Language as Possibility

Glossary

(A)gender or agender

Rejecting gender as a biological or social construct altogether and refusing to identify with gender.

(A)gender and (a)sexual justice and queer autonomy

These interchangeable terms each ideologically reflect an actualized freedom of humans to be self-expressive without redress of social, institutional, or political violence. See also queer autonomy.

(A)gender self-determination

This is the inherent right to both occupy one’s (a)gender and make choices to self-identify in a way that authenticates self-expression. It is also a type of self-granted or inherited permission that can help one refute or rise above social critique; it presumes choice and rejects an imposition to be defined or regulated; it presumes that humans are entitled to unsettle knowledge, which can generate new possibilities of legibility; and, it means that any representation of (a)gender deserves the same inalienable rights and the same dignities and protections as any other human. This de ‘factoness’ grants individuals ways of intervening in and disrupting social and political processes because one’s discourse and self-determined ways of being demonstrate placement as a viable stakeholder in society, revealing that no one personhood is of any more or less of value than any other.

Ally

Any non-lesbian, non-gay man, non-bisexual, or cisgender person whose attitude and behavior are anti-heterosexist and who is proactive and works toward combating homophobia, transphobia, and heterosexism on both a personal and institutional level.

Apronoun

Refusal of using pronouns when self-identifying.

Aromantic

One who lacks a romantic orientation or is incapable of feeling romantic attraction. Aromantics can still have a sexual orientation (e.g., “aromantic bisexual” or aromantic heterosexual”). A person who feels neither romantic nor sexual attraction is known as an aromontic asexual.

Asexual/Ace

A person who does not experience sexual attraction to another person. Individuals may still be emotionally, physically, romantically, and/or spiritually attracted to others, and their romantic orientation may also be lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender*+, intersex, agender/asexual, gender creative, queer and questioning (LGBT*+IAGCQQ) (A in this case meaning ally). The prefixes of homo-, hetero-, bi-, pan-, poly-, demi- and a- have been used to form terms such as heteroromantic, biromantic, homoromantic asexual, and so on. Unlike celibacy, which people choose, asexuality is intrinsic. Some asexual people do engage in sexual activity for a variety of reasons, such as a desire to please romantic partners or to have children.

Assigned gender

The gender one is presumed or expected to embody based on assigned sex at birth.

Assigned pronouns

The commonly accepted pronouns that others use to describe or refer to a person based on actual or perceived gender.

Assigned sex

The sex one is assigned at birth based on genitalia.

Bigender

Refers to those who have masculine and feminine sides to their personality. This is often a term used by cross dressers. It should not be confused with the term two-spirit, which is specifically a term used by Native Americans.

Bisexuality/BI

A sexual orientation in which a person feels physically and emotionally attracted to both genders.

Butch

An identity or presentation that leans towards masculinity. Butch can be an adjective (“she’s a butch woman”), a verb (“he went home to butch up”), or a noun (“they identify as a butch”). Although commonly associated with masculine queer/lesbian women, it’s used by many to describe a distinct gender identity and/or expression, and does not necessarily imply that one identifies as a woman.

CAFAB and CAMAB

Acronyms meaning “Coercively Assigned Female/Male at Birth.” Sometimes AFAB/FAAB and AMAB/MAAB (without the word “coercively”) are used instead. No one, whether cis- or trans, has a choice in the sex or gender to which they are assigned when they are born, which is why it is said to be coercive. In the rare cases in which it is necessary to refer to the birth-assigned sex of a trans person, this is they way to do it.

Cisgender or Cissexual

A person who by nature or by choice tends to conform to gender based expectations of society. (Also referred to genderstraight or ‘Gender Normative’.) A prefix of Latin origin, meaning “on the same side (as).” Cisgender individuals tend to have a gender identity that is aligned with their birth sex, and therefore have a self-perception and gender expression that matches behaviors and roles considered appropriate for their birth sex: for example, a person who is femininely-identified that was born female. In short, cisgender is the opposite of transgender. It is important to recognize that even if two people identify as men (one being cis and the other being trans*), they may lead very similar lives but deal with different struggles pertaining to their birth sex. *Cisgender is also on a continuum of expression.

Cissexism

Synonymous with transphobia, this definition is associated with negative attitudes and feelings toward transgender people, based on the expression of their internal gender identity. Cissexism is also the belief that cisgender individuals are superior to transgender people and that a cisgender lifestyle is more desirable to lead.

Claimed gender

The gender one feels most comfortable embodying and how one sees the self.

Claimed pronouns or Claimed gender pronouns

This refers to names and pronouns that one feels most comfortable identifying with or being used when spoken or referred to. Names and pronouns can change over time and based on context and should be honored. Names and pronouns are ever-expanding and indeterminate. Examples might include: ‘ze’, ‘per,’ they, ‘or ‘hir’.

“Coming out”

Also, “coming out of the closet” or “being out”, this term refers to the process in which a person acknowledges, accepts, and in many cases appreciates her or his lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender identity. This often involves sharing of this information with others. It is not a single event but instead a life-long process. Each new situation poses the decision of whether or not to come out.

Crip

Increasingly used to refer to a person who has a disability and embraces it, rather than feeling sorry for themselves. Historically used as a disparaging term for a person that is partially disabled or unable to use a limb or limbs. It is similar to the word queer in that it is sometimes used as a hateful slur, so although some have reclaimed it from their oppressors, be careful with its use.

