Other terms you may hear under this umbrella are gender expansive, gender fluid, or gender creative. Genderqueer: People who embrace a fluidity of gender identity and often, though not always, sexual orientation. Gender Non-Conforming: A broad term referring to people who do not behave in a way that conforms to the traditional expectations of their gender, or whose gender expression does not fit neatly into a category. Can be the same as or different from their sex assigned at birth. Refers to how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. Gender Identity: An internal, deeply felt sense of being female, male, a blend of both or neither. Gender Expression: External appearance of one's gender identity, usually expressed through behavior, clothing, haircut or voice, which may or may not conform to socially defined behaviors and characteristics typically associated with being either feminine or masculine.
According to the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the term - which replaces Gender Identity Disorder - "is intended to better characterize the experiences of affected children, adolescents, and adults”. Gender Dysphoria: Clinically significant distress caused when a person's assigned birth gender is not the same as the one in which they identify.
This model is limiting and doesn’t account for the full spectrum of gender identities and gender expressions. Gender Binary: The idea that there are two distinct and opposite genders––female and male. Gay: A term that describes a person who is emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to some members of the same gender. Welcoming Schools definitions for younger students can be found here.Īsexual/Ace: A term that describes a person who lacks sexual attraction or desire for other people.īirth Assignment (Sex Assigned at Birth): This is generally determined by external genitalia at birth––female, male or intersex.īisexual/Bi+: A term that describes a person who is emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to people of more than one gender, sex, or gender identity.Ĭisgender: A term that describes a person whose gender identity aligns with the sex assigned to them at birth.Ĭis-Heteronormative: This term refers to the assumption that heterosexuality and being cisgender are the norm, which plays out in interpersonal interactions and society, and furthers the marginalization of queer and gender diverse people.