Gender Terminology
These are words and terms used in the trans/gay world and their medical
treatments. I must warn that some are pretty vulgar but I truly believe
that we need to stay on top of these and listen for them in our kids
and their circle of friends.
A
Adrenarche
Early puberty when you may grow pubic hair, have body odor, feel sexual attraction/desire, and have acne.
Agender
Someone who doesn't identify with any gender.
Anal Fissure
A cut in the skin of the anus. Anal fissures can cause sharp pain during defecation
or during anal sex. Also called rectal fissure, anorectal fissure, and anal ulcer.
Androgynous
Appearing neither male nor female. May have characteristics of both, neither, or in between.
Androphobia
Fear of men.
Antiandrogen
A drug that reduces testosterone and its effects in the body. Commonly taken as part of gender reassignment.
Asexual/Asexuality/Ace
An umbrella term for identities on a spectrum. People who identify as asexual may have no sexual
desire or do not experience sexual attraction.
Assigned female at birth/AFAB
Born female.
Assigned male at birth/ABAB
Born male.
Autoerotic
Turned on by yourself or something you think of in your own mind.
Autoerotic Asphyxiation
Strangling or choking yourself for sexual arousal. It is very dangerous.
Hundreds of young people die of autoerotic asphyxiation every year.
B
BDSM
A term for a practices including Bondage, Domination/Submission, and Sadism/Masochism.
Bi erasure/Invisibility
To ignore the existence of bisexuality.
Bigender
Identifying with both genders.
Bilateral mastectomy
The surgical removal of both breasts. Performed for gender transformation.
See "mastectomy," "chest surgery," or “top surgery.”
Binarism
Based on the fact that there are only two genders: man and woman.
Binder/Chest binding
Wrapping breasts in order to flatten it and create a more masculine appearance.
Biphobia/Bimisia
Negative opinions about bisexual people. The suffix misia means hate.
Bisexual
Attraction to either sex.
Body Autonomy
You decide what happens to your body without outside influence or control.
Bottom surgery
A general term for a variety of genital surgeries.
Butch
A masculine lesbian.
C
Castration
Removal of the testicles.
Ceterosexual
Being sexually attracted to people who are not straight.
Chemical castration
Injecting progestin into the scrotum to decrease sexual desire and arousal.
Sometimes sex offenders can be ordered to be chemically castrated. Also used in gender transition.
Chest surgery/Chest reconstruction surgery/Top Surgery
Reducing or removing breasts and changing the location of the nipples.
Chosen name
Using a name that is different from a their birth/given name.
Chromosomes
The genetic material.
XX female chromosomes
XY male chromosomes
Cis man/Cisgender man
Born male and is male.
Cis woman/Cisgender woman
Born female and is female.
Cisgender
You are the sex you were born as.
Cisnormativity
Assuming that being straight is the norm.
Cissexism
Believing being straight is natural and normal.
Clitoridectomy
Removal of the external clitoris. Also genital mutilation.
Closet
Not sharing your LGBTQ+ status.
Coitophobia
Fear of vaginal sex.
Coming out/Coming out of the closet
Sharing your LGBTQ+ status.
Con-dam/ConDam
An OTC latex or nitrile glove that is cut so that it can be used
as both a dam and a condom to protect against the STDs.
Cross-dressing
When someone wears clothing associated with the opposite gender.
Cyberstalking
Tracking and following someone online in a threatening way.
D
Deadnaming
Calling a trans person by a name they no longer use.
Demisexual
Only attracted to person after they form a close emotional connection.
Dental dam
Thin, square of latex to help prevent spreading of STDs when placed
over the vulva or anus during oral sex.
Domestic partnership
A long-term relationship of two unmarried people living together.
Drag
A performance that exaggerates gender expression. For art, entertainment,
or activism. Drag typically reflects the opposite sex.
Drag King
A female drag performer exaggerating male behaviors.
Drag Queen
A male drag performer exaggerating female behaviors.
E
Enby
Phonetic spelling of “NB,” a short for nonbinary.
Endosex
When your genitals, chromosomes, and hormones are the same as sex.
