Glossary
Every term we use, defined plainly.
The LGBTQ+ glossary: 1,204 terms defined plainly. For when an agency says something and you want to know what it actually means.
1,204
Terms defined plainly, kept current, and cross-linked so one search answers the next three questions too.
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4 terms
A
78 terms
- A League of Their Own
- Ability
- Ableism
- Abrosexual
- Abrosexual Flag
- Abstain / Abstinence
- AC/DC
- Ace
- Ace Of Diamonds
- Ace Of Hearts
- Ace Of Spades
- Ace-Spectrum
- Aceflux
- Acesexual / Asexuality
- Achillean
- ACT UP
- Activist Lesbian
- Adam4Adam
- Adrienne Rich (1929-2012)
- Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The
- Advocate
- Aesthetic Attraction
- AFAB
- Age Play
- Ageism
- Agender
- Agender Flag
- AIDS
- AIDS Crisis
- AIDS Epidemic
- AIDS Memorial Quilt
- Alan Turing (1912-1954)
- Alex Newell
- Ali Forney (1975-1997)
- Ali Forney Center, The
- Allistic
- Alloromantic
- Allosexism
- Allosexual
- Ally
- Allyship
- Alpha Lesbian
- Alternative Lesbian
- Alterous Attraction
- Altersex
- AMAB
- Amatonormativity
- Ambiguous Genitalia
- Ambisextrous
- American Dream and Promise Act, The
- Amyl Nitrate
- Anal Sex
- Androgyne
- Androgynous
- Androphilia
- Androsexual / Androphilic
- Andy Warhol (1928-1987)
- Anon
- Anti-Drag Law
- Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)
- Anything Goes
- Apretude
- Aro
- Aroace
- Aroflux
- Aromantic / Aro
- Aromantic Flag
- Asexual
- Asexual Flag
- Asexuality
- Asexy
- Assigned Sex
- Atlantic House
- Attachment
- Audre Lorde (1934-1992)
- Auntie
- Autism
- Autoromantic
B
93 terms
- Babadook
- Baby Dyke
- Backroom
- Baiting
- Ballroom Culture
- Ban on Transgender Military Service
- Bandana Code
- Banned Books
- Bareback
- Basic
- Bathhouse
- Bathroom Bill
- Bathwater
- Bator
- Bayard Rustin (1912-1987)
- Bb
- BDE
- BDSM
- Bean Queen
- Bear
- Bear Brotherhood Flag
- Bear Chaser
- Bear Community
- Bear Pride Flag
- Beard
- Beat
- Bender
- Bi Erasure
- Bi Visibility Day
- Bi+
- Bianca Del Rio
- Bicon
- BiCurious
- Bigender
- Bigender Pride Flag
- Billy Porter
- Binding
- Biological Sex
- Biphobia
- BIPOC
- Birdcage, The
- Biromantic
- Bisexual / Bi
- Bisexual Flag
- Bitchy Gay
- Black Hanky
- Blaq / Blaqueer
- Blood Ban
- Bloodline
- Blouse
- Blue DVD
- Blue Jeans Lesbian
- Blue Store
- Body Image
- Body Policing
- Boi Lesbian
- Bondage
- Boots
- Boots The House Down
- Bostock v. Clayton County
- Bottom
- Bottom Bunk
- Bottom Surgery
- Bowers v. Hardwick (1986)
- Boy / Boi
- Boy Erased
- Boyfriend Twins
- Boymoder
- Boystown
- Boystown (Chicago)
- Breeder
- Broadway
- Broadway Bares
- Broadway Cares
- Brokeback Mountain
- Bros
- Brown Hanky
- Brownie Queen
- Brunswick Four
- Bubblebutt
- Bugger
- Buggery
- Bukkake
- Bull
- Bull Dyke
- Burlesque
- Bussy
- Butch
- Butch Dyke
- Butch Queen
- Butchy Femme
- Buttgasm
- Byke
C
96 terms
- Cabotegravir
- Cafe Lafitte in Exile
- Cake
- Call Me by Your Name
- Camp / Campy
- Candle Play
- Car Play
- Carrington House
- Carrying
- Castro Camera
- Castro District
- Castro, The
- Cat O’ Nine Tails
- Catcher
- Catfishing
- CBT
- Celesbian
- Center For Black Equity, The
- Center, The
- Ceterosexual
- Chappell Roan
- Chapstick Lesbian
- Chaser
- Chastity
- Chastity Cage
- Chemsex
- Cher
- Cherry Grove
- Chicken
- Chicken Queen
- Choke
- Chop
- Chosen Family
- Chosen Famliy
- Chosen Name
- Christopher St.
