Asexual A person who does not experience sexual attraction.

2SLGBTQ+ Language Card Unlike celibacy, which is a choice to abstain from sexual activity, Non-binary Someone who identifies outside the
this term refers to an intrinsic part of identity. gender binary of male/masculine and
female/feminine, refers to people who are both,
Language is dynamic, shifting and changing over Bisexual A person who is emotionally, physically, spiritually
neither, in-between, and/or without reference to
time. These definitions are not meant to be and/or sexually attracted to people of more than one gender,
male/female, masculine/feminine.
understood as exhaustive, absolute, exact, or static. though not necessarily at the same time.
Demisexual A person who does not experience sexual attraction Transgender Someone who does not identify with
Think of these definitions as approximations that
unless they form an emotional and/or romantic bond with the the sex they were assigned at birth and who may or
may be used differently by various people and
person first. This can bond can be formed with any or all may not transition socially (name, pronouns, legal
communities. This exercise is a starting place; there
genders. gender markers), physically (hair, clothes, binding,
are many more terms in existence than we have
Gay A man who is emotionally, physically, spiritually and/or tucking etc.), or access medical means of transition
space for. There are terms specific to diasporic
sexually attracted to men. Can also refer to women, though (hormones, surgery).
cultures, and Indigenous communities within
Canada as well as terms commonly used outside of some women prefer other terms such as ‘lesbian’ or ‘queer.’ Transsexual A term that was used more frequently
Canada that we have not included here. Sometimes used as an umbrella term for the 2SLBGTQ in the past to describe those who do not identify
It is important to respect how someone self- community. with the sex they were assigned at birth and who
identifies and use the language they use to Lesbian A woman who is emotionally, physically, spiritually may or may not access medical means of transition.
describe themselves. and/or sexually attracted to women.
Trans feminine An umbrella term to describe trans
Pansexual An individual who is attracted to and may form people who identify on a feminine spectrum.
relationships with any or all genders.
Queer A term that has been used as an insult, which Trans masculine An umbrella term to describe trans
has been reclaimed and used proudly. For many it people who identify on a masculine spectrum.
also signifies resistance to the idea that there are Gender Identity A person’s Gender Expression How a
binary genders and sexualities. Is sometimes used as internal experience of their person expresses or Gender fluid Someone whose gender identity(ies)
an umbrella term for the 2SLBGTQ community. gender. That is, their sense of presents their gender. Can may shift over time, and/or according to context
being a man, woman, both, include things like dress, and situation
Two-Spirit A Western term used by many Indigenous neither, and/or somewhere voice, make-up, hair,
along a spectrum. jewelry, etc. Gender non-conforming Societal expectations
communities on Turtle Island (Canada & US) to
regarding gender. This term may apply to some (but
describe Indigenous people with diverse gender
Cisgender Someone who identifies as the sex they were not all) cisgender people and some (but not all)
identities, expressions and roles, and diverse sexual
assigned at birth. It is recommended to use this term instead trans people, including non-binary and genderqueer
orientations. Two Spirit people were healers,
of saying ‘bio’, ‘real’, or ‘genetic,’ as these suggest that trans people.
mediators, and warriors, considered sacred and
people’s gender identities are less authentic or natural. Intersex An umbrella term used to describe those
highly-revered by their communities. One of the
devastating impacts of colonization was the theft and Trans Often used as an umbrella terms to capture various who are born with reproductive and/or sex
attempted erasure of this way of being in Indigenous identities such as transgender, transsexual, genderqueer, characteristics that do not seem to fit within typical
societies. gender non-conforming, non-binary, and more. medical definitions of ‘male’ and ‘female.’
 More 2SLGBTQ+ Language Gender Inclusive Pronouns
Subject Object Pronoun Pronunciation
Heterosexism A system of attitudes, biases, Homophobia Negative attitudes, discrimination,
and discrimination in favor of heterosexual erasure, and violence towards lesbian, bisexual,
she her her as it looks

Gender
binary
sexuality and relationships. The assumption gay, and queer people at individual and
that everyone is, or should be, heterosexual systemic levels. Can also be a form of gender-
and that heterosexuality is inherently based discrimination (e.g., feminine men are he him his as it looks
superior to queerness. It also refers to often presumed gay and discriminated against
organizational discrimination against people for not aligning with expectations of what it they them theirs as it looks

non-conforming
who are not heterosexual, or against means to be a heterosexual man).
behaviours not stereotypically heterosexual. Biphobia Prejudice and discrimination against ze hir hirs zhee, here, heres

Gender
Cissexism The assumption that all people are bisexual people. Can include erasure of bisexual
cisgender, and that cisgender people are identity, or the belief that bisexuality is not real, ze zir zirs zhee, zhere, zheres
‘normal’ and trans people are ‘abnormal,” as or temporary.
well as normative assumptions about bodies
Transphobia Negative attitudes, feelings and an xe xem xyr zhee, zhem, zhere
(all women have vaginas, someone with a
aversion towards trans people. This can take the
penis is male).
Cisnormative A system of attitudes, bias and
form of disparaging jokes, rejection, exclusion, How to use they/them/theirs
denial of services, employment discrimination,
discrimination in favour of cisgender people
name-calling and violence.
Gender Inclusive They went downstairs in the morning.
that marginalizes and renders invisible trans I made them breakfast. They poured themself coffee.
Transmisogyny Combinations of transphobia pronouns They enjoyed their meal.
people and treats their needs and identities
as less important than those of cisgender and misogyny directed towards trans women
and other transfeminine people at individual ze/zir/zirs
people, who are considered to exist within
social normalcy. and systemic levels. Ze went downstairs in the morning.
Misogynoir Combinations of misogyny and I made hir breakfast. Ze poured hirself coffee.
Misgender To refer to someone (especially a Ze enjoyed hir meal.
trans person) by using a word, like a racism directed at women and transfeminine
pronoun or form of address (i.e. sir, ma’am), people of colour at individual and systemic
that does not correctly reflect the gender levels.
with which they identify. The act of Transmisogynoir Combinations of anti-Black
misgendering can be done intentionally and racism, transphobia, and misogyny directed This work was adapted from the glossaries developed for the Building
with malice, or with ignorance; both are specifically at Black trans women and Black Competence, Building Capacity: 2SLGBTQ+ Competent Trauma-Informed Care
considered harmful and can be a source of transfeminine people at individual and systemic research project, supported though the Public Health Agency of Canada’s
trauma. levels. Preventing Gender-Based Violence: the Health Perspective Investment.
Card design: Maggie Bain, University of Guelph, Twitter @maggsbain