Androgony: A state of appearance and/or behavior which is neither -and both- socially male and female.2 a : neither specifically feminine nor masculine <the androgynous pronoun them> b : suitable to or for either sex <androgynous clothing> 3: having traditional male and female roles obscured or reversed <an androgynous marriage>

Bisexuality: Attraction to both genders.

Bigendered: See transvestite. Further, tends to connote a person spending a larger proportion of their lives in cross-gendered roles.

Benjamin Standards of Care:  Medical standards for the treatment(?) of transsexualism and sexual reassignment surgery (SRS). The Benjamin Standards were created at a conference by Dr. Harry Benjamin and were adopted as the world standard for sex reassignment surgeries. CLICK HERE TO DOWN LOAD THE PDF

Bigendered: One who has a significant gender identity that encompasses both genders, masculine and feminine. Transsexuals are normally do not consider themselves to be bigendered.

Bigot:  An individual who is intolerant of any aspect of the Transgender and LesBiGay communities that are not his/her own.

Biphobia: The oppression or mistreatment of bisexuals, either by heterosexuals (sometimes also called homophobia) or by homosexuals.

Bisexual (community): One who has significant sexual or romantic attractions to members of both the same sex and the other sex, or who identify as members of the bisexual community. Derogatory terms from homophobes are the same as those for lesbians and gay men. Derogatory terms used by lesbians, gay men and some heterosexuals include: fence sitter, AC/DC, double-gaited, confused.

Brain Sex: The physical `sex' of the brain. Based on the theory/evidence that the human brain is uniquely different for genetic males and genetic females.

Butch: 1) Masculine or macho dress and behavior, regardless of sex or gender identity. 2) A sub-identity of lesbian, gay male, or bisexual, based on masculine or macho dress and behavior (see femme). 3) "butch it up" To exaggerate masculine behaviors usually for others entertainment (see "camp it up").

Camp: To exaggerate feminine behaviors, usually for others entertainment. Also, "to camp it up" (see "butch it up").

(CD) Crossdresser: One who dresses in clothing typically worn by members of the opposite sex. Female cross dressers don't really exist because, in today's society, women can wear mens clothing without being labeled. A community non-medicated term for a transvestite.

"Coming Out": Also "coming out of the closet" or "being out". This term refers to the process in which a person acknowledges, accepts and in many cases appreciates her or his lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered identity. This often involves the sharing of this information with others. The process of coming out to oneself and to others occurs for different young people and adults in various paces and ways. To deal with one's own and others reactions to the discovery or disclosure of one's sexual identity or gender identity. To disclose one's own sexual identity or gender identity to another. [I came out to my mother on Thanksgiving vacation.] To "come out to oneself" - To discover that one's own sexual identity or gender identity is different than previously assumed. [I came out to myself three months ago.] To "come out for" - To disclose another's sexual or gender identity with their permission or at their request. [I ask my mother to come out to my grandparents for me.] May be applied to disclosure of any information about oneself, not just sexual or gender identity.

Crossdressing: The wearing of clothes designed for the opposite sex - cross-dress Cross-Dressing references to the adoption, fully or partially, of the clothes normally identified as belonging to the opposite sex. Individuals may cross-dress for a variety of reasons as per their choice of which transvestitism, transsexualism, & fetishism are the most common place. Some may also cross-dress as part of a disguise or for entertainment. Others may cross-dress as part of masochistic activities.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM III): The guideline that the American Psychiatric Association publishes which details what is and is not a psychiatric illness. Transsexualism and transvestism are included in the list of psychiatric disorders.

Drab [DRessed As a Boy]: 1) Clothes considered appropriate to the individuals physical sex (not necessarily male). 2) "In Drab" - Wearing clothes considered appropriate to the individuals physical sex (applies only when considered with the possibility of the individual being "in drag")

Drag [DRessed As a Girl]: 1) Clothes considered appropriate to the other sex (originally referring only to M2F but incorporated into all cross gender dressing). 2) "In Drag" - Wearing clothes considered appropriate to the other sex. [I went to the Halloween party in drag.] [She was wearing butch drag.] 3) Can be applied to any recognizable clothes 'look'.

Drag Queens: Classically, they are transvestite Gay men who utilize crossdressing as a satirical tool to parody women in Western culture within performance art. A M2F crossdresser who employs dramatic clothes, makeup and mannerisms often for other peoples entertainment, appreciation or for its shock value. A Drag King is the lesbian opposite. Since this is commonly a class derived identification found in the gay/alternative cultural venue subsumed within mainstream Western society, lower economically classed transsexuals may also be found within this population. A member of the gay community who expresses transgender characteristics (i.e. crossdresser). Note, this term is considered derogatory by some. Also, many such members of the gay community do not consider themselves to be transgendered.

