What does that word mean? Here are some common terminology to familiarize yourself with.
DISCLAIMER Language constantly evolves! This list includes many different terms and definitions, but many of these words do not have universal definitions can mean different things to different people (ex. "gay," "queer"). This list isn't conclusive, it's a starting point! Use the words you read about here to search the internet and learn more. Updated January 2024. |
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Ableism - An oppression that devalues or marginalizes people based on disability.
ACAB - Also known as "All Cops Are Bastards." The belief that police are part of a bastardized system that actively and systemically marginalizes people, especially people of color. Pronounced "A-Cab." See BLM or Black Lives Matter.
Ace - Short for "asexual," but may also refer to anyone who identifies along the asexual or graysexual spectrum.
Advocate - A person who actively works to end intolerance and oppression. Contrasted with "ally," a supportive but passive person in the face of oppression.
AFAB/AMAB - Also known as "Assigned Female at Birth" (pronounced "A-Fab") or "Assigned Male at Birth" (pronounced "A-Mab"). See Assigned Sex (At Birth).
Affirmed Gender - An individual's true gender, as opposed to their gender or sex assigned at birth. Created to replace terms like "new gender" or "chosen gender," which unintentionally imply that transgender people choose their gender.
Affirming - Clear support for an individual regardless of their identities; actively supporting oppressed identities by ensuring they are fully represented, included, valued, and honored.
Agender - One who does not identify with or experience gender. Depending on the individual, agender can be different than nonbinary because nonbinary people experience gender - just outside of the rigid male/female binary. Pronounced "a-gen-der."
Allosexual - One who experiences any sort of sexual attraction (ex. bisexual, pansexual, gay, straight). Can be shortened to "allo," and is used to describe the spectrum of sexualities opposed to asexuality.
Ally - One who supports oppressed identities, such as LGBTQIA+ people.
Androgyny - A gender expression that has both masculine and feminine elements, neither, or a mixture thereof. Sometimes used in place of intersex (albeit incorrectly) to describe a person with both female and male anatomy, generally in the form of "androgyne."
Androsexual - An orientation where one is primarily sexually, romantically, and/or emotionally attracted to masculinity, or people who present as men.
ARC/@RC - A Rainbow Cafe LGBTQ Center program for LGBTQIA+ youth ages 9 to 13.
Aro - Short for "aromantic," but may also refer to anyone who identifies along the aromantic spectrum.
Aroflux - (1.) An orientation where one fluctuates between being alloromantic and aromantic; (2.) an orientation where one fluctuates but always stays one the aromantic spectrum.
Aromantic - An orientation where one experiences no romantic attraction to others and/or has a lack of interest in romantic relationships/behavior. Aromantic exists on a spectrum like asexuality and allosexuality, where some aromantic people may experience romantic attraction under certain circumstances and conditions. Exact orientations/placements long the aromantic spectrum have their own identity labels (ex. demiromantic) similar to the allosexual spectrum.(demisexual). Shortened to "aro," pronounced as in "arrow."
Asexual - An orientation where one experiences no sexual attraction to others and/or has a lack of interest in sexual relationships/behavior. Like allosexuality, asexuality exists on a spectrum also known as graysexuality or greysexuality where people feel varying degrees of sexual attraction based on circumstance or conditions. Exact orientations/placements along the asexual spectrum have their own identity labels (ex. demisexual) similar to the allosexual spectrum (ex. bisexual). Shortened to "ace."
Assigned Sex (at Birth), ASAB, or SAAB - The perceived biological sex assigned to an infant based on their visible sex organs, including genitalia and other physical characteristics. This is typically the state of being given "male," "female," or "neither" by a medical professional at birth that establishes later gender roles and norms in life.
Assumed Gender - The gender identity assumed about an individual based on assigned sex, societal gender, and/or gender expression. Assumed gender is the gender identity assumed to one by strangers when first interacting, based on appearance, mannerisms, and roles.
Attraction - The desire to be sexual, romantic, and/or emotional with another person. There are many types of attraction, including sexual attraction, romantic attraction, esthetic attraction, emotional attraction, and intellectual attraction. See asexuality, aromantic, and allosexual.
AWQ - Also known as Adulting While Queer; a Rainbow Cafe LGBTQ Center program for LGBTQIA+ adults ages 25 to 50.
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Drop-In - A Rainbow Cafe LGBTQ Center program for LGBTQIA+ youth ages 13 to 17.
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elevate - A Rainbow Cafe LGBTQ Center program for LGBTQIA+ youth ages 17 to 25.
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Trans-Formation - A Rainbow Cafe LGBTQ Center program for transgender and nonbinary adults ages 18 and older.
