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Queer Terminology

Another area where there are often different levels of knowledge is the area of queer or LGBTQAI+ individuals. We have a lot of terms, and sometimes people don't know them all. There are changing meanings a lot of times, and sometimes the way an word used to be used has changed over time. A good example is words that have been reclaimed such as Queer and other words used as insults over the years. A note on the term Queer: Some people do not use this term, and that is their choice. Others have reclaimed it and choose to wear it proudly. I am one of the latter. I am unapologetically queer.

HETEROSEXUAL—Attracted to a single different gender. Usually, this does not include non-binary people and is restricted to male and female.

HOMOSEXUAL—Attracted to the same gender.

HETEROFLEXIBLE—Usually heterosexual, but once in a while finds self attracted to someone of the same gender.

HOMOFLEXIBLE—Usually homosexual, but once in a while finds self attracted to someone of a different gender.

DEMISEXUAL—Does not experience sexual attraction to others unless an emotional bond is formed first.

GRAY ASEXUAL/GRAYSEXUAL—Does not usually experience sexual attraction to others but occasionally find themselves sexually aroused.

ASEXUAL—Does not experience sexual attraction to others. Many other types of asexuality may not be listed.

BISEXUAL—Attracted to two or more genders or the same and different genders. Some people who use bisexual define it as attraction regardless of gender. Please note: Bisexual includes non-binary people and trans people.

PANSEXUAL—Attracted to all genders or attraction regardless of gender. Can mean the same as Bisexual.

POLYSEXUAL—Attracted to multiple genders.

-ROMANTIC—Orientations, as above, in regards to romantic attraction rather than sexual attraction.

AESTHETIC—Attraction to appearances with or without sexual/romantic attraction.

CISGENDER—Having a gender identity that agrees with the gender assigned at birth.

TRANSGENDER—Having a gender identity that is not in agreement with the gender assigned at birth. Transgender people can be binary or non-binary.

NON-BINARY—Gender identities that do not fall in binary categories of male/female; may identify as transgender or not.

BIGENDER—Having two or more gender identities. May gender switch or may be a blend of two or more genders.

DEMIGENDER—Having slight association with a gender, but not entirely.

POLYGENDER—Having multiple gender identities.

PANGENDER—Having “all” gender identities does not include culturally specific genders (Two-Spirit from Indigenous North Americans, for example).

AFAB/DFAB—Assigned Female at Birth/Defined Female at Birth

AMAB/DMAB—Assigned Male at Birth/Defined Male at Birth

TRANSITION—The process that any transgender person goes through as they come into their gender identity.

GENDER CONFIRMATION SURGERY—Referred to as Gender Reassignment or Sex Reassignment Surgery, generally, when used, refers to having the genitals changed from one type to another.

TOP SURGERY—Having breasts either removed or created to align with gender.

BOTTOM SURGERY—Having genitals changed to align with gender.