Queer+Glossary+of+Terms

** Sexual Identity and Gender Identity Glossary **** [feminism.eserver.org] Devin McDonnell - 2/24/09 **   So that you aren’t completely offensive when you talk about this stuff. **The existence and perpetuation of gender and sexual identities is based in the historic and continuing oppression (systematic mistreatment condoned by society as a whole) of people who do not conform to certain aspects of society's gender roles. **  ** The following are terms often used within the sexual identity and gender identity communities ** : One who is / the quality of simultaneously exhibiting __masculine__ and __feminine__ characteristics. One who switches between masculine and feminine gender roles from time to time. The oppression or mistreatment of Bisexuals, especially by lesbians and gay men. (See __homophobia__.) One who has significant sexual and romantic attractions to members of both the same and the other sex, or who identify as members of the bisexual community. Derogatory terms include the same terms as are applied to lesbians and gay men. Derogatory terms from lesbians, gay men, and some heterosexuals: fence sitter, AC/DC, double-gaited, confused. 1) A young male. 2) Colloquial term for __masculine__. Often used to specify gender of clothes. ["My __boy__ clothes."] __Boy__ has often been used as a condescending term for a man (especially a man of color), and is therefore distasteful to many people. (See __girl__.) 1) Masculine or macho dress and behavior, regardless of __sex__ or __gender identity__. 2) A sub-identity of lesbian or gay, based on masculine or macho dress and behavior. (See __femme__.) To joke or playact exaggerated masculine or feminine behaviors for others' entertainment. Especially men exhibiting exaggerated feminine behaviors. 1) To disclose one's own sexual identity to another. [I came out to my mother over Thanksgiving vacation.] 2) To discover that one's own sexual identity is different than previously assumed. [I came out to myself three months ago.] 3) To deal with one's own and others' reactions to the discovery or revelation of one's sexual identity. 4) To disclose another's sexual identity with their permission or at their request. [I asked my mother to __come out__ to my grandparents for me.] 4) Sometimes applied to disclosure of other information than one's sexual identity.   One (regardless of the motivation) who wears clothes, makeup, etc. which are considered (by the culture) appropriate for the other sex but not one's own.    1) Clothes, often unusual or dramatic, especially those considered appropriate to the other sex. 2) Can be applied to any recognizable "look." [_(to a man in a suit)_: I see you are in corporate __drag__ today.] 3) “In drag”: Wearing clothes of the opposite sex. [I went to the halloween party __in drag__.] A Male -> Female transvestite who employs dramatic clothes, makeup,and mannerisms, often for other people's appreciation. Reclaimed derogatory slang. Refers to Lesbians, or to Lesbians and Bisexual women. Process of killing hair follicles, especially of facial and neck hair, usually with an electric needle. Female to male. Used to specify the direction of a sex or gender role change. 1) Feminine or effeminate dress and behavior, regardless of __sex__ or __gender identity__. 2) A sub-identity of lesbian or gay, based on masculine or macho dress and behavior. (See __butch__.) One who has a vagina. A male who, on specific occasions, cross dresses and employs stereotypical feminine dialog, voice, and mannerisms for the entertainment of other people. The __gender role__ assigned to __females__. A Transvestite who consistently eroticizes Cross Dressing. May also eroticize fantasies of gender/sex change. One who has significant sexual and romantic attractions primarily to members of the same sex (as oneself), or who identifies as a member of the gay community. Sometimes refers only to gay males, sometimes only to gay males and lesbians. Although some people use the term __gay (commmunity)__ to refer to all sexual minorities (or the __sexual minority community__), Lesbians and Bisexuals often do not feel included by it. Derogatory slang includes: queer, faggot, swish. A psychological __gender role__. __Masculine__ or __feminine__. People who identify as transvestite, transsexual, or transgendered, or as members of the gender community. Members of the gender community do not necessarily identify as members of the sexual minority community. (See __transgender community__.) Unhappiness or discomfort experienced by one whose sexual organs do not match one's gender identity. Clothing, behaviors, thoughts, feelings, relationships, etc. which are considered appropriate for members of both sexes. Arbitrary rules, assigned by society, that define what clothing, behaviors, thoughts, feelings, relationships, etc. are considered appropriate and inappropriate for members of each sex. Some clothing, behaviors, etc. are considered appropriate for members of both sexes. Which things are considered masculine, feminine, or neutral varies according to location, class, occasion, and numerous other factors. (See __masculine__, __feminine__, and __gender neutral__.) One who was considered male from birth, regardless of one's present sex or gender identity. One who was born female, regardless of one's present sex or gender identity. 