Definitions

A B C DEF G H IJKL M N O P QRS T UVWXYZ

Agender
Describes a person who does not identify as male or female or within the male and female gender spectrum. Some Agender individuals describe themselves as genderless.

Ally
Describes a person who supports the 2SLGBTQ+ community both privately and publicly.

Aromantic
Describes a person who is not romantically attracted to others and has no desire to be in a romantic relationship. The abbreviation of Aromantic is Aro.

Asexual (A)
Describes a person who is not sexually attracted to others and has no desire to engage in sexual activities. The abbreviation of Asexual is Ace.

Binding
The action of using garments, tape or other materials to flatten the chest of a person.

Bisexual (B)
Describes a person who is attracted to two genders. This person does not need to have specific sexual experiences, or any sexual experience, to identify as Bisexual.

Cisgender
Describes a person whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth. The abbreviation of Cisgender is Cis.

Coming Out
Describes the process of an individual who comes to understand their gender identity or sexual preference differs from social expectations. Then they reveal that to others.

DeadNaming
Occurs when an individual, intentionally or not, refers to a person using the name that a transgender or genderqueer person once used before coming out. Some refer to their previous name as “birth name”, “given name” or “old name”.

Drag
Describes the art form of individuals who preform in attire that exaggerates femininity, masculinity or other forms of gender expression. Drag Queen refers to feminine presenting drag artists and Drag King refers to masculine presenting drag artists. Some Drag performers use gender neutral terms such as “master” or “Mx” instead of Queen or King.

Femme
Describes a person who presents more femininely in their choice of clothing, attitude and presentation. This term is often used in Lesbian culture, often in context to the masculine and feminine presentation spectrum.

FTM
An abbreviation of the term “female to male”; a transgender man.

Gay (G)

Broad term: Describes a person who is emotionally, romantically and/or physically attracted to people of the same gender.

Specific term: Describes a man who is emotionally, romantically and/or physically attracted to another man.

Gender
A socially constructed idea of roles, behaviors, activities and attributes that a sex should follow. "Gender" is often used as a synonym for "Sex" but that is not correct, please refer to "Sex".

Gender Affirming Surgery
Surgical procedures that can help individuals adjust their bodies to match their innate gender identity more closely.

Gender Expression
The way a person communicates about gender to others through external means such as clothing, appearance or attitudes.

Gender Dysphoria
The distress caused when a person’s assigned sex at birth and assumed gender is not the same as the one they identify with.

Gender Fluid
Describes a person who does not adhere to one fixed gender. This person may move along the gender spectrum.

Gender Identity
A person’s sense of self in relation to gender.

Heteronormativity
The concept that heterosexuality is the preferred or normal mode of sexual orientation. It assumes the gender binary and that sexual and marital relations are most fitting between people of opposite sex.

Heterosexuality
Sexual and/or romantic attraction to people of the opposite sex.

Homophobia
The fear, hatred, discomfort with, or mistrust of people who are lesbian, gay, or bisexual. Another form of homophobia is "Transphobia". Transphobia is the fear, hatred, discomfort with, or mistrust of people who are transgender, non-binary or gender diverse.

Homosexuality
Sexual and/or romantic attraction to people of one's own sex.

Hormone Blockers
Also known as “Puberty Blockers”. A form of gender-affirming medical care that allows young Transgender and Gender-Expansive people to prevent them from going through puberty and having body changes that do not correlate to their gender identity.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
A gender-affirming treatment that allows Transgender and gender-expansive people the ability to feel more at home in their bodies. These hormones include Testosterone and Estrogen.

Indigi- Queer
Describes a person who is Indigenous and a part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community. A title someone can choose to identify as.

Intersectionality
A term that refers to the overlap of social categorizations or identities such as race and ethnicity, sexuality, gender, disability, geography and class.

Intersex (I)
A term that refers to people who are biologically between the medically expected definitions of male and female. This can be through variations in hormones, chromosomes, internal or external genitalia, or any combination of any or all primary and/or secondary sex characteristics.