Dress: To put on clothing associated with the opposite sex. —dressed

Dyke: Reclaimed derogatory slang. Refers to lesbians, or to lesbian and bisexual females.

Electrolysis: Process of killing hair follicles, especially of facial and neck hair usually with an electric needle (see secondary sex characteristics).

En Drab, En Homme: Projecting ones person to society as a male through clothing and mannerisms (i.e. dressed as a man)

En Femme: Projecting ones person to society as a female through clothing and mannerisms (i.e. dressed as a woman)

F2M, FtM, F->M:  Female to male. Used to specify the direction of a change of sex or gender role.

Femme: 1) Feminine or effeminate dress and behavior, regardless of sex or gender identity. 2) A sub-identity of lesbian, gay, or bisexual based on feminine or effeminate dress and behavior (see butch).

Female: One of the two physical sexes. Normally based on the primary sex characteristic of having a vagina. (See primary sex characteristics).

Female Impersonator: A Drag Queen who is paid to perform, especially in mainstream venues. Often more of a "status" designation than anything more substantial, this term is also often used to disconnect the Gay imagery from a performer as well.

Feminine: The gender role assigned to females (also woman).

Fetishistic Transvestite: A transvestite who's primary crossdressing motivation is erotic response.

Gay (community): One who has a significant sexual or romantic attraction primarily to members of the same physical sex, or who identifies as a member of the gay community. Sometimes used as a synonym for LesGay (community) or gay male (community). Lesbians and bisexuals often do not feel included by this term. Derogatory slang for gay males includes queer, faggot, swish.

Gay and Lesbian(ism): Those individuals who prefer phenotypically similar sex-partners. They may present in ways not stereotypically associated with their gender thus presenting as "Bull- dykes" (masculine appearing sex/gender congruent women) or "Mollies" (extremely effeminate gay men who are also sex/gender congruent) among many other minor variations.

Gender: A subclass within a grammatical class (as noun, pronoun, adjective, or verb) of a language that is partly arbitrary but also partly based on distinguishable characteristics (as shape, social rank, manner of existence, or sex) and that determines agreement with and selection of other words or grammatical forms b : membership of a word or a grammatical form in such a subclass c : an inflectional form showing membership in such a subclass. 2 a : SEX <the feminine gender> b : the behavioral, cultural, or psychological traits typically associated with one sex is expressed in terms of masculinity and femininity. It is how people perceive themselves and how they expect others to behave. It is largely culturally determined.

Gender Bender: A person who dresses and behaves like a member of the opposite sex

Gender Community: Colloquial for transgender community. People who identify as not having a gender identity that matches societies rules for their birth physical sex, or those who identity with the gender community. Members of the gender community often do not identify as members of the sexual minority community.

Gender Dysphoria (GD): 1) Unhappiness or discomfort experienced by an individual about ones gender role assigned by society based on ones physical sex. Unhappiness or discomfort may be too mild of words for many individuals. Also referred to as gender euphoria when spoken of in the positive manner. 2) May include unhappiness or discomfort (mild and extreme) with one's physical sex as well (see sexual dysphoria).

Gender Identity: Is a persons' sense of maleness or femaleness. How one thinks of oneself in terms of one's gender.

Gender neutral: Clothing, behaviors, thoughts, feelings, relationships etc. which are considered appropriate to both genders/sexes.

Gender Role: Is the public expression of one's gender identity including choices or actions that signal maleness or femaleness to others. 1) Arbitrary rules assigned by society that define what clothing, behaviors, thoughts, feelings, relationships, etc. are considered appropriate and inappropriate for members of each sex. Which things are considered masculine, feminine or gender neutral varies according to locations, class, occasion, time in history, and numerous other factors. 2) To interact with society as a member of a specific gender (i.e. as a man or woman).

Gender Identity Dysphoria (GID): Gender Identity refers to a person’s sense of him/herself as masculine or feminine. Causes of gender dysphoria are uncertain and may well be a combination of internal hormonal and learning mechanisms in the early environment. There is no clear evidence of an inherited or familial factor. Both transvestism and transsexualism often lead to social consequences, which often require skilled specialist counselling. Neither condition is amenable to ‘cure’, any more than being a  homosexual or being left-handed. At one end of the scale is the occasional cross-dresser who perhaps wears the clothing of the opposite sex for fetishistic reasons or sexual reasons while at the other end of the spectrum is the transsexual who, with thoughtful and carefully directed therapy, usually becomes happier as an individual after the gender reassignment process. Between these two extremes of cross-dressing are gradations, with the transvestite functioning somewhere in between. The transvestite who knows that he, or she in rare cases, is not alone and not insane is more able to come to terms with the condition and learn to live with it. Gender possibilities are broad, as are those of sex. People can exist anywhere along the continuum.

