Terms: the basics
MOGAI: Marginalized Orientations, Gender Alignments, Intersex LGBTQIAP+: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Asexual, Pansexual
Heterosexual: sexually attracted to a different gender
Homosexual: sexually attracted to the same gender
Bisexual: sexually attracted to two or more genders
Pansexual: capable of sexual attraction to all genders / sexual attraction is not based off of gender Polysexual: sexually attracted to multiple genders
Asexual: is not sexually attracted to any gender
Orientation is based upon gender, not genitals. Romantic and sexual attraction can typically align, but that’s not always the case. For example, someone can be homoromantic and asexual.
AMAB: Assigned Male At Birth
AFAB: Assigned Female At Birth
Transgender: umbrella term for not identifying with the gender assigned at birth.
Non-binary: umbrella term for not identifying within the man/woman binary. Some non-binary people identify as transgender, some don’t
Cisgender: identifies with the gender assigned at birth
Intersex: a variation in sex characteristics- genitals, gonads, and chromosomes. For example, a woman can have a vulva, but also XY chromosomes.
Two-Spirit: a term used exclusively within Native American communities who identify as MOGAI/ LGBT+.
Genitals =/= gender identity =/= gender expression