-
Ally
An individual who is supportive of sexual and gender minority people and their rights.
-
Binarism
A mode of thought prevalent in society; the view of things as stable oppositions (male versus female, gay versus straight) without a place for options outside of the dichotomy.
-
Cissexism
Like heterosexism for gender minorities; the belief that trans* identities are inferior or less authentic than non-trans people's identities.
-
GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance)
Student organizations found in some K-12 schools and post-secondary institutions that create a safe and supportive places for sexual and gender minority students and their allies.
-
Heterosexism
The assumption that all gender/sexual minorities are inferior. It is often institutional and systemic, and therefore quite pervasive and damaging.
-
Homophobia
An irrational fear or hatred of people who are, or perceived to be, gay, lesbian, or bisexual, often exhibited by prejudice, discrimination, intimidation, or acts of violence.
-
Inclusive Language
The use of gender non-specific language (e.g.: "partner" instead of "husband/girlfriend" or "they" instead of"he/she", etc.) to indicate consideration of sexual and gender minority individuals.
-
LGBTQ/GLBT/LGBTTQQIA*
Acronyms that represent the constellation of lesbian, gay bisexual, trans-identified, two-spirit, and queer identities. The asterisk represents the inclusion of additional identities not represented in the acronym. 'Sexual and gender minorities' is synonymous and is often used as an umbrella category.
-
Outing
The public disclosure of another person's sexual orientation or gender identity without that person's permission or knowledge. This can be very disrespectful and is potentially dangerous.
-
Pink Triangle
Pink (for gay men) and Black (for lesbian women) triangle symbols were used by Nazis for gay and lesbian prisoners; now reclaimed as symbols of gay and lesbian pride.
-
Pronoun Usage
It is important to be courteous to others about their pronoun choice to avoid misgendering them. In English:
- Gender-neutral pronouns - they/them, ey/em, ze/zim, zir, or hir, xe/xim
- Feminine pronouns - she/her
- Masculine pronouns - he/him
-
Queer
Historically a negative word for homosexuality. Recently it has been reclaimed and used to broadly describe alternative lifestyles and identities.
-
Rainbow Flag
A symbol of the LGBT movement designed in 1978 in response to the murder of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to public office in California.
-
Reclamation of Language
Taking back and reinvigorating historically negative and derogatory terms used by infusing them with positive meaning for personal and social empowerment.
-
Stonewall
An LGBTQ bar in New York City that was the site of 1969 riot between patrons and police. This event is considered to be the beginning of the modern gay liberation movement.
-
Two-Spirit
A spiritual identity for some Aboriginal people. This term implies the embodiment of both masculine and feminine spiritual qualities within the same body. Some Aboriginal people use this term instead of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, etc.