Core Definitions
Sexual Orientation
The pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions a person feels towards others. Sexual orientation is about who you’re attracted to and want to have relationships with. It’s important to note that sexual orientation exists on a spectrum and can be fluid over time.
Romantic Orientation
Describes the gender(s) that a person is romantically attracted to. Romantic attraction can involve desires for romantic relationships or actions, and can be different from sexual orientation. For example, someone might be sexually attracted to one gender but romantically attracted to another.
Gender Identity
A person’s deeply held, internal sense of their own gender. This may or may not correspond to the sex they were assigned at birth and is distinct from sexual orientation. Gender identity is about who you are, not who you’re attracted to.
Gender Expression
The external ways a person expresses their gender identity through clothing, behavior, appearance, and other means. Gender expression may or may not conform to societal expectations and can change over time.
Sexual Orientations
Allosexual
A person who experiences sexual attraction to others. This term is often used to distinguish from asexual individuals. The experience of sexual attraction can vary in frequency and intensity.
Asexual
A person who experiences little to no sexual attraction to any gender. Asexuality exists on a spectrum, and asexual people may still engage in romantic relationships, experience aesthetic attraction, or choose to be sexually active for various reasons.
Aceflux
Someone whose sexual orientation fluctuates between asexual and non-asexual. The intensity and frequency of sexual attraction may vary over time.
Akoisexual
A person who experiences sexual attraction but doesn’t want it reciprocated. The attraction may fade if reciprocated.
Androsexual
Someone who is attracted to masculinity or masculine gender expression, regardless of the person’s gender identity.
Autochorissexual
A person who has a disconnect between themselves and the subject of arousal. They may have sexual fantasies but don’t desire to be a participant in them.
Bisexual
A person who experiences attraction to two or more genders. This can include being attracted to different genders in different ways or with different intensities.
Demisexual
Someone who only experiences sexual attraction after forming a strong emotional bond. The emotional connection is necessary but doesn’t guarantee sexual attraction will develop.
Fraysexual
A person who experiences sexual attraction to those they don’t know well, but loses that attraction as they get to know someone better.
Gay
Typically refers to a person who is attracted to people of the same gender. While often used specifically for men attracted to men, some women and non-binary people also use this term.
Graysexual/Grey-Asexual
Someone who experiences sexual attraction rarely, with low intensity, or under specific circumstances. This identity exists in the space between asexual and allosexual.
Gynesexual
A person who is attracted to femininity or feminine gender expression, regardless of the person’s gender identity.
Heterosexual/Straight
Someone who is attracted to people of the opposite gender.
Homosexual
A person who is attracted to people of the same gender. This term is more clinical and some prefer other terms like gay or lesbian.
Lesbian
A woman or non-binary person who is attracted to women. The definition has evolved to be more inclusive of non-binary individuals who align with this identity.
Omnisexual
Someone who is attracted to all genders, with gender being a factor in the attraction. Unlike pansexual people, omnisexual individuals actively notice and are influenced by gender in their attraction.
Pansexual
A person who experiences attraction regardless of gender. Gender doesn’t play a role in their experience of attraction.
Polysexual
Someone who is attracted to multiple, but not all, genders. The specific genders can vary from person to person.
Quoisexual
A person who doesn’t understand or can’t determine the difference between platonic and sexual attraction.
Reciprosexual
Someone who only experiences sexual attraction to people who are attracted to them first.
Skoliosexual
A person primarily attracted to transgender, non-binary, and/or gender non-conforming individuals.
Romantic Orientations
Alloromantic
Someone who regularly experiences romantic attraction. This term is used to distinguish from aromantic individuals.
Androromantic
A person who is romantically attracted to masculinity or masculine gender expression, regardless of gender identity.
Aromantic
Someone who experiences little to no romantic attraction to others. Like asexuality, aromanticism exists on a spectrum.
Biromantic
A person who is romantically attracted to two or more genders.
Demiromantic
Someone who only experiences romantic attraction after forming a strong emotional bond.
Grayromantic
A person who experiences romantic attraction rarely or under specific circumstances.
Gyneromantic
Someone who is romantically attracted to femininity or feminine gender expression, regardless of gender identity.
