For Families

Generalized term for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer

A woman who is only attracted to other women.

Typically, a man who is only attracted to other men. Can also be used as an umbrella term to include lesbians.

A person of any gender who can be attracted to people of more than one gender. Keep in mind that the definition has evolved from being "an attraction to men and women" into a recognition of attraction to non-binary and gender-fluid people.

A person whose gender identity is different from the sex they were assigned at birth. One Ex: A person who was assigned a male at birth and identifies as a female is a transgender woman.

An umbrella term that can be used by anyone who identifies as LGBTQ+, or anyone who does not identify as straight or cisgender. It is important to know that the term “queer” was historically used as an insult or slur against LGBTQ+ people, and is sometimes still used that way today. However LGBTQ+ people have also reclaimed this term, and it is now commonly used as an umbrella word to describe anyone who does not identify as straight. You can even major in "Queer Studies" at many colleges!

The "male", "female", or "intersex" designation that the physician assigns to babies at birth.

One's innermost concept of self as a man, woman, a blend of both or neither – how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. One's gender identity can be the same or different from their sex assigned at birth.

Intersex people are born with a variety of differences in their sex traits and reproductive anatomy. There is a wide variety of difference among intersex variations, including differences in genitalia, chromosomes, gonads, internal sex organs, hormone production, hormone response, and/or secondary sex traits.

A person who is not limited in their attraction to others with regard to biological sex, gender, or gender identity. Pansexuals may be attracted to all genders.

A term for a person who does not usually experience sexual attraction to other people.

A person who is attracted to people of the "opposite" gender. Ex: A man who is only attracted to women.

The categorization of gender into two distinct and opposite genders, male and female.

A term for a person who feels that their sex assigned at birth and their gender identity match up. (Ex: a person assigned male at birth, who feels like a boy, or a person assigned female at birth, who feels like a girl.)

A term for someone who does not identify with any gender.

A descriptive term for a person who has a mix of masculine and feminine gender expression.

A person who does not identify with the gender binary (e.g. "man" or "woman"). They may see their gender as both male and female, not male or female, or a third gender as a whole, etc. They may or may not identify as transgender, depending on how they see themselves.

The social process in which a person comes to live with the gender with which they identified. This may involve changing names, pronouns, clothes, legal gender markers on identifications, etc. in order to better reflect your gender. It may involve non-surgical / medical body modifications such as filling, pinning, folding, cutting or growing hair or shaving facial hair. They may change the bathroom they use, if they reside in a home by gender, they may change their home, etc. The social transition is different for everyone.

Coming out implies voluntarily sharing one’s identity and/or sexuality. Being "outed" is when one’s gender non-binary identity and/or sexuality is exposed without their permission.

When someone acts as an upstander to support a person whose identity is different from their own.