- Chubby Chaser
- Circuit Gay
- Circuit Party
- Cis
- Cisbian
- Cisgender
- Cishet
- Cisnormativity
- Cissexism / Genderism
- Civil Union
- Clack / Clacking
- Clean
- Clit
- CliTerference
- Clock
- Clocked
- Clone
- Closet / Closeted
- Club Feathers
- Co-Parent Adoption
- Cockring / Cock Ring / C-Ring
- Cocksucker
- Code-Switching
- Coins
- Coming Out
- Coming Out Day
- Commando
- Comp Het
- Compersion
- Compton's Cafeteria Riot
- Compulsory Heterosexuality
- Condoms
- Condoms Only
- Confirmatory Adoption
- Consensual
- Constellation
- Contract
- Conversion Therapy
- Conversion Therapy Ban
- Corporal Punishment
- Cottaging
- Crash Landing
- Creampie
- Criminal Justice And Public Order Act (1994)
- Cross Dresser (CD)
- Cross-Dressing
- Cruising
- Cruising Ground
- Crush
- Crystal
- Cubs
- Cuck
- Cultural Humility
- Culture
- Cum
- Cum Shot
- Cunt
- Cunty
- Cupiosexual
- Cut
D
58 terms
- Daddy
- Daddy Issues
- Dance Major
- Darcelle XV Showpiece
- Dark Blue Hanky
- Dark Room
- Daughters of Bilitis
- David Bowie (1947-2016)
- Day of Remembrance
- Day of Silence
- Deadname / Deadnaming
- Death Drop
- Demiboy
- Demiboy Pride Flag
- Demigirl
- Demiromantic
- Demisexual
- Demisexuality
- Der Eigene
- Descovy
- Designing Women
- Diagnostic and Statistic Manual (DSM)
- Diesel Dyke
- Dildo
- Dinah Shore Weekend
- DINK (Dual Income, No Kids)
- Dip
- Dirty
- Disability / (Dis)ability / Dis/ability
- Discreet
- Discrimination
- Disney Gay
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)
- DIY
- Do No Harm Act
- Dom / Dominant
- Don't Ask Dont Tell
- Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT)
- Don't Say Gay
- Dopplebanger
- Down-Low / DL
- Doxy-PEP
- Dr. Franklin E. Kameny Residence
- Drab
- Drag
- Drag Daughter
- Drag Feather Pride Flag
- Drag King
- Drag Queen
- Drag Queen Story Hour
- Drag Race
- DTF
- Duck-walk
- Dupont Circle
- Dyke
- Dykon
- Dynasty
- Dysphoria
E
33 terms
- E-Stimulation / Electrical Play
- Eagle, The
- Earl Hall at Columbia University
- Eat / Eating / Ate
- Ecstasy
- Edging
- Edith "Edie" Windsor (1929-2017)
- Egg
- Eggplant
- Ellen DeGeneres
- Elton John
- Emo Lesbian
- Emotional Attraction
- En Femme
- En Homme
- Enby
- End Racial and Religious Profiling Act
- Enda (Employment Non-Discrimination Act)
- Endosex
- Equal Rights
- Equality
- Equality Act
- Equalpride
- Equity
- Equity Fights AIDS
- Escort
- Ethnicity
- Euphoria
- Every Child Deserves a Family Act
- Everyone Else
- Exhibitionist
- Extra
- Ey / Em / Eir
F
54 terms
- F2M
- Face Card
- Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS)
- Fag
- Fag Hag
- Fag Stag
- Faggot
- Fair and Equal Housing Act
- Fairy
- FAMILY Act
- Federal Building
- Feel Good
- Feet
- Fellow Travelers
- Femboy
- Feminine
- Feminine-of-center
- Feminine-presenting
- Femme
- Femme Lesbian
- Femme4Femme
- Fetish
- Fire Island (Film)
- Fire Island Pines (FIP)
- Fish / FIshy (Drag)
- Fisting (FF)
- Flag Dancers / Flaggers
- Flagging
- Flamboyant
- Flamer
- Flaming
- Flexible
- Flipping
- Flit
- Flogging
- Flower
- Fluid
- Folsom Street (Organization)
