A
B
Bisexual:
A person who is emotionally, physically, spiritually, and sexually attracted to members of more than one gender. Also can be referred to as omnisexual and pansexual.
Biological Sex:
A binary system (male/female) set by the medical establishment, usually based on reproductive organs. (See also Intersexed.)
C
Closeted:
Another way of saying "practicing in secret," to refer to someone who has not "come out of the closet" or who has come out to only a few people. One who may not be comfortable enough with their own sexuality or gender identity to share it with others.
Coming Out:
The process of discovering, defining, and proclaiming ones (non-heterosexual) sexuality.
Cross Dressing:
Wearing the clothing of the "opposite" sex; usually in reference to men who dress in women's clothing (since our culture no longer has taboos regarding women wearning mens clothing). This term is usually preferred over 'transvestite.'.
D
Down Low:
Slang, originally from the African American community, to describe closeted homosexuality.
Drag Queen:
A performer (usually gay) who performs as a female, usually in an exaggerated/theatrical manner, in a show or theatre setting.
Drag King:
A performer (usually lesbian) who performs as a male, usually in an exaggerated/theatrical manner, in a show or theatre setting.
Dyke:
Derogatory slang term used to identify a lesbian with masculine behavior. Sometimes used in a positive, proud, political way by lesbians among and about themselves. (See also: faggot, queer.
E
F
Faggot:
Derogatory term used to identify gay men; sometimes used as a positive, proud, political identifier by gay men among and about themselves. (See also dyke, queer)
G
Gay:
Usually, but not always, a term referring to homosexual men. Sometimes used as an umbrella term for the LGBT community.
Gender Identity:
A person's perception of their gender; may or may not agree with societal gender roles for their biological sex (masculine/feminine). Coincides with what doctors and/or society have prescribed for that person or can also refer to a multitude of expression like femme, boy, faggot, leather, androgynous, leather, etc.
Genderqueer:
Any LGBT person whose gender presentation is an intentional mixture of gender signifiers; often a political identity in support of transgender persons and against the binary gender system.
Gender Role:
Societal and cultural expectations of gender based upon one's biological sex.
H
Hate Crimes
Crimes which when committed target an andividual because of their affiliation (or perceived affiliation) with a minority group. In some states, hate crimes carry an additional penalty beyond the standard penalty for assault, murder, etc. Also known as "gay-bashing", acts of intolerance, or hate crimes.
Heterosexual:
A person who has emotional, physical, spiritual, and sexual attractions to persons of the "opposite sex". The sexuality that dominant discourse prescribes.
Heterosexual Privilege:
Advantages that come with heterosexuality, including marriage, acceptance by family, safety, and acceptance in one's chosen career field.
Heterosexism:
The belief that all people are heterosexual; the assumption and/or belief that heterosexual relationships and behavior are superior, and the actions based on this assumption.
Homosexual:
A person who has emotional, physical, spiritual, and sexual attraction to persons of the same gender. A medical term, it is considered outdated.
Homophobia:
Fear, anger, discomfort, intolerance, or lack of acceptance of LGBT people, or experiencing these feelings about one's own non-heterosexual preference.
Human Sexual Response:
Behaviors, thoughts, dreams, fantasies; not just behavior.
I
Intersexed:
People born with "unexpected" genitals. Formerly referred to hermaphrodites, intersexed people are not easily categorized as male or female because of ambiguous genitals. Most intersexed people do not possess "both" sets of genitals, rather a blending or a different appearance that is medically unacceptable to most doctors. Intersexuality is fairly common. Many who identify as intersexed believe that early childhood surgical intervention is not only unnecessary but cruel and advocate counseling and support for children and families.
J
K
L
Lavender:
As the combination of red (pink) and blue, the traditional gender-identified colors, lavendar is most often associated with the LGBT community.
Lesbian:
A woman who has emotional, physical, spiritual, and sexual attractions to other women.
Lifestyle:
How a person chooses to live and behave. Since being LGBT is not a choiceit is not a lifestyle (as opposed to being a vegitarian, for example.).
M
MSM
An abbreviation (Men having Sex with Men) for men who do not identify as gay or bisexual, but who have sex with other men
N
Normal:
Usually refers to that which is statistically more common, but is often confused by heterosexuals to refer to whatever it is that they condone in a moral sense. Because the characteristics of any population are always distributed on a bell curve, any place on the curve can be considered "normal."
O
Outing:
Publicly declaring a person's sexual orientation or gender identity; people can "out" themselves or can be "outed" by someone else, with or without their permission.
P
Pride:
Not being ashamed of oneself; expressions of pride include coming out and marching. Being honest and comfortable.
Q
Questioning:
The process of exploring one's sexual and/or gender identity, including but not limited to the examinatin of the validity of one's upbringing, expectations from others (family, friends, church, etc.), and inner motivation.
Queer:
Archaic derogatory term used to identify LGBT people. Embraced by some LGBT people as a positive, proud, political identifier. (See also dyke, faggot).
R
Rainbow Flag:
In 1978, San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker designed a flag for the city's Gay Freedom celebration and LGBT movements worldwide have since adopted it as a symbol of gay identity and pride. It has six stripes in the traditional form, but can be seen as streamers, etc, which run in the order of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple. The flag also symbolizes diversity within unity.
S
Sexual Orientation:
The gender to whom a person is erotically attracted.
Stonewall:
In the LGBT community, this term refers to the event of June 28, 1969, when NYC police attempted a routine raid on the Stonewall Inn, a working class gay and lesbian bar in Greenwich Village. The patrons resisted and the incident escalated into a riot that continued for several days. Most people look to this event as the beginning of the American Gay Liberation movement and all subsequent LGBT movements.
Suicidal Ideation :
A medical term referring to having thoughts of suicide; this can include a detailed plan, without the suicidal act itself. Most people who undergo suicidal ideation do not commit suicide, but some do go on to make suicide attempts.
T
Transgender:
An umbrella term for people who transgress society's view of gender and biological sex as necessarily fixed, unmoving, and following from one's biological sex. This includes crossdressers, transsexuals, drag kings/queens, masculine women, feminine men, and all those who defy what society tells them is appropriate for their "gender". Political trans activists seek to create more space around gender, and to create a space and a society where the choice of gender expression/presentation is safe, sane, and consensual.
Transsexual:
A person whose core gender identity is "opposite" the gender assigned to them at birth. Transsexuals may simply live as the opposite sex without modifying their physiology, or undergo hormone therapy, and/or have sex reassignment surgery so that their bodies are consistent with their gender identity.
Transvestite:
A clinical term for a person who crossdresses for erotic pleasure or relaxation. It is generally not favored by crossdressers and especially rejected by transsexuals.
Triangle:
The triangle symbol was used by the Nazis to label prisoners in the concentration camps. Gay men were made to wear a Pink Triangle and lesbians were forced to wear a Black Triangle. These have since been adopted as symbols of identity and pride.
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Sources for the above definitions include:
Florida State University's Campus SafeZones web page
Ohio University's Office of LGBT Programs Staff Members
Plymouth State College's Task Force Against Homophobia SafeZone handout
Virginia Association of College and University Housing Officers (VACUHO) SafeZone Project
Rainbow Access Initiative is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization.
To use any portion of this, contact Rainbow Access Initiative, Inc..
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