A
AFAB: Assigned Female At Birth. A term for someone who was labeled female when born.

Agender: A person who doesn’t feel a connection to any gender.

Allosexual: A person who experiences sexual attraction to others (the opposite of asexual).

Ally: Someone who supports LGBTQ+ people, even if they’re not LGBTQ+ themselves.

AMAB: Assigned Male At Birth. A term for someone who was labeled male when born.

Androgynous: A look or identity that blends what’s seen as "male" and "female" traits.

Aromantic: A person who does not feel romantic attraction to others. They might still have close relationships, just not romantic ones.

Asexual (Ace): A person who does not feel sexual attraction to others.

 

B
Biromantic: A person who feels romantic attraction to two or more genders, but not necessarily all.

Bisexual (Bi): Someone who is attracted to more than one gender.

Binding: Wearing a tight garment (like a binder) to flatten the chest, often used by transmasculine or nonbinary people.

C
Cisgender (Cis): A person whose gender identity matches the gender they were assigned at birth.

Closeted: Someone who has not shared their LGBTQ+ identity with others.

Coming Out: Telling others about your LGBTQ+ identity.

Crossdresser: A person who wears clothes usually associated with a different gender but may not identify as that gender.

 

D
Deadname: A name someone was given at birth but no longer uses after transitioning.

Demiboy/Demigirl: Someone who partially identifies as a boy or girl, but not fully.

Demisexual: A person who only feels sexual attraction after forming a close bond.

Drag: Dressing in clothing often linked to another gender, usually for performance or art.

 

E
Endosex: A person whose body fits typical medical definitions of male or female (opposite of intersex).

Enby: A casual word for nonbinary, like how "boy" and "girl" are used.

F
Femme: A person (of any gender) who presents or identifies in a feminine way.

Fluid: A term often used to show that something (like gender or attraction) can change over time.

 

G
Gay: Usually describes a man attracted to men, but can be used by anyone attracted to the same gender.

Gender: How someone feels inside and expresses themselves—like male, female, both, or neither.

Gender Dysphoria: Strong distress from a mismatch between someone’s gender identity and body or how others treat them.

Gender Euphoria: Joy someone feels when their gender is seen or affirmed correctly.

Gender Expression: How a person shows their gender through clothes, voice, hair, etc.

Gender Identity: A person’s internal sense of their gender.

Genderfluid: A gender identity that changes over time or depending on the situation.

Genderqueer: A broad term for gender identities that don’t fit in the male/female box.

Grayromantic: Someone who rarely experiences romantic attraction, or only under specific conditions. They fall in a “gray” area between romantic and aromantic.

H
Heteronormative: The belief that being straight and cisgender is the default or "normal."

Heterosexual (Straight): A person who is attracted to a gender different from their own.

Homophobia: Dislike, fear, or mistreatment of gay or queer people.

Homoromantic: A person who feels romantic attraction toward people of the same gender.

Homosexual: A medical or older term for someone attracted to the same gender. Many people prefer the word "gay" instead.

HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy): A medical treatment that helps someone’s body match their gender identity by using hormones.

Types of HRT include:

• Estrogen Therapy: Used by transfeminine people to develop breasts, soften skin, reduce body hair, and shift fat distribution.

• Anti-Androgens: Medications that block testosterone to reduce masculine traits.

• Testosterone Therapy ("T Shots"): Used by transmasculine people to deepen the voice, grow body hair, increase muscle, and stop periods.

• Progesterone: Sometimes used with estrogen for added physical or emotional effects.

• Microdosing: Taking small hormone doses for subtle physical changes—often chosen by nonbinary people.

• Delivery Methods: Hormones can come as pills, patches, gels, or injections.
  

I
Intersex: A person born with physical traits that don’t fit typical definitions of male or female bodies.

Internalized Homophobia/Transphobia: Negative beliefs someone holds about themselves due to societal bias.

 

K
Kink: A type of sexual expression or activity that goes beyond traditional ideas. Not always LGBTQ+, but often present in queer spaces.

 

L
Lesbian: A woman who is attracted to women.

LGBTQIA+: A broad term that includes Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and more.

 

M
Masc/Masculine: A term for gender expression or identity that leans toward what’s seen as male.

