As a suffix, this maybe combined with terms as a prefix to denote a specific gender identity; for example, cisgender, transgender, agender.

A prefix that denotes “without”; often used in regards to romantic, sexual and gender identities: e.g. aromantic, asexual and agender.

acronym of assigned female at birth.

A person with no, or very little, connection to the concept or traditional system of gender; someone who does not align with the traditional concepts of either being a man or woman, and/or someone who sees themselves as not having a gender at all (i.e. “without gender”), or an experience of gender that is not commonly understood.

In Queer contexts, alignment generally refers to whether two or more parts of an identity are in cohesion or not; whether they ‘match’ or are ‘different’.

In gender identity, one such example is the alignment of birth sex and gender. Typically, a transgender individual is transgender because their birth sex and perceived gender do not align; for example, a Trans man may be assigned female at birth, but identify as a woman – therefore, their assigned sex at birth and gender identity do not align. They may therefore take steps to align their sex and gender, by undergoing gender reassignment surgery, hormone therapy, and/or going through the various steps needed to officially recognise their gender.

A cisgender person generally has their sex and gender aligned; their sex assigned at birth and gender identity are the same.

In sexual identity, this may refer to the alignment between one’s sexual attractions and one’s romantic attractions. This is particularly pertinent with people on the asexual spectrum: their sexual identity (asexual) may not be aligned with their romantic identity (for example, homoromantic). Similarly, an aromantic person may be homosexual (e.g. homosexual-aromantic). An asexual with their sexual and romantic identities aligned may be aromantic as well.

In allosexual people, an example would be somebody who is bisexual but homoromantic. That is, somebody who is sexually attracted to their own and other genders, but only romantically attracted to their own.

In gender identities, being aligned may also refer to experiences nonbinary individuals have: for example, a nonbinary individual may describe themselves as male-aligned, because of the experiences they have with being male.

acronym of Assigned Male at Birth.

Ambisexual has had two meanings in parlance, relating to either sexuality or gender identity. However, the sexual identity is now more prevalent.

Ambisexual – in sexuality – means someone of an ambiguous sexuality, meaning, somebody who is bisexual+.

In gender identity, it is someone of an ambiguous gender; for example, someone who is androgynous.

A nonbinary gender identity associated with androgynous individuals; typically having a gender that is simultaneously feminine and masculine – but not necessarily in equal amounts. Androgynes may identify further as transgender, nonbinary and/or genderqueer.

Typically used as an adjective to describe someone’s appearance as being a mixture of typically masculine/feminine traits. It was previously used to describe intersex individuals, although this definition has fallen out of favour.

An individual whose gender expression can be described as a mixture of both masculinity and femininity, or has elements of each.

An individual who was assigned the sex of female at birth. Typically used by transgender and nonbinary individuals to describe their ‘birth sex‘.

For example, a trans man may be known on their medical records as being assigned female at birth, or describe themselves as such – that is, when they were born, they were identified as being ‘female’.

Intersex individuals may also use the term to describe the birth sex that was assigned to them, although it should also be noted that intersex individuals do not necessarily identify differently to their sex assigned at birth.

An individual who was assigned the sex of male at birth. Typically used by transgender and nonbinary individuals to describe their ‘birth sex‘.

For example, a trans woman may be known on their medical records as being assigned male at birth, or describe themselves as such – that is, when they were born, they were identified as being ‘male’.

Intersex individuals may also use the term to describe the birth sex that was assigned to them, although it should also be noted that intersex individuals do not necessarily identify differently to their sex assigned at birth.

a young or recently out Queer person.

an individual that sees themselves as having ‘two’ or ‘double’ genders, either simultaneously or varying between the two. Typically these genders are seen as male and female, or, indeed, masculine and feminine, but may also include nonbinary identities. Bigender individuals may further identify as being more masculine/male or feminine/female leaning.

Bigender individuals may present as androgynous, or present as more masculine or feminine dependent on circumstances or feelings. They may also experience a fluctuation in dysphoria.

Not to be confused with bisexual or biromantic.

in Queer contexts, this usually refers to the gender binary; but this can also refer to related notions regarding various spectrums within Queer identities, either as extreme points or as the belief that such spectrums do not exist.

