Sex, Gender & Orientation Definitions of Terms – LOTS
| Abortion | The termination of a pregnancy before the fetus is viable. It can be either a naturally occurring event, or a medically induced procedure. Most people outside of the medical professions use the term to refer to terminations at any stage of pregnancy |
| Abstinence | Not engaging in any sexual behavior with another person |
| Aceflux/aroflux | Romantic or sexual attraction changes over time |
| AFAB | Assigned Female At Birth |
| Agender | describes those who don’t identify with any gender or can’t relate to gender terms or labels at all. Sometimes people assume those who identify as agender also identify as asexual, but this isn’t true. Agender people can have any sexual orientation. Individuals may seek to look androgynous, and they may appear neither male nor female. Other terms are Genderfree and Neutrois |
| Akioromantic/akiosexual | does not desire their romantic or sexual feelings to be returned |
| Ally | A heterosexual identified person who affirms LGBT equality and works for LGBT inclusion |
| Ambisexual | An uncommon synonym for bisexual |
| Anatomical Sex | The gender of a person, based on the shape and functioning of their sexual organs |
| Androgyne | A person appearing and identifying as neither man nor woman, presenting a gender either mixed or neutral. |
| Anorgasmia | A sexual dysfunction in which the individual is not able to have an orgasm |
| Aphrodisiac | A food, drink, medication, or sometimes a thought that intensifies sexual desire |
| Aromantic | A person who has little or no romantic attraction to other people. Rather than be involved in one or more romantic relationships, they are often satisfied with friendships or similar relationships |
| Asexual | A person devoid of sexual drive, attractions, feelings or desires. They typically have little or no interest in sexual activity. Some do engage in sexual activity out of a sense of duty, to procreate, or to please one’s partner. Some consider asexuality a fourth sexual orientation, along with heterosexual, bisexual and homosexual orientation. |
| Assigned Gender | The sex (female or male) that is assigned to a newborn and recorded on their birth certificate |
| Autoeroticism | Scientific term used to describe masturbation, the stimulation of the genital organs to achieve orgasm |
| Barebacking | Anal intercourse without protection by a condom |
| BDSM | Bondage and Domination, Domination and Submission, Sadism and Masochism. It typically involves the use of physical restraints that limit a person’s range of motion, the infliction and reception of pain, and the play-acting of submissive and dominant roles in a safe manner by a consenting couple. This can be a very unsafe activity. To increase safety, most couples use a “safeword” so that the person in the submissive role can stop all activity. They also discuss in advance what they both agree to be limits on their behavior. |
| Bestiality | Sex between a human and an animal |
| Bigender | A person who identifies as either male or female at any given time (in contrast to gender fluid). They have two sexual identities and will feel and behave like one or the other depending on the circumstances at the time. The shifts between genders could last from hours to years. People born with male and female genitalia (intersex) identify as bigender. |
| Biromantic | Romantic feelings for males and females |
| Bisexuality | Sexual attraction to persons of both sexes |
| Butch | Often refers to a lesbian (but can be used for a gay man) who exhibits masculine traits |
| Castration | The surgical removal of a man’s testes |
| Celibate | Living under a vow not to marry or to engage in sexual re- lations |
| Chastity | A synonym for abstinence or responsible sexual behavior |
| Circumcision | In males, removal of the foreskin. In females it comprises partial or total removal of the female external genitalia – also known as female genital mutilation |
| Cisgender | Complementing Transgender, a Cisgender person identifies as someone who feels that their gender assigned at birth, their body, and their personal identity all match. Their gender identity is the same as their biological sex. |
| Cohabitation | A live-in sexual relationship between two persons who are not married to each other |
| Coitus | Penile-vaginal intercourse |
| Come | A slang term 1. To have an orgasm (verb) 2. Ejaculated sperm (noun) |
| Coming-Out | Acknowledgment that a person has an orientation which is not heterosexual |
| Conception | when the male sperm fertilizes the female egg |
| Concubine | A woman who cohabits with a man but is not his wife, usually in polygamous culture |
| Condom | A flexible sleeve, used to cover an erect penis to prevent conception |
