a sexual act that involves penetration of the anus. Whilst the practice is commonly associated with men that have sex with men (and as such, formed the basis of many anti-gay buggery and sodomy laws and religious teachings), anal sex also forms part of the variety of sexual activities taken by opposite-sex couples and same-sex female couples.

When the practice takes place with the aid of an artificial phallus, e.g. a dildo or strap-on, it is known as pegging.

a slang term for a gay or bisexual man who is very good at fellatio.

a darkened room in venues where sexual activity can take place. Also known as a dark room.

a Polari term describing the bulge of male genitals through clothes.

See also: basket shopping.

Polari term for checking out someone’s ‘private areas’ through their clothes.

in gay slang, gay saunas frequented by gay and bisexual men for sexual encounters.

an individual who frequents gay saunas.

a slang term originating in Jamaica for a gay or effeminate man. Considered offensive.

an initialism for bondage, discipline/dominance, submission/sadism and masochism. A form of sexual activity in which arousal is gained from activities and practices involving power-play between a servant and master.

a gay or bisexual man who frequents beaches or resorts for sexual encounters.

a public area frequented by men looking to have sexual relations with other men, typically ones that are discreet in order to serve closeted MSMs.

a Polari term for the labia.

a Polari term for seeking sex with a stranger.

See also: trade.

in Queer male slang, the bottom is an individual who prefers to “receive” rather than “give” during intercourse (as opposed to a top).

as a verb, it is a term similar to sodomise, which generally means to commit a sexual act that is not vaginal intercourse between a man and a woman, most often when referring to anal sex.

As such, it became used as a noun to refer to people who committed buggery (much like an equivalent to sodomite), but in more recent times, has become – particularly in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand – a general swear word, often used casually and in a variety of ways, much like the word ‘fuck’, or the equivalent ‘sod’, – e.g. “bugger that”, “you cheeky bugger”, “the radio is buggered”, etc.

A gay slang term for lesbian sex; “bumper” referring to a vagina.

a Polari term for an uncircumcised penis. A circumcised penis is termed roundhead.

a pejorative term to describe transgender women who have a penis.

a Polari term for anal or oral sex.

a thin pouch that prevents STIs and pregnancy by preventing bodily fluids from the penis (such as semen) from entering the orifice (opening) in which it is placed (e.g. a vagina, an anus, a mouth), and vice-versa, by preventing fluids from the opening from entering the penis.

There is a male condom (which is typically known as a ‘condom’) which goes over the male’s erect penis, or there is the female condom (‘femidom‘) which is inserted into the vagina.

the highly damaging idea that an individual can be “cured” of their sexuality or gender identity through rape. The intended consequence of corrective rape is to force the victim to conform to a heteronormative standard through forced sexual contact.

It is prevalent worldwide, but is often found in conservative and/or deeply religious countries where homosexuality or gender nonconformity is unaccepted.

It has been documented to have happened by survivors of some extreme forms of “conversion therapy” practices.

British Queer slang for hooking up in public toilets.

a darkened room in venues where sexual activity can take place. Also known as a backroom.

a Polari term meaning “sexy, attractive”, and also “to gossip”, as well as meaning “anus”.

For example, that man is a bit of a dish. What? You hooked up with him? Oh, dish the dirt – what was his dish like?

in same-sex male activity, the dominant partner is the top, the “giver”.

In BDSM, the dominant partner (“dom”) is the partner that exercises authority and will over the submissive partner (“sub”).

gay slang for an individual who derives pleasure from voyeurism – that is, watching other people having sex or in a state of undress.

shortened version of the insult faggot. Highly problematic and divisive, its usage should be exercised with extreme caution and shouldn’t be used by non-Queer people to describe Queer people. Some Queer people have embraced the word and reclaimed it to some success, using it in pro-Queer propaganda, events, etc.

Fag became a trivial, widely-used insult in general parlance that didn’t necessarily meant to imply a person was Queer, which again became highly problematic.

In the United Kingdom, however, a fag is chiefly used to describe a cigarette.

in gay slang, a fag hag is a woman – usually a heterosexual, cisgender woman – who surrounds themselves with gay and bisexual men, such as having friends that are mostly or exclusively men who have sex with men, or spends their time in gay clubs, gay venues and is heavily involved in gay culture.