1) A young female. 2) Colloquial term for __feminine__. Often used to specify gender of clothes. ["My __girl__ clothes."] __Girl__ has often been used as a condescending term for a woman, and is therefore distasteful to many people. (See __boy__.) One who has both a penis and a vagina. One who has significant sexual and romantic attractions primarily to members of the other sex (than oneself.) Derogatory terms include: breeder. (See __straight__.) The assumption that identifying as heterosexual and having sexual and romantic attractions only to members of the other sex (than oneself) is good and acceptable, and that other sexual identities and attractions are bad and unacceptable. The assumption that anyone is straight whose sexual orientation is not known, usually coupled with a "blindness" to the existence and concerns of LesBiGays. Obsolete term for gay male (community.) Originally, an irrational fear of sexual attraction to the same sex. Developed into a term for the oppression of Lesbians and Gay men, and later into a term for all aspects of the oppression of Lesbians, Gay men, and Bisexuals (sometimes does not include bisexuals.) This oppression ranges from not including LesBiGays in one's circle of friends and media reports on and representations of society, through the cold shoulder, snide comments, verbal harrassment, assault, rape, and murder based on the target person's (perceived) sexual identity. (See also __Biphobia__.) One who is afraid of or oppresses people because one (perceives them to) have sexual and romantic attractions to members of the same sex. Formal or clinical term for __gay__, usually meaning __gay male__, sometimes meaning __LesGay__, and occasionally meaning __LesBiGay__. __Homosexual__ and __homosexuality__ are often associated with the proposition that same gender attractions are a mental disorder (homophilia), and are therefore distasteful to some people. Used to change secondary sex characteristics, including breast size, weight distribution, and facial hair growth. (See __electolysis__.) To think of oneself as having a particular sexual identity or gender identity. [I __identify as__ a bisexual. I am bi-__identified__.] To emphaise that an identity term refers to one's internal reality, as opposed to what others think or observe of one, __self-identify__ is sometimes used. How one thinks of oneself. One's internal self, as opposed to what others observe or think about one. (See __Label__.) How someone else sees or thinks of one. (See __identity__.) A woman who has significant sexual and romantic attractions to members of the same sex, or who identifies as a member of the lesbian community. Bisexual women often do not feel included by this term. Derogatory slang: dyke, lesbo. Contraction of "lesbian, bisexual, and gay." Colloquial term for the sexual minority community or its members. Often spelled with capital "B" and "G" to prevent misinterpretation as "lesbian and gay." (See __sexual minority/identity community__.) Contraction of "lesbian and gay." Sometimes used to mean LesBiGay, but bisexual women and men often do not feel included by this term. Male to female. Used to specify the direction of a sex or gender role change. One who has a penis. A female who, on specific occasions, cross dresses and employs stereotypical masculine dialog, voice, and mannerisms for the entertainment of other people. The __gender role__ assigned to __males__. One who has significant sexual and romantic attractions primarily to members of one sex. Straight, Gay, Lesbian. Someone who is not Bisexual. 1) One who has neither a penis nor a vagina. 2) Occasionally used to mean __androgenous__. The other sex or gender than the reference person's own. [She has an other sex partner (than her own sex).] [Are you currently in a relationship with a member of the same sex (as yourself)?] To be open about one's sexual identity with someone or in a situation. [I am __out__ to my mother.] [I am __out__ at work.] (See __come out__.) 1) To disclose a second person's sexual identity to a third person, especially without the second person's permission. 2) To disclose one's own sexual identity, sometimes without choosing to do so. [I outed myself by leaving a political letter on my desk, which my boss saw when he was looking for me.] (See __come out__.) One who is actively planning to switch physical sexes, mostly to relieve __gender dysphoria__. Probably, but not necessarily, __cross dresses__, takes __hormone therapy__, and gets __electrolysis__. (See __transsexual.__) Penis (male) or vagina (female.) (See __female__, __male__, __hermaphrodite__, __neuter__.) 1) Reclaimed derogatory slang for the sexual minority community (eg. __Queer Nation__.) Not accepted by all the sexual minority community, especially older members. 2. Sometimes used for an even wider spectrum of marginalized or radicalized groups and individuals.   The same sex or gender as the reference person's own. [He has a same sex partner (as his own sex).] [Are you currently in a relationship with a member of the same sex (as yourself)?]    See __identify as__ and __identity__.   __ Male __ or __female__, depending on one's __primary sex organs__.    