who belong to the indigenous Kalasha people and reside in the Chitral District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan.
Transgender people who belong to the indigenous Kalasha people and reside in the Chitral District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan.
Queer people who belong to the indigenous Kalasha people and reside in the Chitral District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan.
Intersex people who belong to the indigenous Kalasha people and reside in the Chitral District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan.
Asexual people who belong to the indigenous Kalasha people and reside in the Chitral District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan.
Individuals who engage in relationships in which the dominant partner has multiple spouses, though the marriages are not typically recognized by society or law.
The powerful feeling of joy and comfort an individual experiences when their assigned gender, gender expression, and/or the way their gender is perceived by themselves and others aligns with their gender identity. Though gender euphoria is often associated with trans people, people of any identity may experience gender euphoria when they feel that their gender has been seen and affirmed, or when they feel "right" in their body and the way their gender is being expressed.
Term used to acknowledge the particularities of racism as directed toward Black people. Anti-Blackness includes the belief that Black people possess different inherent behavioral traits that correspond to inherited attributes and are inferior to those of other races--particularly white people. Anti-Blackness also encompasses prejudice, discrimination, and antagonism (whether personal or systematic) directed toward Black people because of their race and its perceived inferiority.
Experiences related to people with AIDS approaching or having reached the end of their lives.
Language that avoids the use of gender-specific words, either to be inclusive of nonbinary, agender, and other gender diverse peoples, or to avoid gender bias.
Past events or accounts of the past concerning LGBTQ+ people, or people who might be perceived as LGBTQ+ if they were alive today.
Past events or accounts of the past concerning lesbians, or people who might be perceived as lesbian if they were alive today.
Past events or accounts of the past concerning gay men, or men who might be perceived as gay if they were alive today.
Past events or accounts of the past concerning bisexual people, or people who might be perceived as bisexual if they were alive today.
Past events or accounts of the past concerning transgender people, or people who might be perceived as transgender if they were alive today.
Past events or accounts of the past concerning queer people, or people who might be perceived as queer if they were alive today.
Past events or accounts of the past concerning intersex people, or people who might be perceived as intersex if they were alive today.
Past events or accounts of the past concerning asexual people, or people who might be perceived as asexual if they were alive today.
Past events or accounts of the past concerning non-binary people, or people who might be perceived as non-binary if they were alive today.
Umbrella term used to describe a range of ideas, policies, and political actions that are intended to actively challenge, reject, or oppose racism and racial oppression (whether personal or systemic), as well as advocate for racial equity.
A form of feminism that developed in response to the failures of mainstream feminist and civil rights efforts to acknowledge the ways white supremacy and the patriarchy interact to inform the particular experiences of Black women.
Term used to describe (and criticize) forms of feminism that focus on the needs of white women at the expense of women of color.
A social theory based on the history and everyday experiences of Black women. Womanism grew out of the perceived indifference of the feminist movement towards the needs of Black women, who are often excluded from the categories of "female" and "femininity" as understood by white feminists. At the core of womanism is the idea that mainstream feminism is a movement led by white women to serve white women's goals, which can be indifferent or even oppositional to the needs of Black women.
Acronym used to refer to queer and trans people of color as a group. Typically used to acknowledge the particularities of queer and trans people of color's experiences and the intersections of queerphobia, transphobia, and racism as directed towards queer and trans people of color.
As defined by Emi Koyama, transfeminism is a movement by and for trans woman who view the liberation of trans women as essential to the liberation of all women.
Period of feminist political activity beginning in the early 1990s that embraced diversity and individualism in women and sought to redefine what it meant to be a feminist. The third wave is characterized by the emergence of new feminist movements and theories such as intersectionality, sex positivity, ecofeminism, transfeminism, and postmodern feminism.
Sexual identity or sexuality term used to describe women and, in some definitions, non-binary people who are sapphic, or attracted to women. Only use to describe individuals who describe their identity as sapphic.
Women and, in some definitions, non-binary people of any sexual identity or sexuality who are attracted to women. Some but not all sapphics use the term "sapphic" to describe their sexual identity or sexuality. Only use to describe individuals who self-identify as sapphic.
Slang term used to describe men who have romantic and/or sexual relationships with other men; often used as an alternative to the term "Men who have sex with men." Can be used to describe men who are exclusively or primarily interested in men, as well as men who are also interested in people of other or all genders. Only use to describe people who self-identify as MLM.
Slang term used to describe women who have romantic and/or sexual relationships with other women. Can be used to describe women who are exclusively or primarily interested in women, as well as women who are also interested in people of other or all genders. Only use to describe people who self-identify as WLW.
