GLOSSARY INDEX
A - Antic | Antir - Aya | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
This blog entry is a glossary of terms that are commonly used by the LGBT community. Keep in mind that LGBT terms have developed over time through word of mouth, and different interpretations of the meanings of words may exist. We will keep updating the list as much as possible. If you wish to suggest a word to define or provide your own definition to this glossary, send a note to SavvyRed.
SOURCES
NOTE: Because this is the Internet and things change fast, some of these links may no longer work, are no longer accessible, or the page may have totally changed.
Beyond Polarities: A Handbook on Queer Issues For All 2009-2010
Asexuals Wiki 
antiromantic - a romantic orientation in which one would rather not experience romantic attraction, but does anyway due to their romantic orientation. antisensual - a sensual orientation in which one would rather not experience sensual attraction, but does anyway due to their sensual orientation.
antisexual - 1. general dislike of sexuality or sexual activity, including instances where other people are involved. Often accompanied by the belief that sex or sexuality in any form is “bad” or “wrong”. Antisexual views should not be confused with asexuality.2. a sexual orientation in which one would rather not experience sexual attraction, but does anyway due to their sexual orientation.
anvisgender - a feeling of apathy towards one's own gender and does not care to question it; also known as anvisgender, inersgender, and lethargender. anxiegender - a neurogender identity in which gender is in some way affected by anxiety.
Anzaldúa, Gloria Evangelina - an American scholar of Chicana cultural theory, feminist theory, and queer theory. She loosely based her best-known book, Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza, on her life growing up on the Mexico–Texas border and incorporated her lifelong feelings of social and cultural marginalization into her work. She also developed theories about the marginal, in-between, and mixed cultures that develop along borders. She passed away on May 15, 2004. apagender - a feeling of apathy towards one's own gender and does not care to question it; also known as anvisgender, inersgender, and lethargender.
aparomantic - feeling romantic attraction, but having no desire to have interactions or have feelings reciprocated OR a person who feels romantic attraction that fades if it is reciprocated or if they enter a relationship with the person to whom they are attracted. Also known as lithromantic, aporomantic, akoiromantic, akoineromantic, akionaromantic, apathromantic, aparomantic. apasexual - Apasexual (also called akoisexual, lithsexual, aposexual, apsexual, apathsexual, and akoinesexual) refers to a person who experiences sexual attraction, but has their feelings fade if reciprocated. Apasexual can also be defined as someone who doesn't care or want their feelings reciprocated. Lithsexual isn't commonly used due to concerns of appropriation of lesbian culture. apathalterous - a term to someone who is indifferent towards alterous attraction attraction. It is not used as an orientation, but instead as a word used to describe feelings toward alterous attraction. apathplatonic - a term to someone who is indifferent towards platonic attraction attraction. It is not used as an orientation, but instead as a word used to describe feelings toward platonic attraction. apathromantic - feeling romantic attraction, but having no desire to have interactions or have feelings reciprocated OR a person who feels romantic attraction that fades if it is reciprocated or if they enter a relationship with the person to whom they are attracted. Also known as lithromantic, aporomantic, akoiromantic, akoineromantic, aparomantic, akionromantic, aparomantic. apathsexual - Apathsexual (also called akoisexual, lithsexual, aposexual, apasexual, apasexual, and akoinesexual) refers to a person who experiences sexual attraction, but has their feelings fade if reciprocated. Apathsexual can also be defined as someone who doesn't care or want their feelings reciprocated. Lithsexual isn't commonly used due to concerns of appropriation of lesbian culture. aphallia - an intersex variation in which one is born without a penis, although they may have otherwise stereotypical male anatomy. aphobia - fear, discrimination, and intolerance toward people on the ace spectrum and/or aromantic spectrum. aplatonic - experiencing no platonic attraction, often used by the aromantic and neurodivergent communities. apogender - an agender identity that is genderless and as though gender is inapplicable to or removed entirely from the person. apollogender - A multigender identity encompassing 9 or about 9 separate genders that coexist within one gender identity. aporagender - a gender identity and umbrella term for a gender that is separate from binary and nonbinary genders, while still carrying a distinctly gendered feeling. aporomantic - feeling romantic attraction, but having no desire to have interactions or have feelings reciprocated OR a person who feels romantic attraction that fades if it is reciprocated or if they enter a relationship with the person to whom they are attracted. Also known as lithromantic, akoiromantic, akionromantic, akoineromantic, aparomantic, apathromantic, aparomantic. apothiromantic - an aromantic person who is romance repulsed, and does not wish for a romantic relationship. Also knonwn as apothisromantic. apothisexual - an asexual person who is repulsed by sex and does not wish for a sexual relationship. Also known as apothissexual. apothisromantic - an aromantic person who is romance repulsed, and does not wish for a romantic relationship. Also knonwn as apothiromantic. apothissexual - an asexual person who is repulsed by sex and does not wish for