Safe Place Manual - Glossary

Affectional Orientation: A recent term used to refer to variations in object of emotional and sexual attraction. The term is preferred by some over "sexual orientation/gender identity" because it indicates that the feelings and commitments involved are not solely (or even primarily, for some people) sexual. The term stresses the affective emotional component of attractions and relationships, including heterosexual as well as GLBT orientation.

Ally: Any non-GLBT person whose attitudes, behaviors, and efforts seek to combat homophobia and heterosexism on both personal and institutional levels.

Biphobia: Fear or hatred of those assumed to be bisexual.

Bisexual/Bi: Someone who has emotional and sexual responses to members of both genders. Some bisexuals prefer the abbreviated form “bi” finding the term “bisexual” too clinical.

Closeted/in the closet: GLBT individuals not “out” to themselves or others are said to be in the closet. When the perceived threat of coming out is too great, GLBT individuals are forced to keep this part of their lives a secret from friends and family.

Coming Out:The coming out process is the means by which a gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender (GLBT) person comes to terms with his/her sexual orientation/gender identity. Some call this coming out to oneself. Coming out to others, telling someone that they are GLBT, is a never-ending process. Because heterosexism is so pervasive in our society, GLBT individuals must decide how "out" they want to be with new people or in new situations. Also known as coming out of the closet.

Drag: Wearing the clothing of another gender, often exaggerating stereotypical characteristics of that gender.

Dyke: Once known as a derogatory term for lesbians, the word dyke was reclaimed by lesbians in the 1970’s as slang, and many lesbians now refer to themselves as dykes.

Gay: Preferred by most homosexual men, this term was adopted by the community to indicate pride. Gay is sometimes used to refer to lesbians and bisexuals as well, but many members of both groups object to this usage, feeling it renders them invisible.

Gender Bending: Blurring the binary gender roles.

GLBT: Stands for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender. You may also see the letters Q and A added at times; these letters stand for Questioning and Allies.

Heterosexual: A clinical term for someone having emotional, physical, and sexual responses primarily to members of the opposite gender. Slang: “straight.”

Heterosexism: A belief in the naturalness and superiority of heterosexuality and the power to enforce that prejudice. Expressed on an individual, cultural, and/or institutional level through assumptions, policies, and procedures.

Homosexual: A clinical term for people having emotional, physical, and sexual responses primarily to members of the same gender. Many gays, lesbians, and bisexuals find this term offensive because it is a clinical term assigned to them by others.

Homophobia: An irrational fear of homosexuals. Homophobic individuals (homophobes) may engage in anti-gay discrimination, harassment or even violence. Gay men and lesbians may be homophobic themselves, since homophobia is ingrained in many cultures.

Lesbian: A generally positive term for homosexual women deriving from the Greek island of Lesbos, home of the lesbian poet Sappho around 400 BC.

Queer: Gay; homosexual. Once a derogatory term, the word “queer” has been embraced by the gay and lesbian community, and is sometimes meant to include bisexual and transgender individuals as well. Use some caution, as many in the GLBT community consider it only appropriate that other GLBT people use the term.

Sexual Orientation: Sexual identification, depending on a person’s sexual relationships or affinity. Innate sexual attraction. In all instances, use this term instead of Sexual Orientation or other misleading terminology.

Sexual Preference: Avoid this term. It is misleading term; the majority of queer individuals will tell you that being queer is not a preference.

Stonewall: The Stonewall Inn tavern in New York City’s Greenwich Village was the site of several nights of violent protests following a police raid committed on June 28, 1969, for no other reason than that it was a queer bar. Although not the nation’s first gay-rights demonstration, Stonewall is now regarded as the birth of the modern GLBT movement.

Straight: A heterosexual; a non-Queer person.

Transgender: Persons of any age or gender manifesting characteristics, behaviors, or selfexpression which — in the perception of themselves or others — is typical of, or commonly associated with, persons of another gender.

Transphobia: Hatred and/or discrimination against people who break or blur gender roles and sex characteristics. Like biphobia, it is prevalent in both straight and gay/lesbian communities.