LGBTQIA+ Terminology

Empowerment and sexual wellbeing have been at the very core of our brand from the start, so we’ve created this LGBTQIA+ glossary for understanding and celebrating diverse gender and sexual identities. In this guide, you'll find definitions and explanations of key terms that’ll help to foster inclusivity, respect, and support within the community and beyond.

Asexual: An orientation characterised by a lack of sexual attraction to others. Asexuality is a spectrum, and individuals may still experience romantic or emotional connections.

Bisexual: An individual who is attracted to people of more than one gender, which may include but is not limited to, men and women.

Butch: A term used by some who express themselves in a masculine way.

Cisgender: A term used to describe individuals whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth.

Coming Out: The process through which an individual discloses their LGBTQIA+ identity to others. Coming out is a personal and ongoing journey.

Deadnaming: The act of referring to a transgender person by their birth name, which may be disrespectful and invalidating of their gender identity.

Femme: A term used to describe someone who expresses themselves in a feminine way.

Gender Expression: The way in which a person externally expresses their gender identity through clothing, hairstyle, behaviour, and other characteristics.

Gender Dysphoria: The distress experienced by some individuals whose gender identity does not align with their assigned sex at birth.

Gender Identity: An individual’s deeply-felt sense of their gender, which may be different from the sex they were assigned at birth.

Genderqueer: A term used by individuals who reject traditional gender norms and may identify outside of the binary construct of gender.

Intersex: An umbrella term used to describe individuals born with variations in sex characteristics that do not fit typical definitions of male or female.

LGBTQIA+: An acronym that stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual individuals, as well as other identities not explicitly mentioned.

Non-binary: An umbrella term used to describe individuals whose gender identity does not exclusively fit within the traditional categories of male or female.

Outed: Outing is the act of exposing someone else’s queer identity to others without their consent, and is often used as an attempt solely to damage the person’s credibility.

Pansexual: An individual who is attracted to people regardless of their gender identity or expression.

Pronouns: Words used to refer to a person in place of their name, such as she/her, he/him, they/them, ze/zir. Respecting an individual’s chosen pronouns is essential for affirming their gender identity.

Transgender: An umbrella term used to describe individuals whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. Transgender people may transition socially, medically, or legally to live as their authentic selves.

Transition: The process through which transgender individuals may change their appearance, name, pronouns, and/or legal gender markers to align with their gender identity.

Knowledge is power, and understanding these terms helps create a more inclusive world. Stay informed, stay compassionate, and keep spreading love and acceptance.

Love,
AS x