Cher, an iconic American singer, actress, and television personality, is celebrated as a gay icon within the LGBTQIA+ community for her life-long support of LGBTQIA+ rights, her flamboyant style, and her musical influence. Her ability to adapt over the decades and her unwavering support for the community, including her public support of her transgender son, Chaz Bono, have solidified her status as a beloved figure. Cher's music and persona resonate deeply within the community, often symbolizing empowerment, resilience, and the freedom to be oneself.

Cherry Grove is a small beach community on Fire Island, New York, known as one of the earliest havens for the LGBTQIA+ community in the United States. Dating back to the early 20th century, it became a safe space where LGBTQIA+ individuals could express themselves openly and form a close-knit community, at a time when such freedom was not available in many other places. Over the years, Cherry Grove has played a significant role in LGBTQIA+ history and culture, hosting events, parties, and gatherings that celebrate inclusivity and diversity. The area is renowned for its vibrant nightlife, cultural events like the annual drag queen invitational, and its significance in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights and acceptance. Its existence and persistence as a welcoming space for LGBTQIA+ individuals highlight the importance of such sanctuaries in fostering a sense of community and belonging.

"Chicken" refers to a young, often inexperienced gay or bisexual man. The term highlights the youth and perceived naivety of the individual, sometimes implying vulnerability within the community or dating scene. While it can be used affectionately, it also carries potential for exploitation or objectification, emphasizing the importance of awareness and protection for younger members within LGBTQIA+ spaces. This term underscores conversations about age dynamics, consent, and mentorship within the community, as well as the broader societal attitudes towards youth and sexuality.

A "Chicken Queen" is a term used to refer to an older gay man who prefers younger men, often significantly so. This term emphasizes a particular dynamic within the community, focusing on age disparity in relationships or attractions. While it can reflect genuine preferences and consensual relationships, it also raises discussions about power dynamics, consent, and the importance of respectful and ethical interactions within the community. The term can be controversial and is reflective of the complex ways in which age and attraction intersect within LGBTQIA+ cultures.

Choke, within the realm of kink and BDSM, refers to the consensual act of restricting someone's breath for erotic arousal or power play dynamics. It is a form of edge play that necessitates clear consent, trust, and communication between partners due to its inherent risks. Participants typically negotiate boundaries and safety signals before engaging in choking. This practice emphasizes the psychological thrill of control and surrender, and it is crucial that it is performed with caution to prevent serious harm.

"Chop" refers to being disqualified or eliminated from a category in ballroom culture, a subculture within the LGBTQIA+ community. Ballroom events, known as balls, are competitions where individuals "walk" (compete) in various categories to showcase their fashion, beauty, voguing skills, and overall presentation. Categories can range from realness, where participants aim to convincingly represent a specific gender or social role, to performance categories involving dance or voguing. Being "chopped" means that a participant will not move forward to the next round of competition in that category, as decided by the judges based on their criteria for the category being contested.

A chosen family consists of individuals who are not biologically related but have formed a deep, familial bond based on support, love, and mutual respect. Within the LGBTQIA+ community, where many may face rejection from their biological families due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, chosen families provide essential emotional support, understanding, and a sense of belonging. These relationships are particularly significant for LGBTQIA+ individuals, offering a sanctuary of acceptance and affirming their identities in a way that traditional family structures may not. Chosen families play a crucial role in the mental and emotional well-being of their members, often becoming a primary source of support and care.

A chosen name is a name that an individual selects for themselves to reflect their identity, often used within the LGBTQIA+ community by transgender, non-binary, and other gender non-conforming individuals. This name may differ from the one assigned at birth and is chosen to better align with the individual’s gender identity and personal sense of self. Chosen names are an expression of self-determination and autonomy, embodying the individual's true identity. Using a person's chosen name is a form of respect and affirmation of their identity, and it plays a significant role in supporting mental health and well-being.

Christopher Street is a historic street located in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, known as a symbol of LGBTQIA+ pride and history. It gained prominence in the LGBTQIA+ rights movement following the Stonewall Riots of 1969, which occurred at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar on Christopher Street. This uprising is celebrated as a pivotal moment in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights, leading to the annual LGBTQIA+ pride parades held around the world. Christopher Street and the surrounding area have long been a space of refuge, community, and activism for LGBTQIA+ individuals. The street is home to various LGBTQIA+ businesses and cultural sites, and it continues to represent the struggle for equality and the rich history of the LGBTQIA+ community.