Genderphobe/genderphobia: One who is afraid of or oppresses people because one perceives them to have a gender identity not that of their physical sex.

Genetic Girl (GG): A female who was born female.

Genetic sex: Having to do with the XX (female) or XY (male) chromosome pair, which most heavily influence primary and secondary sex characteristics.

Genetic male/man/boy (GM/GB): One classed as male from birth, regardless of one's present sex or gender identity.

Girl: 1) A young female. 2) One who is projecting them self to society as a female. 3) Colloquial term for feminine. Often used to specify gender of clothes. [My girl clothes.] Girl has often been used as a condescending term for a woman, and is therefore distasteful to many people.

Hermaphrodite: An individual or animal in which reproductive organs of both sexes are present. 2 : something that is a combination of diverse elements.

Heterosexuality: Attraction to the opposite gender.

Heterosexual: One who has significant sexual or romantic attractions primarily to members of the other sex. Derogatory terms include breeder.

Heterophobe: One who is afraid of or oppresses people because one perceives them to have sexual or romantic attraction to the opposite sex.

Heterosexism: Is the assumption that all people are or should be heterosexual. Heterosexism excludes the needs, concerns, and life experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual people while it gives advantages to heterosexual people. It is often a subtle form of oppression that reinforces realities of silence and invisibility for gay and lesbian youth. 

Homophile: Obsolete term for gay male (community).

Homophobe: One who is afraid of or oppresses people because one perceives them to have sexual or romantic attractions to the same sex.

Homosexuality: Attraction to the same gender. 

Homosexual: Formal or clinical term for gay, usually meaning gay male, sometimes meaning LesGay, and occasionally meaning LesBiGay. Homosexual and homosexuality are often associated with the proposition that same sex attractions are a mental disorder, and are therefore distasteful to some people.

Homophobia: Is the fear, dislike, and/or hatred of same sex relationships or those who love and are sexually attracted to those of the same sex. Homophobia includes prejudice, discrimination, harassment, and acts of violence brought on by the fear and hatred. It occurs in schools on personal, institutional, and social levels. 

Hormone (therapy): Biochemicals which have control of many of the bodies secondary sexual characteristics and brain functions. Hormone therapy is used by transgendereds to change some secondary sex characteristics, including mental thought patterns, breast size, weight distribution, and hair growth.

Identity: How one thinks of oneself, as opposed to what others observe or think about one (See label, self-identity).

Internalized homophobia/biphobia/genderphobia: The internalized oppression of LesBiGays, bisexuals and transgendereds (sexual minorities) by members of the sexual minority. This often includes feeling that sexual minorities are bad at the core; that the entire world is unsafe; that sexual minorities can only trust other members of our own group; that members of sexual minorities are untrustworthy; that for safety sexual minorities must stay in hiding; that for safety sexual minorities must come out everywhere, all the time; that sexual minority love or expression is bad.

Internalized oppression: Negative messages and feelings about oneself, one's group, and how members of the group (including oneself) deserve to be treated, which are taken in as true at some level. Internalized oppression often includes messages which contradict one another, as well as messages which reinforce one another.

Intersex(ed): Individual with non-phenotypical sex organs. May or may not be transgendered.

Intersexual: Existing between sexes <intersexual hostility> 2 : intermediate in sexual characters between a typical male and a typical female.

Invisibility: Is the constant assumption of heterosexuality renders gay and lesbian people, and youth in particular invisible and seemingly non-existant. Gay and Lesbian people are usually not seen or portrayed in society, and especially not in schools and classrooms. 

Label: How someone thinks of one, as opposed to how one sees oneself. (See identity.)

Lesbian: A woman who has significant sexual or romantic attractions to the same sex, or who identifies as a member of the lesbian community. Bisexual women often do not feel included by this term. Derogatory slang: dyke, lesbo.

LesBiGay (community): Contraction of "lesbian, bisexual, and gay." Colloquial term for the sexual identity (community). Often spelled with capital "B" and "G" to prevent misinterpretation as "lesbian and gay." Does not include the gender community.

LesGay: Contraction of "lesbian and gay." Sometimes used to mean LesBiGay, but bisexuals often do not feel included by this term.

