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A to Z of LGBTQ Terminology (A-H)

It’s important for all of us to have awareness of each other.

Below are some common words used within the LGBTQ community.

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1. Bi
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Bi is an umbrella term used to describe a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards more than one gender.

Bi people may describe themselves using one or more of a wide variety of terms, including, but not limited to, bisexual, pan, queer.

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2. Cisgender/Cis
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Someone whose gender identity is the same as the sex they were assigned at birth. Non-trans is also used by some people.

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3. Femme
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Femme is a term used in LGBTQ culture to describe someone who expresses themselves in a typically 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 someone unless you know they identify with them.

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4. Gay
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Gay refers to a man who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards men. It is also a generic term for lesbian and gay sexuality – some women define themselves as gay rather than lesbian.

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

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5. Gender
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Often expressed in terms of masculinity and femininity, gender is largely culturally determined and is assumed from the sex assigned at birth.

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6. Gender Dysphoria
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Used to describe when a person experiences discomfort or distress because there is a mismatch between their sex assigned at birth and their gender identity.

This is also the clinical diagnosis for someone who doesn’t feel comfortable with the sex they were assigned at birth.

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7. Gender Identity
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A person’s innate sense of their own gender, whether male, female or something else, which may or may not correspond to the sex assigned at birth.

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8. Heterosexual/straight
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Refers to a man who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards women or to a woman who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards men.

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9. Homosexual
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This might be considered a more medical term used to describe someone who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards someone of the same gender.

The term ‘gay’ is now more generally used.

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10. Homophobia
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The fear or dislike of someone, based on prejudice or negative attitudes, beliefs or views about lesbian, gay or bi people.

Homophobic bullying may be targeted at people who are, or who are perceived to be, lesbian, gay or bi.

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