Terms We Use
The following list has been produced alongside members of the Proud2Be Youth Group. Please note this list is not comprehensive and may not apply to every individual.
Agender
Someone who doesn’t identify with any gender
Aromantic
A person who does not experience romantic attraction but may still be sexually attracted to people
Arophobia
The irrational fear or dislike of someone who is or is perceived to be aromantic
Acephobia
The irrational fear or dislike of someone who is or is perceived to be asexual/ace
Asexual/Ace
A person who does not experience sexual attraction but may still be romantically attracted to people
Bigender
Someone who identifies with two genders. These two gender identities could be male and female, but could also include non-binary identities
Biphobia
The irrational fear or dislike of someone who is or is perceived to be bisexual
Bisexual
A person who is attracted* to people of two or more genders
Cisgender
Someone whose gender is the same as the sex or gender they were assigned at birth (opposite of trans)
Demigender
Someone who identifies partially but not fully as a certain gender (can be binary or non-binary)
Demisexual
Someone who is only attracted* to somebody once a connection has been made (i.e. friends)
Gay
A person who is attracted* to someone of the same gender
Gender Binary
The common idea that there are only two genders, woman & man – corresponding to the terms female and male, feminine & masculine, respectively – and the consequent assumption that all people fall into one or other of these categories
Gender Fluid
Refers to a person who does not identify with a fixed gender
HBT
The acronym for homophobic, biphobic and/or transphobic
Heterosexual/Straight
A person who is attracted* to someone of the opposite binary gender
Homophobia
The irrational fear or dislike of someone who is or is perceived to be gay or lesbian
Homoromantic
Someone who is romantically attracted to people of the same gender
Intersex
Someone whose biology doesn’t completely match the typical social definitions of ‘female’ and ‘male’. Some intersex people identify as trans and part of the LGBTQ+ community but some do not
Lesbian
A woman who is attracted* to other women
LGBTQ+
The acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and/or questioning. + is used as a way of including all other sexual, gender and romantic diverse people
Non-Binary
An umbrella term used to describe the identities of those for whom the “gender binary” doesn’t fit – either because their sense of gender falls outside the strict categories of woman/man entirely, or because it incorporates only parts of one or both, or is more than either one of those on its own – or they simply may not experience their identity in terms of gender at all
Pansexual
Someone who is attracted* to people, regardless of gender
Pronoun
Words we use to refer to people’s gender in conversation – for example, he/him or she/her and gender-neutral pronouns such as they/their and ze/zir
Questioning
Someone who is exploring and/or questioning their own sexual orientation and/or gender identity
Trans
An umbrella term used to describe people whose gender is not congruent with the assumptions made about them at birth. This includes but is not limited to gender fluid, agender, non-binary, bigender & demigender. Opposite of cisgender
Transphobia
The irrational fear or dislike of someone who is or is perceived to be trans
*sexually, romantically, spiritually, and/or physically