Male Impersonator: A female who, on specific occasions, crossdresses and employs stereotypical masculine dialog, voice, and mannerisms for the entertainment of other people.

Masculine: The gender role assigned to males (also man).

Monogendered: One who has a significant gender identity that encompasses only one gender, masculine or feminine. Normally, those without gender/sexual dysphoria and those who are transsexual (and maybe transgendered) are monogendered.

Monosexual: One who has significant sexual or romantic attractions only to members of one sex. Straight, gay, lesbian. Not bisexual. Related terms: monosexism, monosexist. (See heterosexist.)

No-op (transsexual): Transsexual who does not intend to change her primary sex characteristics to match her gender identity (i.e. have SRS).

Neuter: 1) One who has neither a penis nor a vagina (see primary sex characteristics). 2) Occasionally used to mean androgynous.

Oppression: Systematic mistreatment of and misinformation about people who are (believed to be) members of a particular group or class. Mistreatment ranges from not including members of the group in one's circle of friends, media reports on, and representations of society; through the cold shoulder; not consulting with or accepting input from them on decisions which concern them; snide comments; verbal harassment; assault; rape; and murder based on the target person's (perceived) membership in the group (See internalized oppression, homophobia, biphobia). Oppress - to participate in oppression.

Other sex/gender: The other sex or gender than the reference person's own. [She has an other sex partner (than her own sex).] [Are you currently in a relationship with a member of the other gender (than your own)?]

Out: To come out, to become public, known, out of the closet about one's trangenderism. 2. to go out in public dressed in clothing of the opposite sex. (to be) Out - To be open about one's sexual identity with someone or in a situation. [I am out to my mother.] [I am out at work.] (See come out.) 

Pass: To go unnoticed as a member of the opposite sex. —pass´a·ble, adj.

Partner-For-Life (PFL): This is much more significant than "mere" SO, it means that this person is THE person for intimate lifetime commitment. This person is someone who connects on every and all levels possible. Both the word *Partner* and *For Life* are doubly emphasized.

Physical Sex: To what sex does the body match, i.e. male, female, hermaphrodite or neuter. Normally, the genitalia are used as the final designator of physical sex.

Post-op (transsexual): Post operative (after SRS) transsexual. May not be considered a transsexual at this point.

Pre-op (transsexual): Pre operative (before SRS) transsexual. Normally implies the individual is planning SRS (see no-op).

Primary sex characteristics: Those primary physical characteristics that society relies on to separate the sexes. Penis (male) or vagina (female). (See female, male, hermaphrodite, neuter.)

Purge: To get rid of all opposite sex clothing (usually because of guilt).

Queer: A well known derogatory term which has been "reclaimed" primarily by many younger gays and lesbians to identify anyone who is different, but especially those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered (glbt).

Read: To notice that a person is not what s/he appears to be, is dressed as: She's a man, baby!

Real Life Test (RLT): That period imposed on the individual by the medical community in which he/she is required to live as full time in the role of the opposite sex before sexual reassignment surgery. Benjamin Standards of Care establishes this at 1 year.

Same sex/gender: The same sex or gender as the reference person's own. [He has a same sex partner (as his own sex).] [Are you currently in a relationship with a member of the same gender (as yourself)?]

Same Gender Loving: Is another term for homosexuality used primarily in the African American community.

Secondary sex(ual) characteristics: facial and body hair, vocal timbre and range, breast size, weight distribution.

Self-identify/identity: Formal for identity/identify. Emphasizes one's internal reality (identity), as opposed to external factors and others' interpretations of them (labels.)

Sexism:  The oppression of females, regardless of sexual identity.

Sexual Behavior: Refers to sexual activity. Persons may or may not express their sexual orientation through their behavior. 

Sexual Dysphoria: Unhappiness or discomfort experienced by an individual about ones physical sex. Unhappiness or discomfort may be too mild of words for many individuals. This may or may not be directly connected with gender dysphoria in that the individual may need to match physical sex with gender identity. This term is relatively new and is used to distinguish discomfort with assigned gender role and discomfort with physical sex.

Sexual Identity: Includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender role.

Sexual Minority: A broad term used to refer to GLBT people, those who differ from the heterosexual majority because of a different sexual orientation or gender identity. 

Sexual Orientation: Is the persisent pattern of physical and/or emotional attraction to members of the same or opposite sex. It includes feelings and self contempt. 1) A constellation of personal factors, including sexual orientation identity. (See the brochure Using the Klein Scale to Teach about Sexual Orientation, from ECBN.) 2) Sexual orientation identity. Sexual orientation emphasizes that some people feel that one has no control or influence over the development of one's sexual identity. Sexual preference emphasizes that some people feel that one does or should have some control or influence over the development of one's sexual identity.