The term is problematic because it is seen by some as being misogynistic or that it suggests that there is something wrong with heterosexual people involving themselves in the gay scene, thus being exclusionary and stigmatising, and is objected by some for its assumption that such women seek out homosexual and bisexual men as substitutes for romantic partners.

As such, the term fag hag has been used in an insulting sense. However, some women have embraced the term, and it has also been used in an endearing way to describe straight women who involve themselves in gay culture and the scene.

a heterosexual man who usually, or exclusively, surrounds themselves with gay and bisexual men and/or prefers to involve themselves in gay culture and the gay scene. The male equivalent to fag hag.

The term has been used both pejoratively and endearingly.

one of the most offensive slurs used against the Queer community. Its original meaning meant “a bundle of sticks used to start a fire” that began to become a popular, insulting way to describe homosexual and bisexual+ men, particularly in North America; and soon spread to describe anybody Queer as a whole;,including people who are transgender, nonbinary, effeminate men and transvestites – by extension, in then became used against Queer women, gender non-conforming women and butch women.

The term is highly divisive in the Queer community. Some within it absolutely detest the term, comparing it to the most sinister and offensive of racial slurs, whilst others have attempted – to some success – in reclaiming it; such as using it in event titles, support groups, etc.

The term is often shortened to fag. One thing is for sure: it should never be used by non-Queer people to describe Queer people.

an act of oral sex upon a penis and/or testes.

a pejorative term for an individual who has more than one sexually transmitted infection at once.

a place where gay and bisexual men can use saunas and bathing facilities where sexual encounters may occur.

a gay slang term for a military man on leave that is seeking sex with other men.

a term referring to sexual activity that takes place between three or more people.

Some examples may include orgies, threesomes, swingers parties or sex parties.

a Queer slang term for an individual so sweet that you want to lick them.

a term associated with the Far East to describe a transgender or transsexual woman; typically, but not exclusively, one that has a feminine appearance, has breasts and has a penis.

Due to its association with sex-work and pornography, the term can be problematic for many transsexual and transgender people, although others may wear the identity as a source of pride and defiance.

an offensive, pejorative term for Queer men that are effeminate that has come to be used as an insult to gay men as a whole (playing on the stereotype of gay men as effeminate). Reclaimed by some sections of the gay community, whilst others reject the term as they do not want their sexuality to be associated with being effeminate.

in an all-male threesome, the guy who is in the “middle”, who is both giving and receiving.

a Polari term for a person’s vulva and pubic hair.

a Polari term for a ‘small penis’, literally translated to ‘nothing to see in the pants’.

sexual activity that involves the stimulation of a person’s genitalia with one’s mouth, lips or teeth.

an orgy is a form of group sex consisting of at least five participants, where the guests engage freely in sexual activity with one another.

a form of anal sex, in which man‘s anus is penetrated with an artificial penis; typically a strap-on dildo, and typically by a woman or a person without a penis.

shortened version of poofter, a British equivalent of the word faggot (and, as such, fag). A divisive term that is considered by some to be highly offensive, whilst others have reclaimed it to some success.

a chiefly British antigay slur that is also common in Australia and New Zealand, often shortened to poof; and, particularly in Britain, is seen as severe as the word faggot.

Still, however, the word is in the process of being reclaimed in much of the Queer community, particularly in its shortened form poof; such as the British cover-band 4 Poofs and a Piano who regularly performed on television, and gay events such as “Poof Doofs”.

in a gay slang, a power bottom is a bottom (“the receiver”) during sexual intercourse who is in charge or likes to be dominant.

In puppy play, a form of roleplay popular in the gay leather community, the pup is the individual who dresses in rubber “pup” gear (e.g. a dog mask, a tail), and is handled by their handler, who roleplays the part of the pup’s owner.

a form of BDSM, popular in the gay leather community, in which individuals role-play being “pups” or their handlers. Similar to other forms of BDSM, there may be a dominant/submissive dynamic to the relationship, even though it is playful – e.g. if the handler says “sit”, the pub will sit.