- Folsom Street Fair
- Folx
- Foreskin (Kink)
- Frank Kameny (1925-2011)
- Fraysexual
- Freddie Mercury (1946-1991)
- Friend Of Dorothy
- Frottage
- Fruit
- FTM
- Fudge Packer
- Function
- Furries
- Futanari
- Futch
- FWB
G
111 terms
- G (GhB)
- Gaff
- Gag (Kink)
- Gagged
- Gagging
- Game Of Flats
- Gang Bang
- Gangway
- Gay
- Gay Agenda
- Gay Bar
- Gay Cancer
- Gay Card
- Gay Cure Therapy
- Gay Days
- Gay Icon
- Gay Liberation Front
- Gay Mafia
- Gay Men's Chorus
- Gay Men’s Pride Flag
- Gay Panic
- Gay Pride
- Gay Rights
- Gay Village
- Gay4Pay / Gay For Pay
- Gayby
- Gaydar
- Gaydar (App)
- Gaygency, The
- Gaymer
- Gaysian
- Gear
- Geek / Nerd
- Gender
- Gender Affirming
- Gender Bender
- Gender Binary
- Gender Confirmation Surgery (GCS)
- Gender Dysphoria
- Gender Euphoria
- Gender Expansive
- Gender Expression
- Gender Fluid / Genderfluid
- Gender Gifted
- Gender Identity
- Gender Illusionist
- Gender Marker
- Gender Neutral
- Gender Neutrois
- Gender Non-Conforming (GNC)
- Gender Normative
- Gender Outlaw
- Gender Recognition Act
- Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC)
- Gender Unicorn
- Gender Variant
- Gender X
- Gender-Affirmation Surgery (GAS)
- Gender-Affirming Care
- Gender-Affirming Care Ban
- Genderfluid Flag
- Genderism / Cissexism
- Genderqueer / Gender Queer
- Genderqueer Pride Flag
- Genders & Sexualities Alliance Network (GSA Network)
- GG
- Gilbert Baker
- Gilbert Pride Flag
- Girl-Mode
- Girldick
- Girlfag
- Given Name
- GLAAD (Formerly The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation)
- GLBT
- Glen Maxey
- Global Respect Act
- GLOBE Act
- Glory Hole
- Glsen (Formerly The Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network)
- Go-Go's / Go-Go Dancer
- God's Own Country
- Gold Star Gay
- Gold Star Lesbian
- Golden Gays
- Golden Girls
- Good Judy
- Gooning
- Grabby Awards
- Grand Marshal
- Gray
- Gray-A
- Grayromantic
- Graysexual
- Graysexual Pride Flag
- Green Hanky
- Grey Hanky
- Grey Queen
- Greyromantic
- Grid (Gay-Related Immune Deficiency, Also Known As "Gay Cancer")
- Grid, The
- Grindr
- Grindr Tribes
- Group
- Growlr
- Gun Violence Prevention Measures
- Guncle
- Guy-Mode
- Guydyke
- Gym Bunnies
- Gynephilia
- Gynesexual
H
46 terms
- H.G. Roosters
- H&H
- Hacks
- Hands
- Hanky Code
- Hard Limits
- Harness
- Harvey Milk (1930-1978)
- Hasbian
- He / Him / His
- Healthy Families Act
- Heartstopper
- Henrietta Hudson
- Henry Gerber House, Chicago, Illinois
- Her
- Hermaphrodite
- Hermie
- Heteroflexible
- Heteronormativity
- Heteroromantic
- Heterosexism
- Heterosexual / Heterosexuality
- Heterosexual Pride Flag
- High Femme
- Himbo
- HIV
- Homo
- Homoerotic
- Homoflexible
- Homonationalism
- Homophobia
- Homoromantic
- Homosexual
- Homosexuality
- Hookup
- Horatian
- Hormone Therapy / HRT
- Hornet
- Host
- House
- House Father
- House Mother
- Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
- Hung
- Hunty
- Hustler / Prostitution
I
23 terms
- I Feel Love (Song)
- I Live
- I oop