| Contraception | The use of mechanical devices, foams, medication and/or creams to prevent pregnancy |
| Copulation | Penile-vaginal sexual activity – making love |
| Cross-Dress | Wear the clothing of the other sex for any variety of reasons |
| Cum | See “Come” |
| Cunnilingus | A form of oral sex involving the stimulation of a woman’s clitoris, typically by another person’s tongue |
| Demiromantic | Only feels attraction after a close emotional bond has formed |
| Demisexual | A person who does not normally have feelings of sexual attraction towards anyone, but can develop such feelings if a romantic and/or emotional bond is first established |
| Down-Low | Or DL – A term to refer to closeted gay men, usually in the African American community, who regularly engage in sexual relations with other men. |
| Drag | The wearing of exaggeratedly feminine clothing by a man, or male clothing by a woman, often for entertainment purposes |
| Drag King | An entertainer – generally a lesbian or transgendered man who dress in clothing normally associated with men |
| Drag Queen | An entertainer – generally a gay man or transgendered woman who dress in clothing normally associated with women |
| Dyke | A slang term for a lesbian. Originally it was a derogatory label for a masculine or butch woman, and this usage still exists. However, it has also been re-appropriated as a positive term implying assertiveness and toughness, or simply as a neutral synonym for lesbian. |
| Effeminate | A male exhibiting behavior seen most commonly in women |
| Ejaculate | 1. The act of expelling semen from the penis (verb) 2. Semen itself (noun) |
| Emergency Contraception | Also known as the “morning after pill” – to prevent pregnancy up to 5 days after unprotected sex |
| Endometrium | The lining of the uterus (a.k.a. womb). When a pre-embryo implants itself in the endometrium, pregnancy begins, according to the medical definition of “pregnancy.” According to common conservative Christian belief, pregnancy starts during the process of fertilization, continues during implantation, and ends at birth, miscarriage, or abortion. |
| Erection | The growth in length, diameter and rigidity of a penis, as caused by sexual excitement. Sometimes used to refer to the swelling of a woman’s clitoris or nipples by persons of either sex. |
| Erotica | Sexually themed works, such as books or sculpture, deemed to have literary or artistic merit |
| Escort | Euphemism for a prostitute who advertises by print, word of mouth, or the Internet |
| Eunuch | A man who has been castrated, especially (in the past) one employed to guard the women’s living areas at an oriental court |
| Exhibitionism | The act of exposing in a public or semi-public context those parts of one’s body that are not normally exposed – for example, the breasts, genitals or buttocks |
| Fellatio | Oral sex involving the stimulation of a penis with a mouth and/or tongue. Slang term: “blow job” and “BJ.” |
| Female-to-Male Transsexual (FTM, F2M, F->M) | Someone who was born female and transitions to a male gender identity |
| Femme | Usually refers to lesbians (but can be used occasionally for gay men) who exhibit feminine traits |
| Fetish | A form of sexual desire in which gratification is linked (to an abnormal degree) to a particular object, item of clothing, or part of the body |
| Fetus | A form of life with human DNA between the ninth week after conception, and birth. |
| Fornication | Sexual intercourse between two people who are not married to each other. Surveys say that about 95% of the population has engaged in fornication before marriage. |
| Frot | Slang for Frottage |
| Frottage | Rubbing of genitalia between two consenting people, either same gender or different gender. This would be voluntary, as opposed to “frotteurism”. Frottage is common among men and teenage boys, either as sexual foreplay or an alternative to anal or oral sex. Slang words are frot and swordplay. Similar practice is humping, which generally means rubbing the penis on the partner’s buttocks or groin but not entering the rectum. |
| Frotteurism | A disorder in which a person derives sexual pleasure or gratification from rubbing, especially the genitals, against another person, usually in a crowd. The person being rubbed is a victim. |
| Gay | Generic term for homosexual people. Usually referring to men but can also include women |
| Gay Bashing | Assault perpetrated against homosexuals because of their orientation |
| Gaydar | The ability to recognize gay people on the basis of appearance and behaviour |
| Gender | Refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women. Once thought to be just male and female, it is now recognized that there can be any number of genders. See Sex, Gender & Orientation articles. |
