A to Z of LGBTQIA+ Terminology (A-H)

It’s important for all of us to have awareness of each other.

Below are some common words used within the LGBTQIA+ community. You shouldn’t use these terms to refer to someone unless you know they identify as them and you have their consent to do so.

Ally

Someone who is a friend, advocate or activist for any group, such as the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Androgynous

An individual whose gender expression and/or identity is neither distinctly ‘male’ or ‘female’. 

Asexual

A sexual orientation characterised by not feeling a sexual attraction or the desire for partnered sexual activity.  

There are many ways of expressing asexuality and it is different to celibacy, which is a term for someone deliberately avoiding sexual activity. 

Bi/bisexual

Bi is an umbrella term used to describe a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards more than one gender.  

Biphobia

The fear or dislike of someone, based on prejudice or negative attitudes, beliefs or views about bi people.  

Biphobic bullying may be targeted at people who are, or who are perceived to be, bi and can be prevalent in some gay communities. 

Cisgender/Cis

Someone whose gender identity is the same as the sex they were assigned at birth. ‘Non-trans’ is also used by some people. 

Closeted

Someone who is not open about their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.  

Drag queen/drag king

Commonly used terms to describe drag performers.  

Femme 

Femme is a term used in LGBTQ culture to describe someone who expresses themselves in a typically feminine way.  

There are other identities within the scope of femme, such as ‘low femme’, ‘high femme’, and ‘hard femme’.  

Gay

Gay refers to someone who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards members of the same sex. It can be a generic term for lesbian and gay sexuality – some women define themselves as gay rather than lesbian.  

Some non-binary people may also identify with this term.  

Gender

Often expressed in terms of masculinity and femininity, gender is largely culturally determined and is assumed from the sex assigned at birth.  

Gender Dysphoria

Used to describe when a person experiences discomfort or distress because there is a mismatch between their sex assigned at birth and their gender identity.  

This is also the clinical diagnosis for someone who doesn’t feel comfortable with the sex they were assigned at birth.  

Gender Identity

A person’s innate sense of their own gender, which may or may not correspond to their sex assigned at birth. Gender identity is not always outwardly expressed in someone’s appearance, this is known as gender expression. 

Heterosexual/straight

Refers to someone who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards the opposite sex. 

Homosexual

This is considered to be an outdated medical term used to describe someone who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards someone of the same gender.  

The term ‘gay’ is now more generally used, some individuals may find the term ‘homosexual’ offensive. 

Homophobia

The fear or dislike of someone, based on prejudice or negative attitudes, beliefs or views about lesbian, gay or bi people.  

Homophobic bullying may be targeted at people who are, or who are perceived to be, lesbian, gay or bi.  

How to get help

If you have any more questions on this area or would like to speak to somebody about this topic, have a look at the links or search for your local services in the blue box below. Alternatively you can always contact your school nurse.

• w: LGBT Foundation
  
• w: The Proud Trust - Resources for young people