Download simple learn definitions of lesbian, gay, bi and trans.

A

Abro (sexual and romantic)

A word used to explain people who have a fluid sexual and/or romantic orientation which changes over time, or the course of their life. They may use completely different terms to explain themselves over time.

Ace

An umbrella time period used specifically to describe a lack of, varying, or occasional experiences of sexual attraction. This encompasses asexual folks as well as those that determine as demisexual and grey-sexual. Ace people who expertise romantic attraction or occasional sexual attraction might also use terms reminiscent of gay, bi, lesbian, straight and queer along side asexual to explain the path of their romantic or sexual attraction.

Find out extra about ace identities on our Ace Hub.

Ace and aro/ace and aro spectrum

Umbrella phrases used to explain the extensive group of people that experience a lack of, various, or occasional experiences of romantic and/or sexual attraction, including a scarcity of attraction. People who identify underneath these umbrella phrases may describe themselves utilizing a number of of a large number of phrases, together with, but not limited to, asexual, ace, aromantic, aro, demi, gray, and abro. People may also use phrases similar to gay, bi, lesbian, straight and queer in conjunction with ace and aro to elucidate the route of romantic or sexual attraction if and after they experience it.

Listed below are five issues you should learn about aro folks.

Allo (sexual and romantic)

Allo folks expertise sexual and romantic attraction, and don't determine as on the ace or aro spectrum. Allo is to ace and aro spectrum identities, as straight is to LGB+ spectrum identities. It is vital to use words that equalise expertise, otherwise the opposite to ace and aro turns into ‘normal’ which is stigmatising.

Aro

An umbrella term used specifically to describe a scarcity of, varying, or occasional experiences of romantic attraction. This encompasses aromantic people in addition to those that determine as demiromantic and grey-romantic. Aro individuals who experience sexual attraction or occasional romantic attraction may also use phrases similar to gay, bi, lesbian, straight and queer together with asexual to describe the direction of their attraction.

Aromantic

A one who does not experience romantic attraction. Some aromantic people expertise sexual attraction, whereas others do not. Aromantic people who experience sexual attraction or occasional romantic attraction may also use terms equivalent to gay, bi, lesbian, straight and queer at the side of asexual to describe the course of their attraction.

Asexual

A person who doesn't experience sexual attraction. Some asexual people experience romantic attraction, whereas others do not. Asexual individuals who experience romantic attraction might also use phrases corresponding to gay, bi, lesbian, straight and queer at the side of asexual to explain the direction of their romantic attraction.

Ally

A (sometimes) straight and/or cis person who supports members of the LGBT group.

B

Bi

Bi is an umbrella time period used to explain a romantic and/or sexual orientation in the direction of a couple of gender.

Bi people may describe themselves using one or more of a large variety of phrases, together with, however not restricted to, bisexual, pan, queer, and another non-monosexual and non-monoromantic identities.

Learn more about bi experiences on our Bi Hub.

Biphobia

The worry or dislike of somebody who identifies as bi based mostly on prejudice or adverse attitudes, beliefs or views about bi people. Biphobic bullying may be focused at people who are, or who are perceived to be, bi.

Butch

Butch is a term used in LBT culture to describe somebody who expresses themselves in a typically masculine means.

There are other identities inside the scope of butch, corresponding to ‘soft butch’ and ‘stone butch’. You shouldn’t use these phrases about somebody unless you already know they establish with them.

C

Cisgender or Cis

Someone whose gender identification is identical as the sex they had been assigned at delivery. Non-trans is also used by some people.

Popping out

When an individual first tells someone/others about their orientation and/or gender identification.

Find out extra about coming out and supporting others with their journey.

D

Deadnaming

Calling someone by their delivery title after they've modified their title. This time period is usually related to trans folks who have changed their name as part of their transition.

Demi (sexual and romantic)

An umbrella term used to describe individuals who might solely really feel sexually or romantically drawn to people with whom they've formed an emotional bond. People might also use terms such as gay, bi, lesbian, straight and queer along with demi to explain the path of romantic or sexual attraction as they expertise it.

F

Femme

Femme is a time period used in LGBT tradition to explain somebody who expresses themselves in a usually feminine way.