| Gender Blind | See Pansexuality |
| Gender Dysphoria | A medical condition in which a person’s sex and gender identity are not aligned. In 2007, the condition was said to affect one in 500 people, but before that it was said to affect one in 1,000, and before that one in 30,000. Many used to consider it a mental disorder |
| Gender Expression | How a person behaves, appears or presents oneself with regard to societal expectations of gender |
| Gender Fluid | Those who identify as gender fluid have a shifting gender identity. They may identify, by their interests and clothing, behaviour and physical characteristics, as female, or at other times, male, or neither, or both. Gender Fluid is not so much gender identity as gender expression. Their sexual identity can be constantly in flux. |
| Gender Free | See Agender |
| Gender Identity | the gender that a person claims for oneself, which may or may not align with his or her gender assigned at birth. It is how you see yourself socially: man, woman, or a combination of both. One may have a penis but prefer to relate socially as a woman, or one may have a vagina but prefer to relate as a man. One might prefer to be fluid, relating sometimes as a man and sometimes as a woman. Or one might not identify as either one, relating androgynously. |
| Gender Non-Conforming | A gender non-conforming person does not conform to the typical gender-based stereotypes for their assigned biological sex. For example, a boy who wants to take ballet, wear pink, and play primarily with girls is gender non-conforming. Gender non-conforming children may become gender normative over time, or their style of expression may continue to defy gender expectations as adults. Some children grow up to be gay, lesbian or bisexual, and some grow up to be heterosexual. Some are, or will become, transgender. Some transgender individuals will identify as gender non-conforming before transitioning. Gender non-conforming can also be called gender variance. |
| Genderqueer | a term for people whose identities are outside of gender binary, so those who do not exclusively identify with either male or female, OR a person born with male, female or intersex physiology, choosing to identify as genderqueer rather than male or female. Genderqueer individuals may identify as having two or more genders or having no gender, or moving between genders. In terms of sexual orientation they may not identify as either heterosexual or homosexual. Another term for this is non-binary. |
| Gender Role | The expression of gender identity in social behavior |
| Gigolo | A male prostitute, usually younger, hired by an older woman |
| Gonads | An organ in the body that produces gamates (a.k.a. reproductive cells) and sex hormones. In cisgender women, these are ovaries which produce human ova and estrogen. In cisgender men, these are testes (a.k.a. testicles) which produce spermatozoon and testosterone. |
| Grayromantic/graysexual | Experiences romantic or sexual attraction rarely or at very low intensity |
| Harry Benjamin’s Syndrome | A biological condition in which a person’s brain develops as one sex, but the rest of the body takes on the physical attributes of the other sex. This appears to be caused by an interruption to the sexual differentiation processes which normally happens in early pregnancy. This syndrome has been renamed Transgender. It commonly causes severe emotional distress, called Gender Dysphoria. |
| Hebephilia | A condition in which an adult or older teen, almost always male, is sexually attracted to young persons who are going through puberty – typically 10 to 14 years-of-age. The older person may or may not act on their feelings. |
| Hermaphrodite | implies that a person is both fully male and fully female. This is a physiologic impossibility, therefore stigmatizing and misleading. See Intersex. |
| Heteronormal | The opinion that only heterosexual sexual orientation is normal, natural, and potentially moral |
| Heterosexism | Discrimination or prejudice against homosexuals on the assumption that heterosexuality is the normal sexual orientation |
| Heterosexual | A person who is sexual attracted to others of the opposite sex |
| Hijra | A term given to eunuchs, intersex people, and transgender people in South Asia. They are also known as Aravani, Aruvani or Jagappa |
| Homophobia | Fear or hatred, overt or implicit, of homosexuals |
| Homosexual | A person who is sexual attracted to others of the same sex |
| Hooking Up | Uncommitted sexual intimacy with an acquaintance |
| Humping | Rubbing the penis on the partner’s buttocks or groin but not entering the rectum. See also Frottage. |
