Growing up can be hard. Growing up identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning (LGBTQ) is even harder, according to national data. Also referred to as LGBTQIA+, these terms include lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual and more identities.
Young people in the LGBTQ community face higher rates of rejection, violence, suicide and homelessness when compared to their general population peers. LGBTQ youth are also overrepresented in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems and more likely to drop out of school than their fellow classmates.
This post defines some common terms — and promotes the use of accurate, authentic and inclusive language — so that social workers, educators, foster parents and others are better equipped to support LGBTQ youth, serve as their advocates and help them thrive.
Sexual and Gender Identity Terms toKnow
| Agender | Gender Expression | Queer |
| Ally | GenderFluid | Questioning |
| Asexual | Gender Identity | Sex |
| Bigender | Gender Neutral | Sexual Orientation |
| Bisexual | Gender Nonconforming | SOGIE |
| Cisgender | Heterosexual | Straight |
| ComingOut | hom*osexual | Transgender |
| Enby | Intersex | Transgender (or Trans) Man |
| Gay | Lesbian | Transgender (or Trans) Woman |
| Gender | LGBTQ | Transition |
| Gender Affirming Surgery | Nonbinary | Two Spirit |
| Gender Dysphoria | Pansexual |
Agender
Describes aperson who does not identify as male or female or some combination of male and female. Some agender individuals see themselves as genderless, while others see themselves as gender neutral.
Ally
Describes aperson who supports, both publicly and privately, the LGBTQ community and equality in its many forms. Heterosexual and cisgender people can be allies, as well as individuals from within the LGBTQ community.
Asexual
Describes aperson who is not sexually attracted to others and has no desire to engage in sexual behavior. Asexuality differs from celibacy in that aperson who is celibate is sexually attracted to others but chooses to abstain from sex. Sometimes, asexual is abbreviated as “ace.”
Bigender
Describes aperson who has two genders. People who are bigender may experience two gender identities at the same time or at different times. These gender identities can be binary — male and female — or include nonbinary identities.
Bisexual
Describes aperson who is attracted to both men and women. Aperson does not need to have had specific sexual experiences — or any sexual experience — to identify as bisexual.
Cisgender
Describes aperson whose gender identity matches the sex — male or female — originally identified on their birth certificate (i.e., people who are not transgender). Cisgender, which is pronounced sis-gender, describes only aperson’s gender identity — not their sexual or romantic attractions. Sometimes, cisgender is abbreviated as “cis” in casual conversation.
ComingOut
Describes the process of aperson first coming to understand their own sexual orientation, then revealing it to others. However, it is not necessary to have sexual experiences or to even tell others in order to come out. One may be out to just one’s self. Coming out is often correlated with rates of youth homelessness.
Enby
Describes aperson who does not identify as exclusively male or exclusively female and usually prefers“they” as apronoun. Enby is the phonetic pronunciation of“NB,” which stands for nonbinary. Not all nonbinary individuals prefer or use thisterm.
Gay
Describes aperson who is attracted, emotionally and/or physically, to someone of the same gender. The term can be used by men, women or individuals who identify as nonbinary. Aperson does not need aspecific sexual experience — or any sexual experience — to identify asgay.
Gender
A social construct used to classify aperson as aman, woman or some other identity. Fundamentally different from sex assigned at birth, gender is often closely related to the role that aperson plays or is expected to play in society.
Gender Affirming Surgery
A surgical procedure that enables an individual’s body to be more congruent with their gender identity. Also referred to as sex reassignment surgery or gender confirming surgery.
Gender Dysphoria
Describes the extreme discomfort that aperson feels because their assigned sex at birth does not match their gender identity. This sense of unease or dissatisfaction can cause depression and anxiety and negatively impact an individual’s dailylife.
Gender Expression
How individuals communicate their gender to others through their clothing, speech, mannerisms and other factors. Gender expression is not the same thing as gender identity. Aperson can express one gender yet identify with another.
GenderFluid
Describes aperson whose gender expression or gender identity — or both — changes over time. Not everyone whose gender identity or expression changes identifies as genderfluid.
Gender Identity
A person’s internal identification as male, female, something in between or something other than the two conventional gender options. Aperson’s gender identity is not visible to others and can match or differ from their assigned sex atbirth.
