Definitions of LGBT Terms

Here at Gay Pride UK we aim to be as informative as possible. For this reason, we have written up a few definitions of various LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Trans) words. This should be able to cover anything you read, both on this site and any other LGBT website that you come across.

If there is another term that you find that isn't covered in these definitions, please feel free to contact us and we will happily add it.

• Assigned Gender - The Gender that is initially written on a new born baby’s Birth Certificate (i.e. Male of Female) which does not necessarily match that of the child's mind or body.
• Ally - Typically any non-LGBT person who supports and stands up for the rights of LGBT people, though LGBT people can be allies, such as a lesbian who is an ally to a transgender person.
• Bisexual - A person who is attracted to both men and women.
• Bicurious - A person who has sexual curiosity to those of the same sex.
• Closeted/"In the Closet" - Describes a person who keeps their sexual orientation or gender identity a secret from some or all people.
• Coming Out - The process of acknowledging one's sexual orientation and/or gender identity to other people. For most LGBT people this is a life-long process.
• Gay - A person who is attracted only to members of the same sex. Although it can be used for any sex (e.g. gay man, gay woman, gay person), "lesbian" is usually the preferred term for women who are attracted to women.
• Gay Man - A man who is only attracted to other men.
• Gender Binary - The model adopted by some societies, including Western, that there are two genders, male and female, and that there are no other options. Other societies recognise more than two genders.
• Gender Expression or Gender Presentation - This is an individual’s external gender-related appearance (including clothing) and behaviour (including interests and mannerisms).
• Gender Identity - A person's inner sense of self as male, female or somewhere in between. Most people develop a gender identity that corresponds to their biological sex but many do not.
• Gender Normativity or Gender Norm - The belief that everyone is and should be included in the Gender Binary and that the Gender Binary is the norm and therefore superior.
• Gender Reassignment - This refers to the process of a person changing the gender role in which they live so that it finally matches their gender identity. The process of gender reassignment is also called 'transitioning' and involves changing the name and gender pronouns by which the person is referred in society. It often involves hormone treatment to assist in changing secondary sex characteristics and may also involve various surgeries to change primary and/or secondary sex characteristics.
• Gender Variant - This is an umbrella term used to describe the whole widest range of people whose gender identity or gender expression differ in some way from the gender assumptions made about them when they were born.
• Heterosexual/Straight - A person who is only attracted to members of the opposite sex.
• Heterosexism - The attitude that heterosexuality is the only valid or acceptable sexual orientation.
• Homosexual - A clinical term for people who are attracted to members of the same sex. Some gay men and lesbians find this term offensive.
• Homophobia - Fear of lesbians, gay men and bisexual people.
• Homophobic - Those with a hatred, fear and prejudice against lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
• HRT - Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for transgender and transsexual people replaces the hormones naturally occurring in their bodies with those of the other sex.
• Intersex - This is a term used to describe someone born with a biological sex characteristic (such as their external genitals, internal reproductive system or chromosomes) that are medically detectable, as differing from what is considered clearly male or female. There are many different Intersex conditions.
• Lesbian - A woman who is only attracted to other women.
• LGBT - Acronyms for "lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender".
• Openly Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender - A person who publicly acknowledges their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
• Outing - The act of revealing an LGBT person's sexual orientation and/or gender identity without that person's consent.
• Queer - An umbrella term used by some LGBT people to refer to themselves. In the past, this term has been considered offensive and some LGBT people still consider it so.
• Questioning - A person who is unsure about their sexual orientation or gender identity.
• Sexual Orientation - A person's attraction to members of the same and/or opposite sex. Includes gay, lesbian, bisexual and heterosexual.
• Transgendered & Trans - These are umbrella terms used to describe a wide range of people whose gender identity or gender expression differ in some way from the gender assumptions made about them when they were born. However, in some countries they are defined in narrower ways to refer only to people who have a gender identity that differs from their biological sex.
• Trans Man - This is a term used to someone who was labelled female at birth but who has a male gender identity and therefore is currently transitioning, or has already transitioned, to live permanently as a man.
• Transphobic/Transphobia - Hatred, fear and prejudice against transgender, trans and gender variant people.
• Transsexual - This is a term used to describe people who consistently self-identify as the opposite gender from the gender they were labelled at birth based on their physical body. Depending on the range of options and information available to them during their life, most transsexual people try to find a way to transition to live fully in the gender which they self-identify as. Transitioning is also known as gender reassignment. Many, but not all, transsexual people take hormones and some also have surgery to make their physical bodies match their gender identity better.
• Trans Woman - This is a term used to someone who was labelled male at birth but who has a female gender identity and therefore is currently transitioning, or has already transitioned, to live permanently as a woman.