Such an example would be the sexuality spectrum; where both binary points would be homosexuality and heterosexuality on either end, with bisexuality and the various bisexual+ identities occupying the space in between. However, a binary belief would be that people are either heterosexual or homosexual.

also known as the gender binary or sex binary; it is the idea that there is only two genders (related to sex) that are male and female, and that everyone is either one or the other. Heavily disputed.

a piece of material – typically made of cloth strips, elastic or non-elastic bandages or purpose-built undergarments that flatten the breasts, known as binding.

the act of flattening one’s breasts using a binder. The act of breast-binding is typically done by trans men, as well as androgynous or nonbinary people (as well as Drag Kings) in order to make the breasts less prominent and/or in order to look less feminine. This may be in order to combat dysphoria.

a medical term used to refer to the chromosomal, hormonal and/or anatomical characteristics used to classify and designate a sex of an individual – typically male or female.

An alternative to biological sex.

a part of gender reassignment surgery that relates to the ‘bottom’ part of one’s anatomy (as opposed to ‘top‘ [the chest]) – the genitals, e.g. vulvoplasty, vaginoplasty, phalloplasty, metoidioplasty.

pieces of material, typically made of silicon, that are placed in a bra on top of one’s breasts to make them look bigger; in nonbinary and transgender contexts, bra inserts may be used to help alleviate gender dysphoria by giving the appearance of breasts in feminine-presenting people.

Also known as binding.

a culturally specific term in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lexicon to refer to transgender, nonbinary and other gender diverse individuals who have a ‘male‘ spirit and take on male roles within the community.

a slang term for bra inserts.

Somebody who is not transgender and/or nonbinary. An individual whose gender identity matches their sex assigned at birth; for example, a cisgender man is someone who presently identifies as being “male” or a “man”, and was also assigned male at birth. Cisgender individuals may also be hetero, homo, bi(+) or asexual; it is not necessarily related to their sexual identity.

the assumption that all individuals are cisgender, or that they are cisgender until shown otherwise.

Related: heteronormativity

the behaviour that gives preferential treatment to cisgender people as opposed to transgender, nonbinary, people with intersex variations or other gender identified people.

simply put, consent is the act of giving permission, voluntarily, to the proposals or desires of another human being. A primary example of consent is the permission given between two or more individuals to engage in physically intimate behaviour with each other. Without consent, such acts are rape.

Both legally, and morally, consent can be subject to outside influences and legislation; for example, although a person under a certain age may give their permission, the law may determine that they are too young to consent (as they have not yet reached the age of consent). It is important to note, too, that permission given after coercion (that is by force or threat, or through manipulation or emotional blackmail), is not consent.

In Queer contexts, consent has an important role in Queer history and modern-day rights issues facing the Queer community.

Particularly in regards to sexuality, the age of consent has been a pressing LGBTQIA+ rights issue, as many countries and states have differing ages of consent for heterosexual and homosexual acts.

Various acts related to “conversion therapy“, particularly those performed on people under the age of eighteen who may be homosexual, bisexual+, asexual or transgender, have also come into the spotlight as a human rights issue, particularly as individuals may be there against their will or due to coercion (that is, without consent).

Consent is a particularly prevalent rights issue regarding intersex individuals, as often infants with an intersex variation may have been victim to “corrective surgery” – where no consent from the individual themselves could possibly have been given for surgery that is cosmetic or unnecessarily, rather than medically required.

Consent laws, particularly surrounding age, have become issues regarding to transgender youth, as seeking medical therapies to navigate their transgender identity may be subject to the permission of their parents, leading to discussions about what ages are appropriate for certain medical, non-surgical therapies (e.g. hormone therapy).

Informed consent is also an important factor to consent: that is, for consent to be given, one must be fully informed of the circumstances, consequences and conditions of the activity in which consent is given. This is particularly pertinent when it comes to accessing medical treatments.

The act of wearing clothes traditionally associated with a gender different from one’s own. A person who participates in cross-dressing is known as a cross-dresser; although they may not necessarily identify as transgender.

Related: gender-bender; transvestite.

an individual who wears the clothes of another gender/sex. Such individuals may not identify as transgender or nonbinary, they may consider themselves cisgender. They may, or may not, label themselves a transvestite. Crossdressers may also have separate personas and/or names for when they are cross-dressing; this may not take the form of drag either.

People cross-dress for a range of reasons, including for relaxation, fun or sexual gratification. Some transgender individuals do discover their identity through cross-dressing (as well as other forms of gender variant expression), but it is important to conflate being transgender or nonbinary with cross-dressers or cross-dressing (that is, not to refer to transgender or nonbinary people as “crossdressers”.

A name in which a person may previously have been known. This may be particularly pertinent, but not exclusive to, transgender and nonbinary individuals who may have been born with a name different to the name they now go by.

For example, a man who was assigned female at birth may have been born with the name ‘Julia’, but since transitioning goes by the name ‘John’. This would make ‘Julia’ his deadname, and referring to him as ‘Julia’ would be an act of deadnaming.

Much like deliberately ignoring an individual’s preferred pronouns, deliberate deadnaming is considered transphobic.

The act of deliberately referring to someone by their deadname, that is, the name they may have been born with or previously known by.

an individual who identifies partly, but not wholly, as a man/boy or masculine regardless of their designated sex at birth. This may be an individual designated male at birth who only identifies partly with being a man, or, a transmasculine person who identifies more with being male than female, but not entirely or to the point of identifying as a man.

Alternative: demiman, demimale.

Related: demigirl, deminonbinary

an alternate identity to demigirl.

an individual who describes their gender identity as only partially genderfluid. An example may be an individual assigned female at birth who feels part of their gender identity is statically female, but another part is fluid between male and nonbinary.

a gender identity which comprises of the words ‘demi’ (half) + gender. Demigender is an umbrella term for the various nonbinary identities beginning with demi: e.g. demigirl, demiboy, deminonbinary, demifluid.

Although the term linguistically states half, the idea behind demigender is that one identifies partly with a gender, rather than wholly, regardless of their assigned gender at birth.

an individual who identifies partly, but not wholly, as a woman/girl or feminine regardless of their designated sex at birth. This may be an individual designated female at birth who only identifies partly with being a woman, or, a transfeminine person who identifies more with being female than male, but not entirely or to the point of identifying as a woman.

Alternative: demiwoman, demifemale.

Related: demiboy, deminonbinary

an alternate identity to demiboy.

an alternate identity for demiboy.

an individual who identifies partly, but not wholly, as nonbinary.

Related: demiboy, demigirl

an alternate identity for demigirl.

the sex assigned at birth; that is, typically, male or female.

shorthand for designated sex at birth.

a slang term for a nonbinary person, taken from the initials ‘n’ and ‘b’.

a major sex hormone produced by the human body, that affects female appearance and sexual development in profound ways, such as those that develop during puberty (secondary sex characteristics).

With transgender and gender non conforming individuals, puberty blockers may be prescribed to prevent the related changes in puberty caused by estrogen in those assigned female at birth. Feminising Hormone Therapy will increase the level of estrogen; Masculinising Hormone Therapy will increase the level of testosterone whilst blocking estrogen hormones.

a description used by individuals on the nonbinary and transgender gender spectrum to describe individuals that do not identify as female exclusively, but describes a certain alignment towards female identity.

An example may be an agender person that identifies as female-aligned because they were assigned female at birth; or a nonbinary person whose identity is more towards the female end of the spectrum than the male end.

a description for somebody who describes their gender as being more feminine than masculine in terms of how they express their gender.

an identity used to describe individuals who consider themselves to be more feminine than masculine and may encompass a range of other identities (e.g. femme, submissive, transfeminine), but do not describe themselves as women.

a medical intervention of hormone therapy in which medications are prescribed that will reduce the level of testosterone whilst providing estrogen.

used to refer to behaviours or interventions that allow transgender and gender non-conforming individuals to be supported and recognised by their gender identity.

A very simple example of gender affirming behaviour is respecting a person’s preferred pronouns and their preferred name.

In Queer health, there are gender affirming medical interventions, such as hormone therapy or gender reassignment surgery.

the idea that there is only two genders (related to sex) that are male and female, and that everyone is either one or the other. Disputed by many academics in the medical, scientific and psychological fields who make a distinction between sex (of which the idea of there only being ‘two’ binary sexes is disputed too) and gender.

a catch-all, umbrella term for those who are not cisgender; that is, those who are transgender, nonbinary and/or gender non-conforming.

a medical term describing the distress an individual feels between their gender identity and their sex assigned at birth. It was previously known as gender identity disorder.

Gender dysphoria is a complicated process that differs from person to person and intensity. Some aspects to gender dysphoria may be more easily assisted than others; for example, the use of preferred pronouns is one small and simple tonic for part of an individual’s gender dysphoria (that is, by using an individual’s preferred pronouns, you alleviate the dysphoria they feel in regards to being referred to the pronouns associated with their sex assigned at birth), similarly with using their preferred name.

An individual assigned male at birth, for example, may experience an intense gender dysphoria when they are masculine presenting (that is, when they look as males are expected to), and find that certain aspects or symptoms of their gender dysphoria are alleviated by being feminine presenting – for example, they feel much more comfortable or ‘themselves’ when they are wearing feminine clothes, make-up, etc, than when they are in a suit and tie and with a beard (this is a very basic example).

Other aspects to a person’s gender dysphoria may be harder to treat, and may require hormone therapy, top surgery or bottom surgery or other medical or cosmetic interventions.

Intense gender dysphoria is associated with transgender and nonbinary individuals.

When left untreated, gender dysphoria can have severe mental health complications for the individual experiencing it.

the perception of one’s gender internally; how one identifies themselves through their gender/s; how these gender/s exist with regards to their biological sex, and the alignment of these. Often conflated with biological sex.

a medical term previously used until the release of DSM-5 in 2013, now known as gender dysphoria.

gender neutral can mean a variety of things, depending on the context it is given.

As an identity, it may relate to being agender, neutrois or the vast array of gender identities that are wholly or partly without gender.

It also refers to the idea that policies, language and social institutions – such as structures, roles, norms and identities – should avoid distinguishing between genders; in order to prevent discrimination or ascribe gender roles that assert one particular gender is more suited for them than another.

An example of gender neutral language would be to refer to an audience as “people” or “folks” rather than “ladies and gentlemen”; a “police officer” rather than a “policeman” or “policewoman”.

A particular push has been given towards gender neutrality in many areas, particularly when it comes to objects like toys. Traditionally, there have been girls and boys toys, based on ascribed gender traits and marketed as such: for example, boys toys traditionally have been toy guns, cars, etc; whilst girls toys traditionally have been crowns, dolls, etc. However, there has been an increasing push not to separate toys in gender groups, and that toys should be enjoyed by either gender according to their interests; and to prevent ascribing gender roles at an early age.

Increasingly, there is a surge in parents deciding to raise their children in a gender neutral fashion – that is, to raise them without pushing gender norms and roles on them, to allow them to experience and enjoy life away from the ascribed gender binary to reach their potential as individual human beings, rather than to be limited by their biological sex.

also known as neutrois.

a person who identifies outside of the gender binary; also an umbrella term for individuals who do not conform to the traditional ideals and expectations of their gender; a non-traditional gender presentation (e.g. a masculine woman or a feminine man).

Also known as gender expression.

surgical or medical procedures in which transgender and nonbinary individuals align their existing sexual characteristics with that of their perceived gender; this may include what is called top or bottom surgery. Part of the treatment for gender dysphoria.

Not to be confused with corrective surgery, in which medical practitioners perform surgery – typically on babies and infants, before they are at an age to consent – to ‘normalise’ intersex variations.

the social and legal process of recognising an individual’s gender identity, for example, the legal ability to change one’s gender on legal documents, like a passport.

This may be the ability to be recognised as male or female when assigned female at birth or assigned male at birth respectively, such as with transgender individuals, or for nonbinary individuals to be recognised as neither male or female if desired.

The term may also relate to the desire of some individuals with intersex variations to be legally recognised as not being either male or female in their sex.

the vast array of gender identities that exist on a continuum between male and female, and in opposition to the idea of gender binary. The idea that gender is complex, consisting of numerous mental, biological and emotional traits.

Agender and genderless identities are still considered to be a part of, and not a rejection of, the gender spectrum; that is, they are identities wholly or partly “off the spectrum“, much like in regards to asexuality and the sexuality spectrum.

an individual who is not gender conforming. That is, someone who is gender non-conforming; someone who may be transgender, nonbinary, genderqueer etc., by displaying or possessing characteristics that are considered to be different to what is expected of their sex assigned at birth.

However, some people may be perceived to be exhibiting gender variance or gender non-conforming, whilst identifying as cisgender. Individuals who have intersex variations may display characteristics of gender non-conformity, which may only become apparent during puberty.

a dynamic mix between male and female, or masculine and feminine. A genderfluid person may feel to be a mix of masculine/feminine or male/female, on a shifting, fluid scale that may change back and forth or fluctuate over time.

a gender identity in which an individual’s gender identity fluctuates over time, or varies in intensity.

as an identity, it is an alternative term for agender, but can also refer to the vast array of gender identities that are partly genderless or neutral.

Elsewhere, genderless also refers to activities, clothes, traits, etc, that are seen in society as being gender-universal, that is, not prescribed, suited to or exclusive to one particular gender over another – that is, gender neutral.

Increasingly, some people are choosing to raise their children in a genderless/gender neutral way – that is, in a manner that does not prescribe gender norms or expectations.

a gender identity used to describe by people who do not identify as a binary man or woman; also used as an umbrella term for non-conforming or nonbinary identities, for example genderfluid, bigender, agender, etc.

initialism for gender non-conforming.

a recognised third-gender on the Indian subcontinent, comprised of people who are either eunucs, intersex or transgender. The Hijra go by many other names depending on the language, with a well-documented history.

Many Hijra face discrimination, and during the time of the British Raj (when the Indian subcontinent was colonialised by the British), many Hijra faced persecution and prosecution.

Hijra, as a term, is sometimes rejected by the people it describes in favour of other terms – but nonetheless, it is a cultural term that shouldn’t be applied to, or used by, people outside of that culture.

also known as puberty blockers, these help delay unwanted physical changes that occur during puberty, in order to give transgender and gender non-conforming individuals either more time to navigate their gender identity, or, in combination with other hormone therapies, to allow puberty to develop more aligned with their perceived gender.

In TGNC adults, these help prevent the continuous production of testosterone or estrogen whilst on hormone therapy to align their gender identity.

also known as gender-affirming hormone therapy, it is a medical intervention for transgender and gender non-conforming in which hormones are prescribed to help alleviate gender dysphoria and align one’s gender identity.

Typically the medications seek to increase levels of either testosterone or estrogen, and decrease or block the production of estrogen or testosterone respectively.

Hormone therapy is further divided into either Masculinising Hormone Therapy or Feminising Hormone Therapy.

a description used by individuals on the nonbinary and transgender gender spectrum to describe individuals that do not identify as male exclusively, but describes a certain alignment towards male identity.

An example, may be an agender person that identifies as male-aligned because they were assigned male at birth; or a nonbinary person whose identity is more towards the male end of the spectrum than the female end.

a description for someone who describes themselves as being more masculine than feminine in the way they present themselves.

an identity used to describe individuals who consider themselves to be more masculine than feminine and may encompass a range of other identities (e.g. butch, dominant, transmasculine), but do not necessarily describe themselves as men.

a medical intervention of hormone therapy in which medications are prescribed that will increase the level of testosterone.

a nonbinary gender identity and umbrella term in which a person describes themselves as having multiple genders, for example, being genderfluid, bigender, polygender, pangender, etc; this is opposed to being agender, cisgender or binary transgender.

Pronounced miks, mucks, or em-ex, Mx. is an alternative title to Mr, Miss, Ms or Mrs that is gender neutral – with the x being a ‘wildcard’; it was proposed in the late 1970s and has since become accepted by the United Kingdom government and many businesses in the sovereign state.

Sometimes, Mx. is pronounced in an extended form as mixter.

a broad nonbinary/transgender identity in which individuals have a desire to make a gender neutral presentation; many define neutrois as being different to androgyne because whilst androgynous identities blend or encompass both masculine and feminine characteristics, those who are neutrois possess neither.

a gender identity in which individuals do not identify as being strictly male or female. It is also an umbrella term for a wide variety of gender identities on the gender spectrum which are not strictly male or female; that is, as the name suggests, identities that are not binary.

Nonbinary individuals are typically transgender, as they have transitioned away – in some form – from their sex assigned at birth, although not all nonbinary individuals may identify themselves as such. Many, but not all, nonbinary people have experienced gender dysphoria.

a nonbinary gender identity in which an individual possesses and/or expresses all gender identities, or, possesses all of the broad gender categories: male, female and nonbinary/other.

Pangender individuals may also further describe their gender with other identities, such as genderfluid.

A term used to describe a transgender individual who manages to “pass” as their gender identity; that is, a trans woman who manages to “pass” as a cisgender woman, or a trans man who manages to “pass” as a cisgender man.

However, the use of the term is problematic; particularly as it suggests that a trans person’s worth is dependent on how other people perceive them, based solely on how they look or act.

the way one sees their own gender, the way one identifies their gender – which may be different to their sex assigned at birth.

a nonbinary gender identity in which an individual considers themselves to have, or express, multiple genders.

This is different to being pangender (having or expressing ‘all’ genders), agender (no gender) or bigender (having or expressing two genders, or simultaneously male/female). Polygender individuals may also identify with other nonbinary gender identities, such as being genderqueer or genderflux/genderfluid.

An individual’s preference for pronouns; e.g. their desire to be referred to as he/him, she/her, they/them, etc.

To deliberately neglect to use a person’s preferred pronouns – that is, to deliberately refer to them using pronouns they do not prefer – is considered transphobic in much the same way deadnaming someone is.

A subcategory of nouns that refer to a person or thing – traditionally, he/him, she/her, it/its, they/them.