A "Chubby Chaser" refers to an individual who is attracted to or prefers partners with a fuller or more rounded body type. This term is often used in a somewhat playful manner, but it highlights the diversity of attractions and preferences within the community. It also serves to challenge conventional beauty standards by acknowledging and valuing a range of body types. While the term itself can be seen as affirming, it's essential to approach discussions around body image and attraction with sensitivity and respect for individual dignity.

A "Circuit Gay" refers to a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly within gay culture, who frequently attends large dance events known as circuit parties. These parties are well-known for their extensive, high-energy dance environments, often featuring elaborate themes, world-class DJs, and a strong sense of community among attendees. Circuit parties can be significant to LGBTQIA+ culture, offering spaces for freedom of expression, celebration of identity, and solidarity. They are especially popular within the gay male community but are inclusive of all LGBTQIA+ individuals. These events can also serve as fundraisers for various LGBTQIA+ health and community service organizations.

A Circuit Party is a large-scale, dance event geared primarily towards the LGBTQIA+ community, featuring extended hours of electronic dance music played by top DJs. Originating in the early 1980s, these events are known for their festive atmosphere, elaborate productions, and the celebration of gay culture and freedom. Often held in major cities around the world, circuit parties can attract thousands of attendees from various backgrounds. While they serve as significant cultural gatherings where participants can express themselves freely and celebrate their identities, these events also play a critical role in fundraising for LGBTQIA+ health and community service organizations. Circuit parties are a testament to the resilience, solidarity, and vibrancy of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Cis, short for cisgender, refers to individuals whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth. For example, someone born with female genitalia who identifies as a woman is cisgender. This term is used to contrast with transgender identities and highlight the spectrum of gender experiences. Cisgender is not indicative of sexuality, as it strictly pertains to one's gender identity. It's important within LGBTQIA+ discussions for acknowledging the diversity of gender identities and the experiences of those who do not identify with their assigned sex at birth. It helps in understanding the nuances of gender beyond the binary and in recognizing everyone's unique identity and experience.

Cisbian is a term that refers to cisgender women who are exclusively attracted to other cisgender women. This term is used within LGBTQIA+ contexts to differentiate between the various identities and preferences that exist within the community, emphasizing the specific experiences and identities of cisgender lesbians. It highlights the intersection of gender identity (cisgender) and sexual orientation (lesbian) and acknowledges the diverse spectrum of identities within the LGBTQIA+ community. This term is particularly useful in discussions that aim to address or explore the nuances of experiences among women who love women, including but not limited to issues of visibility, representation, and the dynamics within LGBTQIA+ spaces.

Cisgender refers to individuals whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth. For example, someone assigned male at birth and who identifies as a man is cisgender. This term is used to contrast with transgender and other non-cisgender identities, providing a way to discuss gender identity without implicitly centering transgender experiences as "other." Understanding the concept of being cisgender is crucial for recognizing the diversity of gender identities and experiences within the LGBTQIA+ community and beyond. It highlights the normative assumptions about gender that are often taken for granted and challenges the binary understanding of gender by acknowledging the broad spectrum of gender identities.

Cishet is a portmanteau of "cisgender" and "heterosexual." It describes individuals who identify as the gender they were assigned at birth (cisgender) and are attracted exclusively to people of the opposite gender (heterosexual). In discussions within the LGBTQIA+ community and contexts addressing gender and sexual orientation, the term is used to distinguish those who fit within societal norms of gender and sexual orientation from those who fall outside these norms. Recognizing the term "cishet" is part of understanding the diversity of experiences and identities beyond the majority's experience, acknowledging the privileges often associated with being cisgender and heterosexual in many societies.

Cisnormativity refers to the societal assumption that being cisgender, meaning identifying with the gender assigned at birth, is the norm or standard, while all other gender identities are seen as deviations from this norm. This assumption often leads to the marginalization and invisibility of transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals in various aspects of society, including legal systems, healthcare, media representation, and daily social interactions. Cisnormativity can contribute to discrimination and misunderstanding of the complexities and legitimacy of all gender identities outside the cisgender experience.

