Understanding and with the language/terminology linked to the lesbian

Glossary of typical terms

Overview

, homosexual, bisexual, transgender, sex diverse, intersex, queer, asexual and questioning (LGBTIQA+) 1 communities really helps to make sure solutions and organisations are comprehensive and respectful. 2 This resource sheet offers a glossary of terms for professionals and companies to simply help them to raised comprehend the terminology also to make use of language that is inclusive solution supply.

Introduction

The information and knowledge in this resource sheet is supposed to assist companies and professionals create safe areas for consumers who’re users of these communities.

Studies have shown that some providers assume that their customers are heterosexual and make use of heterosexist language, that could end in disquiet for customers and cause them to perhaps perhaps perhaps not disclose their LGBTIQA+ status (Australian Human Rights Commission AHRC, 2015) or talk about their sex or sex. Increasing access to appropriate solutions is very important as a result of greater prices of psychological state dilemmas such as for instance despair, anxiety and committing committing suicide (nationwide LGBTI wellness Alliance, 2016) which can be skilled by people in LGBTIQA+ communities when compared with their non-LGBTIQA+ peers. Analysis additionally suggests that pressures faced by same-gender attracted people that are young such as for example bullying, homelessness and emotions of pity, fear and confusion, usually do not stem from the nature of the intimate or gender variety. Instead, these are typically driven by the concern about, or real, discrimination via organizations which can be essential into the everyday lives of teenagers, including schools, wellness solutions and welfare solutions (AHRC, 2015).

It really is recognized that dilemmas of sex identification are very different to problems of intimate orientation; nonetheless, for simplicity of guide, both are most notable resource sheet. Further, it is recognized that some terminology is contested and language in this certain area is evolving (GLHV, 2016). Consequently, professionals and providers ought to make use of this resource sheet together with other resources of information ( ag e.g. Begin to see the reading that is further Resources and organisations detailed at the conclusion of the resource sheet).

There is certainly a lot of variety inside the LGBTIQA+ communities and an array of terms and language linked to:

Intercourse
Figures
Sex
Sex
Intimate attraction
Experiences
Appropriate and classifications that are medicalFileborn, 2012; nationwide LGBTI wellness Alliance, 2013a).

You will need to acknowledge the runetki3 ebony female complexity of individuals’s lived experiences and recognise that the above aspects may affect people in various means and differing times throughout the expected life (nationwide LGBTI wellness Alliance, 2013a).

Glossary

This glossary is organised across the categories that are followingplaced in alphabetical purchase):

Systems, sex and sex identities
Intimate orientations
Societal attitudes/issues.

Figures, sex and sex identities

Cisgender/cis: a term utilized to describe people whoever gender corresponds towards the intercourse they certainly were assigned at delivery.

Gender: refers to the socially built and hierarchical groups assigned to people on such basis as their sex that is apparent at. While other genders are recognised in a few cultures, in Western culture, folks are anticipated to adapt to 1 of 2 sex functions matching their sex that is apparent instance, male = man/masculine and female = woman/feminine.

Gender norms define how exactly we should dress, act/behave, as well as the appropriate functions and jobs of privilege we now have in culture ( ag e.g. The energy relationships between both women and men). Failing continually to abide by the norms linked with a person’s sex may result in ridicule, intimidation and also physical violence (Aizura, Walsh, Pike, Ward, & Jak, 2010).

Lots of people usually do not squeeze into these narrowly defined and rigid sex norms. Some ladies may feel masculine, some guys may feel more feminine plus some individuals might not feel either, or may reject sex completely (see Gender identification).

Gender binary: the classification that is spectrum-based of in to the two types of either male or female centered on biological intercourse (see Intercourse).

Gender identification: relates to a internal feeling of oneself as guy, girl, masculine, feminine, neither, both, or getting around freely between or not in the sex binary.

Gender pronouns: theserefer to what sort of person chooses to publicly show their sex identification with the use of a pronoun, whether it’s a gender-specific or perhaps a gender-neutral pronoun (GLHV, 2016). This might range from the more conventional she or he, in addition to gender-neutral pronouns such as for instance they, their, ze, hir among others (see Transgender/Trans/Gender diverse).

Genderqueer/Non-binary sex: a phrase accustomed describe sex identification that doesn’t adapt to gender that is traditional and may also be expressed as aside from girl or guy, including sex basic and androgynous.

Gender questioning: definitely not an identification but often found in mention of an individual who is uncertain which gender, if any, they identify with.

Intersex: an umbrella term that relates to individuals that have anatomical, chromosomal and hormone characteristics that change from medical and mainstream understandings of male and female systems. Intersex individuals might be ‘neither wholly female nor wholly male; a variety of feminine and male; or neither feminine nor’ that is maleIntercourse Discrimination Amendment Act (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status) 2013 (Cth)).

Intersex individuals may determine as either males, females or non-binary (see Genderqueer/Non-binary gender).