a sexual relationship. Also known as apothisexual. apsexual - Apsexual (also called akoisexual, lithsexual, aposexual, apasexual, apathsexual, and akoinesexual) refers to a person who experiences sexual attraction, but has their feelings fade if reciprocated. Apsexual can also be defined as someone who doesn't care or want their feelings reciprocated. Lithsexual isn't commonly used due to concerns of appropriation of lesbian culture. apsconsugender - a gender identity that is a process of elimination in which an individual is able to to define which genders they are not rather than the gender that they are. Also known as absconsugender or nongender. apresalterous - an a-spec identity in which a person experiences alterous attraction only after some other form of alterous attraction is felt. This original alterous attraction may or may not fade and be replaced by the new alterous attraction. It is different from demialterous in that the alterous attraction does not have to be emotional in nature. apresensual - an a-spec identity in which a person experiences sensual attraction only after some other form of sensual attraction is felt. This original sensual attraction may or may not fade and be replaced by the new sensual attraction. It is different from demisensual in that the sensual attraction does not have to be emotional in nature. Also known as apressensual. apresexual - an a-spec identity in which a person experiences sexual attraction only after some other form of sexual attraction is felt. This original sexual attraction may or may not fade and be replaced by the new sexual attraction. It is different from demisexual in that the sexual attraction does not have to be emotional in nature. Also known as apressexual. apresplatonic - an a-spec identity in which a person experiences platonic attraction only after some other form of platonic attraction is felt. This original platonic attraction may or may not fade and be replaced by the new platonic attraction. It is different from demiplatonic in that the platonic attraction does not have to be emotional in nature. apresromantic - an a-spec identity in which a person experiences romantic attraction only after some other form of romantic attraction is felt. This original romantic attraction may or may not fade and be replaced by the new romantic attraction. It is different from demiromantic in that the romantic attraction does not have to be emotional in nature. apressensual - an a-spec identity in which a person experiences sensual attraction only after some other form of sensual attraction is felt. This original sensual attraction may or may not fade and be replaced by the new sensual attraction. It is different from demisensual in that the sensual attraction does not have to be emotional in nature. Also known as apresensual. apressexual - an a-spec identity in which a person experiences sexual attraction only after some other form of sexual attraction is felt. This original sexual attraction may or may not fade and be replaced by the new sexual attraction. It is different from demisexual in that the sexual attraction does not have to be emotional in nature. aprocreationist - not desiring or wanting to procreate or otherwise have children. Often used in the context of the asexual/aromantic communities, but can be used to refer to anyone of any orientation. aptugender - a gender fitted just for oneself which feels very safe and secure and fitted for oneself, even if it is unknown. Usually used as a descriptor. aranaruaq - in Kaskowim Yupiaq society, an archaic term for an AMAB Two Spirit person. aranu'tiq - in Sugpiaq (Chugach, Alutiiq) society, an archaic term for an AMAB Two Spirit person. Araujo, Gwen - a transfeminine adolescent hate crime victim who became publicly famous after the men who murdered her went to trial. Her birth name was Edward Araujo, Jr. ARC - an acronym that stands for “Averse, Replused, or Conflicted”, which can describe someone’s personal feelings about sex or romance. 5-ARD - an acronym for an intersex variation called "5-alpha-reductase deficiency. It is a condition where the body cannot convert testosterone into DHT (Dihydrotestosterone), which incites the body to have traditionally masculine characteristics. In most cases, people with this condition are female assigned at birth and will develop traditionally masculine physical traits at puberty. argogender - a subset of genderfluid identity in which the changes or fluctuations between one's gender are gradual, rather than jarring. Also known as argogenderfluid. argogender - a subset of genderfluid identity in which the changes or fluctuations between one's gender are gradual, rather than jarring. Also known as argogender arialterous - an alterous orientation in which one finds it difficult or is unable to distinguish how and to whom they experience alterous attraction. ariromantic - a romantic orientation in which one finds it difficult or is unable to distinguish how and to whom they experience romantic attraction. arisensual - a sensual orientation in which one finds it difficult or is unable to distinguish how and to whom they experience sensual attraction. arisexual - a sexual orientation in which one finds it difficult or is unable to distinguish how and to whom they experience sexual attraction. Armstrong, Billie Joe - openly bisexual lead singer of the American alternative / pop punk band Green Day aro - a nickname for the word "aromantic" (both the noun and the adjective) aroace - a person who is both asexual and aromantic. aroamory - a subtype of aromanticism in which a person feels little or no romantic attraction to others and does not want to be in a romantic relationship. aroflux - an aromantic spectrum identity ... 1. .... in which one's romantic attraction fluctuates in strength, i.e. goes from experiencing attraction, to only some, to not.