Cissexism, also known as genderism, is the systemic and societal bias or discrimination against transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people, based on the assumption that cisgender identities (where an individual's gender identity matches their sex assigned at birth) are superior or more "natural" than transgender identities. This form of prejudice can manifest in various ways, from explicit acts of discrimination and violence to more subtle forms, such as the lack of representation in media and everyday language that reinforces the binary concept of gender. Cissexism contributes to the marginalization and oppression of individuals whose gender identity or expression deviates from societal norms, affecting their access to healthcare, legal protection, and social acceptance.

A civil union is a legally recognized arrangement similar to marriage, created primarily as a way to provide same-sex couples with rights, benefits, and responsibilities similar to those of marriage. These can include aspects related to inheritance, property ownership, medical decision-making, and more. Civil unions were introduced in various jurisdictions as a means to offer legal recognition to same-sex relationships at a time when same-sex marriage was not legally permitted. While civil unions offer many of the same legal benefits as marriage, they do not carry the same social, cultural, or religious recognition as marriage. With the increasing legalization of same-sex marriage worldwide, civil unions have become less common, with some regions converting existing civil unions to marriages or phasing them out entirely in favor of marriage equality.

"Clack" or "clacking" refers to two distinctive sounds associated with expressive cultural practices. Primarily, it denotes the sharp sound made by high heels striking a hard surface, often emphasizing the dramatic entrance or movement of drag performers and ballroom participants. Additionally, it describes the loud snap of a hand-fan being abruptly opened, a common gesture in drag performances and LGBTQIA+ gatherings that signals dramatic flair or punctuates a moment, adding both auditory and visual impact to expressions of identity and presence.

Clean particularly refers to individuals who are free from sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, this term is considered controversial and potentially stigmatizing because it implies that individuals who do have STIs are "dirty." The community often advocates for more neutral language such as "STI-free" or "currently testing negative" to promote a healthier and more inclusive dialogue about sexual health.

CliTerference refers to the act or process of deliberately interrupting or interfering with a woman's ability to achieve sexual satisfaction or orgasm. This term is often used within the LGBTQIA+ community to address issues of sexual satisfaction, consent, and communication between partners. It highlights the importance of recognizing and respecting each individual's needs and boundaries during sexual activities. The concept emphasizes the need for open, honest communication about sexual desires and preferences to ensure mutual respect and pleasure in sexual encounters. This term underscores the broader discussions around sexual health, autonomy, and consent, advocating for a more inclusive and understanding approach to sexual intimacy.

"Clit" often refers to the clitoris, a key part of female sexual anatomy and pleasure. This term is used straightforwardly but can also carry significant weight in discussions about sexual health, pleasure, and anatomy, especially in contexts involving women's sexuality and transgender issues. For transgender men, it may refer to the growth of the clitoris induced by testosterone therapy, which is a part of gender affirmation.

Clock refers to the act of recognizing or identifying something about a person that they might not be openly expressing, such as detecting that someone is transgender and not cisgender based on their appearance or behavior. This term is often used regarding the ability or instance of noticing the trans status of a transgender individual when they may prefer to go unnoticed or blend in as their true gender. The concept of "clocking" someone can bring up issues of privacy, respect, and the importance of not outing or drawing attention to someone's gender identity without their consent. It highlights the significance of understanding, respect, and discretion in interactions within and outside the LGBTQIA+ community.

The term "Clone" refers to a specific look or style adopted by some gay men during the 1970s and 1980s, characterized by a hyper-masculine appearance. This style often included a mustache, tight jeans, short-sleeved plaid shirts, leather jackets, and sometimes a cap or bandana, which were all meant to emphasize a rugged and macho demeanor. Clones aimed to embody a particular masculine ideal, partly in response to societal stereotypes that equated gay men with effeminacy. This identity and fashion choice allowed for visibility and solidarity among gay men, while also challenging mainstream perceptions of masculinity and gay identity. The clone look has had a lasting impact on gay culture and is often celebrated in LGBTQIA+ parades and events as a symbol of pride and resilience.