Cross-Dressing (CD)

The act of dressing and presenting as the “opposite” binary gender. One who considers this an integral part of their identity may identify as a cross-dresser. Transvestite is an obsolete (and sometimes offensive) term with the same meaning. Cross-dressing and drag are forms of gender expression and are not necessarily tied to erotic activity, nor are they indicative of one’s sexual orientation. Do NOT use these terms to describe someone who has transitioned or intends to do so in the future.

Demisexual

A person who does not experience sexual attraction unless they form a strong emotional connection with someone. It’s more commonly seen in but by no means confined to romantic relationships. The term demisexual comes from the orientation being “halfway between” sexual and asexual. Nevertheless, this term does not mean that demisexuals have an incomplete or half-sexuality, nor does it mean that sexual attraction without emotional connection is required for a complete sexuality. In general, demisexuals are not sexually attracted to anyone of any gender; however, when a demisexual is emotionally connected to someone else (whether the feelings are romantic love or deep friendship), the demisexual experiences sexual attraction and desire, but only towards the specific partner or partners.

Drag

Stylized performance of gender, usually be female-bodied drag kings or male-bodied drag queens. Doing drag does not necessarily have anything to do with one’s sex, gender identity, or orientation.

Femme

An identity or presentation that leans towards femininity. Femme can be an adjective (he’s a “femmeboy”), a verb (she feels better when she femmes up”), or a noun (“they’re a femme”). Although commonly associated with feminine lesbian/queer women, it’s used by many to describe a distinct gender identity and/or expression, and does not necessarily imply that one identities as a woman.

Gay

A common and acceptable word for male homosexuals, but used for both genders.

Gender

Socially constructed roles, behaviors, and attributes considered by the general public to be “appropriate” for one’s sex as assigned at birth. Gender roles vary among cultures and along time continuums.

Gender affirmation/confirmation surgery

Having surgery as means to construct genitalia of choice. Surgery does not change one’s sex or gender, only genitalia. Gender/genitalia reassignment/reconstruction surgeries affirm an essentialist perspective of being born in the wrong sex from birth and are less frequently used in a lexicon.

Gender attribution

The process by which an observer decides which gender they believe another person to be.

Gender binary

A system of viewing gender as consisting solely of two categories (termed woman and man) which are biologically-based (female and male) and unchangeable, and in which no other possibilities for gender or anatomy are believed to exist. This system is oppressive to anyone who defines their birth assignment, but particularly those who are gender-variant people and do not fit neatly into one of the two categories.

Gender creative

Expressing gender in a way that demonstrates individual freedom of expression and that does not conform to any gender.

Gender dynamic/evolving/expansive

The recognition that gender continues to shift and emerge and generate pathways to understanding expansive views of gender. These knew iterations of gender will continue to push on norms and stereotypes in ways that individuals can self-determine and have agency about their identities.

Gender expression/presentation

The physical manifestation of one’s gender identity through clothing, hairstyle, voice, body shape, etc., typically referred to as feminine or masculine. Many transgender people seek to make their gender expression (how they look) match their gender identity rather than their birth-assigned sex.

Gender-fluid

Individuals who are between identifying with a gender or who do not identify with a gender. This term overlaps with genderqueer and bigender, implying movement between gender identities and/or presentations.

Gender identity

This is the soul and spirit of a person: It is how an individual feels about themselves (Levine, 2008), intuits, and then writes themselves into the world (Perl, 2004). Gender identity is how someone wants to be seen and legitimated through the eyes of another in the world– just as someone is (Federal Intragency Working Group, 2016; Herbert, 2016, n.p).3 Understood and fashioned in these ways, gender identity can be the embodiment of gender, or lack thereof, and any expressions of the self are reinforced by how we think and want others to see and think of ourselves. Gender identity can therefore be the physical, emotional, and/or psychological embodiment that rejects gender (agender) altogether.

Gender Identity Complexity

The constant integration of new ideas and concepts and the invention of new knowledges—comprised of multitudes, and/or a moving away or sometimes a refusal to accept historically conferred constructions of binaries, genders, and bodies. Yet, in simultaneity, gender identity can be some of these, all of these, and none of these. It evades and resists categorization. Synonyms: Complex gender identity/identities, gender identity complex, or the complexity/complexities of gender identity/identities.

Gender identity justice

The state of recognition in which all gender identities are afforded the same dignities as any other individual.

Gender identity self-determination

The state of, and right to, self-identify in a way that authenticates one’s self-expression and self-acceptance, and which refuses to be externally controlled, defined, or regulated.

Gender non-conforming

A term for individuals whose gender expression is different from societal expectations related to gender.

Gender Normativity

Tihs is an expression of identity that aligns with social expectations and norms for one’s gender. Cisgender, cissexual, and genderstraight are considered as synonyms.

Gender role/expression

How one performs gender in the world as it relates to social expectations and norms

Genderqueer

Those rejecting binary roles and language for gender. A general term for non-binary gender identities. Those who identify as genderqueer may identify as neither woman nor man; may see themselves as outside of the binary gender boxes; may fall somewhere between the binary genders; or may reject the use of gender labels. Genderqueer identities fall under the “trans umbrella. Synonyms include androgynous.