- Ilga (International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans And Intersex Association)
- In Face / Outta Face
- Incel
- Inclusion
- Intellectual Attraction
- Internalized Homophobia
- Internalized oppression
- Internalized Transphobia
- International Human Rights Defense Act
- InterPride
- Interrogation
- Intersectionality
- Intersex
- Intersex Awareness Day
- Intersex Flag
- Intersex Genital Mutilation
- Intersex-Inclusive Pride Flag
- Intimacy
- Invasion, The
- It's Giving
J
13 terms
K
12 terms
L
57 terms
- Labrys Lesbian Flag
- Lady Boy
- Lady Bunny
- Lambda Legal
- Larry Kramer (1935-2020)
- Latex
- Latine
- Lavender Marriage
- Lavender Menace
- Lavender Scare
- Lawrence v. Texas
- Leather (Kink)
- Leather Bar
- Leather Community
- Leather Daddy
- Leather Pride Flag
- Legal Gender
- Legendary Children
- Lenacapavir
- Lesbian
- Lesbian Bar
- Lesbian Bed Death (LBD)
- Lesbian Flag
- Lesbo
- Lesboy
- Lesly
- Lex
- LGBT
- LGBTQ
- LGBTQ History Month
- LGBTQ+
- LGBTQIA
- LGBTQIA; GSM; DSG
- LGBTQIA+
- LGBTQIA2
- LGBTQIA2+
- LGBTQIA2+ Spectrum
- Life Partner
- Light Blue Hanky
- Light In The Fedora
- Light In The Loafers
- Light In The Pants
- Limits
- Limp-wristed
- Lingerie
- Lip Sync
- Lipstick Lesbian
- LipSync
- Lived Name
- Load
- Log Cabin Republicans
- Logo (Network)
- Lone Star Lesbian
- Looking
- Love
- Lug Lesbian
- Lust
M
57 terms
- M2F
- Magnetic
- MAL (Mid-Atlantic Leather)
- Malefail
- Marriage
- Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013
- Marriage Equality
- Marsha P. Johnson (1945-1992)
- Mary
- Masc (Men)
- Masc (Women)
- Masc For Masc / Masc4Masc
- Masc Lesbian
- Masculine of Center (MOC)
- Masochist
- Mattachine Society
- Matthew Shepard (1976-1998)
- Matthew Shepard And James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act
- Matthew Shepard Foundation, The
- Maverique Pride Flag
- MDMA
- Meat Rack, The
- Medical Transition
- Mephedrone (Meph, M-Cat, Meow-Meow)
- Metamour
- Metrosexual
- Microaggressions
- Military
- Milk (Movie)
- Misgendering
- Miss Major Griffin-Gracy (b. 1940)
- MISTR
- Mixed-Couple
- MLM (Man-Loving-Man / Men-Loving-Men)
- Molly (Drug)
- Mona's 440 Club
- Monkeypox
- Monogamish
- Monogamy
- Monosexism
- Monosexual
- Moonlight (Movie)
- Mopping
- Mother (as a verb)
- Mouth Breather
- Mpox (Monkeypox)
- MSM (Men Who Have Sex With Men)
- MTF
- Muff Diver
- Multisexual
- Mummification
- Muscle
- Muscle Bear
- Muscle Mary
- Musical Theatre
- Mussy
- Mx (Title)
N
23 terms
- Nancy
- Nasty Pig
- National Center For Transgender Equality (NCTE)
- National Coalition Of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP), The
- National Coming Out Day
- National LGBTQ Task Force, The
- Negotiation
- Neopronouns
- Neptunic
- Nesting Partner
- Neurodivergent
- Neurodiversity
- Neurotypical
- Neutrois
- New Progress Pride Flag
- New Way
- NGLCC (The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce)
- Nipple Torture
- Nipples
- Non Binary / Nonbinary / Non-Binary
- Nonbinary Flag
- NSA
- Nylon
O
24 terms
P
88 terms
- Packing
- Palm Springs
- Panromantic
- Pansexual (Pan)
