A to Z of LGBTQ Terminology (I-Z)

Take a look at part two of our A to Z of LGBTQ terminology, from the letter I onwards.

A term used to describe a person who may have the biological attributes of both sexes or whose biological attributes do not fit with societal assumptions about what constitutes male or female.

Intersex people may identify as male, female or non-binary.

Refers to a woman who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards women.

Some non-binary people may also identify with this term.

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

An umbrella term for people whose gender identity doesn’t sit comfortably with ‘man’ or ‘woman’.

Non-binary identities are varied and can include people who identify with some aspects of binary identities, while others reject them entirely.

Orientation is an umbrella term describing a person’s attraction to other people. This attraction may be sexual (sexual orientation) and/or romantic (romantic orientation). These terms refers to a person’s sense of identity based on their attractions, or lack thereof.

Orientations include, but are not limited to, lesbian, gay, bi, ace and straight.

Refers to a person whose romantic and/or sexual attraction towards others is not limited by sex or gender

Queer is a term used by those wanting to reject specific labels of romantic orientation, sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

It can also be a way of rejecting the perceived norms of the LGBT community (racism, sizeism, ableism etc). Although some LGBT people view the word as a slur, it was reclaimed in the late 80s by the queer community who have embraced it.

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

An umbrella term to describe people whose gender is not the same as, or does not sit comfortably with, the sex they were assigned at birth.

Trans people may describe themselves using one or more of a wide variety of terms, including (but not limited to) transgender, transsexual, gender-queer (GQ), gender-fluid, non-binary, gender-variant, crossdresser, genderless, agender, nongender, third gender, bi-gender, trans man, trans woman, trans masculine, trans feminine and neutrois.

A term used to describe someone who is assigned female at birth but identifies and lives as a man.

This may be shortened to trans man, or FTM, an abbreviation for female-to-male.

A term used to describe someone who is assigned male at birth but identifies and lives as a woman.

This may be shortened to Trans woman, or MTF, an abbreviation for male-to-female.

Find help in your local area

Find help in your local area

Find out what services are available to you in your area. Remember your school nurse is always there to give you confidential help and support.

Select Your Area

Brighton & Hove and West SussexBuckinghamshireCoventryDevonHampshireHertfordshireLeicester CityManchester and TraffordNottinghamshirePlymouthSandwellShropshireSolihullStaffordshire & StokeWalsall