Gray-A Sexual

Asexuality and sexuality are not black and white; some people identify in the gray (spelled “grey” in some countries) area between them. People who identify as gray-A can include, but are not limited to those who: do not normally experience sexual attraction, but do experience it sometimes, experience sexual attraction, but a low sex drive, experience sexual attraction and drive, but not strongly enough to want to act on them, and people who can enjoy and desire sex, but only under very limited and specific circumstances. A person can be gray- heterosexual, gray-homosexual, and/or gray-bisexual.

GSM

Gender and Sexual Minority is a term used to describe those who fall outside of dominant gender and sexuality identities.

Hate Crime

Any act of intimidation, harassment, physical force or threat of physical force directed against any person, or their property, motivated either in whole or in part by hostility toward their actual or perceived age, disability, gender identity, ethnic background, race, religious/spiritual belief, sex, sexual orientation, etc.

Heteroflexible

Similar to bisexual, but with a stated heterosexual preference. Sometimes characterized as being “mostly straight.” Commonly used to indicate that one is interested in heterosexual romance but is “flexible” when it comes to sex and/or play. The same concepts apply to homoflexible.

Heteronormative/Heteronormativity

A culture or belief system that assumes that people fall into distinct and complementary sexes and genders and that heterosexuality is the normal sexual orientation. A heteronormative view is one that involves alignment of biological sex, sexuality, gender identity, and gender roles, sexuality, gender identity, and gender roles.

Heterosexism

The assumption that all people are or should be heterosexual. Heterosexism excludes the needs, concerns, and life experiences of lesbian, gay and bisexual people while it gives advantages to heterosexual people. It is often a subtle form of oppression which reinforces realities of silence and invisibility.

Heterosexuality

sexual orientation in which a person feels physically and emotionally attracted to people of the opposite gender.

Homonormative/

Homonormativity

 assimilation of heteronormative ideals and constructs into LGBT*+IAGCQQ culture and identity. Homonormativity upholds neoliberalism rather than critiquing monogamy, procreation, normative family social roles, and binary gender roles. It is criticized as undermining citizens’ rights and erasing the historic alliance between radical politics and gay politics, the core concern being sexual freedom. Some assert that homonormativity fragments LGBT*+IAGCQQ communities into hierarchies of worthiness: those that mimic heteronormative standards of gender identity are deemed most worthy of receiving rights. Individuals at the bottom of the hierarchy are seen as an impediment to this elite class of homonormative individuals receiving their rights. Because LGBT*+IAGCQQ activists and organizations embrace systems that endorse normative family social roles and serial monogamy, some believe that LGBT*+IAGCQQ people are surrendering and conforming to heteronormative behavior.

Homophobia

The fear, dislike, and/or hatred of same-sex relationships or those who love and are sexually attracted to those of the same sex. Homophobia includes prejudice, discrimination, harassment, and acts of violence brought on by fear and hatred. It occurs on personal, institutional, and societal levels.

Homosexual

A person who is physically, romantically, emotionally and/or spiritually attracted to a person of the same gender. Many prefer “gay,” “lesbian,” etc. because of the term’s origins as a medical term at a time when homosexuality was considered a disorder.

Homosexuality

A sexual orientation in which a person feels physically and emotionally attracted to people of the same gender.

Inclusive Language

The use of non-identity specific language to avoid imposing limitations or assumptions on others. For example, saying “you all” instead of “you guys” in order to not impose assumptions regarding a person’s gender identity.

In the closet

To be “in the closet” means to hide one’s homosexual identity in order to keep a job, a housing situation, friends, or in some other way to survive. Many LGBT*+IAGCQQ individuals are “out” in some situations and “closeted” in others.

Internalized homophobia

The fear and self-hate of one’s own homosexuality or bisexuality that occurs for many individuals who have learned negative ideas about homosexuality throughout childhood. One form of internalized oppression is the acceptance of the myths and stereotypes applied to the oppressed group. Internalized oppression is commonly seen among most, if not all, minority groups.

Intersex (IS)

Those born with atypical sex characteristics. A person whose natal physical sex is physically ambiguous. There are many genetic, hormonal or anatomical variations which can cause this (e.g. Klinefelter Syndrome, Adrenal Hyperplasia, or Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome). Parents and medical professionals usually assign intersex infants a sex and perform surgical operations to conform the infant’s body to that assignment, but this practice has become increasingly controversial as intersex adults are speaking out against having had to undergo medical procedures which they did not consent to (and in many cases caused them mental and physical difficulties later in life). The term intersex is preferred over “hermaphrodite,” an outdated term which is stigmatizing and misleading.

Invisibility

The constant assumption of heterosexuality renders gay and lesbian people, youth in particular, invisible and seemingly nonexistent. Gay and lesbian people and youth are usually not seen or portrayed in society, and especially not in schools and classrooms.

Label free

Individuals who shirk all labels attached to gender and reject the gender binary.

Latinx

A gender neutral term for people of Latin American descent; possessing an identity outside of the female/male binary.

Latin@

An unpronounceable gender-neutral shorthand for Latino/Latina.

Lesbian

A femininely-identified individual who is emotionally, physically, romantically, sexually and/or spiritually attracted to femininely-identified individuals.

Monosexual/Multisexual

Umbrella terms for orientations directed towards one’s gender (monosexual) or many genders (multisexual).

Non-binary Gender Identity

The expression of gender identity that does fit any categorization or is necessarily discernable to another. This expression can refuse, align with, or play with representations of gender that can, but doesn’t have to shift over time and in context.