- Pansexual Flag
- Pansy
- Paris is Burning
- Parnter
- Party Bottom
- Passing (Gender)
- Passing (Sexuality)
- Passion
- Patient 0
- Patriarchy
- Pauli Murray Family Home
- Peach
- Pegging
- PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis)
- Per / Per
- Periodt
- Personal Pronouns
- PFLAG (Parents, Families, And Friends Of Lesbians And Gays)
- PGP
- Philadelphia (Movie)
- Philadelphia Pride Flag
- Phobia
- Physical Attraction
- Piano Bar
- Piercings
- Pig / Piggy
- Pillow Biter
- Pillow Princess
- Pillow Queen
- Pinched
- Pink Cupid
- Pink Mafia
- Pink Triangle
- Pinkwashing
- Piss Play
- Pissing
- Pitcher
- Pits
- Platinum Star Gay
- Platonic Attraction
- Platonic Life Partnership
- Play Sheets
- PnP
- POC (People Of Color)
- Polari
- Polyamorous / Polyamory / Poly
- Polyamorous Flag
- Polycule
- Polygender
- Polyromantic
- Polysexual
- Polysexual Flag
- Pomosexual
- Poof
- Poofter
- Poppers
- Pose (TV Show)
- Positive
- Post-Op
- Potato Queen
- Power Bottom
- Power Lesbian
- Poz
- Pre-Op
- PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis)
- PrEP Access and Coverage Act
- Pressed
- Pride
- Pride Month
- Pride Parade
- Privilege
- Progress Pride Flag
- Pronouns
- Protective Attraction
- Provincetown / P-Town
- Puberty Blockers
- Public
- PULSE (Nightclub)
- Punk
- Pup / Puppy
- Puppy Play
- Purple Hanky
- Pussy
- Pussy Riot
Q
15 terms
R
37 terms
- Race
- Racism
- Rainbow
- Rainbow Capitalism
- Rainbow Family
- Rainbow Flag
- Rambles, The
- Raw
- Read
- Real Education for Healthy Youth Act
- Real Life Test
- Realness
- Red Hanky
- Red White & Royal Blue
- Relationship Anarchy
- Reneé Rapp
- Rent (Musical)
- RentBoy
- Repressor
- Respect for Marriage Act
- Rice Queen
- Rita Hester
- Robin Byrd
- Robin Byrd Show, The
- Roleplay
- Romantic Attraction
- Romantic Orientation
- Rough
- Rough Trade
- Rubber
- Rubber Pride Flag
- Rugged
- RuPaul
- RuPaul's Drag Race (RPDR)
- Rush
- Ryan White (1971-1990)
- Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resource Emergency (CARE) Act
S
143 terms
- S&M
- Sadist
- Safe Schools Improvement Act
- Safe Space
- Safe Word
- Safe, Sane, and Consensual
- Safer Sex
- SAGE (Services & Advocacy For GLBT Elders)
- Salmacian
- Same Gender Loving (SGL)
- Same-Sex Attraction (SSA)
- Santorum
- Sapatrans
- Sapatrava
- Sapphic
- Sashay
- Scat
- Scene (Kink)
- Scene, The
- Schitt's Creek
- Scissoring
- Scruff
- Second Parent Adoption
- Section 28
- Self-Hating Gay
- Sensual Attraction
- Seroconversion
- Serodiscordant
- Serosorting
- Serve
- Service
- Service Top
- Serving
- Serving Cunt
- Session
- Sex (Action)
- Sex (Gender)
- Sex Assigned At Birth (SAAB)
- Sex Party
- Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS)
- Sex Shop
- Sex Work / Sex Worker
- Sex-Shame
- Sexism
- Sexual Attraction
- Sexual Orientation
- Sexual Preference
- Sexuality
- Sexuality Spectrum
- Shade
- She / Her / Hers
- Shemale
- Showoff
- Showtunes
- Showtunes Bar / Lounge
- Shrimping
- Sickening
- Side
- Sie / Hir
- Silence = Death
- Silver Daddy
- Silver Fox
- Sip-In (Protest)