2. ... in which one's identity is on the aromantic spectrum but fluctuates within it (i.e. demiromantic one month, and the next frayromantic)
aromantic - a term describing a romantic orientation in which a person has little or no romantic attraction to others aromantic partner - someone whom an aromantic person considers a platonic soulmate or best friend. Also known as aromate.
aromantic spectrum - a range of romantic orientations in which people who feel that their romantic orientation is not within the bounds of what is traditionally considered romantic. They may lack romantic attraction to people, or experience it so rarely or in such a way that they relate more strongly to aromantic experiences than romantic ones. aromate - someone whom an aromantic person considers a platonic soulmate or best friend. Also known as aromantic partner. arophobia - fear, hatred, discrimination, and intolerance of aromantic people and/or others on the aro spectrum. arospike - a romantic orientation on the aromantic spectrum where an individual experiences periods of short, sudden romantic attraction towards others that fade quickly. arovague - a neurorientation in which one is unsure of their aromanticism or whose aromanticism is affected by their mood. ASAW - an acronym for "Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week." It is an annual seven-day celebration of aromantic spectrum pride that starts on February 15 and ends on February 22nd. It was intentionally assigned to these days to begin on the day after Valentine's Day. asens - a term used to describe a person who lacks sensual attraction. Also known as asensual. asensual - a term used to describe a person who lacks sensual attraction. Also known as asens. asenspike - an asensual identity in which one does not usually experience sensual attraction, but has occasional intense spikes of attraction that fade quickly. Also known as asensualspike. asensual spectrum - a range of identities that are not allosensual, and include asensual and all identities between asensual and allosensual; or those who feel their sensual attraction falls outside traditional sensuality. asensualspike - an asensual identity in which one does not usually experience sensual attraction, but has occasional intense spikes of attraction that fade quickly. Also known as asensspike. asexual - a person who has little or no sexual desire. They may still have nonsexual relationships with people of their choosing. Some asexuals have same gender or opposite gender partners while others may have partners of multiple genders. Also known as ace or nonsexual. Asexuality Awareness Week - a weeklong celebration of asexuality-spectrum people that occurs every year in late October. Also known as "AAW." asexual spectrum - a range of sexual orientations that include partial, limited, or lack of sexual desire. The spectrum includes asexuality, graysexuality, demisexuality, and other related sexual orientations. Also known as ace spec and ace spectrum. Ashtime - used by the Maale people in southern Ethiopia, was initially used for an AMAB eunuch trans woman, but later became an umbrella term for gender nonconforming and nonbinary people. asocialalterous - a neurorientation in which one may or may not experience alterous attraction, but they have no desire to act on it due to social anxiety and/or trust issues. asocialplatonic - a neurorientation in which one may or may not experience platonic attraction, but they have no desire to act on it due to social anxiety and/or trust issues. asocialromantic - a neurorientation in which one may or may not experience romantic attraction, but they have no desire to act on it due to social anxiety and/or trust issues. asocialsensual - a neurorientation in which one may or may not experience alterous attraction, but they have no desire to act on it due to social anxiety and/or trust issues. asocialsexual - a neurorientation in which one may or may not experience sexual attraction, but they have no desire to act on it due to social anxiety and/or trust issues. a-spectrum - any spectrum of orientations in which attraction falls between no attraction and what is socially defined as a "normal" level of attraction, This includes the aromantic, asexual, aplatonic, asensual, and alterous spectra. Also known as ace-spec and ace-spectrum. aspectusalterous - an alterous orientation which one behaves like a "stereotypical" alloalterous person would, or exhibits behaviors that are associated with alterous attraction but still being analterous. aspectusplatonic - a platonic orientation which one behaves like a "stereotypical" alloplatonic person would, or exhibits behaviors that are associated with platonic attraction but still being aplatonic. aspectusromantic - a romantic orientation which one behaves like a "stereotypical" alloromantic person would, or exhibits behaviors that are associated with romantic attraction but still being aromantic. aspectussensual - a sensual orientation which one behaves like a "stereotypical" allosensual person would, or exhibits behaviors that are associated with sensual attraction but still being asensual. aspectussexual - a sexual orientation which one behaves like a "stereotypical" allosexual person would, or exhibits behaviors that