Endosexism
Belief that being "endosex" is natural and normal.
Erotophobia
Fear of the erotic.
Estradiol
A type of estrogen taken for gender hormone treatment/replacement.
Eunuch
A man whose testicles and/or penis have been removed.
F
Female
The sex with physical/physiological characteristics, such as a XX chromosomes.
As a legal sex/gender on birth certificate and other official documents.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)/Female circumcision
Removing part or all of the clitoral hood, clitoris, or vulva. In some
cases, the vulva is sewn together to preserve virginity.
Female-to-Male trans(FTM)-(F2M)
A female that transitions to a male. A transgender man.
Femme
A queer women associated with a queer gender expression that’s considered feminine.
Fetishize/fetishization
Making someone as an object of sexual desire based on an aspect of their identity or appearance.
Finger Cot
A small latex glove that rolls over one finger to cover cuts and open wounds.
Sometimes known as finger condoms.
Fisting
Putting several fingers or a hand into the vagina or anus of a sex partner.
Front Hole
Trans men and nonbinary people use this to describe their anatomy instead of vagina.
Frottage/Dry humping
Sexual body rubbing.
FTM (F2M)
A woman who transitions from Female to Male.
G
Gaff
A garment designed to hold a man’s genitals tucked to look flatter in the groin.
Gay
People attracted to the same sex.
Gender
Until the 1950s, the idea of differentiating between sex and gender was completely
foreign to the medical and psychological communities. After all, aside from extremely
rare instances, every human being has either two X chromosomes, and is therefore
biologically female, or an X and a Y chromosome, and is therefore biologically male.
It was not until the past decade or so that a distinction between sex and gender became
popularized. Popular culture and postmodern psychology, however, do not change the fact
that human beings are either XX or XY. No amount of hormone therapy or surgery can change
that fact. (Got Questions)
Gender affirming care
Medical care that is specific to people who identify as transgender.
Including hormone therapy, gender surgery, referrals, resources, and support groups.
Gender affirming surgery/procedures
Surgery or medical procedures on sex organs or breast removal/implants.
Gender assignment
The sex your born with.
Gender/Sex binary
Man/woman or male/female.
Gender conforming
The belief that there are only two genders.
Gender Diverse
An identity that differs from the sex they are born with.
Gender Dysphoria
A psychological diagnosis listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
of Mental Disorders. A discomfort about your body. Very common in the years of
puberty. Kids almost always grow out of it when hormones settle down.
Gender Euphoria
Feelings of joy or excitement that people experience shortly after reassignment surgery.
Gender-expansive
Someone with a more flexible gender identity than a typical gender.
Gender Expression
How gender is shown to the outside world through the way a person looks or acts.
It may include clothing, mannerisms, communication style and interests, among other things.
Gender fluidity/Gender-fluid
Ongoing changing of gender identity or expression.
Gender identity
The feelings of being male, female, neither or some combination of both.
Gender or Sex Marker
The legal designation of sex/gender on official records, such as your
birth certificate, school records, or health insurance.
Gender Modality
The relationship between your gender identity and sex you were born with.
Gender Nonbinary
An identity outside of the norm of man/woman.
Gender Nonconforming
Not conforming to gender expression norms.
Gender Normative
Someone that conforms to normal feminine and masculine behavior.
Gender Norms
How normal men and women think, behave, and move through the world.
Gender Pronouns/Personal pronouns
Pronouns used instead of the usual Mr. or Mrs. etc...
Gender roles
Normal behavior and relationships for men and women.
Gender Scripting
The expectation to adopt attitudes, behaviors, and preferences
considered appropriate for their sex.
Gender Stereotype
Beliefs about the way boys/men or girls/women are supposed behave.
Gender-affirming hormone therapy
Taking estrogen, testosterone or puberty blockers to change or stop
development of sexual characteristics.
Genderqueer
To experience gender in a non-normative way.
Genital reconstruction surgery (GRS)
Surgery on the genitals as part of gender affirming care.
Genophobia
Fear of sex.
Girl Dick
A word men use to describe their anatomy in place of penis.
Gymnophobia
Fear of nudity.
Gynophobia
Fear of women.
H
Harness/strap-on
Garments that hold a packer, dildo, or other sex toy against your body.
Some are worn like underwear or jock straps. Others may go around other
parts of your body, like your thigh.
Hedonism
The belief that self-pleasure is the most important thing.
Heteronormativity
Belief that straight is the norm.
Heterosexism
The belief that heterosexuality is the natural, normal way.
Homophobia
"Fear" or hatred of people who are gay, lesbian, or bisexual.
Homosexual
Being attracted only to people of the same gender/sex.
Hyper-femininity
The exaggeration of gender-stereotyped feminine behavior.
Hyper-masculinity
The exaggeration of gender-stereotyped masculine behavior.
Hypersexual
Someone has a higher sex drive or more interest in sex than is considered normal.
Hyposexual
Someone has less a lower sex drive, or less interest in sex than is considered normal.
I
Incest
1 sexual intercourse between persons so closely related that they are forbidden by law to marry
2 the statutory crime of such a relationship
Inclusive language
Language written so that all sexes, genders, and gender identities are included.
Infibulation
The most severe form of female genital mutilation. It includes removing the
outside clitoris and labia, and sewing the opening of the vagina closed.
Internalized Homophobia
Fear of being homosexual or self-loathing for being homosexual.
Intersex
An umbrella term to describe people born with defects in reproductive anatomy, of both sexes.
Intersex Genital Mutilation (IGM)
Genital surgeries on intersex infants and youth to make their bodies to fit one sex.
L
Lesbian
A woman who’s sexually or romantically attracted to other women.
LGBTQ+
An acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer and/or questioning.
The + is to include additional identities.
M
Male
The sex associated with physical/physiological characteristics, such as
male genitalia and XY chromosomes. As a legal marker of sex on official documenats.
Male-To-Female Trans (MTF) (M2F)
A man who transitions from male to female.
Merkin
A wig for the pubic area.
Metoidioplasty
A medical procedure that creates a penis on female anatomy. May or may not
include urethral lengthening to facilitate the ability to urinate standing up.
Misgender
Referring to someone with wrong gender pronouns, name.
Morning Wood
Slang for having an erection when waking up.
Muffing
Using your fingers to penetrate the canal where the testes descend.
A term most often used by trans women.
Multigender
Identifying with multiple genders, either at the same moment or over time.
Ménage à trois
Three people in a sexual encounter. Also called a threesome.
N
Necrophilia
When a person has sex with or becomes sexually aroused by a dead body.
Neopronouns
Pronouns other than the normal she, he, or they.
Non-op/Non-operative
Transgender people who haven’t had gender surgery.
Nonbinary
Someone whose gender ID goes beyond that of female and male.
O
Omnisexuality
1: sexual in many or unlimited ways
2: of, relating to, or characterized by sexual desire or attraction that is
not limited to people of a particular gender identity or sexual orientation :
pansexual
Orchiectomy
Surgical removal of one or both testicles.
Out/Out of the Closet
When a person’s LGBTQ+ status is known to others.
Outercourse
Sexual activity that doesn’t include vaginal or anal sex.
Outing
Disclosing someone's sexual orientation or gender status without their consent.
P
Pack-and-play/Packer
An object that’s used to create the appearance of a bulge at the groin.
Pangender
Identifying with all genders.
Pansexual
Having sexual or romantic attraction to people of "all" genders.
Paraphilia
A sex act that is needed for sexual arousal, but isn’t socially normal or acceptable.
Pedophilia
1: sexual perversion in which children are the preferred sexual object
2: a psychiatric disorder in which an adult has sexual fantasies about or engages in sexual acts with a prepubescent child
Penectomy
The surgical removal of the penis to as part of gender surgery.
Phallic
Shaped like a penis.
Phallophobia
Fear of the penis.
Phalloplasty
Surgery in which a penis is created on a female from a her existing genital tissue.
A skin graft from another part of the body, usually the wrist, thigh, or side.
Pitching a tent
Slang for having an erection.
Polyamory
Having sexual or romantic relationships with more than one person at a time.
Q
Queer
An umbrella term that refers to a variety of abnormal sexual/romantic and gender identities.
Questioning
Questioning or exploring your sexual/romantic orientation or gender identity.
R
Rimming (rim job)
Using your mouth to pleasure someone’s anus.
Role-play(ing)
Acting out a sexual fantasy with a partner.
Romantic orientation
Genders a person is romantically attracted to. People may have a romantic
orientation that’s different than their sexual orientation.
S
S&M (Sadomasochism)
The use of domination and/or pain for sexual stimulation. The Sadist
dominates/inflicts pain. The Masochist is submissive/receives pain.
Sex
A male or female.
Sex assignment
Biological sex. Born female or male. The sex that appears on the person’s birth certificate.
Sex positive
Embracing sex, sexuality, and sexual expression as a natural, positive part of life
that can be defined, embodied, and explored without shame or judgement.
Sex-negative
Believing that sex and sexuality are bad or dangerous.
Sexophobia
Fear of sex/sexuality.
Sexual identity
Your understanding of your own sex, gender, sexual orientation, and sexual preferences.
Sexual Norms
Society’s expectations regarding sex and sexuality. Things that are considered sexually normal.
Sexual orientation
People may be attracted to men, women, both or neither.
Sexual preference
People, activities, or other things that you like, sexually.
Sheer Glyde Dam
A brand of dental dam. Dental dams are thin, square pieces of latex that help prevent
the spread of STDs when placed over the vulva or anus during oral sex.
Skoliosexual/scoliosexual
Being sexually attracted to people who are not cisgender. Also known as ceterosexual.
Slut shame
When someone criticizes others for expressing themselves in extreme sexual ways.
Statutory Rape
Legally, sexual contact between an adult and a minor.
Stealth
When a trans person chooses not to share their gender modality, transgender experience, or gender history.
Stealthing
When a condom is removed during sex without the other person’s knowledge or consent.
Strap-on
A dildo that can be attached to a person to use for oral sex.
Strapless
A word that trans women use to describe their anatomy instead of penis.
Stud
A Black masculine or butch lesbian.
T
TGNCNB+
Trans, Gender Nonconforming, Nonbinary, and other identities that fall outside of the gender binary.
Thelarche
The point of puberty when breasts begin to develop.
Top surgery
Gender surgery for reducing/removing breasts, implanting breasts, and/or changing the location of the nipples.
Trans Mentor
A trans person who provides support or advice to another trans person.
Transfeminine
Male at birth but have a feminine gender identity and/or feminine gender expression.
Transgender/Trans
Transgender or gender diverse, is an adjective used to describe someone whose gender identity differs from their sex.
Transgender Man
A man who was born female.
Transgender Woman
A woman who was born male.
Transition
Choosing new personal, social, medical, legal, or other changes for life.
Transmasculine
Female at birth but have a masculine gender identity and/or masculine gender expression.
Transphobia/Transmisia
The perception that someone fears or hates someone that is trans. The suffix misia means hate.
Tribadism
Sex that involves two females rubbing their vulvas/clitorises together.
Tucking
Tucking away the testicles and penis (usually with the help of a gaff or tight underwear)
in order to create the appearance of a smooth, bulge-less groin.
Two-spirit/2S
Used by some Indigenous/First Nations/Native American people to broadly describe Indigenous ways
of being trans. Two spirit people may identify exclusively as two spirit, or they may describe
their identities in multiple ways: for example, as a two-spirit gay transgender man.
V
Vaginectomy
Surgery that removes the vagina as part of gender transition.
Often, with a hysterectomy.
Vaginoplasty
A gender procedure in which a vagina is constructed from existing tissues.
Vocal surgery
Surgery to change the pitch of a person’s voice, often to create a more feminine sounding voice for trans women.
X
XX Chromosomes
Biologically female
Individuals having two X chromosomes (XX) are female
XY Chromosomes
Biologically male
Individuals having one X chromosome and one Y chromosome (XY) are male