There are other identities within the scope of femme, such as ‘low femme’, ‘high femme’, and ‘hard femme’. You shouldn’t use these terms about somebody until you recognize they identify with them.

G

Gay

Refers to a man who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation in the direction of men. Also a generic term for lesbian and gay sexuality - some girls outline themselves as gay reasonably than lesbian. Some non-binary individuals can also establish with this term.

Gender

Often expressed when it comes to masculinity and femininity, gender is basically culturally determined and is assumed from the intercourse assigned at delivery.

Gender dysphoria

Used to describe when a person experiences discomfort or distress as a result of there's a mismatch between their intercourse assigned at beginning and their gender identification.

This can be the clinical prognosis for somebody who doesn’t really feel comfortable with the sex they were assigned at beginning.

Gender expression

How a person chooses to outwardly specific their gender, throughout the context of societal expectations of gender. A one who does not conform to societal expectations of gender could not, nonetheless, establish as trans.

Gender identity

A person’s innate sense of their own gender, whether or not male, female or something else (see non-binary below), which can or may not correspond to the intercourse assigned at birth.

Gender reassignment

Another manner of describing a person’s transition. To endure gender reassignment usually means to undergo some type of medical intervention, but it surely can even imply altering names, pronouns, dressing in a different way and residing in their self-recognized gender.

Gender reassignment is a characteristic that's protected by the Equality Act 2010, and it is additional interpreted in the Equality Act 2010 permitted code of observe. It's a time period of a lot contention and is one that Stonewall's Trans Advisory Group feels must be reviewed.

Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC)

This allows trans individuals to be legally recognised in their affirmed gender and to be issued with a brand new delivery certificate. Not all trans individuals will apply for a GRC and also you currently should be over 18 to apply.

You do not need a GRC to alter your gender markers at work or to legally change your gender on other documents comparable to your passport.

Gillick competence

A time period utilized in medical regulation to determine whether or not a toddler (under sixteen years of age) is able to consent to their own medical remedy, without the necessity for parental permission or data.

Grey (sexual and romantic)

Also called grey-A, that is an umbrella time period which describes individuals who expertise attraction often, hardly ever, or only under certain circumstances. People may also use phrases similar to gay, bi, lesbian, straight and queer together with gray to explain the course of romantic or sexual attraction as they expertise it.

H

Heterosexual/straight

Refers to a man who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation in the direction of women or to a woman who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation in direction of males.

Homosexual

This is likely to be considered a more medical time period used to explain somebody who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation in direction of somebody of the identical gender. The time period ‘gay’ is now extra usually used.

Homophobia

The worry or dislike of someone, based mostly on prejudice or destructive attitudes, beliefs or views about lesbian, gay or bi folks. Homophobic bullying could also be targeted at people who are, or who are perceived to be, lesbian, gay or bi.

I

Intersex

A time period used to describe a person who might have the biological attributes of each sexes or whose biological attributes don't fit with societal assumptions about what constitutes male or female.

Intersex individuals may identify as male, feminine or non-binary.

Stonewall works with intersex groups to provide its companions and stakeholders info and evidence about areas of disadvantage skilled by intersex individuals but does not, after discussions with members of the intersex group, include intersex points as a part of its present remit at this stage.

L

Lesbian

Refers to a girl who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards women. Some non-binary people can also identify with this time period.

Learn extra about lesbian experiences on our Lesbian Hub.

Lesbophobia

The concern or dislike of somebody as a result of they're or are perceived to be a lesbian.

LGBTQ+

The acronym for lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, questioning and ace.

N

Non-binary

An umbrella term for people whose gender identity doesn’t sit comfortably with ‘man’ or ‘woman’. Non-binary identities are varied and can include individuals who determine with some features of binary identities, while others reject them solely.

Read about what it is like to be non-binary in the UK at present.

O

Orientation

Orientation is an umbrella term describing a person's attraction to different individuals. This attraction may be sexual (sexual orientation) and/or romantic (romantic orientation). These terms refers to an individual's sense of id primarily based on their attractions, or lack thereof.

Orientations include, however should not limited to, lesbian, gay, bi, ace and straight.

