Concepts and Terminology
Below are concepts and terminology that may be helpful to understand the terms used throughout the workbook. Click on RESOURCES to be transferred to a list of resources for LGBTQ+ foster children and youth.
Concepts
All people have a sexual orientation, a gender identity, and a gender expression.
Sexual orientation: a component of identity that includes a person’s sexual and emotional attraction to another person and the behavior and social affiliation that may result from this attraction. A person may be attracted to men, women, both, neither, or to people who are gender-queer, androgynous, or have other gender identities.
Gender identity: a person’s deeply felt, inherent sense of being a boy, a man; a girl, a woman; or a non-binary gender (e.g., genderqueer, gender nonconforming, gender neutral) that may or may not correspond to a person’s sex assigned at birth or to a person’s primary or secondary sex characteristics. Because gender identity is internal, a person’s gender identity is not visible to others.
Gender expression: the presentation of an individual, including physical appearance, clothing choice and accessories, and behaviors that express aspects of gender identity or role. Gender expression may or may not conform to society’s expectation of a person’s gender identity.
Terminology
People use many terms to describe their identity. Children and youth may not yet have words or terminology to describe their experiences or may use descriptions or terms not included in this glossary. If you are not familiar with a term, respectfully ask a child or youth what the term means to them.
Affirm: to honor and support a person’s identity or expression as they define it.
Bisexual: attraction to more than one gender identity.
Cisgender: an adjective used to describe a person whose gender identity and gender expression align with their sex assigned at birth; a person who is not transgender, gender diverse, two-spirit or non-binary.
Conversion therapy: efforts to change an individual’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression through behavioral health or medical interventions.
Gay: describes a person who primarily is attracted to individuals of the same gender. While historically used to refer specifically to men, it is often used to refer to women attracted to other women as well.
Gender Diversity (Diverse): refers to the extent to which a person’s gender identity, role, or expression differs from the cultural norms prescribed for people of a particular sex.
Gender Dysphoria: refers to discomfort or distress that is associated with a discrepancy between a person’s gender identity and that person’s sex assigned at birth (and the associated gender role and primary and secondary sex characteristics).
Gender nonconforming: an adjective used as an umbrella term to describe people whose gender expression or gender identity differs from gender norms associated with their assigned sex at birth.
Terminology Continued…
Genderqueer: refers to a person whose gender identity falls outside of the gender binary (i.e. a person who identifies with neither or both genders). Genderqueer individuals may also use the term “gender fluid” as an identifier but typically reject the term “transgender” because it implies a change from one gender category to another.
Intersex: refers to a range of conditions associated with atypical development of physical sex characteristics.
Lesbian: describes a woman who is attracted to other women.
LGBTQ+: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and gender diverse. The “+” reflects the reality that there are innumerable terms people use to describe their gender and sexuality outside of those in the acronym.
Microaggression: a statement, action, or incident regarded as an instance of indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination against members of a marginalized group such as members of a targeted racial or ethnic group or someone who identifies as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
Nonbinary: Describes people whose gender is not, or not exclusively, male or female.
Transgender: an adjective that is an umbrella term used to describe the full range of people whose gender identity or gender role do not conform to what is typically associated with their sex assigned at birth.
Trans Woman/girl: AMAB (Assigned Male at Birth) knows themselves to be a woman/girl.
Trans Man/boy: AFAB (Assigned Female at Birth) knows themselves to be a man/boy.
Sex (sex assigned at birth): sex is typically assigned at birth (or before birth during an ultrasound) based on the appearance of external genitalia. For most people, gender identity is congruent with sex assigned at birth (see cisgender); for transgender nonbinary or gender diverse/expansive individuals, gender identity differs in varying degrees from sex assigned at birth.
SGL: Same gender loving. A term some prefer to use instead of lesbian, gay, or bisexual to express attraction to and love of people of the same gender. Predominantly used by the African American community.
Two-spirit: term used by some Native American cultures to describe people who identify with both male and female gender roles; this can include both gender identity and sexual orientation. Two-spirit people are often respected and carry unique spiritual roles for their community.
Queer: an umbrella term that individuals may use to describe a sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression that does not conform to dominant societal norms.
Questioning: is an identity label for a person who is exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity.