Definitions

Providing affirming care requires an understanding of terms that are unique to the SGM population. In addition to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual (LGBTQIA+), here are additional key terms you should know. Please note this list of terminology is not exhaustive and is ever-changing.

• Assigned Sex at Birth: listed as male or female based on biological status (sex chromosomes), reproductive organs (penis or vagina), or the appearance of external genitalia present at birth.

  • M.A.A.B.: Male-assigned at birth
  • F.A.A.B.: Female-assigned at birth
  • U.A.A.B.: Unassigned at birth
  • Intersex: individual born with biological sex characteristics that aren’t traditionally associated with male or female bodies; possibly ambiguous genitalia or both male and female sex organs. Intersex individuals include a wide range of gender identities and sexual orientations. Intersexuality does not refer to sexual orientation or gender identity (see “intergender” below).
• Gender: a social construct that identifies the traditional view of two sexes, male and female; indicates traits and behaviors considered to be masculine or feminine (Cottrell, 2019).
• Gender Identity: describes an individual’s internal sense of maleness or femaleness; it refers to one’s chosen identity and can exist on a spectrum.
  • Cisgender: individual whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth.
  • Gender Dysphoria: psychological stress related to having a gender identity that differs from one’s assigned sex at birth.
  • Gender Expression: outward presentation or display of one’s gender, in appearance (i.e., hair, clothing), personality and behavior.
  • Gender Fluid: individuals whose gender identity shifts or fluctuates. These individuals may identify or express themselves as masculine on some days, and feminine on others.
  • Gender Incongruence: when gender identity and/or gender expression differ from what is associated with the gender assigned at birth (Rowe, Ng & O’Keefe, 2019).
  • Gender-Neutral: individual who prefers not to be described by a specific gender but prefers “they” as a singular pronoun or “Mx.” instead of “Mr.” or “Ms.”
  • Gender Nonconforming (G.N.C.): one who expresses gender outside traditional norms associated with masculinity or femininity. Not all gender-nonconforming people are transgender, and some transgender people express gender in conventionally masculine or feminine ways.
  • Genderqueer: individual whose gender identity is outside the strict male/female binary. They may exhibit both traditionally masculine and feminine qualities or neither.
  • Intergender: individual that possesses a gender identity that is in the middle between the binary genders of female and male and may be a mix of both.
  • Nonbinary (N.B.): individual that identifies as neither male nor female and sees themselves outside the gender binary; similar to genderqueer.
  • Transgender: individuals whose gender identity or gender expression differs from the biological sex they were assigned at birth; this may or may not have any bearing on sexual orientation. Transgender individuals may identify as heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, nonbinary, gender queer or other term.
    • Trans or Trans+: umbrella terms for non-cisgender identities.
    • Transgender male: individual whose assigned sex at birth was female who has a gender identity of male.
      • FTM: female transitioning to male
      • May still have female organs which require breast, ovarian, or cervical cancer screening
    • Transgender female: individual whose assigned sex at birth was male who has a gender identity of female.
      • MTF: male transitioning to female
      • May still have male organs which requires testicular and prostate cancer screening
• Sexual Orientation: identifies whom the person is romantically and sexually attracted to and may exist on a spectrum.
  • Asexual: individual who experiences little to no sexual attraction.
  • Bisexual: individual who is emotionally and sexually attracted to others of the same sex or different sex or gender and may partner with both men and women.
  • Demisexual: individual who does not experience sexual attraction unless they have formed a strong emotional, but not necessarily romantic, connection with someone.
  • Gay: individual who has or desires to have a relationship with a person of the same sex; this term often refers to men who are emotionally and sexually attracted to other men and may partner exclusively with men.
  • Heterosexual: individuals who are attracted to the opposite sex.
  • Homosexual: individuals who are attracted to the same sex.
  • Lesbian: women who are emotionally and sexually attracted to other women and may partner exclusively with women.
  • Pansexual: individual who is attracted to people of all gender identities; someone who is attracted to a person’s qualities regardless of their gender identity.
  • Questioning: individuals who are uncertain or exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity.
  • Queer: an all-encompassing term that is not gender- or sex-specific.
  • “+”: indicates anyone not included in the other terms; everything on the gender and sexuality spectrum that letters and words don’t yet describe.

Pronouns

• Cisfemale: She/Her/Hers
• Cismale: He/Him/His
• Transgender male: he/him/himself
• Transgender female: she/her/herself
• Gender nonconforming (non-binary): They/Their/Theirs/them/themselves
• Gender neutral: Ze/Hir/zhe/zhim/zher/zhimself/zherself