Can you call a lesbian gay
Glossary of Terms: LGBTQ
Definitions were drafted in collaboration with other U.S.-based LGBTQ collective organizations and leaders. Look acknowledgements section.
Additional terms and definitions about gender identity and gender verbalization, transgender people, and nonbinary people are available in the Transgender Glossary.
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*NOTE: Ask people what terms they exploit to describe their sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression before assigning them a label. Outside of acronyms, these terms should only be capitalized when used at the beginning of a sentence.
LGBTQ
Acronym for sapphic, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. The Q generally stands for queer when LGBTQ organizations, leaders, and media use the acronym. In settings offering aid for youth, it can also stand for questioning. LGBT and LGBTQ+ are also used, with the + added in recognition of all non-straight, non-cisgender identities. (See Transgender Glossary ) Both are acceptable, as are other versions of this acronym. The term &#;gay community&#; should be avoided, as it does not accurately show the div
Glossary of Terms
Many Americans refrain from talking about sexual orientation and gender identity or verbalization because it feels taboo, or because they’re terrified of saying the erroneous thing.
This glossary was written to help give people the words and meanings to help make conversations easier and more easy . LGBTQ+ people use a variety of terms to identify themselves, not all of which are included in this glossary. Always listen for and respect a person’s self identified terminology.
Ally | A word used to describe someone who is actively supportive of LGBTQ+ people. It encompasses straight and cisgender allies, as well as those within the Diverse community who support each other (e.g., a womxn loving womxn who is an ally to the bisexual community).
Asexual | Often called “ace” for short, asexual refers to a complete or partial lack of sexual attraction or lack of interest in sexual action with others. Asexuality exists on a spectrum, and asexual people may trial no, little or conditional sexual attraction.
Biphobia | The fear and hatred of, or discomfort with, people who love and are sexually attracted to more than one gender.
Bisexual | A person emotion
What Does "Gay" Mean?
There is not one right answer
Many educators are unsure how to respond when a student asks you what does lgbtq+ mean. It is surpass to try to reply than to respond with silence or evade the question.
Practice different responses with colleagues, just as you practice other things that you want to study. Figure out what you feel comfortable saying.
Responses will vary by age and developmental stage of the student. Your comfort in answering these questions will set a welcoming tone in your class and school community.
Keep it simple
An answer can be as simple as: “‘Gay’ means two people of the same gender who adore each other – two women or two men.” Try to answer the question honestly without overloading a student with data. Throughout elementary school a student’s ability to perceive what “gay” means and what your explanation means may increase with development.
Focus on love and relationships
A discussion with elementary-age students about the meanings of “gay” or “lesbian” is a discussion about affection and relationships. You can just clarify that people love each other in different ways. Some women love and want to be partners
LGBTQIA Resource Center Glossary
GLOSSARY
The terms and definitions below are always evolving, switching and often mean other things to different people. They are provided below as a starting show for discussion and comprehending. This Glossary has been collectively built and created by the staff members of the LGBTQIA Resource Center since the initial s.
These are not universal definitions. This glossary is provided to help grant others a more thorough but not entirely comprehensive understanding of the significance of these terms. You may even consider asking someone what they indicate when they use a term, especially when they use it to detail their identity. Ultimately it is most important that each individual define themselves for themselves and therefore also define a designation for themselves.
“If I didn't define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people's fantasies for me and eaten alive.” -Audre Lorde
This glossary contains terms, such as ableism and disability, that may not be considered directly related to identities of sexuality or gender. These terms are key to acknowledge as part of our mission to challenge all forms of oppression
Inclusive Language
Instead of:
Use:
"homosexual" (n. or adj.)
Because of the clinical history of the word “homosexual,” it is aggressively used by anti-LGBTQ activists to propose that people attracted to the same sex are somehow diseased or psychologically/emotionally disordered – notions discredited by the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association in the s. Please avoid using "homosexual" except in straight quotes. Please also shun using "homosexual" as a style variation simply to avoid repeated use of the word "gay." Many mainstream news outlets’ approach guides restrict the operate of the term "homosexual."
"gay" (adj.); "gay man" or "lesbian" (n.);
"gay person/people"; “queer people”;
When referring to non-straight individuals, be specific and use gay, womxn loving womxn, bisexual, pansexual, queer. When referring to a collective of multiple non-straight sexual orientations, use “LGBTQ+” or “queer” to describe all people attracted to members of the same or multiple genders.