| Hustling | A synonym for prostitution, usually referring to a youth or young man trading sex for money or drugs with an older man. Not to be confused with people who play pool or cards for money. |
| Hypersexuality | Excessive sexual desire or behavior |
| Incest | Sexual behavior between two persons who are closely related genetically – typically parent-child or brother-sister. |
| Infantophilia | Synonym: “Nepiophilia.” An individual, typically male, who is 16 years or older and who is sexually attracted to very young children ages 0 to 3. The older person may or may not sexually abuse the child. |
| Infertility | Inability (of a man, woman, or couple) to achieve pregnancy |
| Intercourse | Penetration of the penis into the vagina (vaginal intercourse) or anus (anal intercourse) |
| Internalized Oppression | A process by which people come to accept and internalize the inaccurate myths and stereotypes they have been exposed to |
| Intersex | describes those who are born with mixed sex characteristics. They may have some sex/reproductive organs associated with both female and male sexes; or they may have other discrepancies among chromosomal or hormonal markers of sex. Typically physicians decide at birth which “sex” is more surgically or aesthetically viable. The assigned gender may, or may not, match the person’s gender identity. Many intersex people are angry that these decisions were made without their awareness or consent, and for, essentially, cosmetic purposes. Intersex activists wish to prevent this from happening to other infants and children. The previous term “Hermaphrodite” is no longer considered acceptable. |
| Intimacy | The sense of connectedness in an established relationship |
| Jealousy | Fear that a partner may be sexually or emotionally unfaithful |
| Lesbian | A female who is sexually attracted only to other women |
| LesBiGay | Term sometimes used instead of LGB |
| Libido | Also known as sex drive, is a person’s overall sexual drive or desire for sexual activity. Sex drive is influenced by biological, psychological and social factors |
| Lust | Very strong sexual desire – often confused with love, it is purely physical attraction and has no lasting effect |
| Male to Female Transsexual (MTF, M2F, M->F) | someone who was born male and transitions to a female gender identity. |
| Masochist | A person who derives sexual gratification from their own pain or humiliation |
| Masturbation | Sexual self-stimulation |
| Menstruation | The process in a woman of discharging blood and other materials from the lining of the uterus at intervals of about one lunar month from puberty until menopause, except during pregnancy |
| Metrosexual | An urban male with a heterosexual orientation who rejects many macho attributes often linked to masculinity. He adopts many traits often associated with heterosexual females and gay males – e.g. expensive hair care, stylish clothes |
| Miscarriage | An embryo or a fetus before the 25th week of gestation, dies from natural causes and is expelled from the woman’s body |
| Monogamy | An exclusive sexual relationship between two persons |
| Monosexual | A person with romantic or sexual attraction to members of one sex or gender only. A monosexual person may identify as heterosexual or homosexual. In discussions of sexual orientation, the term is chiefly used in contrast to bisexuality, or pansexuality and various other gender-inclusive or gender-neutral identities. |
| Morning After Pill | See Emergency Contraception |
| Nepiophilia | Synonym: “Infantophilia:” An individual, typically male, who is 16 years or older and who is sexually attracted to very young children ages 0 to 3. The older person may or may not sexually abuse the child. |
| Neutrois | Neutrois is a gender identity generally meaning gender neutral. It is different from agender or gender-less, which typically mean ‘without a gender’, whereas neutrois people are considered to have a gender – a neutral gender. |
| Non-Binary | Non-binary (or genderqueer) is a catch-all category for gender identities that are not exclusively masculine or feminine – identities which are outside the gender binary and cisnormativity. Genderqueer people may express a combination of masculinity and femininity, or neither, in their gender expression |
| Omnisexual | Omnisexual and Pansexual are REALLY similar, almost the same. But there is a difference: Pansexuals can be called “gender-blind”, they do not see or think about gender, they only are attracted to the person. Omnisexuals, however, notice the person’s gender, they recognise it and are attracted to ALL genders. |
| Open Marriage | A committed relationship of two persons in which both are free to a have sexual relations with others |
| Oral Sex | The use of the mouth and/or tongue to stimulate another person’s genitals |