Individuals who assume the role of mother to a queer person or queer people; use only for individuals who self-identify as mothers.
Cisgender people who are between the ages of childhood and adulthood.
Children younger than 18 years who identify as cisgender.
Boys (typically children or youth younger than 18) who are cisgender.
Girls (typically children or youth younger than 18) who are cisgender.
Children younger than 18 years who identify as heterosexual.
Nigerian term that directly translates to "feminine men" but cannot be easily understood through Euro-American understandings of gender. The term has been used to describe people who may identify variously as feminine men, gay men, both male and female (or third gender), and/or trans. While some people self-identify as yan daudu, others consider the term a slur. Only use to describe individuals who self-identify as yan daudu.
Facial hair on the upper lip. Includes false or drag mustaches as well as naturally grown hair.
Slang term for mustaches or facial hair on the upper lip, particularly that of lesbians.
Sexual activities that include the use of drugs, typically to trigger sexual arousal, increase sexual pleasure, and/or facilitate sexual encounters that last several hours or days.
The state of equal ease of access to resources and opportunities regardless of gender, including economic participation and decision-making, as well as the state of valuing different behaviors, aspirations, and needs equally, regardless of gender.
The practice or policy of providing equal access and support to groups of people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized, such as LGBTQ+ people, people of color, disabled people, etc.
Asexual people who are between the ages of childhood and adulthood.
Gender-neutral term used to refer to the siblings or siblings-in-law of one's parents; an alternative to "aunts" or "uncles."
Gender-neutral term used to refer to the children of one's sibling; an alternative to "nephews" or "nieces."
LGBTQ+ people who live in or are descended from those native to the Kashmir Valley in the Indian subcontinent.
Lesbians who live in or are descended from those native to the Kashmir Valley in the Indian subcontinent.
Gay men who live in or are descended from those native to the Kashmir Valley in the Indian subcontinent.
Bisexual people who live in or are descended from those native to the Kashmir Valley in the Indian subcontinent.
Queer people who live in or are descended from those native to the Kashmir Valley in the Indian subcontinent.
Transgender people who live in or are descended from those native to the Kashmir Valley in the Indian subcontinent.
Intersex people who live in or are descended from those native to the Kashmir Valley in the Indian subcontinent.
Asexual people who live in or are descended from those native to the Kashmir Valley in the Indian subcontinent.
LGBTQ+ people who are from or descended from those native to the Konkan region of the Indian subcontinent, and who speak any of the dialects of the Konkani language.
Lesbians who are from or descended from those native to the Konkan region of the Indian subcontinent, and who speak any of the dialects of the Konkani language.
Gay men who are from or descended from those native to the Konkan region of the Indian subcontinent, and who speak any of the dialects of the Konkani language.
Bisexual people who are from or descended from those native to the Konkan region of the Indian subcontinent, and who speak any of the dialects of the Konkani language.
Queer people who are from or descended from those native to the Konkan region of the Indian subcontinent, and who speak any of the dialects of the Konkani language.
Transgender people who are from or descended from those native to the Konkan region of the Indian subcontinent, and who speak any of the dialects of the Konkani language.
Intersex people who are from or descended from those native to the Konkan region of the Indian subcontinent, and who speak any of the dialects of the Konkani language.
Asexual people who are from or descended from those native to the Konkan region of the Indian subcontinent, and who speak any of the dialects of the Konkani language.
LGBTQ+ people who live mostly in Kumaon region in the Indian Himalayas. They might also speak the Kumaoni language as their first language.
Lesbians who live mostly in Kumaon region in the Indian Himalayas. They might also speak the Kumaoni language as their first language.
Gay men who live mostly in Kumaon region in the Indian Himalayas. They might also speak the Kumaoni language as their first language.
Bisexual people who live mostly in Kumaon region in the Indian Himalayas. They might also speak the Kumaoni language as their first language.
Transgender people who live mostly in Kumaon region in the Indian Himalayas. They might also speak the Kumaoni language as their first language.
Queer people who live mostly in Kumaon region in the Indian Himalayas. They might also speak the Kumaoni language as their first language.
Intersex people who live mostly in Kumaon region in the Indian Himalayas. They might also speak the Kumaoni language as their first language.
Asexual people who live mostly in Kumaon region in the Indian Himalayas. They might also speak the Kumaoni language as their first language.
LGBTQ+ people who are from or are descended from those native to the Kutch district of the Indian state of Gujarat and the Sindh region of Pakistan.
