Glossary

Bisexual

A person who is attracted to people regardless of their sex or gender (a person does not have to have a relationship to be bisexual!)

Closeted

A lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual or intersex (LGBTI) person who of secretive about their sexual orientation or gender history, out of fear or insecurity.

Drag

A cross-dressing parody performance popular in the queer community.

Dyke

A barrier constructed to control or confine water; also slang, sometimes offensive (depending on who’s using it) word for a same-sex attracted woman.

Faggot

A bundle (of sticks or wrought iron); also slang, generally offensive word for same-sex attracted men. Faggots (i.e. sticks) were using during witch-burning times in Europe, when many independent women, herbalists, healers, heretics and sexual non-conformists were condemned as witches.

Gay

Happy; also usually a same-sex attracted man, but often used as a broad term to include gay men and lesbians.

Heterogemony

A term that defines the hegemonic nature of heterosexuality, which, as the basic assumption of the dominant sexuality, making alternatives less visible.

Heterosexism

Heterosexism refers to culturally and institutionally entrenched attitudes and practices which serve to oppress and marginalise LGBT/I persons.

Heterosexual

A person who is attracted to the “opposite” sex (a person does not have to have a relationship to be heterosexual!)

Homophobe

One who fears homosexuals and homosexuality (this is a literal definition). This term is generally applied to anyone who: dislikes LGBTI people; uses any derogatory sexuality or gender based terms; feels that LGBTI people want “special rights” and not “equal rights”.

Homosexual

A person who is attracted to their own sex (a person does not have to have a relationship to be homosexual!) also Same-Sex Attracted (SSA).

Internalised

The way in which a member of an oppressed group may accept negative moral judgements of society.

Oppression

Prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control. The state of being subject to such treatment or control. People suffering from internalised oppression may often be suicidal or depressed and anxious. They may also seek social acceptance by vilifying visible members of the oppressed group.

Intersex

A term used to describe the phenomenon where one is born with both male and female anatomical/physiological characteristics (in various combinations) or is considered (by the medical establishment and heterosexist society) to be biologically “ambiguous”. Sexual development begins at conception with the chromosomes that are present in the newly formed cell. Of the 23 pairs of chromosomes normally present in human cells, one pair (the sex chromosomes) determines the individual’s sex. The typical female chromosome pattern is denoted XX; the typical male XY BUT not everyone has the XX or XY chromosome patterns. Some have a single X, some have XXY and some XYY. There are many other variations possible and having some cells with the XX pattern and some with the XY pattern (mosaicism and chimerism). Even in people with the typical XX or XY chromosome patterns, outward sexual appearance at birth can be ambiguous and this usually due to non-typical exposure to male or female hormones in the womb. Scientist and Researcher Milton Diamond (University of Hawaii) argues that many transsexual people can be placed on the intersex spectrum.

Lesbian

A same-sex attracted woman; historically, a resident of the Greek Isle of Lesbos, where the poet Sappho lived. Sappho often wrote of the love between women.

LGBT (or these letters in any order – it is preferable to vary them)

Acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Transsexual. Often Intersex and Queer and Questioning are added, LGBTIQQ.

Out

To be openly LGBTI as in “out of the closet”.

Outing

When someone discloses information about another’s sexual orientation or gender identity without their knowledge or consent.

Pride Flag

The colours red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple are used to symbolize equality and diversity among all people. Sometimes a black stripe is added in honour and memoriam of those who have died of HIV/AIDS.

Pride

This is a common name for celebrations commemorating the Stonewall riots (which ushered the Gay Liberation Movement) and the LGBTI community in general. In Queensland, Pride month is celebrated in June with the Pride Parade and Fair Day in Brisbane usually held on the Saturday of the last week.

Queer

This originally derogatory term used to describe gay and lesbian individuals has been reclaimed by some members of LGBT/I communities. It is not considered ok for people who are not part of such communities to use the term to apply to others. Some people previously identified as straight claim this term to indicate their rejection of compulsory heterosexuality.

Sexual Prejudice

A more comprehensive term than “homophobia”, “transphobia” or “heterosexism”. A term which covers all these.

Straight/str8

Slang term for heterosexual.

Straight-Acting

Someone who goes to great lengths to hide their same-sex attraction and who will usually be very invested in appearing traditionally “masculine” or “feminine”. They may even go so far as to vilify “feminine” men or “masculine” women. This latter behaviour is an example of internalised oppression which is then expressed as sexual prejudice.

Transgender

This term may be used differently by those who identify with the label. It may mean someone who mentally and emotionally identifies as a different gender to the one they have been assigned by society, often living their lives as that gender, and who may or may not choose to undergo sex reassignment surgery. Some people use the term to mean a transcendence of binary gender systems altogether, so that they identify as neither of a pair of opposites.

Transsexual

One who mentally and emotionally identifies as different sex to the one they have been assigned by society according to their anatomy. Transsexual people will often undergo hormone therapy and sex reassignment surgery (as finances and opportunity allow). While the medical establishment claims that transsexual people are suffering from “gender dysphoria”, many transsexuals reply that the problem is not their “gender” but with their “sex” (i.e. their bodies) and that “anatomical dysphoria” is a much more accurate description. Some therapists and sex researchers now use this term and some research suggests that transsexualism is caused by a brain which is differently “sexed” to the person’s body.

Transvestite

One who adopts the dress – and sometimes behaviour – typical of the “opposite” gender, generally for purposes of emotional or sexual satisfaction. Transvestism can be classified as a “fetish” for some people, but for others it may be a type of sex or gender identification and may signify transgenderism or transsexualism, rather than being primarily an erotic phenomenon. This is not to be confused with Drag, which is a cross-dressing parody performance popular in the queer community. There are various types of Drag; the most sophisticated and political variety is associated with the Queer Theory.

Triangle

The upside down triangle is a symbol used by LGBT people as one of pride, reclaimed by LGBT people after its use by Hitler during the holocaust. Women accused of being “antisocial” (not specifically lesbian) were forced to wear an inverted black triangle, while gay men were forced to wear an inverted pink triangle.

N.B.

The use of quotation marks denotes that these notions (e.g. that there is such a thing as an “opposite” sex or gender) are controversial. This glossary is growing and evolving. Please feel free to email us any objections and suggestions.