Exploring term lgbtq

exploring term lgbtq

Coming Out

Many people use the term “coming out” to refer to the process of telling someone else how they identify in terms of their love-related orientation, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Coming out is a lifelong process that has both intrapersonal and interpersonal components, although most people have an initial phase where they are first coming out to themselves.

The intrapersonal component involves:

  • recognizing a dissonance between one’s internal experiences, desires, or feelings as compared to societal norms
  • making sense of this dissonance through exploration and information gathering
  • formulating a way of portraying or understanding one’s experiences, desires, or feelings
  • making choices about affirming, embracing, denying, repressing one’s experiences, desires, or feelings

The interpersonal component involves:

  • discussing one’s experiences, desires, or feelings with others as part of the exploration or information gathering
  • seeking out a community of people with similar experiences, desires, or feelings
  • disclosure of identity or meaning made about one’s experiences, desires, or feelings to others

Cisheterosexi

Glossary of Terms

Many Americans refrain from talking about sexual orientation and gender identity or verbalization because it feels taboo, or because they’re nervous of saying the erroneous thing. 

This glossary was written to help give people the words and meanings to help make conversations easier and more easy . LGBTQ+ people use a variety of terms to identify themselves, not all of which are included in this glossary. Always listen for and respect a person’s self identified terminology.

Ally | A phrase used to describe someone who is actively supportive of LGBTQ+ people. It encompasses straight and cisgender allies, as well as those within the Homosexual community who support each other (e.g., a sapphic who is an ally to the bisexual community).

Asexual | Often called “ace” for short, asexual refers to a complete or partial lack of sexual attraction or lack of interest in sexual task with others. Asexuality exists on a spectrum, and asexual people may exposure no, little or conditional sexual attraction.

Biphobia | The fear and hatred of, or discomfort with, people who love and are sexually attracted to more than one gender.

Bisexual | A person emotiona

LGBTQIA Resource Center Glossary

GLOSSARY

The terms and definitions below are always evolving, switching and often imply different things to different people. They are provided below as a starting point for discussion and understanding. This Glossary has been collectively built and created by the staff members of the LGBTQIA Resource Center since the early 2000s.

These are not universal definitions. This glossary is provided to serve give others a more thorough but not entirely comprehensive understanding of the significance of these terms. You may even consider asking someone what they mean when they use a legal title, especially when they use it to describe their individuality. Ultimately it is most important that each individual characterize themselves for themselves and therefore also define a legal title for themselves.

 

“If I didn't define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people's fantasies for me and eaten alive.” -Audre Lorde

This glossary contains terms, such as ableism and disability, that may not be considered directly related to identities of sexuality or gender. These terms are crucial to acknowledge as part of our mission to doubt all forms of oppress

The language and terminology folks use to describe their experiences of gender and sexual orientation is ever-evolving and the same term might have different meanings for different people. However, here is a glossary of some of the most commonly used terms. Have questions or want to learn more? Wondering what all of those letters mean? Here is a glossary of some of the most commonly used terms.

Ally – An ally is an individual who speaks out and stands up for a person or group that is targeted and discriminated against. An ally works to conclude oppression by supporting and advocating for people who are stigmatized, discriminated against or treated unfairly. For the queer woman , gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ+) communities, an ally is any person who supports and stands up for the rights of Homosexual people.

Asexual – A person who does not experience sexual attraction; they may or may not encounter emotional, physical, or romantic attraction. Asexuality differs from celibacy in that it is a sexual orientation, not a choice.

Assigned at Birth – Commonly utilized by trans individuals, the term illustrates that the individual’s sex (and subsequently gender in early

Glossary of Terms: LGBTQ

Definitions were drafted in collaboration with other U.S.-based LGBTQ society organizations and leaders. Watch acknowledgements section.

Additional terms and definitions about gender identity and gender verbalization, transgender people, and nonbinary people are available in the Transgender Glossary. 

Are we missing a term or is a definition outdated? Email press@glaad.org

*NOTE:  Ask people what terms they employ to describe their sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression before assigning them a label. Outside of acronyms, these terms should only be capitalized when used at the beginning of a sentence.
 

LGBTQ
Acronym for homosexual woman, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. The Q generally stands for queer when LGBTQ organizations, leaders, and media use the acronym. In settings offering back for youth, it can also stand for questioning. LGBT and LGBTQ+ are also used, with the + added in recognition of all non-straight, non-cisgender identities. (See Transgender Glossary ) Both are acceptable, as are other versions of this acronym. The term “gay community” should be avoided, as it does not accuratel