Because words matter

An ally is someone who stands in solidarity with a marginalized group of which they are not a member. In the context of sexual and gender diversity, the term refers to a person who supports LGBTQ+ people and their efforts toward full equality. A person from one marginalized group can also be an ally to another group’s struggles. The term ally can also apply to an organization.

Example: Ahmed is a true ally; he always speaks up when people make inappropriate comments.

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An individual who does not identify with either a female or male gender identity.

A person who feels little or no romantic attraction. Aromanticism encompasses different nuances with different names. For example, demiromantic means romantic attraction is possible, but only after developing a strong emotional bond (as opposed to love at first sight); greyromantic means romantic attraction only very rarely occurs or only under certain conditions

Also called: aro.

Example: “People often ask me why I’m not in a relationship, but I don’t feel comfortable explaining that I’m aromantic.”

A person who experiences little or no sexual attraction. Asexuality exists on a spectrum and includes a variety of identities, such as demisexual (someone who may experience sexual attraction only after developing a strong emotional bond) and graysexual (someone who experiences sexual attraction only rarely or under specific circumstances).

Also called: ace.

Example: “It took my partner a long time to accept that I’m asexual. They even tried to ‘cure’ me.”

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A person whose gender expression is neutral or falls between what is traditionally considered masculine and feminine.

Example: Because I have an androgynous gender expression, people often assume I’m non-binary. However, I do identify as a woman.

Person who is interested in having emotional and / or sexual relations with people of a gender other than that of the people with whom they usually have these relations, but who does not identify as bisexual.

Negative attitudes towards bisexuality, bisexual people, or people perceived as such, which can lead to discrimination, direct or indirect. Biphobia is often based on misunderstanding and prejudices such as the idea that bisexual people are promiscuous, unfaithful, or that they don't know what they want. This discrimination can come from heterosexual people as well as from people belonging to other communities of sexual and gender diversity.

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A person who is attracted to people of the same gender and to people of other genders (generally men and women).

Abbreviation: bi

Note: Although the prefix bi- (“two” in Latin) may suggest a gender binary, many bisexual people include non-binary people within their attraction. Others may prefer the term pansexual, whose prefix pan- (“all”) is seen by some as better reflecting the idea of a gender spectrum.

An individual whose gender identity corresponds to two genders.

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A garment designed to flatten and compress the chest. It is sometimes used by transgender men and non-binary people to create a flatter chest appearance.

Example: “The first time I saw myself wearing a binder, I experienced gender euphoria.”

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A person whose gender identity matches the gender they were assigned at birth. In other words, a person who is not transgender. The Latin prefix cis- means “on the same side,” in contrast to trans-.

Example: “When I was born, the doctor marked ‘F’ on my birth certificate, and I identify as a woman, so I am cisgender.”

The process of revealing a sexual orientation or gender identity that was previously undisclosed.

Also called: disclosure, coming out of the closet, or self-disclosure.

Ex: “I first came out to my friends, and a few years later I told my family that I was gay.”

A system of beliefs and practices based on the assumption that being cisgender is normal, natural, and preferable to being transgender. Cissexism can lead to the exclusion, invisibility, or discrimination of transgender and non-binary people.

Ex: “The barriers a transgender woman may face when trying to access prostate cancer screening are an example of cissexism.”

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The people a person considers family even though they are not related by birth, marriage, or legal ties. Chosen family members often provide the same love, support, and sense of belonging as a traditional family.

Ex: “I don’t really have contact with my family of origin anymore; it’s my chosen family that I rely on.”

The range of sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions that are in the minority and may therefore face forms of exclusion or discrimination because they do not conform to societal norms and expectations.

Synonyms: LGBTQ+ people, sexual and gender minorities.

Ex: “We want to create a more inclusive environment for sexual and gender diversity.”

A theatrical and artistic performance that involves portraying an exaggerated masculine or feminine character. A performer portraying a masculine character is called a drag king, while one portraying a feminine character is called a drag queen.

Example: “Doing drag allows me to express my creativity.”

Note: Drag is a form of artistic expression and performance; it is not a gender identity or a transgender identity.

The name that was assigned to a transgender or non-binary person at birth and that they no longer use.

Deadnaming is the act of referring to someone by that former name.

Ex: “It hurts when people use my deadname.”

This term refers to negative attitudes, actions, and words directed at individuals whose gender identity is non-binary. These attitudes can manifest as the denial or rejection of their gender identity, as well as physical, psychological, or verbal violence.

A common expression of enbyphobia is the social pressure to present as androgynous (a gender expression that blends masculinity and femininity) in order to be recognized as non-binary.

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Person whose gender identity or sexual orientation fluctuates or is not limited to the traditional definition of female or male gender.

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A person who is attracted to people of the same gender. The term is most commonly used to refer to men who are attracted to men, although some women may also use it to describe themselves.

Alternative spelling: gai (Canadian French influence) is sometimes used in English-language contexts in Canada, but gay is the standard English spelling.

Ex: “I prefer the term ‘gay’; ‘homosexual’ sounds too medical to me.”

The set of behaviours, roles, characteristics, and expectations that a society considers appropriate or “normal” for men and women. These norms influence how people are expected to dress, speak, behave, and present themselves to others.

Ex: “I experienced a lot of bullying at school because I didn’t conform enough to gender norms.”

Also called: gender stereotypes.

A way of understanding gender as a continuum rather than as a strictly binary system of only two categories. The concept recognizes the diversity and complexity of gender identities and expressions.

Also called: gender continuum.

Ex: “I can be attracted to someone regardless of where they fall on the gender spectrum.”

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The concept that humanity can be strictly divided into two mutually exclusive, natural, and opposite genders: man and woman.

Example: “The gender binary leaves little or no room for transgender, non-binary, intersex people, or anyone who does not fit traditional gender stereotypes.”

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A feeling of discomfort or distress experienced by some transgender people due to a mismatch between their gender identity and the gender they were assigned at birth. Gender dysphoria may be related to certain physical characteristics (such as the chest, voice, or body hair) or to social experiences (such as being misgendered).

Example: “When I started developing facial hair, I experienced intense gender dysphoria.”

Note: Gender dysphoria is also a formal medical diagnosis that may be required to access certain gender-affirming healthcare services.

A system of beliefs and practices based on the assumption that heterosexuality is normal, natural, and preferable. Heteronormativity can influence social norms, institutions, and policies in ways that exclude or overlook other sexual orientations.

Ex: “Heteronormativity can be found in forms that only provide the options ‘mother’ and ‘father.’”

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A range of negative attitudes, actions, or remarks directed toward homosexuality that can lead to direct or indirect discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual, or perceived LGBTQ+ people.

Ex: “Homophobia isn’t limited to physical violence; it is often much more subtle.”

Note: The term homophobia is often used as an umbrella term that includes more specific forms of discrimination, such as lesbophobia (directed at lesbian people) and biphobia (directed at bisexual people).

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A person who experiences romantic and/or sexual attraction to people of the same gender.

See also: gay, lesbian.

Ex: “When I was young, it seemed absolutely impossible to be openly homosexual.”

Note: While homosexual remains a valid term, some people prefer terms such as gay or lesbian, as they may feel less clinical or medicalized.

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A person who is attracted to people of a gender different from their own.

Abbreviation: hetero.

Ex: “We shouldn’t assume that everyone is heterosexual.”

A family formed by LGBTQ+ people. Related terms include same-gender parent family (homoparental family), a family headed by a same-gender couple, and transparental family, a family that includes at least one transgender parent.

Example: “Even though I’m not LGBTQ+, I experienced homophobia because I come from an LGBTQ+ family.”

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Questioning or failing to respect a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Example: denying the existence of bisexual or asexual individuals, or misgendering a transgender person.

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"Any behavior, word, act or gesture, deliberate or not, of a repetitive nature, expressed directly or indirectly, including in cyberspace, in a context characterized by unequal power relations between the people concerned, having the effect of generating feelings of distress and of harming, hurting, oppressing or ostracizing”. (Gouvernement du Québec, 2012).

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A person who is born with biological sex characteristics—such as genital, hormonal, gonadal, or chromosomal traits—that do not fit exclusively within the medical definitions of “male” or “female.”

Alternative term: intersexed (less commonly used today, depending on context and individual preference).

Ex: “Intersex babies whose intersex traits are visible are often subjected to medical interventions intended to make their bodies conform to binary sex norms.”

The combination of multiple identities, social positions, or characteristics that may expose a person to different and overlapping forms of discrimination or disadvantage.

Example: “Intersectionality helps explain why transgender women may face compounded discrimination, as they can experience both transphobia and sexism.”

Note: An intersectional perspective seeks to understand how different forms of discrimination can interact and reinforce one another, shaping people’s experiences in unique ways.

A woman who is romantically and/or sexually attracted to women.‍

Ex: “It was when I met Sarah that I realized I was a lesbian.”

This term refers to all negative attitudes, actions, and words directed specifically at women who love women, leading to direct or indirect discrimination against lesbians, bisexual women, or those perceived as such. Lesbophobia can also manifest in the invalidation of lesbian relationships or the notion that female homosexuality is not real or legitimate.

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An acronym that stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (or Questioning), along with other identities represented by the “+” sign. The “+” acknowledges the many other people who are part of sexual and gender diversity, including intersex, asexual, aromantic, agender, and Two-Spirit (2S) people, among others.

Example: “The rights of LGBTQ+ people have advanced significantly over the past few decades.”

Note: The number, order, and meaning of the letters may vary depending on the context, organization, or community. For example, acronyms such as 2SLGBTQ+, 2ELGBTQ+, and LGBTQIA+ are also commonly used.

Referring to a person using a name, pronoun, adjective, or other gendered term that does not correspond to their gender identity, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

Example: “She keeps misgendering Maria; it’s becoming harassing.”

Minority stress refers to specific stressors related to transphobia and homophobia. These stressors can take the form of harassment, discrimination, and the denial of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.

The more a person is exposed to these stressors, the higher their risk of developing internalized homophobia or transphobia, feeling compelled to conceal their identity or sexual orientation, or constantly anticipating homophobic or transphobic events.

The combination of these stress factors heavily impacts mental health, potentially leading to depression, anxiety disorders, and suicidal ideation. This context also significantly increases the likelihood of developing avoidance mechanisms to cope with stress, such as self-medication, substance abuse, or self-harming behaviors.

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A person whose gender identity does not fit exclusively within the categories of “man” or “woman.” Their identity may exist between these categories, encompass both, change over time, or fall outside of them altogether.

Non-binary identities include a wide range of experiences. For example, some people may identify as agender (not identifying with any gender), bigender (identifying with two genders), or gender-fluid (having a gender identity that changes over time).

Ex: “For me, being non-binary means experiencing my gender in a way that does not fit exclusively within the categories of ‘man’ or ‘woman.’”

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The pronouns used to respect and reflect a person’s gender identity. Examples include he/him, she/her, and they/them (gender-neutral pronouns).

Ex: “My company encourages employees to include their pronouns in their email signatures.”

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A person who is attracted to others regardless of their gender. The prefix pan- (“all”) reflects the idea that attraction can extend across the full spectrum of gender identities.

Abbreviation: pan.

Example: “I often say that I’m bi, but I’m actually pansexual—the person’s gender really doesn’t matter to me.”

A term of English origin used to describe identities, orientations, and experiences that fall outside heterosexual and cisgender norms. It can also be used as a broad umbrella term for sexual and gender diversity.

For some people, queer carries a political or activist meaning. Historically, it was used as a slur against LGBTQ+ people, but many have since reclaimed the term and use it with pride.

Ex: “I’m non-binary and attracted to women, so I just say I’m queer—it’s simpler.”

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A term used to describe someone whose gender identity and/or sexual orientation is not yet fully defined, known, or settled. A questioning person may be exploring, reflecting on, or trying to better understand their identity.

Ex: “I haven’t found the word that describes my orientation yet—I’m still questioning.”

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Sex is assigned at birth by the medical profession, often based on a visual examination of the external genitalia. But biological sex can be established according to several criteria, such as hormones produced by the body, chromosomes and internal and external reproductive organs. A person's sex can be male, female or, when the different criteria are not all aligned, intersex.

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The way a person defines or describes their own gender identity, sexual orientation, or other aspects of their identity. Self-identification is based on how a person perceives themselves and the terms they choose to use to describe who they are.

Ex: “It is important to respect each person’s self-identification and the terms they use to describe themselves.”

The gender(s) to which a person may be sexually attracted (physical attraction) and/or romantically attracted (emotional or romantic feelings).

There are many different orientations, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, and aromantic, among others.

Example: “My orientation is an important part of who I am. I realize it has had a significant influence on the person I’ve become.”

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The designation of “F” (female) or “M” (male) recorded on a birth certificate, typically based on the appearance of a newborn’s external genitalia.

Also called: assigned sex at birth.

Example: “I am a man, but my sex assigned at birth was female.”

Note: The term gender assigned at birth is sometimes used to refer to the social assumption that a child is a “boy” or a “girl” based on their sex assigned at birth.

The designation “F,” “M,” or “X” that appears on a person’s identity documents and may reflect either their sex assigned at birth or their gender identity, depending on the jurisdiction and the document.

Ex: “My life became much easier once my identity documents showed an ‘F’ gender marker—I no longer had to explain that I’m transgender.”

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Identity of a trans person. Ex : Homosexuality and transidentity are not diseases.

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A transgender person who does not have citizenship or permanent residency in Québec. Transmigrants do not have the same rights and access to gender-affirming services as non-migrant transgender individuals. As of 2020, transmigrants in Québec are unable to change their name or gender marker on civil status documents.

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A term generally considered outdated or pejorative that refers to a person who occasionally adopts the appearance or clothing traditionally associated with another gender, without necessarily identifying as that gender (for example, a man dressing in women’s clothing).

Historically, the term transvestite was sometimes incorrectly used to describe transgender people.

Ex: “As a transgender woman, it hurts when people describe me as a transvestite. It’s not just about clothing—it’s about who I am: a woman.”

Note: Drag queens and drag kings may be considered a form of cross-gender presentation within the context of artistic performance, but drag is distinct from gender identity.

The process through which a transgender or non-binary person affirms their gender identity. This process may involve different dimensions, including:

• Social transition (e.g., changing pronouns, name, hairstyle, or clothing)
• Legal transition (e.g., changing one’s name or gender marker on official documents)
• Medical transition (e.g., hormone therapy or gender-affirming surgeries)

Example: “When I came out, I had just started my social transition, but I hadn’t yet begun my legal transition.”

Note: Every transition journey is unique and does not necessarily involve all of these dimensions. When a transgender person begins affirming their gender identity, the preferred term is transition, not transformation.

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A person whose gender identity does not correspond to the gender they were assigned at birth. The prefix trans- comes from Latin and means “on the other side.”

Ex: “I’m a transgender woman. That means I was assigned male at birth, but I quickly realized that, deep down, I was a girl.”

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