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Commonly used LGBT terms and definitions

The Many Tongues of Desire

Sex – the classification of people as either male or female. At birth, infants are assigned a sex based on a combination of bodily characteristics including: chromosomes, hormones, internal reproductive organs and genitals.

Sexual orientation – the choice or focus given by a person to another as the object of affection and/or sexual energies. Such other person does not necessarily belong to the opposite sex, as in the case of lesbians, gays, and bisexuals.

Gender identity – one’s personal sense of being a man or a woman. For transgender people, their birth-assigned sex and their own internal sense of gender identity do not match.

Gender expression – external representation of one’s gender identity, usually expressed through “masculine” or “feminine” behavior, clothing, haircut, voice or body characteristics. Typically, transgender people seek to make their gender expression match their gender identity rather than their birth-assigned sex.

Gender role – rules assigned by society that define what clothing, forms of behavior, thoughts, feelings, relationships, etc. are considered appropriate and inappropriate for members of a given gender. Which things are considered masculine, feminine, or unisex varies according to the location, class, occasion and numerous other factors.

Discrimination – any distinction, exclusion, restriction, or preference based on any ground such as race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, birth or other status, whether actual or perceived, and which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment, or exercise of all persons, whether natural or juridical, of an equal footing of all rights and privileges.

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Androgynous/androgyny – exhibiting approximately equal proportions of masculine and feminine characteristics simultaneously. Independence from the gender roles specified by society.

Bisexual – an individual who is romantically and physically attracted to both men and women. Bisexuals need not have had equal sexual experience with both men and women. In fact, they need not have had any sexual experience at all to identify as bisexual.

Closeted – term denoting an individual who is not open about his or her sexual orientation. Also “in the closet.”

Coming out – a lifelong process of self-acceptance. People forge a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender identity first to themselves, and then may reveal it to others. However, publicly identifying one’s self as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender may or may not be part of coming out.

Cross-dressing – to occasionally wear clothes traditionally associated with people of the other sex. Cross-dressers are usually comfortable with the sex they were assigned at birth and do not wish to change it. “Cross-dresser” should not be used to describe someone who has made the transition to live fulltime as the other sex, or who intends to do so in the future. While cross-dressing is a form of gender expression, it is not necessarily tied to sexual orientation or erotic activity. Most cross-dressers are heterosexual.

Domestic partnership – a civil or legal contract recognizing a partnership or relationship between two people which sometimes confers limited benefits to them. Such a partnership can be formed by lesbians or gay men, by unmarried heterosexual life partners, or by others making a home together. Members of such a commitment may be referred to as “partners” or “companions.”

Gay – generally used as a term for describing people attracted to members of the same gender (see gay man, lesbian).

Gay men – a man whose primary physical, emotional and/or spiritual attraction is to other men.

Heterosexual man/woman – a person whose primary physical, emotional and/or spiritual attraction is to people of the opposite gender.

Heterosexism – the attitude that heterosexuality is the only valid sexual orientation. Heterosexism often takes the form of ignoring lesbians and gay men. For example: news stories about numerous Valentine’s Day couples that omit same-sex couples.

Homosexual – dated clinical term for individuals who are attracted physically, emotionally and/or spiritually to members of their own gender. Inappropriate and possibly offensive to many gay men and lesbians. Preferred terms are “lesbian” and “gay.”

Intersex – describing a person whose sex is ambiguous. There are many genetic, hormonal or anatomical variations which make a person’s sex ambiguous, i.e., Klinetelter Syndrome and adrenal hyperplasia. Parents and medical professionals usually assign intersex infants a sex and perform surgical operations to make the infant’s body conform to that assignment. This practice has become increasingly controversial as intersex adults are speaking out against the practice, accusing doctors of genital mutilation.

Lesbian – a woman whose primary physical, emotional and/or spiritual attraction is to other women.

LGBT – the acronym for “lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.” LGBT is used because it is more inclusive of the community.

Lifestyle – a term often used to denigrate the lives of lesbians and gay men. Avoid using this term. Since there is no one heterosexual lifestyle, there is no one lesbian or gay lifestyle.

Openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender – describes people who self-identify as lesbian or gay in their public and/or professional lives.

Outing – the act of publicly revealing another person’s sexual orientation. Considered inappropriate in the current political and social climate by a large majority of the gay community.

Queer – traditionally pejorative term for non-heterosexuals, this has been appropriated by some LGBT people to describe themselves. Some value the term for its defiance and because it is inclusive – not only of lesbians and gay men but also of bisexuals and transgender people as well. Nevertheless, it is not universally accepted within our community, and if used by a non-LGBT person, it is still considered derogatory. It is advised that media avoid it, unless quoting someone who self-identifies that way.

Rainbow flag – a symbol of LGBT unity and diversity used worldwide. Many countries prefer it to the pink triangle, which was used by the Nazis to identify gay men during the Holocaust, or the black triangle, which was used to identify lesbians, gypsies, and sex workers.

Sex reassignment surgery (SRS) – refers to genital alteration, and is only one small part of the transition (see transition below). Not all transsexuals choose or can afford to have SRS. Journalists should avoid overemphasizing the importance of SRS. This is the preferred term to sex-change operation.

Transgender – an umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. The term may include, but is not limited to, transsexuals, intersex people, cross-dressers, and other “gender-deviant” people. Transgender people can be female-to-male (FTM) or male-to-female (MTF). Use the descriptive term (transgender, transsexual, cross-dresser, FTM or MTF) preferred by the transgender person. Transgender people may or may not choose to alter their bodies hormonally and/or surgically.

Transition – the complex process or altering one’s sex. Transition includes some or all of the following: changing one’s name and/or sex on legal documents, hormone therapy, and possibly some form of chest and/or genital alteration.

Transsexual – (also transexual) see transgender.

Transvestite – derogatory. See cross-dressing.

References:

House of Representatives Bill No. 2784, Philippine Congress
www.biresource.org
www.glaad.org