Traditionally, males are referred to as he/him (e.g. he hurt himself on his table), and females by she/her (e.g. she hurt herself on her table), but the discussion around preferred pronouns has meant that individuals may ask to be referred to by pronouns that are different to what is traditionally expected; transgender individuals may adopt the pronouns of their gender identity (e.g. a woman who was assigned male at birth will ask to be referred to by she/her pronouns), or, in the case of nonbinary people, may wish to be referred to as they/them (e.g. they hurt themself on their table). A wide variety of other nonbinary or gender neutral pronouns also exist.

In the case of some genderqueer/genderflux or nonbinary individuals, as well as Drag Queens and Drag Kings, their pronouns may not be static; that is, depending on how they are presenting, their preferred pronouns may change (e.g. a Drag Queen may be referred to as she/her whilst in Drag, but he/him when not). Other individuals may not have any preference whatsoever.

When unsure, it is best practice to ask an individual which pronouns they prefer. It is considered polite and decent to respect an individual’s preferred pronouns and, aside from genuine mistakes, it is considered transphobic to not respect an individual’s preferred pronouns in much the same way it is to deadname them.

a term referring to hormone blockers, particularly when prescribed to people before or at early puberty in order to give gender non-conforming people more time to navigate their gender identity, and then used in conjunction with other hormone therapies to help align their sexual characteristics with their perceived gender.

An initialism for sex assigned at birth.

A term related to transgender individuals who go through hormone therapy, essentially starting what is known as a second puberty where hormonal changes take place within the body.

In medical circles, second puberty may also be used to describe the various hormonal changes that take place without hormone therapy that take place as a natural (that is, without medical intervention) part of aging.

in general, self-identification refers to being able to identify yourself with a group, community or label.

In the context of transgender identities, it refers to the ability of individuals who are transgender to identify with their gender identity without the approval of the various legal and medical authorities, such as the ability to identify as a man or a woman (or indeed, the various agender or nonbinary identities) without approval, or the prerequisite of gender reassignment surgery; in much the same way one has the agency to define their sexuality without medical approval.

Self-identification in the transgender community has proved controversial and raised concerns amongst some people; but it has also become a rallying-cry amongst transphobic people who attempt to use it in an alarmist way by inventing extreme scenarios.

The sex assigned to an individual when born; that is, typically, male or female as it may appear on one’s birth certificate.

A transgender individual is somebody who identifies their gender differently to their sex assigned at birth. By comparison, someone whose sex assigned at birth is the same as their gender (that is, their sex and gender are aligned) is considered cisgender.

It should be noted, however, that medical professionals are increasingly recognising those born with intersex variations, and may mark documents such as birth certificates as ‘X’ or ‘indeterminate’ – however, this should not be taken to mean that all people with intersex variations are of an indeterminate sex: it is common for intersex people to identify with their sex assigned at birth (male or female). A further issue presented in regards to people with intersex variations and sex assigned at birth is the issue of so-called ‘corrective surgery‘, in which medical practitioners conduct unnecessary, often cosmetic, surgery on intersex infants to ‘normalise’ their bodies to look more typically male or female.

Also known as designated sex at birth (DSAB), sex coercively assigned at birth (SCAB).

Related: assigned male at birth (AMAB), assigned female at birth (AFAB).

also known as the gender binary or binary sex; it is the idea that there is only two genders (related to sex) that are male and female, and that everyone is either one or the other. Heavily disputed.

the wide variety of characteristics, predominantly physical, but also behavioural, which provide indicators of one’s biological sex. Endosex individuals have sex characteristics typical of either males or females, whereas intersex individuals (that is, people with intersex variations) may have any number of sex characteristics which may not be identifiable as “typical” for males and females, or possess sex characteristics which are “typically” not all-male or all-female; that is, they may have, for example, a majority of “typical” female sex characteristics, but one or more “typical” male sex characteristics.

The use of the word “typical” or “usual” is important in this respect, because sex characteristics are based on exactly that; there are endosex individuals who may not possess a particular sex characteristic; this does not necessarily make them intersex, nor does it mean they are not men or women.

Sex characteristics are typically defined as “primary” and “secondary”, with “primary” sex characteristics being those an individual are born with, and “secondary” sex characteristics occurring during puberty. Primary sex characteristics can be further divided into relating to gonads, chromosomes, sex hormones, internal and external genitalia, and secondary sex characteristics relating to typical physical features.

Our current definitions of typical sex characteristics is based on what is immediately visible, or what has been determined through the use of medical technology (e.g. chromosomes); there could be other sex characteristics typical of men and women which are yet to be defined, and there are sex characteristics which are typical which are not essential: for example, one example of a sex characteristic typical in men is a deeper voice that develops in puberty – it does not mean a deeper voice is essential for being a man, nor that a woman who possesses a deep voice is therefore a man.