| Orgasm | The sudden discharge of accumulated sexual excitement during the sexual response cycle, resulting in rhythmic muscular contractions in the pelvic region characterized by sexual pleasure. Experienced by males and females, orgasms are controlled by the involuntary or autonomic nervous system. |
| Orgy | Sexual activity involving a group of more than two persons, usually in the same room |
| Outercourse | Refers to sex that isn’t intercourse and doesn’t involve penetration. It can include kissing, touching, erotic massage and using sex toys. No semen, vaginal fluids, or blood is shared between partners. |
| Ovum | The female reproductive cell. Plural form: ova |
| Pansexual | Greek prefix “pan” means “all. Sexual attraction, sexual desire, romantic love or emotional attraction toward persons of all gender identities and biological sexes. |
| Paraphilia | A type of mental disorder characterized by sexual arousal by an object or activity that most people don’t consider sexually stimulating, such as feces or making obscene telephone calls, pedophilia, sadomasochism, or exhibitionism – where the sexual behavior patterns may interfere with the establishment of normal sexual relationships. |
| Pederasty | Pederasty or paederasty is a (usually erotic) homosexual relationship between an adult male and a pubescent or adolescent male. NOTE: This should not be confused with pedophilia, which is attraction to children not yet in puberty. Pederasty was once considered “normal” among males in ancient Greek, Roman and other cultures. Today, many of us consider it in negative terms because it sometimes involves an older man coercing or bribing a youth, sometimes crossing the line into rape. (Wikipedia) |
| Pedophile | An adult or older youth who has “recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors involving sexual activity with a prepubescent (pre-13 yr) child. Some pedophiles prefer males, others prefer females, and some are aroused by both males and females.” Pedophiles do not necessarily act on their desires. |
| Plural Marriage | Synonym for polygamy. Typically, one husband shares many wives; each wife sometimes has a separate living space. |
| Polyamory | The practice of, or desire for, intimate relationships with more than one partner, with the knowledge of all partners. It has been described as “consensual, ethical, and responsible non-monogamy. |
| Polyandry | One woman with more than one husband |
| Polyfidelity | A form of polyamory where all members are considered equal partners and agree to be sexually active only with other members of the group. |
| Polygamy | The concept of more than one spouse at the same time – encompasses both polyandry and polygyny |
| Polygyny | Refers to one man with multiple wives |
| Pornography | Material (such as art, writing, photographic images, and film) that is intended to be sexually arousing. Also called porn or porno |
| Prepubescent | An ambiguous term used to refer to a child who has not reached puberty or to a child who is close to attaining puberty |
| Procreation | Production of offspring |
| Prostitution | Sexual activity in exchange for payment – sometimes referred to as hooking or commercial sex |
| Queer | Historically the term has been used to denigrate sexual and gender minorities but more recently it has been reclaimed by these groups and is increasingly used as an expression of pride. Queer can be a convenient, inclusive term when referring to issues and experiences of GLBT’s. Because it is still used to demean lesbian, gay, bisexual, two-spirit and trans people, those who do not identify as queer are urged to use the term with caution, or not at all. |
| Questioning | A person who is exploring their sexual orientation or expressing curiosity in alternative sexual expressions |
| Rape | A type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration carried out against a person without that person’s consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority, or against a person who is incapable of giving valid consent |
| Reciproromantic/reciprosexual | Someone who is only attracted to the other person after that person is attracted to them first. |
| Sadomasichism (S/M) | The infliction and acceptance of pain or humiliation as a means of sexual arousal |
| Sadist | A person who derives pleasure, especially sexual gratification, from inflicting pain or humiliation on others |
| Same Gender Loving | Same-gender-loving, or SGL, a term coined for African American use by activist Cleo Manago, is a description for homosexuals and bisexuals in the African American community. It emerged in the early 1990s as a culturally affirming African American homosexual identity |