Pansexual/Omnisexual

“Pan,” meaning “all.” Someone who is emotionally, physically, romantically, sexually and/or spiritually attracted to all gender identities/expressions, including those outside the gender-conforming binary. Similar to bisexual, but different in that the concept deliberately rejects the gender binary. Polysexual people are attracted to “many,” but not necessarily all, genders.

Passing

A term used by transgender people to mean that they are seen as the gender with which they self-identify. For example, a transgender man (born female) who most people see as a man. Also a term used by non-heterosexual people to mean that they are seen as or assumed to be heterosexual.

Polyamory

Having more than one intimate relationship at a time with the knowledge and consent of everyone involved. It is distinct from both swinging (which emphasizes sex with others as merely recreational) and polysexuality (which is attraction towards multiple genders and/or sexes). People who identify as polyamorous typically reject the view that sexual and relational exclusivity are necessary for deep, committed, long-term loving relationships.

Preferred or claimed gender pronouns

Self-selected pronouns for how an individual prefers to be referenced. While there is an emerging lexicon or pronouns, it is best to ask the individual how one self-references.

QTBIPOC

Acronym for Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous People Of Color

Queer

Despite the negative historical use of this term, it has been embraced in the last decade, particularly by younger members of the LGBT*+IAGCQQ community. It is an umbrella term that many prefer, both because of convenience (easier than ‘gay, lesbian, etc) and because it does not force the person who uses it to choose a more specific label for their gender identity or sexual orientation. Queer also refers to a suspension of rigid gendered and sexual orientation categories and is under­scored by attempts to interrogate and interrupt het­eronormativity, reinforced by acknowledging diverse people across gender, sex, and desires, as well as to foreground the sexual. It em­braces the freedom to move beyond, between, or even away from, yet even to later return to, myriad iden­tity categories. Queer is not relegated to LGBT*IAGCQ people, but is inclusive of any variety of experience that transcends what has been socially and politically accepted as normative categories for gender and sexual orientation.

Queer autonomy or (a)gender and (a)sexual justice

These interchangeable terms each ideologically reflect an actualized freedom of humans to be self-expressive without redress of social, institutional, or political violence. See also (a)gender and (a)sexual justice.

Romantic Orientation

A person’s enduring emotional, physical, romantic and/or spiritual — but not necessarily sexual — attraction to others. Sometimes called affectional orientation. “Romantic orientation” is often used by the asexual community in lieu of “sexual orientation.”

Safe Space

A place where people who identify within the LGBTQIA communities feel comfortable and secure in being who they are. In this place, they can talk about the people with whom they are involved without fear of being criticized, judged or ridiculed. Safe spaces promote the right to be comfortable in one’s living space, work environments, etc. It is focused toward the right to use the pronoun of a significant other in conversation, and the right to be as outwardly open about one’s life and activities as anyone else.

Same-Gender Loving

A term created by the African-American community that some prefer to use instead of “lesbian,” “bisexual” or “gay” to express attraction to and love of people of the same gender. SGL is an alternative to Eurocentric homosexual identities, which may not culturally affirm or engage the history and cultures of people of African descent.

Self-determined

Presumes the right to make choices to self-identify in a way that authenticates one’s self-expression and self-acceptance, rejects an imposition to be externally controlled, defined, or regulated, and can unsettle knowledge to generate new possibilities of legibility.

Sex

Sex refers to the biological traits, which include internal and external reproductive anatomy, chromosomes, hormones, and other physiological characteristics. The assignment and classification of people at birth as male or female is often based solely on external reproductive anatomy. Related terms: intersex, female, male.

Sexual orientation

A person’s emotional, physical, and sexual attraction and the expression of that attraction. Although a subject of debate, sexual orientation is probably one of the many characteristics that people are born with.

Sexual minority

A term used to refer to someone who identifies their sexuality as different from the dominant culture (i.e., heterosexual), for example, homosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, or transvestite.

Sexual affirmation/alignment/confirmation Surgery

Establishing one’s affirmed sex via legal and medical steps.

Stealth

Going stealth means for a trans* person to live completely as their gender identity and to pass in the public sphere; when a trans* person chooses not to disclose their trans* status to others. This can be done for numerous reasons including safety, or simply because the person doesn’t feel others have the right to know. For transexuals, going stealth is often the goal of transition.

Trans*+

Trans*+ is technically synonymous, though etymologically different from trans, trans*, and transgender. It is the experience of having a gender identity that is different from one’s biological sex, or identify outside of the binary altogether. A trans*+ (trans, trans*, and transgender) person may be pre- or post-operative and is not defined by any predetermined or essentialized gender formula. This term has become an umbrella term for nonconforming gender identity and expression. Trans*+ when written with an asterisk and superscript plus sign, denotes transgender identities that continue to emerge as indeterminate. Trans* with only an asterisk denotes a segment of the transgender population that was inclusive of only some trans people’s identities, while excluding others. In my writing, I use the superscript plus sign + *+ to symbolize the ever-expanding and indeterminate ways of self-identifying, and the asterisk to honor those who fought for gender identity self-determination which paved way for new identities to emerge.

Trans

A prefix or adjective used as an abbreviation of transgender, derived from the Greek word meaning “across from” or “on the other side of.” Many consider trans to be an inclusive and useful umbrella term. When the prefix as affixed to gender it signifies all non-cisgender gender identities and a recognition of difference from cisgender people.