Metoidioplasty: A surgery that creates a small penis using the clitoris, which has grown from testosterone. Surgeons may also lengthen the urethra so the person can stand to pee. Some people add scrotoplasty (scrotum creation) and testicular implants.

Misgender: When someone is referred to using the wrong name or pronouns.

MTF / Transfeminine: A person who was assigned male at birth and identifies more with femininity or as a woman.

 

N
Neopronouns: New pronouns outside the typical he/she/they, like xe/xem or ze/hir.

Nonbinary: A gender identity outside the male/female binary.

 

O
Omnisexual: Someone who is attracted to all genders, often with gender playing a role in their attraction.

Orchiectomy: Removes the testicles. This lowers testosterone levels and is sometimes done on its own or before vaginoplasty. It can help reduce the need for anti-androgens.

Out/Outed: Being open about your LGBTQ+ identity (or having it revealed without your consent).

 

P
Pangender: A gender identity for someone who feels connected to many or all genders. Pangender people may feel like they are made up of multiple genders at once or that their gender is limitless and cannot be contained by one label.

Panromantic: A person who feels romantic attraction to people of any gender.

Pansexual: A person who is attracted to people of any gender.

Passing: When someone is seen by others as the gender they identify as.

Phalloplasty: A surgery that creates a full-size penis using skin from another part of the body (like the forearm, thigh, or back). Urethral lengthening and scrotoplasty are often done as well. It usually takes more than one surgery and can include implants for erections.

Polyamory: Being open to having more than one romantic or sexual relationship at a time, with everyone’s consent.

Polyromantic: Someone who feels romantic attraction to many (but not all) genders.

Pronouns: Words like he, she, or they that refer to people’s gender. Using the right pronouns shows respect.

 

Q
Queer: A reclaimed umbrella term for people who aren’t straight and/or cisgender. Some people love it, some don’t, so it’s best to ask.

Queerplatonic Relationship (QPR): A close relationship that isn’t romantic but is more intense than a typical friendship.

Questioning: A term for people still exploring their gender or sexual identity.

Quoiromantic: A person who finds the idea of romantic attraction confusing or hard to define.

R
Romantic Orientation: Describes who a person feels romantic attraction toward. Can be different from sexual orientation.

 

S
Scrotoplasty: Creates a scrotum, usually using labia tissue. Testicular implants can be added for a more typical look and feel.

Sex Assigned at Birth: The label given to a baby based on physical traits—male, female, or intersex.

Sexual Orientation: Who someone is attracted to physically, emotionally, or sexually.

Stealth: A trans person who does not share their trans identity and lives as their affirmed gender without others knowing.

 

T
Top Surgery: A gender-affirming surgery often used by transmasculine people to remove breast tissue.

Transgender (Trans): A person whose gender identity is different from their assigned sex at birth.

Transition: The process of changing how you look, act, or identify to match your gender.

Transfeminine: A trans person who identifies more with femininity or as a woman.

Transmasculine: A trans person who identifies more with masculinity or as a man.

Tucking: A method used to flatten the appearance of the genitals, often by trans women or transfeminine people.

 

U
Unlabeled: When someone doesn’t want to use a specific identity label. That’s okay!
Urethral Lengthening: Extends the urethra through the new penis so the person can pee standing up. This can be done during metoidioplasty or phalloplasty.

 

V
Vaginoplasty: Creates a vulva and vaginal canal using the skin of the penis and scrotum. The clitoris is made from the glans (head) of the penis to keep sensation. The result allows for vaginal intercourse and can include the ability to orgasm.

Vocal Training: A type of training often used by trans people to help their voice better match their gender identity.

Vulvoplasty: Similar to vaginoplasty, but no vaginal canal is created. The external vulva is constructed for a feminine appearance, but there is no depth for penetration. Often chosen by people who don’t want or can’t have full vaginoplasty.

W
Wlw / Womxn-loving-womxn: Women (cis or trans) who are attracted to women.

X
Xenogender: A nonbinary identity that may relate to things outside of human ideas of gender (like space, plants, or animals).

Z
Ze/Zir: An example of neopronouns. Some people use these instead of he/him or she/her.