Lesbians who are from or are descended from those native to the the Kutch district of the Indian state of Gujarat and the Sindh region of Pakistan.
Gay men who are from or are descended from those native to the the Kutch district of the Indian state of Gujarat and the Sindh region of Pakistan.
Bisexual people who are from or are descended from those native to the the Kutch district of the Indian state of Gujarat and the Sindh region of Pakistan.
Queer people who are from or are descended from those native to the the Kutch district of the Indian state of Gujarat and the Sindh region of Pakistan.
Intersex people who are from or are descended from those native to the the Kutch district of the Indian state of Gujarat and the Sindh region of Pakistan.
Transgender people who are from or are descended from those native to the the Kutch district of the Indian state of Gujarat and the Sindh region of Pakistan.
Asexual people who are from or are descended from those native to the the Kutch district of the Indian state of Gujarat and the Sindh region of Pakistan.
Term that encompasses LGBTQ+ filmmaking, the LGBTQ+ film industry, and film as an art form within LGBTQ+ culture. For specific movies created by or representing LGBTQ+ people, use the term "LGBTQ+ films."
Term that encompasses lesbian filmmaking, the lesbian film industry, and film as an art form within lesbian culture. For specific movies created by or representing lesbians, use the term "Lesbian films."
Motion pictures, or movies, created by lesbian directors, depicting lesbians, or that are regarded as important within lesbian culture.
Term that encompasses gay filmmaking, the gay film industry, and film as an art form within gay culture. For specific movies created by or representing gay men, use the term "Gay films."
Motion pictures, or movies, created by gay directors, depicting gay men, or that are regarded as important within gay culture.
Past events or accounts of the past concerning Two-Spirit people, or people who might be perceived as Two-Spirit if they were alive today.
LGBTQ+ people of native African ancestry living outside of the continent of Africa. While this term is commonly used to describe descendants of Africans who were enslaved and forcibly transported to the Americas via the transatlantic slave trade between the 16th and 19th centuries, it can also be used to refer to descendants of Africans who voluntarily immigrated to other parts of the world. Do not conflate with Black LGBTQ+ people or African American LGBTQ+ people. Follow the individual's preference whenever possible.
Black people who are asexual. Use only for individuals who self-identity as Black. Follow the individual’s preference for African American or Black whenever possible.
Asexual people of African descent born in the United States or asexual people born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to the United States. Use for individuals who self-identity as African American. Follow the individual’s preference for African American or Black whenever possible.
LGBTQ+ people who were adopted, whether or not by LGBTQ+ parents.
Lesbians who are fathers. This includes non-binary people who have children and identify as fathers, as well as trans women who had children before transitioning and still identify as fathers to those children. Do not use to describe lesbian parents unless they self-identify as fathers.
People who act as a father to one or more LGBTQ+ person. For fathers who are themselves LGBTQ+, use the term "LGBTQ+ fathers."
Gay men who are mothers. This includes trans men who had children before transitioning and still identify as mothers to those children. Do not use to describe gay parents unless they self-identify as mothers.
People who act as a mother to one or more LGBTQ+ person. For mothers who are themselves LGBTQ+, use the term "LGBTQ+ mothers."
People who share a sibling relationship with one or more LGBTQ+ person. For siblings who are themselves LGBTQ+, use the term "LGBTQ+ siblings."
Daughters who have one or more LGBTQ+ parent. For daughters who are themselves LGBTQ+, use the term "LGBTQ+ daughters."
Sons who have one or more LGBTQ+ parent. For sons who are themselves LGBTQ+, use the term "LGBTQ+ sons."
People who have one or more LGBTQ+ grandparent. For grandchildren who are themselves LGBTQ+, use the term "LGBTQ+ grandchildren."
People who have one or more LGBTQ+ grandchild. For grandparents who are themselves LGBTQ+, use the term "LGBTQ+ grandparents."
People who have one or more LGBTQ+ family member. For family members who are themselves LGBTQ+, use the term "LGBTQ+ family members."
Lesbians who have not yet reached the age of adolescence.
Gay people who have not yet reached the age of adolescence.
People who share a romantic, sexual, or play partnership with another person or people.
Individuals who have one ore more romantic, sexual, or play partner who is LGBTQ+.
Lesbians who are the romantic, sexual, or play partners of another person or people.
Gay men who are the romantic, sexual, or play partners of another person or people.
Bisexual people who are the romantic, sexual, or play partners of another person or people.
Transgender people who are the romantic, sexual, or play partners of another person or people.
Queer people who are the romantic, sexual, or play partners of another person or people.
People who act as parents to one or more people.