Heteroromantic
A person who is romantically attracted to the opposite gender.
Homoromantic
Someone who is romantically attracted to the same gender.
Lithromantic/Akoiromantic
A person who experiences romantic attraction but doesn’t desire reciprocation. The feelings may fade if reciprocated.
Omniromantic
Someone who is romantically attracted to all genders, with gender being a factor in the attraction.
Panromantic
A person who experiences romantic attraction regardless of gender.
Polyromantic
Someone who is romantically attracted to multiple, but not all, genders.
Quoiromantic
A person who doesn’t understand or can’t determine the difference between platonic and romantic attraction.
Gender Identities
Agender
A person who does not identify with any gender, or who specifically identifies as having no gender.
Androgyne
Someone who identifies as both male and female, or as being between male and female.
Aporagender
A person who has a specific gender identity that is different from male, female, or any combination of the two.
Bigender
Someone who identifies as two distinct genders, either simultaneously or varying between them.
Cisgender
A person whose gender identity matches their sex assigned at birth.
Demigender
Someone who partially identifies with a particular gender. This includes demiboy, demigirl, and deminon-binary.
Genderfluid
A person whose gender identity changes over time. The changes might be between any number of gender identities and can happen at any time.
Genderflux
Someone whose gender intensity varies over time. Unlike genderfluid, the identity stays the same but its intensity fluctuates.
Genderqueer
An umbrella term for gender identities that are neither male nor female, falling outside of the gender binary.
Maverique
A non-binary gender identity characterized by autonomy and conviction about one’s inner sense of self that exists outside of the conventional gender paradigm.
Neutrois
A non-binary gender identity that is often described as a neutral gender or genderless.
Non-binary
An umbrella term for gender identities that fall outside the traditional male/female binary. This can include having no gender, multiple genders, or a different gender entirely.
Pangender
Someone who identifies as all genders, either simultaneously or varying between them.
Third Gender
A term for people who don’t identify as male or female, often used in cultures that historically recognize three or more genders.
Transgender
A person whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. This term includes both binary and non-binary trans people.
Trigender
Someone who experiences three distinct gender identities, either simultaneously or varying between them.
Gender Expression
Androgynous
A gender expression that combines or moves between masculine and feminine characteristics.
Butch
A gender expression that adopts what are traditionally considered masculine characteristics. Often, but not exclusively, used by masculine-presenting women or non-binary people.
Femme
A gender expression that adopts what are traditionally considered feminine characteristics. Often, but not exclusively, used by feminine-presenting LGBTQ+ people.
Gender Non-conforming
Someone whose gender expression differs from societal gender norms for their perceived gender.
Additional Terms
Coming Out
The process of disclosing one’s sexual orientation or gender identity to others.
Deadname
The birth name of a transgender person who has changed their name.
Gender Dysphoria
Distress a person experiences due to a mismatch between their gender identity and sex assigned at birth.
Gender Euphoria
The feeling of joy when one’s gender identity is affirmed.
LGBTQ+
Acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, and other identities.
Questioning
Someone who is exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Queer
An umbrella term for people who are not heterosexual and/or not cisgender.
Sex Assigned at Birth
The sex (typically male or female) assigned to a person at birth based on physical characteristics.
AFAB/AMAB
Assigned Female at Birth / Assigned Male at Birth.
Pride
Celebration and affirmation of LGBTQ+ identities and community.
Ally
A person who supports and advocates for the LGBTQ+ community but does not identify as LGBTQ+.
Cishet
A person who is both cisgender and heterosexual.
Gender Affirmation
The process of affirming one’s gender identity through social, legal, or medical means.
Intersectionality
The concept that various forms of social categorization and discrimination (such as gender, race, class) don’t exist separately but intersect and interact to create unique experiences of oppression or privilege.
Misgender
To refer to someone using pronouns or terms that don’t reflect their gender identity.
MOGAI
Marginalized Orientations, Gender Alignments, and Intersex. An alternative acronym to LGBTQ+.
QPOC/QTPOC
Queer People of Color / Queer and Trans People of Color.
Two-Spirit
A term used by some Indigenous North American cultures to describe a person who fulfills a traditional third-gender ceremonial and social role in their culture.