See __gender role__.    How one thinks of oneself, in terms of being significantly attracted to members of the same or the other sex. Based on one's internal experience, as opposed to which gender one's actual sexual partners belong to. (See __sexual orientation/preference__.)    The community of people who have significant sexual and romantic attractions to members of the same sex, or who identify as a member of the sexual minority community. A formal term which includes LesBiGays and sometimes members of the gender community. Members of the __sexual minority community__ usually do not identify as members of the __gender community__. How one thinks of her/himself, in terms of being significantly attracted to members the same or the other sex. __Sexual orientation__ emphasizes that some people feel that one has no control or influence over the development of one's sexual and romantic attractions or one's sexual orientation. __Sexual preference__ emphasizes that some people feel that one does or should have some control or influence over the development of one's sexual and romantic attractions or sexual one's orientation. A surgical procedure which changes one's primary sexual organs from one sex to another (penis to vagina or vagina to penis.) Colloquial for __Sexual Reassignment Surgery__. Colloquial for __heterosexual__. Because __straight__ has connotations of "unadulterated," "pure," and "honest," some members of the sexual identity community object to the implication that one who is not straight is "bent," "adulterated," "impure," or "dishonest." __Straight__ has connotations of "narrow," "straight-laced" or "conservative," and some heterosexual-identified people object find it distasteful. Formal term for __gender community__. One who switches gender roles, whether just once, or many times at will. Inclusive term for transsexuals and transvestites. One who switches physical sexes (usually just once, but there are exceptions.) Primary sex change is accomplished by surgery. (See __SRS__.) __Hormone therapy__, __electrolysis__, additional surgery, and other treatments can change secondary sex characteristics. (See Pre-op TS.) One who mainly cross dresses for pleasure in the appearance and sensation. The pleasure may not be directly erotic. It may be empowering, rebellious, or something else. May feel comfortable in a focused transgender role while cross dressed. May occasionally experience gender dysphoria. 
 * QUEER THEORY **
 * __Sex __****, __gender identity__ **, and **__sexual identity__** refer to different aspects of oneself. Therefore, one may be any combination of sex (male/female), gender (masculine/feminine), and sexual identity (straight, bisexual, lesbian/gay.)
 * __Sex __** - whether one has a vagina or a penis. 
 * __Gender roles __** - Society approved rules for what is __feminine__ and __masculine__ (how one is supposed to and not supposed to dress, act, think, feel, relate to others, think of oneself, etc.) prescribed based upon one's **__sex__.** Anyone who does not abide by these arbitrary rules may be targeted for mistreatment ranging from not being included in people's circle of friends, through the cold shoulder, to snide comments, verbal harrassment, assault, rape, and murder based on one's (perceived) gender identity. 
 * __ Gender identity __** - how one thinks of one's own gender: whether one thinks of oneself as a man (masculine) or as a woman (feminine.)
 * __Sexual identity __** - how one thinks of oneself in terms of whom one is sexually and romantically attracted to, specifically whether one is attracted to members of the same gender or the opposite. When one's sex and one's gender identity are different, one may base one's sexual identity on either one. Alternatively, one may have two sexual identities, one as a man and one as a woman.
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> Androgenous/Androgeny **
 * Bigendered **
 * Biphobia **
 * Bisexual **
 * Boy **
 * Butch **
 * Camp **
 * Come out **
 * Cross Dresser (CD) **
 * Drag (In Drag) **
 * Drag Queen **
 * Dyke **
 * Electrolysis **
 * F->M **
 * Femme **
 * Female **
 * Female Impersonator (FI) **
 * Feminine **
 * Fetishistic Transvestite **
 * Gay (man/male) (community) **
 * Gender (identity) **
 * Gender (identity) community **
 * Gender dysphoria (GD) **
 * Gender neutral **
 * Gender role **
 * Genetic Male/Man (GM) **
 * Genetic Female/Woman (GF/GM) **
 * Girl **
 * Hermaphrodite **
 * Heterosexual (het) **
 * Heterosexism **
 * Homophile (community) **
 * Homophobia **
 * Homophobe **
 * Homosexual **
 * Hormone therapy **
 * Identify/ied (as) **
 * Identity **
 * Label **
 * Lesbian **
 * LesBiGay (community) **
 * LesGay **
 * M->F **
 * Male **
 * Male Impersonator **
 * Masculine **
 * Monosexual **
 * Neuter **
 * Other sex/gender **
 * (to be) Out **
 * To Out (someone) **
 * Pre-operative transsexual (Pre-op TS) **
 * Primary sex organs **
 * Queer **
 * Same sex/gender **
 * Self-identify/identity as **
 * Sex **
 * Sex role **
 * Sexual identity **
 * Sexual identity/minority community **
 * Sexual orientation/preference **
 * Sexual Reassignment Surgery (SRS) **
 * SRS **
 * Straight **
 * Transgender community **
 * Transgendered (TG) **
 * Transsexual (TS) **
 * Transvestite (TV) **