Glossary of LGBTIQ terms
Monash uses the acronym LGBTIQ to be as inclusive as possible. We acknowledge that other variations of this acronym exist and are also valid.
By its very nature, language is fluid, dynamic, subjective and contested and its meaning has the potential to change over time. This list is not exhaustive or definitive but provided as a guide.
| Asexual | a sexual orientation describing individuals who do not experience sexual attraction |
| Assigned gender | the gender ascribed to a child at birth based on their perceived biological sex |
| Bierasure | questioning or denying the existence or legitimacy of bisexuality (either in general or in regard to an individual) |
| Biphobia | the discomfort and fear others feel around bisexual people and the myths that exist about bisexuality |
| Bisexual | an individual who is attracted sexually and emotionally to the same or other genders |
| Cisgender | a term used to describe when a person's gender identity matches social expectations for their sex assigned at birth |
| Coming out | the process through which an individual comes to recognise and acknowledge (both to self and to others) their sexual orientation/gender identity |
| Gay | a person, often a man, who forms their primary loving and sexual relationships with others of the same gender |
| Gender | a sociological construct defining the collection of characteristics that are culturally associated with maleness or femaleness (not to be confused with sex) |
| Gender affirmation | the process of confirming one's gender identity and expression with self and/or others |
| Gender diverse | a range of gender identities that sit outside social expectations |
| Gender dysphoria | the distress that is caused by a discrepancy between a person's gender identity and their sex assigned at birth; not all gender diverse people experience gender dysphoria |
| Gender expression | refers to the way in which a person communicates their gender within a given cultural context; for example, in terms of clothing, grooming, mannerisms and behaviour. |
| Gender identity | refers to one's concept of self as male, female, a blend of both or neither – how individuals perceive and describe themselves |
| Heteronormativity | the societal normalisation of an alignment between sex, gender and sexuality within a heterosexual framework |
| Heterosexism | the individual, group or institutional norms and behaviours that result from the assumption that all people are heterosexual; assuming that heterosexuality is inherently normal and superior |
| Heterosexual | people who are attracted sexually and emotionally to people of the opposite gender |
| Homophobia | fear, hatred, intolerance of – or discomfort with – LGBTIQ people and behaviours outside the boundaries of the heteronormative binary |
| Homosexual | people who are attracted sexually and emotionally to people of the same gender |
| Intersex | describes a variety of biological conditions; intersex people are born with physical, hormonal or genetic features that are neither wholly female nor wholly male, a combination of female and male, or neither female nor male |
| Lesbian | a woman who forms her primary loving and sexual relationships with other women |
| LGBTIQ | an acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and queer; these letters may appear in order |
| Mx or Mixter | usually written in its abbreviated form Mx, is a gender-neutral title |
| Non-binary gender identity | describes a gender identity outside the binary of male and female |
| Outing | involuntary or unwanted disclosure of another person's sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status |
| Pansexual | a person who may be sexually and romantically attracted to people of all sexes and genders |
| Queer | sometimes used as an umbrella term for people of diverse genders and sexualities. A reclaimed slur used by some (often young) people to describe their gender identity or sexual orientation outside the heteronormative binary |
| Questioning | a term used to describe people who may be unsure or still exploring their sexual orientation and/or gender identity |
| Sex | a biological term dividing a species into male and female, usually based on physical and/or chromosomal characteristics |
| Sexuality | a complex range of components which makes us sexual beings and that includes emotional, physical and erotic aspects as well as self-identification, behaviour, fantasies and feelings of affection and emotional affinity |
| Trans/Transgender | a broad term for people whose gender identity is different from those typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth; transgender people may identify as female, male, both or neither |
| Transphobia | the fear and hatred of, or discomfort with trans, people |