LGBTQ+ Terminology and definitions

The LGBTQ+ community is incredibly diverse, and no one person's experiences are the same. In fact, there are a whole bunch of sexualities and gender identities encompassed by the LGBTQ+ acronym - and you may not know what every term means.

But, don't worry, that's what articles like this one are for!

This Pride month, we've put together a glossary of terms and definitions so you can increase your understanding and learn more about the lives of your LGBTQ+ colleagues at work.

First up, let's start with the LGBTQ+ acronym itself...

L : Lesbian

This is the "L" in "LGBTQ+", and refers to a woman who is romantically or sexually attracted to women. Some women who are attracted to other women may prefer to describe themselves as gay, or use the terms interchangeably. Some non-binary people (see the definition for non-binary further down) and people of other marginalised genders may also identify with this term.

G : Gay

The "G" in "LGBTQ+". This refers to a man who is romantically or sexually attracted to men. As noted above, it may also be the preferred term of some women who are attracted to women. It may also be used by non-binary people and people of other marginalised genders.

B : Bisexual

That's the "B" in "LGBTQ+". This term refers to a person who is romantically or sexually attracted to both men and women, or to more than one gender. Some people may prefer to use the term “bi” to define their attraction to more than one gender.

T : Transgender

You guessed it: the "T" in "LGBTQ+". Transgender or "trans" refers to a person whose gender is not the same as the sex that they were assigned at birth.

It's a broad term and refers to a wide range of people with different gender identities (see the definition for gender identity further down).

For example, a transgender woman (transwoman) is a woman who was assigned male at birth, and who identifies as female. A transgender man (transman) is a man who was assigned female at birth, and who identifies as male.

Some people may instead refer to themselves as transsexual, which was used as more of a medical term in the past.

Did you know?

There are lots of gender identities encompassed by the term "transgender", including genderqueer, genderfluid, non-binary, trans masculine, and trans feminine. You can learn more at LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall's Trans Hub.

Q : Queer

The last letter of the "LGBTQ+" acronym, the word "queer" is complex and connects with people of different sexualities and gender identities. In fact, it is sometimes used as an umbrella term to refer to the LGBTQ+ community as a whole, and to denote the vast range of sexualities and gender identities which are not heterosexual or cisgender (that is, a person whose gender is the same as the sex they were assigned at birth).

The term was previously used as a homophobic slur - and, sometimes, still is today - particularly to insult gay men. It was reclaimed by activists in the 1980s to be used in a positive way by some LGBTQ+ people, as it often is today.

Still, it's really important to remember that the word "queer" is viewed as a slur by some in the community today, who prefer not to use it, and it may be hurtful to some of your colleagues.

Occasionally, the word "questioning" may be used to refer to the "Q" in LGBTQ+: this refers to a person who is exploring their gender or sexuality.

+

Finally, the '+' in 'LGBTQ+' is used as a symbol of inclusivity, to acknowledge that this acronym encompasses a wider range of sexualities and genders than specified by the first five letters. This may include people who are:

Intersex - This refers to people who have innate sex characteristics which do not align with medical or societal definitions of "male" and "female". There is growing awareness of the human rights of intersex people, which you can learn more about on the United Nations' website.
Asexual - This refers to people who do not experience sexual attraction to other people, although they may feel romantic attraction and may describe themselves as any sexuality and/or gender identity.
Ace - Another umbrella term, "ace" is used to describe people with a varying or lack of sexual and/or romantic attraction to other people, including asexual people. Other terms it encompasses may include demisexual, aromantic, and aro.

Ally

This usually refers to a person who is not LGBTQ+ but who supports the LGBTQ+ community. Many businesses also have specific programmes or initiatives for allies of the LGBTQ+ community, so they can help to progress the rights of these individuals.

Coming out

This is used to describe the process by which a person tells another person or multiple people about their sexuality and/or gender identity.

This may be done in person - for example, your colleague may tell you that she is a lesbian - or on social media. Nobody should feel pressured into coming out, and it's important to wait until somebody is ready to disclose their sexuality and/or gender identity to you.

Gender identity

This is a person's innate sense of their gender, which may or may not be the same as the sex they were assigned at birth.

Non-binary

A non-binary person does not define or identify themselves as "male" or "female". This person may, but not always, use the pronouns "they/them/theirs". Some non-binary people may connect with masculinity or femininity, while others may reject this entirely.

Did you know?

There is increasing visibility of non-binary people in the media, including non-binary celebrities like the Grammy award-winning singer Sam Smith.

Pansexual

This refers to a person who is romantically or sexually attracted to a person regardless of their gender.

Pride

Pride typically refers to annual events or parades, usually held in the summer, which promote the rights of LGBTQ+ people.
The first Pride parades were held in America in June 1970, the year after an event known as the Stonewall riots or the Stonewall uprising - a days-long disturbance which saw LGBTQ+ people protesting against a police raid of an LGBTQ+ bar called Stonewall Inn in New York City.
As such, June is often referred to as Pride Month, presenting a moment to celebrate LGBTQ+ people, including in the workplace, but also to protest the injustices they still face.

Did you know?

The Stonewall uprising kickstarted the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, and paved the way for the Pride parades we see today.

Pronouns

These are the words used to refer to a person's gender, for example, "he" or "she". Some people may prefer to use gender neutral pronouns like "they/them/theirs".
In the workplace, some people may choose to include their pronouns in their email signature or on their nametag, so as to avoid being misgendered (being referred to with the wrong pronoun) or as a way of denoting their support of, or being part of, the LGBTQ+ community.
If you aren't sure what pronouns to use to refer to somebody, just ask them. If you accidentally use the wrong pronouns, simply apologise and correct yourself - most people will understand!

Transitioning

This term refers to the steps taken by transgender people to embrace their gender identity. This process is specific to each person; it may or may not involve socially transitioning (such as wearing different clothes) and/or medically transitioning, which can involve gender reassignment or affirmation surgery and/or hormone therapy.

About the author

Ella Braidwood is a freelance journalist specialising in the LGBTQ+ community who writes for publications including The Guardian, The New York Times, The Washington Post and more.