Sex Role: Gender role.

Sex (physical sex): Male, female, hermaphrodite, or neuter, depending on one's primary sex characteristics.

Shock Drag: A purposeful display of gender dissonant symbolism such as a bearded man in a sequined dress. Considered exhibitionistic and not transgendered.

(SO) Significant Other: Significant Other: spouse or mate

SRS: Sexual Reassignment Surgery, also known as sex change operation. A surgical procedure designed to modify one's primary sexual characteristics (genitalia) from those of one sex to those of another (penis to vagina, or vagina to penis). May also include secondary surgery such as breast implants or removing the Adam's apple.

She-male: Term bordering on slang but also formally recognized as representing a male-birth- sexed transsexual who is non-operative and living full-time as a woman with usually extensive surgical secondary sexual characteristic augmentations such as breast, cheek and lips. Employment within the sex industry as either a prostitute or erotic film actress is sometimes considered a requirement for this designation.

Straight: Colloquial for heterosexual/non-transgendered. Straight has connotations of "unadulterated," "pure," and "honest," and some members of the sexual minority community find distasteful the implication that one who is not straight is "bent," "adulterated," "impure," or "dishonest." Straight also has connotations of "narrow," "straight-laced" or "conservative," and some heterosexual people find it distasteful.

T*, trans: Referring to anyone in the transgendered community.

Transgender community: Formal term for gender community.

Transphobia: Is the fear dislike and/or hatred for individuals who alter their biological sex (either through surgury or lifestyle change) to match their gender identity. Transphobia includes prejudice, discrimination, harassment and or acts of violence brought on by fear and hatred. It occurs in schools on personal, institutional and societal levels. Transphobia - Genderphobia.

Transgender(ism-ed): An umbrella term used to describe those with any crossgender proclivities regardless of degree of manifestation physically or psychologically within an individual.

Transsexual(ism): A term used for the most strongly and obviously manifested form of Transgenderism. This is a state where mental and spiritual dissonance with the born sex is so great that individuals are compelled to live as completely as possible as their self-perceived gender as a matter of survival and good mental health. This occurs with both those born female sexed (who become female to male [F2M] transsexuals) and those born male sexed (who become male to female [M2F] transsexuals). In consonance with this need, modern transsexuals usually seek hormonal treatment to achieve secondary sexual characteristics as well as surgical modifications to align their bodies with their self-image as well as their society's image of the gender they seek to present which further encourages and enables assimilation into mainstream Western culture. Further sub-divided into categories according to Sexual Reassignment Surgery (SRS) status as pre-operative, post-operative or non-operative.

Transgendered Identity: The experience of having a gender identity that is different from one's biological sex. Transgendered persons experience themselves as the opposite biological gender. 

Transvestite(ism): A term pertaining to individuals who periodically crossdress/crosslive with the purpose of presenting in the gender opposite of that commonly congruent with their birth sex. This behavior can accompany a sexual need as well as emotional and psychological needs. The status of transvestism as a lesser degree of gender/sex dissonance to Transsexualism is held by this writer but is disputed by others in the transsexual community who hold that transvestites are merely examples of a particular sexual fetish involving stereotypical and erotic clothing of the opposite gender and little more.

(TG) Transgender: Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of transvestites, transsexuals, and cross-dressers.

Transgendered (TG) 1) a catch all for anyone in the gender community. 2) An individual who's gender identity is other than that assigned by society for an individuals physical sex. 3) An individual who chooses to live the life of the opposite sex without SRS (see No-op TS). 4) An individual who's gender identity is somewhere between the transsexual identity and the transvestite identity.

(TS) Transsexual: A person having a strong desire to assume the physical charcteristics and gender role of the opposite sex. 2. a person who has undergone hormone treatment and surgery to attain the physical characteristics of the opposite sex. An individual who is sexual dysphoric.  An individual who's gender identity is that opposite of her/his physical sex. Normally desires modification of the physical body (i.e. SRS) to match that of gender identity.

(TV) Transvestite: A person, esp. a male, who assumes the dress, manner and appearance usually associated with the opposite sex. Anyone who dresses in the clothes assigned by society to the opposite sex for emotional reasons. Anyone who expresses transgender feelings/actions yet still maintains a partial gender identity that matches physical sex (see bigendered).

Tranny: A popular British term used when referring to transvestites or transsexuals.

Transition: The period of time between when the individual first starts the sex-reassignment procedure and when the individual is living totally as a member of the opposite sex.

X-dress: Crossdress.