Glossary of LGBTQIA+ labels

LGBTQIA+

Labels are terms people use to identify and express their sexuality and gender identity. For example, the acronym LGBTQIA+ stands for the following labels:

Lesbian

Lesbian is the term used to refer to a woman who is attracted to other women.

Gay

Gay is an overarching term for attraction to the same gender. Note that the term gay can also be used by people who identify as gender non-binary.

Bisexual

Bisexuality is the attraction to more than one gender. Despite the prefix of “bi,” it is important to note the term means the attraction to two or more genders.

Transgender

Someone who is transgender identifies as a different gender than their sex assigned at birth.

Queer

Queer is an umbrella terms that encapsulates all expressions and identities that are not heterosexual (straight, attracted to the opposite gender) or not cisgender (one who identifies with their assigned sex).

or Questioning

Questioning is a term used for someone who is exploring and questioning their sexuality or gender identity.

Intersex

Intersex people are born with biological and anatomical sex characteristics that do not match defined female and male anatomy.

Ally

An ally is someone who does not identify as LGBTQIA+ but who supports and sides with the community.

or Asexual

Asexuality refers to the complete absence of sexual attraction to other people.

Below are some labels used by interviewees in this article, in order of mention.

Grayromantic

People who are grayromantic fall somewhere on the spectrum between aromantic (feeling no romantic attraction) and alloromantic (feeling consistent and clear romantic attraction). They may feel romantic attraction sometimes, but not as frequently or obviously as someone who is alloromantic.

Demiromantic

Demiromantic is the term used to describe people who only feel romantic attraction to people they are already close to and have already formed emotional bonds with.

Pansexual

Pansexuality is the attraction to all and any gender. It is similar to bisexuality in the aspect of the attraction to more than one gender, but pansexuality is by definition the attraction to all genders and also encompasses the attraction to others regardless of gender.

Demigirl

A demigirl is a person who does not fully identify as a woman, both socially and mentally.

Non-binary

The label non-binary refers to someone who does not identify with either gender binary (male or female).

Transmasculine

Transmasculine is an umbrella label that describes someone who is assigned the female sex at birth but indentifies and expresses with masculinity.

For a more complete glossary of labels, visit the Human Rights Campaign's website. Compiled by Sofia Guerra.