Lesbian (L)
A woman who is emotionally, romantically, and/or physically attracted to other women.

Mixed Pronouns
When someone uses multiple pronouns such as he/they, she/they, he/her. It is best to ask a person with mixed pronouns which they prefer. Some people are okay with them being interchanged, others prefer the first pronoun they have referred to.

MTF
An abbreviation of the term “male to female”; a transgender woman.

Neo-pronouns
The words used to refer to an individual in place of their name that are specifically gender neutral. Examples include xe/xem, ze/zir and fae/faer.

Non-Binary
Describes a person who does not subscribe to the gender binary. They may exist between or beyond the man-women binary.

Outing
The deliberate or accidental sharing of another person’s sexual orientation or gender identity without their consent. Outing is disrespectful and can put 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals in harm’s way.

Pansexual
Describes a person whose emotional, romantic and/or physical attraction is to people inclusive of all genders.

Pronouns
The words used to refer to an individual in place of their name. Common pronouns include they/them, he/him, she/her.

Queer (Q)
A term used by some 2SLGBTQIA+ people to describe themselves and/or their community. This term can be used in a broad way to identify as someone within the community. This word used to hold a negative meaning towards the community but has since been reclaimed. Only use this term if you are self-identifying or quoting an individual who identifies that way.

Queer Baiting
A marketing technique in which media creators or executives allude to the presence of 2SLGBTQIA+ characters or relationships within their content, but fail to include actual representation so as to not lose non-2SLGBTQIA+ viewers.

Questioning
Describes those who are in the process of discovering and exploring their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or a combination.

Sex
Also known as “Biological Sex” refers to anatomical, physiological, genetic, or physical attributes that determine if a person is male, female or intersex.

Sexual Orientation
The sexual attraction (or lack thereof) toward other people.

Transgender (T)
A term describing a person’s gender identity that does match their assigned sex at birth. This word is used as an umbrella term to describe groups of people who transcend conventional expectations of gender identity or expression.

Two Spirit (2S)
A term used within some Indigenous Communities to refer to a person who identifies as having both a male and female essence or spirit.

Umbrella Term
A term used to cover a broad category of things rather than a specific item. In connection to the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community, Transgender would be an umbrella term, to encompass people who transcend conventional expectations of gender identity or expression.

Understanding the 2SLGBTQIA+ acronym

2S L G B T Q I A +

Two Spirit

Lesbian

Gay

Bisexual

Transgender

Queer

Intersex

Asexual

Question

What about the "+"?
The "+" represents everyone who identifies with being within the Community but does not feel a label or title defines them. The "+" also represents the journey of self discovery.
One may feel confident within their sexuality but is still exploring their gender. In this, the "+" reflects the flexibility and fluidity that the Community encompasses.

Reigniting Our Potential

Definitions

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Agender Describes a person who does not identify as male or female or within the male and female gender spectrum. Some Agender individuals describe themselves as genderless.

Ally Describes a person who supports the 2SLGBTQ+ community both privately and publicly.

Aromantic Describes a person who is not romantically attracted to others and has no desire to be in a romantic relationship. The abbreviation of Aromantic is Aro.

Asexual (A) Describes a person who is not sexually attracted to others and has no desire to engage in sexual activities. The abbreviation of Asexual is Ace.

Binding The action of using garments, tape or other materials to flatten the chest of a person.

Bisexual (B) Describes a person who is attracted to two genders. This person does not need to have specific sexual experiences, or any sexual experience, to identify as Bisexual.

Cisgender Describes a person whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth. The abbreviation of Cisgender is Cis.

Coming Out Describes the process of an individual who comes to understand their gender identity or sexual preference differs from social expectations. Then they reveal that to others.

DeadNaming Occurs when an individual, intentionally or not, refers to a person using the name that a transgender or genderqueer person once used before coming out. Some refer to their previous name as “birth name”, “given name” or “old name”.

Femme Describes a person who presents more femininely in their choice of clothing, attitude and presentation. This term is often used in Lesbian culture, often in context to the masculine and feminine presentation spectrum.

