Please bear with us as we populate and expand the glossary. In the mean time, you can find out the meanings of many of these terms – and more – on lgbtiq.xyz and on the LGBTA Wiki.
AFAB
Assigned Female At Birth
Allosexual
Someone is allosexual if they experience sexual attraction. It is the opposite of asexual.
Also called Zedsexual.
AMAB
Assigned Male At Birth
Ace
Asexual
Androgyny/Androgynous
Being neither masculine (andro) nor feminine (gyne) in appearance and expression, or having a combination of both male and female traits.
Aro
Aromantic
Binary
Binary code consists of two options: 0 and 1. So it’s a clear either/or situation; either this, or that. The gender binary refers to either man, or woman. If someone identifies as anything other than these two binaries, they may use the term ‘non-binary’.
Cisgender
Someone is cisgender when their birth sex matches their gender identity; either man or woman. These are the two binary options. Cisgender is not a slur; it is simply a term, like transgender.
Cishet (or cis/het, cis-het)
Cisgender (either man or woman) and heterosexual.
Demigender
xxx
Demisexual
xxx
DSD
Disorders of Sex Development. This is a controversial term used for Intersex people, and some prefer to say “Difference in Sex Development” or “Diverse Sex Development” instead.
‘E’
Estrogen or oestrogen. If someone refers to ‘taking E’ or ‘being on E’ that’s what they mean.
FTM or F2M
Female To Male. Someone who is transitioning (or has transitioned) from female to male.
GIC
Gender Identity Clinic
GNC
Gender Non-Conforming
GRC
Gender Recognition Certificate
HRT
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Intersex
xxx
MTF or M2F
Male To Female. Someone who is transitioning (or has transitioned) from male to female.
Non-binary
xxx
NB*
This has been used to abbreviate ‘Non-Binary’, however it is also used in the black community to mean ‘Non-Black’*. Even though context would often make it clear what is meant, it is suggested that other ways to abbreviate ‘non-binary’ are used, such as NBI or NBY. Other abbreviations for non-binary include enby, enbie or even eNBy, but these may be perceived as infantilising by some.
NBI/NBY
An alternative abbreviation for non-binary, to distinguish from “NB”, which is used for “Non-Black”.
‘T’
Testosterone. If someone refers to ‘taking T’ or ‘being on T’ that’s what they mean.
Transgender
Someone is transgender when their gender identity doesn’t match their birth sex.
Two Spirit
An umbrella term used by Native North Americans for someone who identifies ‘third gender’ or another gender variant. Someone who is not a Native North American cannot identify as Two Spirit; this term is only used by Indigenous peoples.
You can find more in-depth descriptions and additional terms on lgbtiq.xyz