The wide variety of “typical” or usual sex characteristics which are to be considered in biological sex has began to be seen in many scientific circles as being on a spectrum, rather than on a simplistic binary, and distinct from constructs of gender, although related.

a set of gender neutral pronouns, although far less common than they/them. Nonbinary individuals may opt for the sie/hir pronouns instead of he/him or she/her.

Sie is pronounced as “see”. Hir is pronounced like “here”.

It is related to ze/zir, and the pronouns may be used in combination, e.g. “ze/hir” or “sie/zir”, rather than “sie/hir” or “ze/zir”.

Pronoun Usage:

• sie (“sie will be marching in the Pride Parade tomorrow”);
• hir (“that Pride Flag belongs to hir”);
• hir (“hir sense of style is remarkable”);
• hirs (“that Pride Flag is hirs”);
• hirself (“Jay danced by hirself”).

a culturally specific term in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lexicon to refer to transgender, nonbinary and other gender diverse individuals who have a ‘female‘ spirit and take on female roles within the community.

A trans person who is not out. That is, a trans person who is still perceived or known by others as being cisgender.

an acronym for Trans-exclusionary radical feminist.

Although TERFs consider “TERF” a slur, and prefer to be known as “gender critical”, the views they espouse are evidently transphobic, often denying transgender and nonbinary identities on the basis of the sex binary, and to insist that the recognition of Trans women is an attempt to erase lesbian identity (with rhetoric often similar to Bi-exclusionary discourse too).

As with other forms of bigotry, such arguments often (but not always) rely on worst-case scenarios, slippery-slope arguments, hearsay and extreme examples; such arguments that once upon a time (and still are) in homophobic discourse to deny rights to lesbian and gay people, and are arguments that they’d object to on much the same grounds as transgender people and their allies do with their rhetoric.

For example, there is a painting of Trans women as predators who are seeking on gaining access to women’s bathrooms, domestic violence shelters and prisons in order to harm them: something that is eerily similar to the portrayal of gay and lesbian people as predators by homophobic people during Gay Liberation; as are the arguments made on the basis of “protecting children” from an “ideology” and “agenda” that we still see today, a particular example is the discourse surrounding Marriage Equality and LGBT+ Inclusive Education, where lesbian, gay and bisexual were painted as people out to ‘convert’ children.

a major sex hormone produced by the human body, that affect male appearance and sexual development in profound ways, such as those that develop during puberty.

With transgender and gender non conforming individuals, puberty blockers may be prescribed to prevent the related changes in puberty caused by testosterone in those assigned male at birth. Feminising Hormone Therapy will reduce the level of testosterone whilst providing estrogen; Masculinising Hormone Therapy will increase the level of testosterone.

initialism for transgender/nonbinary.

initialism of transgender/non-conforming. Short hand for the various transgender and gender non-conforming identities and community.

a set of pronouns, commonly associated with nonbinary gender identities, although not exclusively, either, as they are also used when referring to people in the plural third-person (e.g. “they marched in the Pride Parade“), but also in a general neutral way, that is, either deliberately not to disclose a person’s gender, or when the gender is unknown.

Some people deliberately choose to use gender-neutral pronouns in order not to disclose a person’s gender and thus avoid gender bias.

Pronoun Usage:

• they (“they will be marching in the Pride Parade tomorrow”);
• them (“that Pride Flag belongs to them”);
• their (“their sense of style is remarkable”);
• theirs (“that Pride Flag is theirs”);
• themself/theirself (“Jay danced by themself/theirself”).

A nonbinary and/or transgender identity in which individuals do not identify as male or female, but a third gender. Also an umbrella term for a wide-variety of gender identities.

The term third gender has also been used in non-Western societies to describe individuals who fall outside of traditional gender norms, roles and expectations, and those societies and cultures that recognise more than two genders.

Sometimes synonymous with nonbinary.

A part of gender reassignment surgery on the ‘top’ half of the body as opposed to the bottom half. That is, surgery on the breasts, such as the removal of breast tissue (“Transgender Mastectomy“), or indeed, breast implants.

an umbrella term for individuals whose sex assigned at birth and gender identity are not aligned; that is, the array of transgender and nonbinary identities that do not identify as cisgender – although it is important to note that the trans umbrella does not include intersex individuals by default; although a person with an intersex variation may also identify as trans.

Attitudes and beliefs that seek to other transgender individuals from spaces, social institutions and discussions, and the deliberate attempt to withdraw or limit the rights of transgender people.