FTM An abbreviation of the term “female to male”; a transgender man.

Gay (G)

Gender A socially constructed idea of roles, behaviors, activities and attributes that a sex should follow. "Gender" is often used as a synonym for "Sex" but that is not correct, please refer to "Sex".

Gender Affirming Surgery Surgical procedures that can help individuals adjust their bodies to match their innate gender identity more closely.

Gender Expression The way a person communicates about gender to others through external means such as clothing, appearance or attitudes.

Gender Dysphoria The distress caused when a person’s assigned sex at birth and assumed gender is not the same as the one they identify with.

Gender Fluid Describes a person who does not adhere to one fixed gender. This person may move along the gender spectrum.

Gender Identity A person’s sense of self in relation to gender.

Heteronormativity The concept that heterosexuality is the preferred or normal mode of sexual orientation. It assumes the gender binary and that sexual and marital relations are most fitting between people of opposite sex.

Heterosexuality Sexual and/or romantic attraction to people of the opposite sex.

Homophobia The fear, hatred, discomfort with, or mistrust of people who are lesbian, gay, or bisexual. Another form of homophobia is "Transphobia". Transphobia is the fear, hatred, discomfort with, or mistrust of people who are transgender, non-binary or gender diverse.

Homosexuality Sexual and/or romantic attraction to people of one's own sex.

Hormone Blockers Also known as “Puberty Blockers”. A form of gender-affirming medical care that allows young Transgender and Gender-Expansive people to prevent them from going through puberty and having body changes that do not correlate to their gender identity.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) A gender-affirming treatment that allows Transgender and gender-expansive people the ability to feel more at home in their bodies. These hormones include Testosterone and Estrogen.

Indigi- Queer Describes a person who is Indigenous and a part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community. A title someone can choose to identify as.

Intersectionality A term that refers to the overlap of social categorizations or identities such as race and ethnicity, sexuality, gender, disability, geography and class.

Intersex (I) A term that refers to people who are biologically between the medically expected definitions of male and female. This can be through variations in hormones, chromosomes, internal or external genitalia, or any combination of any or all primary and/or secondary sex characteristics.

Lesbian (L) A woman who is emotionally, romantically, and/or physically attracted to other women.

Mixed Pronouns When someone uses multiple pronouns such as he/they, she/they, he/her. It is best to ask a person with mixed pronouns which they prefer. Some people are okay with them being interchanged, others prefer the first pronoun they have referred to.

MTF An abbreviation of the term “male to female”; a transgender woman.

Neo-pronouns The words used to refer to an individual in place of their name that are specifically gender neutral. Examples include xe/xem, ze/zir and fae/faer.

Non-Binary Describes a person who does not subscribe to the gender binary. They may exist between or beyond the man-women binary.

Outing The deliberate or accidental sharing of another person’s sexual orientation or gender identity without their consent. Outing is disrespectful and can put 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals in harm’s way.

Pansexual Describes a person whose emotional, romantic and/or physical attraction is to people inclusive of all genders.

Pronouns The words used to refer to an individual in place of their name. Common pronouns include they/them, he/him, she/her.

Queer Baiting A marketing technique in which media creators or executives allude to the presence of 2SLGBTQIA+ characters or relationships within their content, but fail to include actual representation so as to not lose non-2SLGBTQIA+ viewers.

Questioning Describes those who are in the process of discovering and exploring their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or a combination.

Sex Also known as “Biological Sex” refers to anatomical, physiological, genetic, or physical attributes that determine if a person is male, female or intersex.

Sexual Orientation The sexual attraction (or lack thereof) toward other people.

Transgender (T) A term describing a person’s gender identity that does match their assigned sex at birth. This word is used as an umbrella term to describe groups of people who transcend conventional expectations of gender identity or expression.

Two Spirit (2S) A term used within some Indigenous Communities to refer to a person who identifies as having both a male and female essence or spirit.

Umbrella Term A term used to cover a broad category of things rather than a specific item. In connection to the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community, Transgender would be an umbrella term, to encompass people who transcend conventional expectations of gender identity or expression.