Puppy play isn’t necessarily sexual in nature – it could be about play or leisure, or like other forms of roleplay, a form of escapism.

gay slang; a sexually-active man who has sex with men, particularly one who is the top (the “giver”).

a Polari term for a circumcised penis; an uncircumcised penis is termed cavalier.

gay slang for homosexual sex between men, a play-on-words from the euphemism for sex which is rumpy-pumpy.

Related: bumper to bumper

a Yiddish term for a person of Chinese descent, adopted into Polari slang to describe a Chinese man. Highly offensive.

a Yiddish slur for a black person, that was adopted into Polari as a slang term for a black man. Highly offensive.

an event in which numerous individuals gather for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with one another; such as an orgy or a swingers party.

a sexual act that involves penetration; e.g. a penis, or a sex toy, being inserted into a vagina or anus.

a term that is used in medicine particularly, to describe individuals who have engaged in sexual activity; this is not simply vaginal penetrative sex, but includes oral and anal sex, and other sexual behaviours such as manual sex (hand jobs, fingering, etc).

The term is vague and can be misinterpreted: an individual who has had sex before but hasn’t for a while may not see themselves as “sexually active”, but this is wrong. When a doctor asks you if you are sexually active, it is on the basis that they can rule out or consider sexual-related concerns in your diagnosis, such as STIs, or in order to offer contraception.

Put simply, if you’ve ever engaged in sexual behaviour, you are sexually active.

short for sodomite, the term is primarily used in Britain but not usually to describe homosexuals. Although it started off as an anti-gay slur, sod in general parlance has many different meanings, often used as a milder substitute for the word fuck or twat (e.g. “sod off”, “sod all”, “cheeky sod”).

a swinger is somebody who engages in swinging; that is, a lifestyle in which people in committed relationships engage in casual sexual acts with other people, often but not always, with other people also in relationships.

It is not to be confused with polyamory.

also known as a partner-swapping party, a swinger party is an event in which swingers can engage in sexual activity with others as a social or recreational activity.

a term referring to people in committed relationships, where typically both individuals within said relationship also enjoy casual sex with other people, typically, but not exclusively, with other people in committed relationships that are also into swinging. People who enjoy swinging are known as swingers.

Swinging is a form of open relationship and non-monogamy that should not be confused with polyamory. Although polyamorous relationships may also engage in swinging, the key difference between polyamory and swinging is that swinging is not based on seeking out love: although swingers may enjoy loving and affectionate bonds with those they swing with, it is not about seeking out committed, romantic and/or emotional bonds with more than one person (as in polyamory), as much as it is seeking out sexual activity. It is not seeking out an extension to the current relationship or an extra participant in the relationship; the committed relationship is separate from the sexual relationship enjoyed with other people.

For this reason, it has also been commonly known as wife swapping, husband swapping or partner swapping.

a Polari term meaning “penis size” – e.g. “What was the colour of his eyes?”

a sexual act between three people of any gender.

a Queer man who enjoys being urinated on for sexual gratification.

in Queer male culture, a top is an individual who prefers to be dominant in a sexual dynamic; the “giver” in sexual intercourse, as opposed to a bottom who is the “receiver”.

a Polari term for sex, or someone you have had, or are going to have, sex with – particularly if the sex is on a casual basis. 

For example, “I brought someone home last night, but the trade left before I woke up this morning”. 

a slang term that was traditionally aimed at transvestites, cross-dressers and Drag Queens, but by association because slang for transsexuals and other transgender individuals and is now considered to be an offensive slur in the transgender community.

However, the term still has prominence – although waning – in cisgender, cross-dressing/transvestite circles (such as those involving Drag Queens), one particular example is the San Francisco club Trannyshack. This in itself is problematic as people often confuse Drag performance with transgender identity.

Despite this, some transgender individuals still use the word and have attempted to reclaim it.

a form of sexual intercourse that involves penetration of the vagina by a penis, or an object (such as a sex toy).

gay slang for Queer men who will not give oral sex.

in Queer culture, somebody who is versatile is someone who is willing and enjoys to be either the top or the bottom during sexual intercourse.