| Safe Sex | Sexual activity that is completely free of risk for STD. It is non-existent |
| Safer Sex | Sexual activity in which the risk for STD has been greatly reduced to a low level. |
| Serial Monogamy | The concept of having multiple sexual partners over a lifetime, in a sequence of committed and sexually exclusive relationships |
| Sex | 1. The biological and physiological characteristics that define men and women (noun) 2. Sexual feelings and behavior (verb) |
| Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS) | Sex reassignment surgery or SRS (also known as Gender Reassignment Surgery, Gender Confirmation Surgery, Genital Reconstruction Surgery, Gender-Affirming Surgery, or Sex Realignment Surgery) is the surgical procedure (or procedures) by which a transgender person’s physical appearance and function of their existing sexual characteristics are altered to resemble that socially associated with their identified gender. |
| Sex Reassignment Therapy | The use of hormones and perhaps sex reassignment surgery to help a transgender person or transsexual change their appearance from the sex that they were identified with at birth to more closely match the opposite sex that they feel they truly are. |
| Sex Worker | A person who engages in prostitution, pornography, or other sex-related occupation. |
| Sex-reassignment therapy | The use of hormones and perhaps sex reassignment surgery to help a transsexual change their appearance from the sex that they were identified with at birth to the opposite sex that they feel they truly are |
| Sex Addiction | The idea that a person may be addicted to certain forms of sexual behavior, by a mechanism similar to that of substance addiction |
| Sexual Identity | An individual’s overall feelings including their sexual orientation (heterosexual, bisexual, homosexual), their genetic gender (male, female, or intersexual), gender role (masculine or feminine), and gender identity (male or female) |
| Sexual Orientation | A person’s enduring emotional, romantic, sexual and relational attraction to someone else, which is different from an innate sense of gender – i.e. it is the sex of the person you find erotically attractive: opposite (hetero), same (homo), or both (bi). |
| Sexuality | The feelings, behaviors, and identities associated with sex |
| SGD – Sex and/or/Gender Diverse | an umbrella term used primarily in Australia to replace “transgender” in a more inclusive fashion. It celebrates the diversity in sex and gender identities, rather than defining particular categories of people. The term includes intersex, transexed, transsexual, transsexual, transgender, androgynous, without sex, gender identity, and cross dressers. Other phrases that have been used in the past to label SGD people include transgender, transsexual, pan-gendered, androgynous, intersex, intergender, sistergirl, and brotherboy. (from Wikipedia) |
| Socialization | The effect of social influences such as family, education, peer groups, and the media on the development of psychological or behavioral traits |
| Sodomite | 1. Inhabitant of Sodom 2. A word derived from the biblical town of Sodom, heavily laden with connotations of homosexual immorality |
| Sodomy | Obsolete term for anal sex, or for any homosexual contact. As a legal term it may refer to a variety of prohibited sex acts. |
| Sperm | Male reproductive cells. Single: spermatozoon |
| STD / STI | Acronym for Sexually Transmitted Disease / Infection: Any infection transmitted by bacterium, fungus, parasite or virus primarily during sexual contact. |
| Stillbirth | An event in which a fetus after the 24th week of gestation, dies from natural causes and is expelled from the woman’s body |
| Straight | Colloquial for heterosexual. Straight has connotations of “unadulterated,” “pure,” and “honest,” and some members of the sexual identity community find distasteful the implication that one who is not straight is “bent,” “adulterated,” “impure,” or “dishonest.” Straight also has connotations of “narrow,” “straight-laced” or “conservative,” and some heterosexual people find that distasteful. |
| Swingers | Couples who agree to engage in casual sexual contacts with others |
| Swordplay | Slang for frottage |
| Third Gender or Third Sex | Third gender or third sex is a concept in which individuals are categorized, either by themselves or by society, as neither man nor woman. It is also a social category present in societies that recognize three or more genders. This applies to the Transwomen of India, Bangladesh and Pakistan who are known as hijras, also the fa’afafine of Somoa who are born male but embody feminine traits as well as masculine. The Indigienous Mahu of Hawaii considers it an intermediate state between man and woman. There can also be a fourth or fifth gender like the Dineh (Navajo) of Southwestern US who acknowledge feminine woman, masculine woman, feminine man and masculine man. |