Gender Neutral
Describes not identifying as being of aparticular gender. It can apply to several different aspects of life. People who identify as gender neutral typically don’t subscribe to gender stereotypes and may use the pronouns “they/them/their” as well as others.
Gender Nonconforming
Describes aperson who does not adhere to the traditional expectations — in terms of their appearance or behavior — of their assigned gender. Some of these individuals identify as transgender but others, for example, masculine lesbians, donot.
Heterosexual
Describes aperson who is attracted — physically and emotionally — to individuals of the opposite sex. Otherwise known as astraight person.
hom*osexual
Describes aperson who is attracted — physically and emotionally — to people of the same sex. This term is outdated and disfavored in the LGBTQ community, as it was commonly used to ostracize others.
Intersex
Describes aperson born with sex characteristics that are not typical for male or female bodies. Sex characteristics are physical features relating to sex — including chromosomes, genitals, hormones and other reproductive anatomy — as well as secondary features that emerge from puberty. Intersex is an umbrella term, and intersex characteristics and traits are not always apparent or identified at birth. The “I” in the longer version of LGBTQ (LGBTQIA+) stands for intersex.
Lesbian
Describes awoman who is attracted, emotionally and/or physically, to other women. Awoman does not need aspecific sexual experience — or any sexual experience — to identify as alesbian.
LGBTQ
An acronym used to describe lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning persons or the community. Avoid using the term“gay community,” as it does not accurately account for the community’s diversity.
Nonbinary
Describes aperson whose gender identity falls outside of the two-gender construct (male or female). For example, nonbinary can describe an individual whose gender changes over time, who does not identify as male or female or who associates with elements of both genders. Some individuals who identify as nonbinary prefer the termenby.
Pansexual
Describes aperson who is attracted to — or has the potential to be attracted to — people of any gender or gender identity. This attraction can be emotional or physical.
Queer
An adjective used by some people, particularly younger people, whose sexual orientation is not exclusively heterosexual. Queer was once used apejorative term and has been reclaimed by some — but not all — members of the LGBTQ community.
Questioning
Describes aperson who is still discovering and exploring their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or some combination thereof. Using this term enables an individual to identify as part of the LGBTQ community while avoiding other labels and recognizing that their process of self-identification is still underway.
Sex
The classification of aperson as male or female. At birth, babies are assigned asex that typically corresponds with their external anatomy. Yet an individual’s sex is influenced by alarger combination of factors, including their chromosomes, genes, hormones, reproductive organs and secondary sex characteristics.
Sexual Orientation
An enduring emotional and/or physical attraction (or non-attraction) to other people. Sexual orientation is fluid and encompasses avariety of labels, including gay, lesbian, heterosexual, bisexual, pansexual and asexual.
SOGIE
An acronym for sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. Every person has asexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
Straight
Describes aman who is attracted to women or awoman who is attracted to men. Can be used as asynonym for heterosexual.
Transgender
Describes aperson whose gender identity and/or gender expression do not match their assigned sex at birth. Transgender people may be straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual orqueer.
Transgender (or Trans) Man
Describes aperson who was assigned afemale sex at birth but identifies as male. This person may or may not actively identify astrans.
Transgender (or Trans) Woman
Describes aperson who was assigned amale sex at birth but identifies as female. This person may or may not actively identify astrans.
Transition
A complex process by which transgender people align their anatomy (medical transition) and gender expression (social transition) with their gender identity. Transitioning is amultiple-step process that occurs over along period of time. It can include such steps as using adifferent name, using new pronouns, dressing differently, updating legal documents, hormone therapy and surgery. The exact steps involved in aperson’s transition varies.
Two Spirit
Describes aperson who identifies as having both amasculine and afeminine spirit. It is used by some Native American and Alaska Native people to describe their sexual, gender and/or spiritual identity. It may encompass same-sex attraction and also include relationships that could be consideredpoly.
Learn About the Casey Foundation’s Work Supporting LGBTQYouth
The Casey Foundation believes that all kids should grow up feeling supported, understood, safe and loved. Explore more Foundation resources focused on helping LGBTQ youth succeed:
- LGBTQ in Child Welfare
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth in the Juvenile Justice System
- HRC’s Ellen Kahn Talks Better Services for LGBTQ Youth inCare