Outed

When a lesbian, gay, bi or trans person’s sexual orientation or gender identity is disclosed to someone else without their consent.

P

Person with a trans history

Someone who identifies as male or female or a man or woman, however was assigned the other sex at beginning. This is increasingly used by individuals to acknowledge a trans previous.

Pan

Refers to a person whose romantic and/or sexual attraction in direction of others is just not limited by intercourse or gender.

Debunk 5 widespread misconceptions about pansexuality.

Passing

If someone is regarded, at a look, to be a cisgender man or cisgender woman.

Cisgender refers to somebody whose gender id matches the sex they were ‘assigned’ at beginning. This would possibly include physical gender cues (hair or clothes) and/or behaviour which is historically or culturally associated with a selected gender.

Platonic partnerships

People who find themselves on the ace and/or aro spectrum might have platonic partnerships. These are relationships where there is a high stage of mutual commitment which may embrace shared life selections, shared living preparations, and co-parenting of kids. These partnerships can embrace more than two people. Like allosexual and alloromantic folks, ace and aro spectrum people may be monogamous or polyamorous.

Pronoun

Words we use to check with people’s gender in dialog - for instance, ‘he’ or ‘she’. Some people might want others to check with them in gender neutral language and use pronouns comparable to they/their and ze/zir.

Q

Queer is a term utilized by those eager to reject specific labels of romantic orientation, pornevening.com sexual orientation and/or gender identification. It may also be a approach of rejecting the perceived norms of the LGBT community (racism, sizeism, ableism and so forth). Although some LGBT individuals view the phrase as a slur, it was reclaimed within the late 80s by the queer group who've embraced it.

Questioning

The means of exploring your personal sexual orientation and/or gender id.

R

Romantic orientation

A person’s romantic attraction to other people, or lack thereof. Along with sexual orientation, this types a person’s orientation id.

S

Sex

Assigned to a person on the idea of main sex characteristics (genitalia) and reproductive functions. Sometimes the phrases ‘sex’ and ‘gender’ are interchanged to imply ‘male’ or ‘female’.

Sexual orientation

A person’s sexual attraction to other people, or lack thereof. Together with romantic orientation, this types a person’s orientation identity.

Stonewall makes use of the term ‘orientation’ as an umbrella time period masking sexual and romantic orientations.

Spectrum

A term used to cover a wide range of identities that have a root commonality or shared expertise.

T

Trans

An umbrella term to explain people whose gender is just not the same as, or does not sit comfortably with, the intercourse they had been assigned at beginning.

Trans people might describe themselves utilizing one or more of a wide number of terms, including (however not restricted to) transgender, transsexual, gender-queer (GQ), gender-fluid, non-binary, gender-variant, crossdresser, genderless, agender, nongender, third gender, bi-gender, trans man, trans girl, trans masculine, trans feminine and neutrois.

Find out more about trans experiences on our Trans Hub.

Transgender man

A term used to explain somebody who is assigned feminine at delivery but identifies and lives as a man. This may be shortened to trans man, or FTM, an abbreviation for feminine-to-male.

Transgender woman

A term used to describe somebody who is assigned male at delivery however identifies and lives as a girl. This may be shortened to trans woman, or MTF, an abbreviation for male-to-female.

Transitioning

The steps a trans individual could take to reside within the gender with which they identify. Each person’s transition will contain various things. For some this involves medical intervention, comparable to hormone therapy and surgeries, however not all trans folks need or are able to have this.

Transitioning also might involve things comparable to telling friends and family, dressing in a different way and changing official documents.

Transphobia

The concern or dislike of somebody based mostly on the very fact they are trans, including denying their gender identification or refusing to accept it. Transphobia could also be targeted at people who are, or who are perceived to be, trans.

Transsexual

This was used prior to now as a more medical term (similarly to homosexual) to confer with somebody whose gender will not be the same as, or does not sit comfortably with, the intercourse they were assigned at beginning.

This time period continues to be used by some though many people prefer the time period trans or transgender.

U

Undetectable

HIV medicine (antiretroviral treatment, or Art) works by reducing the amount of the virus within the blood to undetectable levels. This means the degrees of HIV are so low that the virus cannot be passed on. This is named having an undetectable viral load or being undetectable.