dictionary
Below is a comprehensive list of queer terminology and their definitions. If a word is commonly abbreviated this will be listed next to the word itself in (parentheses). Please be advised that we do our best to update this dictionary as frequently as possible. If you would like a term added, kindly e-mail us.
A *​ placed next to a word is used to identify those terms that are, or can be, offensive to some. This dictionary is meant for educational purposes; please be cautious when using any of the starred words and always be respectful of others in your speech.​
Gender Fluid
- Someone who sometimes feels male, sometimes feels female, and can sometimes feel like a
mix of the two. Their gender identity changes over time.
Gender Identity
- The gender which one identifies with or "feels inside," regardless of whether it matches their
biological sex.
Genderqueer
- Someone who identifies as having an ambiguous gender which does not fit into the socially
constructed norms of either male or female. These individuals may or may not also identify
as transgender.
Gender Reassignment Surgery (GRS) / Gender Affirmation Surgery
- The surgical procedures by which a person's physical appearance and function of their existing
sexual characteristics are altered to resemble that of the other sex.
GLBT+
- See (LGBT+).
Glitter Bomb
- A protest developed by the queer community in which protesters throw glitter onto the
person(s) they oppose.
Gold Star
- A homosexual person who has never engaged in sexual acts with someone of the opposite
sex.
Granola Lesbian
- A stereotype of nature-loving lesbians who are often eco-conscious and focus on natural and
organic living.
Grey-Asexual (Grey-A/Grey/Gray)
- Someone who identifies on the spectrum between sexual and asexual. (For more detailed
information, please see AVEN's Glossary)
Grey-Romantic
- Someone who identifies on the spectrum between romantic and aromantic. (For more detailed
information, please see AVEN's Glossary)
H
Hasbian*
- A slang term for someone who once identified as a lesbian and now identifies as heterosexual.
Hermaphrodite*
- An outdated, offensive term for an intersexed individual.
He/She*
- A derogatory term for intersexed individuals and/or transgender individuals.
Heteroromantic
- Someone who is romantically attracted to members of the opposite sex.
Heteronormative
- The marginalization of non-heterosexual relationships and reinforcement of the binary system
of viewing gender.
Heterosexism
- A system of oppression that benefits straight/heterosexual people at the expense of lesbian,
gay and bisexual people.
Heterosexual
- Someone who is emotionally and/or physically attracted to members of the opposite sex.
Heterosexual Privilege
- The basic rights, privileges and status automatically given to heterosexual people, which are
systematically denied to people with other sexual orientations.
Homo*
- An offensive or derogatory term for a homosexual individual. This term is most commonly used in the phrase "no homo."
Homophobia
- The irrational fear of LGBT+ individuals, specifically gay and lesbian identified persons. This
may manifest itself in negative feelings, attitudes, actions and/or behaviors against the
LGBT+ community.
Homoromantic
- Someone who is romantically attracted to members of the same sex.
Homosexual
- Someone who is emotionally and/or physically attracted to members of the same sex.
I
Identity
- How we understand ourselves, what we call ourselves and often who we connect to and
associate with. Each of us has a unique diversity of social identities based on our sexual
orientation, gender identity, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, religion and other important
parts of who we are.
Indifferent
- A term used by some asexual individuals to indicate that they feel neither revulsion toward nor
powerful desire to engage in sex.
Intergender
- See "genderqueer".
Intersex
- An umbrella term used to describe a variety of conditions in which a person is born with
reproductive and/or sexual anatomy that doesn’t seem to fit the medical definitions of female
or male anatomy and/or genetics.
L
Lesbian
- A female who is romantically and/or sexually attracted to other females.
Limp Wrist*
- A derogatory term for a gay male.
Lipstick Lesbian*
- A "traditionally-feminine" lesbian.
LUG (Lesbian Until Graduation)*
- Someone who identified as a lesbian during college and then identifies as heterosexual after
graduation.
LGBTQIA (LGBT+)
- The most commonly used accronym for the LGBT+ community: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Ally, and Asexual.
M
Male to Female (MTF)
- Someone who identifies as transgender and is transitioning from male to female.
Mamma's Boy*
- A derogatory term for a gay male.
Monamorous
- Having one romantic/sexual partner at a time.
N
Nancy*
- A derogatory term for a gay male.
Non-Operative (Non-Op)
- A transgender individual who has decided to not have sexual reassignment surgery.
O
Out of the Closet (Out)
- A term used to describe living openly anf honestly by not hiding one's sexual orientation or
gender identity.
P
Packing
- The act of wearing padding or a phallic object in the front of the pants or underwear to give the
appearance of having a penis.
Panromantic
- An individual who is romantically attracted to others regardless of their gender
identity, gender expression, or biological sex.
Pansexual
- An individual who is sexually attracted to others regardless of their gender
identity, gender expression, or biological sex.
Polyamorous
- Having more than one romantic/sexual partner at a time, with the consent and knowledge of all
individuals.
Polyromantic
- An individual who is romantically attracted to others of more than one gender or sex but without
implying, as biromantic does, that there are only two genders or sexes.
Post-Operative (Post-Op)
- A transgender individual who has had sexual reassignment surgery.
Preferred Gender Pronouns (PGPs)
- The pronoun(s) that an individual would like others to call them by, when their proper name is
not being used.
Pre-Operative (Pre-Op)
- A transgender individual who has not yet had sexual reassignment surgery.
Q
Queer
- An umbrella term referring to the LGBT+ community.
- A derogatory term historically used to refer to the LGBT+ community.
- An identity taken by some individuals who feel somehow outside of the societal norms in
regards to gender, sexuality or/and even politics.
Questioning
- An individual who is in the process of understanding and exploring what their sexual orientation,
and/or gender identity, and/or gender expression might be.
R
Recruit(ing)*
- An offensive claim that homosexual, bisexual, and pansexual individuals attempt to find
homosexual, usually young, persons and "turn them" queer.
Repulsed
- A term used by some asexual individuals to indicate that they find sex disgusting or
revolting. An asexual can be personally repulsed, but still be sex-positive when the sexual
activity does not involve them.
S
Sex
- See "Biological Sex."
Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS) / Sex Affirmation Surgery
- The surgical procedures by which a person's physical appearance and function of their existing
sexual characteristics are altered to resemble that of the other sex.