Transgender (TG)

The experience of having a gender identity that is different from one’s biological sex. A transgender person may identify with the opposite biological gender and want to be a person of that gender. A transgender person may or may not be pre-or post-operative; if they are, they are likely to refer to him/herself as transsexual. This has become an umbrella term for nonconforming gender identity and expression.

Transmisogyny

This is the hatred of women or those who are feminine-identified, the expression of the feminine, or those who are feminine-of-center but not assigned female at birth.

Transphobia

Irrational fear of trans* people through active prejudice and active discrimination by institutions, communities, and/or individuals that diminishes access to resources throughout mainstream society.

Transition

Adopting one’s affirmed, non-biological gender permanently. The complex process of leaving behind one’s coercively assigned birth sex. Transition can include: coming out to one’s family, friends, and/or co-workers; changing one’s name and/or sex on legal documents; hormone therapy; and possibly (though not always) some form of surgery. It’s best not to assume that someone will “complete” this process at any particular time: an individual’s transition is finished when they are finally comfortable with how their gender identity is aligned with their body, and may not include going through all of the aforementioned steps.

Trans* Woman or Trans* Man

Informal descriptors used relative to one’s affirmed gender. Variants include T*, trans person, and trans folk.

Transsexual People (TS)

Typically those taking all available medical and legal steps to transition from their assigned sex to their affirmed sex. Transitioning across the sexual binary can go from female to male (FTM) or male to female (MTF). Some go stealth, hiding their transsexual history.

Two-Spirit

A contemporary term that references historical multiple gender traditions in many First Nations cultures. These individuals were sometimes viewed in certain tribes as having two spirits occupying one body; two-spirit indicates a person whose body simultaneously manifests both a masculine and a feminine spirit. Many Native/First Nations people who are LGBTQIA or gender non-conforming identify as Two-Spirit; in many Nations, being Two-Spirit carries both great respect and additional commitments and responsibilities to one’s community.

When discussing or having conversations with people, it is best to avoid:

• She-male, tranny, transie, sex change, he-she, shim
• Sexual preference (suggests choice)
• Hermaphrodite (an outdated clinical term)

Gender, Pronouns, and Romantic Orientations List

Gender Master List

(gender may be made into boy, girl, nonbinary, etc.)

(example: demigender, demiboy, demigirl, demi-nonbinary)