are associated with sexual attraction but still being asexual. asthefluid - an attrafluid identity that changes based on whom one is aesthetically attracted to, often to match their gender identity. atergender - a xenogender that feels dark, deep, and intimate. athuth - in A'ani (Gros Ventre), an archaic term for an AMAB Two Spirit person. atmosgender - a xenogender that is present but cannot be firmly defined or understood. attraction-averse - aversion or opposition towards actions/relationships associated with a certain attraction. It is not as severe as repulsion although it usually involves mild disgust or avoidance. attraction-indifferent - describes indifference towards actions/relationships associated with a certain attraction. One does not necessarily lean in favor nor against it. One who is sex-indifferent, for example, does not necessarily enjoy it but may engage in it for some reason. attraction-positive - describes a positive attitude towards actions/relationships associated with a certain attraction, or positivity towards attraction in general. One is usually very eager and desiring of engaging in those actions and/or relationships, although they may or may not experience attraction. attraction-repulsed - describes repulsion towards actions/relationships associated with a certain attraction. Repulsion is different from averse in that the former involves a high level of disgust, often with a physical reaction, such as nausea or extreme discomfort. A repulsed person often engages in avoidance. attrafluid - a condigender identity in which one's gender shifts based on who they are attracted to. Intended for use by multi-spectrum people whose preference changes, but may be used by anyone. attraflux - a condigender identity in which one's gender fluctuates based on who they are attracted to. Intended for use by multi-spectrum people whose preference changes, but may be used by anyone. audiogender - a genderfluid identity in which one's gender changes into another gender the more they hear about it. augender - A gender identity which is always growing and combining more genders into one's current identity. autismgender - a neurogender influenced by one's autism, or is defined partly or completely by being autistic. autoandrophilia - being sexually aroused at the thought of crossdressing as a man. Considered offensive by some, who see it as fetishizing and invalidating trans men. autochorisalterous - a term to describe a person who can feel alterous gratification when thinking of certain situations without actually wanting to actually participate in alterous acts. Also known as aegoalterous. autochorissexuality - coined by Dr. Anthony Bogaert to describe the scenario where some ace people can be aroused by or masturbate to sexual situations or material without experiencing attraction to those involved in the situation and without a desire to be personally involved in the situation. Also known as aegosexuality. autochorissensual - a term to describe a person who can feel sensual gratification when thinking of certain situations without actually wanting to actually participate in sensual acts. Also known as aegosensual. autogender - a gender that cannot be described by preexisting terms because it feels too personal and deeply rooted into one's own self-identity. autogynephilia - being sexually aroused at the thought of crossdressing as a woman. Considered offensive by some, who see it as fetishizing and invalidating trans women. autoromantic - a term used to describe a person who only feels romantic attraction toward themself. autosensual - a term used to describe a person who only feels sensually attraction to themself or only feels this kind of attraction when engaged in sensual activities with themself.
autosexual - a term used to describe a sexual orientation in which one is sexually attracted solely to oneself; that is, preferring self-gratification over other forms of sexual activity. Masturbation does not automatically make a person autosexual, just as having sex doesn't make a person sexual. auxiliary pronouns - besides a primary set, one or more backup set of pronouns that someone who uses nounself pronouns may choose to be referred to, if someone referring to them cannot use their primary set for any reason (ex. disability, English is not their native language, etc.). Avenue Q - an extremely successful Broadway musical that satirized Sesame Street with puppets and talked about issues of early adulthood. It is most famous for the comedic song "If You Were Gay," which popularized it in the gay community. Although "If You Were Gay" was a song in the show, Avenue Q is not mostly centered around gay issues, and the name "Avenue Q" refers to a part of the New York City subway system, not the word "queer." Still, the show is a highly recognizable symbol for the LGBT community and is widely beloved by many queer individuals and allies. averse - feeling disgusted or put off by the thought of sex. It’s not necessarily the thought that sex is “wrong”, more that there’s a personal “dislike”. ay'lonit - in Jewish texts, someone who is AFAB but during puberty develops sex characteristics associated with males and is infertile. ayagigux' - in Aleut, an archaic Two Spirit term for AMAB Aleuts.
