Glossary

These definitions are largely taken from the Human Rights Commission Glossary of Terms.

Our Word	Also Known As	Definition
Enby	Non-Binary	An adjective describing a person who does not identify exclusively as a man or a woman. Non-binary people may identify as being both a man and a woman, somewhere in between, or as falling completely outside these categories. While many also identify as transgender, not all non-binary people do. Non-binary can also be used as an umbrella term encompassing identities such as agender, bigender, genderqueer or gender-fluid.
Ace	Asexual	The lack of a sexual attraction or desire for other people.
Achillean	Gay Men	A man who is emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to other men. A reference to the mythological figure Achilles.
Aro	Aromantic	Someone who does not experience romantic attraction.
Bi	Bisexual	A person emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to more than one sex, gender or gender identity though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way or to the same degree. Sometimes used interchangeably with Pansexual.
Pan	Pansexual	Describes someone who has the potential for emotional, romantic or sexual attraction to people of any gender though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way or to the same degree. Sometimes used interchangeably with Bisexual.
Poly	Polyamory	Being in/open to multiple loving relationships at the same time. Often used as an umbrella term for all forms of ethical, consensual, and loving non-monogamy.
Sapphic	Lesbian	A woman who is emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to other women. A reference to Greek poet Sappho.
Trans	Transgender	An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or expression is different from cultural expectations based on the sex they were assigned at birth. Being transgender does not imply any specific sexual orientation. Therefore, transgender people may identify as straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, etc.
TransFemme	Transfeminine / Trans Woman / MtF	A woman who was assigned male at birth.
TransMasc	Transmasculine / Trans Man / FtM	A man who was assigned female at birth.

 

Other Useful Terms

Our Word	Also Known As	Definition
	Agender	People who identify as having no gender or as gender neutral. The term Agender can be literally translated to ‘without gender’. Agender folks may have any type of expression and use any set of pronouns or no pronouns.
	Ally	A term used to describe someone who is actively supportive of LGBTQIA+ people. It encompasses straight and cisgender allies, as well as those within the LGBTQIA+ community who support each other (e.g., a lesbian who is an ally to the bisexual community).
Cis	Cisgender	A term used to describe a person whose gender identity aligns with those typically associated with the sex assigned to them at birth.
	Demiromantic	Feeling romantic attraction to someone only after forming an emotional bond with them. Part of the grey-romantic and broader aromantic community.
	Demisexual	Feeling sexual attraction to someone only after forming a deep emotional bond with them. Part of the broader asexual community.
	Genderqueer	People whose gender identity does not fit within the male/female binary.
	Intersex	Intersex people are born with a variety of differences in their sex traits and reproductive anatomy. There is a wide variety of difference among intersex variations, including differences in genitalia, chromosomes, gonads, internal sex organs, hormone production, hormone response, and/or secondary sex traits.
	Takatāpui	Takatāpui is a Māori word, historically meaning 'intimate companion of the same sex'. The term was reclaimed and is now used as an umbrella term for Māori individuals who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex or part of the rainbow community.

 

Definitions by Human Rights Campaign and Gender Minorities Aotearoa . If you know of additional glossary terms that you think should be listed, please let us know: kiaora@alphabetbookclub.nz