• Abimegender: a gender that is profound, deep, and infinite; meant to resemble when one mirror is reflecting into another mirror creating an infinite paradox
• Adamasgender: a gender which refuses to be categorized
• Aerogender: a gender that is influenced by your surroundings
• Aesthetigender: a gender that is derived from an aesthetic; also known as videgender
• Affectugender: a gender that is affected by mood swings
• Agender: the feeling of no gender/absence of gender or neutral gender
• Agenderflux: being mostly agender except having small shifts towards other genders making them demigenders (because of the constancy of being agender)
• Alexigender: a gender that is fluid between more than one gender but the individual cannot tell what those genders are
• Aliusgender: a gender which is removed from common gender descriptors and guidelines
• Amaregender: a gender that changes depending on who you’re in love with
• Ambigender: defined as having the feeling of two genders simultaneously without fluctuation; meant to reflect the concept of being ambidextrous, only with gender
• Ambonec: identifying as both man and woman, yet neither at the same time
• Amicagender: a gender that changes depending on which friend you’re with
• Androgyne: sometimes used in the case of “androgynous presentation”; describes the feeling of being a mix of both masculine and feminine (and sometimes neutral) gender qualities
• Anesigender: feeling like a certain gender yet being more comfortable identifying with another
• Angenital: a desire to be without primary sexual characteristics, without necessarily being genderless; one may be both angenital and identify as any other gender alongside
• Anogender: a gender that fades in and out but always comes back to the same feeling
• Anongender: a gender that is unknown to both yourself and others
• Antegender: a protean gender which has the potential to be anything, but is formless and motionless, and therefore, does not manifest as any particular gender
• Anxiegender: a gender that is affected by anxiety
• Apagender: a feeling of apathy towards ones gender which leads to them not looking any further into it
• Apconsugender: a gender where you know what it isn’t, but not what it is; the gender is hiding itself from you
• Astergender: a gender that feels bright and celestial
• Astralgender: a gender that feels connected to space
• (POSSIBLE TRIGGER WARNING) Autigender: a gender that can only be understood in the context of being autistic
• Autogender: a gender experience that is deeply personal to oneself
• Axigender: when a person experiences two genders that sit on opposite ends of an axis; one being agender and the other being any other gender; these genders are experienced one at a time with no overlapping and with very short transition time.
• Bigender: the feeling of having two genders either at the same time or separately; usually used to describe feeling “traditionally male” and “traditionally female”, but does not have to
• Biogender: a gender that feels connected to nature in some way
• Blurgender: the feeling of having more than one gender that are somehow blurred together to the point of not being able to distinguish or identify individual genders; synonymous with genderfuzz
• Boyflux: when one feels mostly or all male most of the time but experience fluctuating intensity of male identity
• Burstgender: and gender that comes in intense bursts of feeling and quickly fades back to the original state
• Caelgender: a gender which shares qualities with outer space or has the aesthetic of space, stars, nebulas, etc.
• Cassgender: the feeling of gender is unimportant to you
• Cassflux: when the level of indifference towards your gender fluctuates
• Cavusgender: for people with depression; when you feel one gender when not depressed and another when depressed
• Cendgender: when your gender changes between one and its opposite
• Ceterofluid: when you are ceterogender and your feelings fluctuate between masculine, feminine, and neutral
• Ceterogender: a nonbinary gender with specific masculine, feminine, or neutral feelings
• Cisgender: the feeling of being the gender you were assigned at birth, all the time (assigned (fe)male/feeling (fe)male)
• Cloudgender: a gender that cannot be fully realized or seen clearly due to depersonalization/derealization disorder
• Collgender: the feeling of having too many genders simultaneously to describe each one
• Colorgender: a gender associated with one or more colors and the feelings, hues, emotions, and/or objects associated with that color; may be used like pinkgender, bluegender, yellowgender
• Commogender: when you know you aren’t cisgender, but you settled with your assigned gender for the time being
• Condigender: a gender that is only felt during certain circumstances
• Deliciagender: from the Latin word delicia meaning “favorite”, meaning the feeling of having more than one simultaneous gender yet preferring one that fits better
• Demifluid: the feeling your gender being fluid throughout all the demigenders; the feeling of having multiple genders, some static and some fluid
• Demiflux: the feeling of having multiple genders, some static and some fluctuating
• Demigender: a gender that is partially one gender and partially another
• Domgender: having more than one gender yet one being more dominant than the others
• Demi-vapor (term coined by @cotton-blossom-jellyfish): Continuously drifting to other genders, feeling spiritually transcendental when doing so while having a clear -slightly blurred- inner visual of your genders, transitions, and positive emotions. Tied to Demi-Smoke.
• Demi-smoke (term coined by @cotton-blossom-jellyfish): A transcendental, spiritual gender roughly drifting to other genders that are unable to be foreseen and understood, shrouded in darkness within your inner visual. Elevating through mystery. Caused by a lack of inner interpretation and dark emotional states. Tied to Demi-Vapor.
• Duragender: from the Latin word dura meaning “long-lasting”, meaning a subcategory of multigender in which one gender is more identifiable, long lasting, and prominent than the other genders
• Egogender: a gender that is so personal to your experience that it can only be described as “you”
• Epicene: sometimes used synonymously with the adjective “androgynous”; the feeling either having or not displaying characteristics of both or either binary gender; sometimes used to describe feminine male identifying individuals
• Espigender: a gender that is related to being a spirit or exists on a higher or extradimensional plane
• Exgender: the outright refusal to accept or identify in, on, or around the gender spectrum
• Existigender: a gender that only exists or feels present when thought about or when a conscious effort is made to notice it
• Femfluid: having fluctuating or fluid gender feelings that are limited to feminine genders
• Femgender: a nonbinary gender which is feminine in nature
• Fluidflux: the feeling of being fluid between two or more genders that also fluctuate in intensity; a combination of genderfluid and genderflux
• Gemigender: having two opposite genders that work together, being fluid and flux together
• Genderblank: a gender that can only be described as a blank space; when gender is called into question, all that comes to mind is a blank space
• Genderflow: a gender that is fluid between infinite feelings
• Genderfluid: the feeling of fluidity within your gender identity; feeling a different gender as time passes or as situations change; not restricted to any number of genders
• Genderflux: the feeling of your gender fluctuating in intensity; like genderfluid but between one gender and agender
• Genderfuzz: coined by lolzmelmel; the feeling of having more than one gender that are somehow blurred together to the point of not being able to distinguish or identify individual genders; synonymous with blurgender
• Gender Neutral: the feeling of having a neutral gender, whether somewhere in between masculine and feminine or a third gender that is separate from the binary; often paired with neutrois
• Genderpunk: a gender identity that actively resists gender norms
• Genderqueer: originally used as an umbrella term for nonbinary individuals; may be used as an identity; describes a nonbinary gender regardless of whether the individual is masculine or feminine leaning
• Genderwitched: a gender in which one is intrigued or entranced by the idea of a particular gender, but is not certain that they are actually feeling it
• Girlflux: when one feels mostly or all female most of the time but experiences fluctuating intensities of female identity
• Glassgender: a gender that is very sensitive and fragile
• Glimragender: a faintly shining, wavering gender
• Greygender: having a gender that is mostly outside of the binary but is weak and can barely be felt
• Gyragender: having multiple genders but understanding none of them
• Healgender: a gender that once realized, brings lots of peace, clarity, security, and creativity to the individual’s mind
• Heliogender: a gender that is warm and burning
• Hemigender: a gender that is half one gender and half something else; one or both halves may be identifiable genders
• Horogender: a gender that changes over time with the core feeling remaining the same
• Hydrogender: a gender which shares qualities with water
• Imperigender: a fluid gender that can be controlled by the individual
• Intergender: the feeling of gender falling somewhere on the spectrum between masculine and feminine; note: do not confuse with intersex
• Juxera: a feminine gender similar to girl, but on a separate plane and off to itself
• Libragender: a gender that feels agender but has a strong connection to another gender
• Magigender: a gender that is mostly gender and the rest is something else
• Mascfluid: A gender that is fluid in nature, and restricted only to masculine genders
• Mascgender: a non-binary gender which is masculine in nature.
• Maverique: taken from the word maverick; the feeling of having a gender that is separate from masculinity, femininity, and neutrality, but is not agender; a form of third gender
• Mirrorgender: a gender that changes to fit the people around you
• Molligender: a gender that is soft, subtle, and subdued
• Multigender: the feeling of having more than one simultaneous or fluctuating gender; simultaneous with multigenderand omnigender
• Nanogender: feeling a small part of one gender with the rest being something else
• Neutrois: the feeling of having a neutral gender; sometimes a lack of gender that leads to feeling neutral
• Nonbinary: originally an umbrella term for any gender outside the binary of cisgenders; may be used as an individual identity; occasionally used alongside of genderqueer
• Omnigender: the feeling of having more than one simultaneous or fluctuating gender; simultaneous with multigenderand polygender
• Oneirogender: coined by anonymous, “being agender, but having recurring fantasies or daydreams of being a certain gender without the dysphoria or desire to actually be that gender day-to-day”
• Pangender: the feeling of having every gender; this is considered problematic by some communities and thus has been used as the concept of relating in some way to all genders as opposed to containing every gender identity; only applies to genders within one’s own culture
• Paragender: the feeling very near one gender and partially something else which keeps you from feeling fully that gender
• Perigender: identifying with a gender but not as a gender
• Polygender: the feeling of having more than one simultaneous or fluctuating gender; simultaneous with multigenderand omnigender
• Proxvir: a masculine gender similar to boy, but on a separate plane and off to itself
• Quoigender: feeling as if the concept of gender is inapplicable or nonsensical to one’s self
• Subgender: mostly agender with a bit of another gender
• Surgender: having a gender that is 100% one gender but with more of another gender added on top of that
• Systemgender: a gender that is the sum of all the genders within a multiple or median system
• Tragender: a gender that stretches over the whole spectrum of genders
• Transgender: any gender identity that transcends or does not align with your assigned gender or society’s idea of gender; the feeling of being any gender that does not match your assigned gender
• Trigender: the feeling of having three simultaneous or fluctuating genders
• Vapogender: a gender that sort of feels like smoke; can be seen on a shallow level but once you go deeper, it disappears and you are left with no gender and only tiny wisps of what you thought it was
• Venngender: when two genders overlap creating an entirely new gender; like a venn diagram
• Verangender: a gender that seems to shift/change the moment it is identified
• Vibragender: a gender that is usually one stable gender but will occasionally changes or fluctuate before stabilizing again
• Vocigender: a gender that is weak or hollow