- Sir
- Sissy
- Sissy That Walk
- Situationship
- Size Queen
- Sizeism
- Skoliosexual
- Slamming
- Slave / Master
- Slay
- Sling
- Slut
- Slut-Shame
- Smooth
- Snatch Game
- Snatched
- Sniffies
- SO (Significant Other)
- Sober
- SOC (Standards of Care)
- Social Attraction
- Social Identities
- Social Justice
- Social Transition
- Socialization
- Socks
- Sodomite
- Sodomy
- Sodomy Laws
- Soft Butch
- Soft Limits
- SOGIE
- Sort Of
- Southern Decadence
- Spanking
- Spectrum
- Spill The Tea
- Spirit Day
- Spiritual Attraction
- Spit
- Sport Dyke
- Sporty Lesbian
- Spunk Monkey
- Squish
- St. Vincent's Hospital
- Standards of Care
- STAR House
- State-Level Religious Freedom Restoration Acts
- Status
- Stealth
- Stem Lesbian
- Stereotype
- Stigma
- Stone Butch Lesbian
- Stonewall (Charity)
- Stonewall (UK-Based)
- Stonewall Democrats
- Stonewall Inn
- Stonewall Riots
- Stormé DeLarverie (1920-2014)
- Str8
- Straight
- Straight Ally Flag
- Straight-Acting
- Straight-Washing
- Stud
- Stud Dyke
- Studio 54
- Sub / Submissive
- Subjective Physical
- Subjective Sexual
- Sugar Baby
- Sugar Daddy
- Sugar Mommy
- Suicide Hotline
- Sunset Lesbian Flag
- Superchub
- Swish / Swishy
- Switch
- Sylvia Rivera (1951-2002)
T
75 terms
- T-Boy / T-Guy
- T-Dance
- T-Girl
- T-Slur
- T4T
- Tangy
- Tavern on Camac
- Tentacles
- TERF (Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist)
- The Black Cat Tavern
- The Furies Collective
- The Girls
- The L Word
- The Raven
- The Women's Building
- Theatre Gay / Queen
- Theatre Major
- Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act
- They / Them / Theirs
- Thick / Thicc / Thique
- Third Gender
- This Is It
- THOT
- Throuple
- Throwing Shade
- Tina (T)
- Tired
- Tomgirl
- Tongue Pop
- Tongzhi
- Top
- Top Bunk
- Top Surgery
- Toys
- Trade
- Train
- Tranarchist
- Tranny
- Trans
- Trans Athlete
- Trans Ban
- Trans Man
- Trans Woman
- Trans-Fan
- Transbian
- Transfeminine / Transfem
- Transgender
- Transgender Day Of Remembrance
- Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV)
- Transgender Europe (TGEU)
- Transgender Flag
- Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF)
- Transgenderism
- Transition
- Transmasculine / Transmasc
- Transparent
- Transphobia
- Transsexual
- Transvestite
- Travel
- Trevor Project, The
- Triangle
- Tribbing
- Trixie Mattel
- Troye Sivan
- True Colors United
- Tryke
- Tuck / Tucking
- Turn It
- Twenty-Four Seven / 24-Hour Girl
- Twink
- Two-Spirit
- Twunk
- Tyler Clementi (1991-2010)
- Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act
U
15 terms
V
13 terms
W
25 terms
- Waacking / Whacking
- Walk (Ballroom culture)
- Walt Whitman House
- Watching
- Watersports
- WBW (Woman Born Woman)
- Weave
- Werk / Werq
- West Hollywood
- West Village
- When Ocean Meets Sky
- Whip
- White Horse Inn
- White Night Riots
- Wig
- Wigstock
- Wildrose
- Will & Grace
- WLW (Woman-Loving-Woman)
- Wolf
- Womxn / Womyn
- World Pride
- World Professional Association for Transgender Health, The
- WSW
- Wymen's Festival
X
2 terms
Y
5 terms
Z
4 terms