| Trans | An inclusive term referring to the many people who cross socially constructed gender boundaries by adopting a gender identity, presentation, or behaviour that is not typically associated with one’s assigned biological sex. This includes transwomen, transmen, drag kings and queens, genderqueer, transsexuals, transgenderists, cross-dressers and intersexed people. It can refer to anyone outside stereotypical gender expectations. |
| Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminism (TERF) | That group of feminists that claims that trans women aren’t really women. They believe that the only real women are those born with a vagina and XX chromosomes, and that anyone born with such an arrangement is always a woman. They wish to completely enforce the classic gender binary, supporting gender essentialism and transphobia. |
| Transgender | Having a gender identity or gender expression that differs from their assigned sex. Transgender people are sometimes called transsexual if they desire medical assistance to transition from one sex to another. |
| Transgenderist | A person who lives as the gender opposite to their anatomical sex – i.e. a person with a penis living as a woman. Sexual orientation varies. |
| Transition | A process through which some transgender people go when they decide to live as the gender with which they identify, not the one assigned at birth. This may or may not include hormone therapy, sex-reassignment surgery and other medical components. |
| Transman | A transgender person who was identified as female at birth, and now identifies as a male – a female to male (FTM or F2M or F->M) transgender person |
| Transphobia | The negative valuing and discriminatory treatment of individuals who do not conform in presentation and/or identity to conventional conceptions of gender. Lesbians, two-spirited people, gay men, bisexuals, and trans individuals are typically the targets of transphobia. Transphobia, homophobia, and sexism are closely linked and interdependent. As with any form of discrimination, transphobia can be personal or systemic; intentional or unintentional. |
| Transsexual | is a person whose sexual identity is opposite to their assignment at birth. Not all TS folk undergo “sex reassignment surgery” (SRS) for various reasons, including personal preference. Sexual orientation varies. |
| Transvestite | a person who enjoys wearing clothes identified with the opposite gender, and who is often straight. “The most recent edition of the DSM (1994) acknowledges that some transvestites are attracted to others of the same sex and that the fetishistic aspect may diminish over time, but the clinical definition of transvestism remains a heterosexual male who has a perverse, compelling desire to dress in women’s clothing because of the erotic pleasure he derives from doing so. Because ‘transvestite’ connotes a perversion and excludes female, gay, and bisexual male cross-dressers, as well as heterosexual men who cross-dress for non-sexual reasons, the term is rejected today by many transpeople in favor of “cross-dresser.” ~ Brett Genny Beemyn, from glbtq.com |
| Transwoman | A transgender person who was identified as male at birth, and now identifies as a female – a male to female (MTF or M2F or M->F) transgender person |
| Two-Spirited | a term adopted by contemporary North American Aboriginal peoples to refer to those who embody both the male and female spirit. The term is inclusive and can refer to both sexual orientation and/or gender identity or expression. Therefore, lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, crossdressers, effeminate males, masculine females, androgynous, and heterosexual trans-people may all refer to themselves as two-spirited. Terms such as ” berdache” have a colonial origin; and “gay” and “lesbian” are, to many, Eurocentric and culturally irrelevant to Aboriginal two-spirited people. They are seen as doubly blessed and are honoured, being considered more spiritually gifted than a feminine female or masculine male. They are often religions leaders. They are also considered to be under the “third gender” umbrella. |
| Unrequited Love | Love that is not reciprocated |
| Virgin | A person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. This includes about 7% of individuals when they first marry |
| Voyeurism | A paraphilia involving spying on persons while they are undressing, naked, or engaged in sex |
| Zygote | A form of human life (i.e. life containing human DNA) that had originating as a single-cell fertilized ovum, and which has not yet implanted into the inside wall of the uterus. |