Pronoun Master List

• *e/h*/h*s/h*self
• ae/aer/aers/aerself
• ce/cir/cirs/cirself
• co/cos/cos/coself
• e/em/eir/emself
• ey/eim/eir/eirself
• ey/em/eir/emself
• fey/fer/fers/ferself
• fey/feys/feyself
• fey/feyr/feyself
• fir/firs/firself
• he/him/his/himself
• hir/hir/hirs/hirself
• hu/hu/hume/humeself
• it/it/its/itself (only if explicitly told its okay)
• jee/jem/jeir/jemself
• jam/jam/jams/jamself
• jhey/jhem/jheir/jheirself
• kye/kyr/kyne/kyrself
• kir/kir/kirs/kirself
• lee/lim/lis/limself
• mae/mair/maes/maeself
• ne/nem/neir/neirself
• ne/nem/nir/nemself
• ne/nis/nimself
• ne/nym/nis/nymself
• per/per/pers/perself
• she/her/hers/herself
• she/sheer/sheers/sheerself
• sie/sier/siers/sierself
• sie/hir/hirself
• ou/ou/ous/ouself
• tey/tem/ter/temself
• they/them/their/themself
• thae/thaer/thaers/thaerself
• this one/ that one
• thon/thon/thons/thonself
• ve/vir/virs/virself
• ve/vis/vir/verself
• xe/hir/hirs/hirself
• xe/xim/xis/ximself
• xe/xir/xirs/xirself
• xie/xem/xyr/xemself
• xe/xem/xyr/xyrself
• yre/yres/yreself
• zay/zir/zirs/zirself
• ze(or zie)/zir/zirs/zirself
• ze/hir/hirs/hirself
• ze/zir/zirs/zirself
• ze/zan/zan/zanself
• zed/zed/zeds/zedself
• zed/zed/zeir/zedself
• zhe/zhim/zhir/zhirself
• zhe/zhir/zhirs/zhirself

Orientation Master List

There are six types of attraction.

• sexual: “I want to have sex with you”
• romantic: “I want to date you”
• sensual: “I want to hug/kiss you”
• platonic: “I want to be friends with you”
• aesthetic: “You look nice”
• alterous: “I feel an emotional connection that is indeterminate”- (can best be described as desiring emotional closeness with someone; is neither platonic nor romantic but rather somewhere in between the two)

All types of attractions may be used as suffixes along with “-fluid” and “-flux”. Mix and match prefixes and suffixes to create an orientation.

