LGBTQ+ Terminology


Ally: A person who is not LGBTQ+ but shows support for LGBTQ people and promotes equality.
Asexual: Not attracted sexually to either gender. 
Binary: Mindset that there are only two genders.
Cisgender: An individuals whose gender identity matches their birth sex.
FTM: A person who was assigned female at birth and who identifies as male, lives as a male, or identifies as masculine.
Gender identity: May not align with sex assigned at birth, but is gender that aligns with.
Heterosexual: Attracted only to or the other binary (male/female) gender. Homosexual: Attracted only or almost only to the same gender. Also known as "gay".
MTF: A person who was assigned male at birth and who identifies as female, lives as a female, or identifies as feminine.
MSM: Men who engage in sexual relations with men regardless of their sexual identity. 
Pansexual: Attracted to all genders.

Understanding Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Bi: Abbreviation for bisexual.
Cis: Abbreviation for cisgender.
Lesbian: A woman who is attracted to other women.
LGBTQ+: An umbrella term referring collectively to people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and/or queer.Queer: Used by those who identify as outside binary categories (male/female).
Questioning: An individual who is in the process of exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity.Straight: Often interchanged with heterosexual.
Transgender: An individual whose gender identity does not match their birth sex.
Transexual: Used sometimes to describe people who use medical treatments to make their body match their gender identity.