Although often disputed by those who possess them, such attitudes and beliefs are transphobic.

The term has come into public consciousness due to TERFs (trans-exclusionary radical feminists), who use feminism and women’s rights as a smokescreen for their transphobic views.

Trans-exclusionary thinking isn’t only limited to a vocal minority of feminists, however, it can also be found elsewhere in the Queer community, such as in movements that seek to remove the “T” from LGBT, and seek to silence them in discussions over Queer topics or to gatekeep them from gay venues and spaces.

an individual who was assigned male at birth, but identify with femininity to a greater extent than they do with masculinity.

An identity in its own, transfeminine individuals may also identify in a multitude of other ways, such as being a Trans woman, demigirl, multigender/polygender, genderfluid, demifluid or nonbinary.

an umbrella term for transgender and nonbinary individuals as a collective, for example, “the transgender community has fought long and hard for their rights to be recognised by law”; “a support group for the health and wellbeing of the transgender community”.

a form of top surgery sought by nonbinary and transgender individuals assigned female at birth in which breast tissue is removed, in order to a create a masculine chest appearance.

As in to transition, the steps and process taken by transgender/nonbinary individuals to realise their gender identity; such as hormone therapy, puberty blockers, top surgery and/or bottom surgery to alleviate gender dysphoria; the coming out to family and friends; legal steps such as name changes and official gender recognition; use of pronouns. The transitioning process varies from person to person.

The steps a trans person may take to live, and/or been seen as, the gender with which they identify. This may involve a multitude of things; such as medical intervention (such as top surgery and/or bottom surgery, hormone treatment), changing one’s name, changing one’s presentation, the usage of pronouns, and coming out; the journey one takes in order to achieve harmony with their preferred gender expression and rectifying any gender dysphoria.

an individual who was assigned female at birth, but identify with masculinity to a greater extent than they do with femininity.

An identity in its own, transmasculine individuals may also identify in a multitude of other ways, such as being a Trans man, demiboy, multigender/polygender, genderfluid, demifluid or nonbinary.

The range of negative attitudes, intolerance and resentment of transgender individuals.

Transphobia is sadly not restricted to heterosexual people, which has unfortunately been highlighted by the rise in anti-trans activists who are also lesbian, gay, bisexual or asexual; such examples may be TERFs or gender-critical feminists.

Somebody who possesses transphobia would be described as transphobic.

an individual who possesses transphobia; an adjective that describes attitudes and behaviours that possess transphobia; negative, exclusionary, or hostile attitudes or beliefs towards transgender people.

an individual that sees themselves as having ‘three’ or ‘triple’ genders, either simultaneously or varying between the three. Typically these genders are seen as male/masculine, female/feminine, and nonbinary.

a term originating in Indigenous North American communities in 1990, to describe people who fulfill a traditional third-gender or gender variant role in traditional societies; the “two-spirit” relates to individuals who possess the traditional masculine and feminine qualities.

It should be noted, however, that not all two-spirit individuals associate themselves with the LGBTQIA+ community.

a medical surgery in which a vagina is constructed (or reconstructed). A vaginoplasty may be performed on women for a multitude of reasons – including damage to the vagina, or for cosmetic/sexual reasons, but a vaginoplasty may be part of a bottom gender reassignment surgery for transgender and nonbinary individuals.

Controversially, vaginoplasties also take place on intersex children. Although some medical intervention may be needed to prevent or reduce future health problems (such as those related to urinary continence), vaginoplasties (and labiaplasties) are also used as part for cosmetic reasons on intersex children and adolescents without their informed consent, in the attempt to “normalise” their genitals (“corrective surgery“), raising human rights concerns.

a type of bottom gender reassignment surgery, a vulvoplasty is like a vaginoplasty, except without the creation of a vaginal canal. It is a cosmetic procedure that, unlike vaginoplasty, does not allow for penetrative sex.

a set of gender neutral pronouns, although far less common than they/them. Nonbinary individuals may opt for the ze/zir pronouns instead of he/him or she/her.

Ze sometimes appears as zie. Both are pronounced as “zee”. Zir is pronounced like “sir” but with a “z”.

It is related to sie/hir, and the pronouns may be used in combination, e.g. “ze/hir”, “sie/zir”, rather than “sie/hir” or “ze/zir”.

Pronoun Usage:

• ze (“ze will be marching in the Pride Parade tomorrow”);
• zir (“that Pride Flag belongs to zir”);
• zir (“zir sense of style is remarkable”);
• zirs (“that Pride Flag is zirs”);
• zirself (“Jay danced by zirself”).