• A- : lack of attraction
• Abro- : having an orientation or feelings about it that constantly change and cannot be pinned down for this reason
• Aceflux: similar to genderflux where the intensity of sexual attraction you feel fluctuates; asexual to demisexual to allosexual and back
• Aego- : feeling attraction or desire only for situations that does not involve oneself; previously known as autochoris-
• Akoi- : the feeling of attraction but not wanting it reciprocated or losing it when it is reciprocated; used as an alternative and potentially less problematic form of lithosexual/lithoromantic
• Aliqua- : not normally feeling attraction, but feeling it on occassion under specific circumstances
• Amicus- : when you’re attracted to people you’re platonically attracted to
• Amorplatonic: experiencing romantic attraction but only wanting to be in queerplatonic/quasiplatonic relationships
• Apothi- : being aromantic/asexual and not experiencing any romantic/sexual feelings in any shape or form; aromantic/asexual individuals who are romance/sex repulsed
• Aromantic: feeling no romantic attraction regardless of gender or situation
• Aroflux: similar to genderflux where the intensity or romantic attraction you feel fluctuates; aromantic to demiromantic to alloromantic and back
• Arospike/Acespike: feeling no attraction except in occasional bursts of intense attraction and then plummeting back to no attraction
• Asexual: feeling no sexual attraction regardless of gender or situation
• Auto- : the feeling of attraction only towards oneself
• Bellusromantic: having interest in conventionally romantic things yet not desiring a relationship; part of the aro spectrum
• Bi- : the feeling of attraction towards two or more genders, generally your own gender and other(s)
• Borea- : having an exception to your usual orientation
• Burst- : having spikes in attraction that fade away after a while
• Cass- : feeling utterly indifferent towards attraction and believing its not important
• Cease- : usually beeing allo- yet occasionally feeling a sudden loss of attraction and then returning to normal
• Cetero- : the feeling of attraction towards nonbinary people; replaces skolio- because “skolio” means bent or broken and implies that nonbinary people must be fixed; this is reserved for trans/nonbinary individuals because cis people were judging nonbinary people based off of presentation alone
• Culparomantic: feeling romantic and platonic attraction at the same time
• Cupio- : the feeling of having no attraction towards any gender yet still desiring a sexual or romantic relationship
• Demi- : not feeling attraction towards someone until a certain closeness or bond has been formed
• Desinoromantic: when one does not experience full-on romantic attraction, but experiences “liking” someone instead of loving them romantically, at which point the attraction goes no further
• Duo- : having two or more well defined orientations that you switch between
• Ficto- : only felling a certain type of attraction towards fictional characters
• Fin- : feeling attraction to fem(me) identifying people
• Fray- : only experiencing attraction towards those you are less familiar with; the feeling is lost when they become closer or more familiar; the opposite of demi-
• Grey- : the feeling of usually not having any attraction except occasionally depending on the situation; typically paired with asexual and aromantic
• Heteroflexible: the feeling of having mostly hetero- attraction yet having an openness for other genders
• Hetero- : the feeling of being attracted to a gender other than your own
• Homoflexible: the feeling of having mostly homo- attraction yet having an openness for other genders
• Homo- : the feeling of being attracted to your own gender
• Iculasexual: being asexual but open to having sex
• Idemromantic: being able to categorize others as having either a platonic or romantic attraction based on outside factors yet feeling no difference in the type of attraction
• Kalossexual: the desire to have a sexual relationship yet never feeling sexual attraction; part of the ace spectrum
• Lamvano- : feeling no desire to do sexual/romantic things to someone, but wanting to be on the receiving end; opposite of placio-
• Lesbian: someone who identifies fully or partially as a woman who is attracted to other fully or partially identified women
• Limno-: experiencing attraction towards depictions of attraction (writing or drawings) but not the physical acts
• Ma-: feeling attraction to men
• Min-: feeling attraction to masculine identifying people
• Multi-: attraction to more than one gender
• Neu-: feeling attraction towards people who are genderless
• Nin-: feeling attraction towards androgynous identifying people
• Nocisma-: feeling attraction to everyone except cis men because of associated oppression
• Noma-: experiencing attraction to every gender except for self identifying men
• Novi- : feeling complicated attraction or lack thereof in such a way that it is difficult or impossible to fit into one word or term
• Novo- : when one’s orientation changes with gender
• Nowo- : experiencing attraction to every gender except for self identifying women
• Omni- : the feeling of a lack of preference in gender and may be attracted to all genders equally; similar to pan-
• Pan- : the feeling of attraction towards any gender or all genders; similar to omni-
• Penulti- : feeling attraction towards every gender except your own
• Platoniromantic: feeling no difference between platonic and romantic attraction
• Polar- : feeling either extreme attraction or intense repulsion
• Poly- : the feeling of attraction towards most or several genders (but not all)
• Pomo- : the feeling of having no orientation
• Pre- : a placeholder term for someone who doesn’t think they’ve experienced enough attraction to know their orientation
• Proqua- : feeling attracted to feminine people when you yourself are feminine
• Proquu- : feeling attracted to masculine people when you yourself are masculine
• Queer: the feeling of not being hetero- yet not wanting to further identify with any conventional sexuality
• Quoiromantic: from the French word quoi meaning “what”; the feeling of not being able to distinguish romantic from platonic attraction and therefore being unsure if one has experienced it; used to replace wtfromantic because of vulgarity
• Recip- : the feeling of only experiencing attraction once someone else has experienced it towards them first
• Requies- : not feeling attraction when emotionally exhausted
• Sans- : when there’s no trend line in the attraction one feels, it just does what it does
• Sensu- : an orientation that is based off of sensuality as opposed to romance, sexuality, etc; different from sensual orientation; when romantic or sexual type pleasure is derived from sensual acts or situations
• Skolio- : the feeling of attraction towards nonbinary genders; replaced by cetero- because of problematic wording
• Specio- : feeling attraction towards someone based off of specific traits, not gender
• Thym- : feeling attraction which varies depending on emotional state
• Volit- : feeling attraction that is not directed at anyone in particular
• Woma- : feeling attraction to women

Source

Miller, s. (2019). about gender identity justice in schools and communities. New York: Teachers College Press.

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