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Unconditional - A Rainbow Cafe LGBTQ Center program for parents and families of LGBTQIA+ youth, adults and any/all LGBTQIA+ families.
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Ableism - An oppression that devalues or marginalizes people based on disability.
ACAB - Also known as "All Cops Are Bastards." The belief that police are part of a bastardized system that actively and systemically marginalizes people, especially people of color. Pronounced "A-Cab." See BLM or Black Lives Matter.
Ace - Short for "asexual," but may also refer to anyone who identifies along the asexual or graysexual spectrum.
Advocate - A person who actively works to end intolerance and oppression. Contrasted with "ally," a supportive but passive person in the face of oppression.
AFAB/AMAB - Also known as "Assigned Female at Birth" (pronounced "A-Fab") or "Assigned Male at Birth" (pronounced "A-Mab"). See Assigned Sex (At Birth).
Affirmed Gender - An individual's true gender, as opposed to their gender or sex assigned at birth. Created to replace terms like "new gender" or "chosen gender," which unintentionally imply that transgender people choose their gender.
Affirming - Clear support for an individual regardless of their identities; actively supporting oppressed identities by ensuring they are fully represented, included, valued, and honored.
Agender - One who does not identify with or experience gender. Depending on the individual, agender can be different than nonbinary because nonbinary people experience gender - just outside of the rigid male/female binary. Pronounced "a-gen-der."
Allosexual - One who experiences any sort of sexual attraction (ex. bisexual, pansexual, gay, straight). Can be shortened to "allo," and is used to describe the spectrum of sexualities opposed to asexuality.
Ally - One who supports oppressed identities, such as LGBTQIA+ people.
Androgyny - A gender expression that has both masculine and feminine elements, neither, or a mixture thereof. Sometimes used in place of intersex (albeit incorrectly) to describe a person with both female and male anatomy, generally in the form of "androgyne."
Androsexual - An orientation where one is primarily sexually, romantically, and/or emotionally attracted to masculinity, or people who present as men.
ARC/@RC - A Rainbow Cafe LGBTQ Center program for LGBTQIA+ youth ages 9 to 13.
Aro - Short for "aromantic," but may also refer to anyone who identifies along the aromantic spectrum.
Aroflux - (1.) An orientation where one fluctuates between being alloromantic and aromantic; (2.) an orientation where one fluctuates but always stays one the aromantic spectrum.
Aromantic - An orientation where one experiences no romantic attraction to others and/or has a lack of interest in romantic relationships/behavior. Aromantic exists on a spectrum like asexuality and allosexuality, where some aromantic people may experience romantic attraction under certain circumstances and conditions. Exact orientations/placements long the aromantic spectrum have their own identity labels (ex. demiromantic) similar to the allosexual spectrum.(demisexual). Shortened to "aro," pronounced as in "arrow."
Asexual - An orientation where one experiences no sexual attraction to others and/or has a lack of interest in sexual relationships/behavior. Like allosexuality, asexuality exists on a spectrum also known as graysexuality or greysexuality where people feel varying degrees of sexual attraction based on circumstance or conditions. Exact orientations/placements along the asexual spectrum have their own identity labels (ex. demisexual) similar to the allosexual spectrum (ex. bisexual). Shortened to "ace."
Assigned Sex (at Birth), ASAB, or SAAB - The perceived biological sex assigned to an infant based on their visible sex organs, including genitalia and other physical characteristics. This is typically the state of being given "male," "female," or "neither" by a medical professional at birth that establishes later gender roles and norms in life.
Assumed Gender - The gender identity assumed about an individual based on assigned sex, societal gender, and/or gender expression. Assumed gender is the gender identity assumed to one by strangers when first interacting, based on appearance, mannerisms, and roles.
Attraction - The desire to be sexual, romantic, and/or emotional with another person. There are many types of attraction, including sexual attraction, romantic attraction, esthetic attraction, emotional attraction, and intellectual attraction. See asexuality, aromantic, and allosexual.
AWQ - Also known as Adulting While Queer; a Rainbow Cafe LGBTQ Center program for LGBTQIA+ adults ages 25 to 50.
B
C
D
Drop-In - A Rainbow Cafe LGBTQ Center program for LGBTQIA+ youth ages 13 to 17.
E
elevate - A Rainbow Cafe LGBTQ Center program for LGBTQIA+ youth ages 17 to 25.
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
Trans-Formation - A Rainbow Cafe LGBTQ Center program for transgender and nonbinary adults ages 18 and older.
U
Unconditional - A Rainbow Cafe LGBTQ Center program for parents and families of LGBTQIA+ youth, adults and any/all LGBTQIA+ families.
V
W
X
Y
Z