Definitions
Sexuality
What is sexual orientation?
Sexual orientation describes the way a person feels toward people of a particular (or more than one) gender both physically and emotionally. For example, one sexual orientation is gay, which means being physically and emotionally attracted to people of the same gender. Another sexual orientation is heterosexual or straight, which means being physically and emotionally attracted to people of a different gender. |
|
What is gender identity?
Gender identity describes a person’s internal and individual experience of gender. A person’s gender identity may be the same as or different from their assigned sex at birth. It can be a person’s sense of being a woman, man, both, neither or anywhere along the gender spectrum. For example, people whose gender identities match the sex they were assigned at birth are cisgender. People whose gender identities are different than the sex they were assigned at birth may use the word transgender (trans) or another term they feel more aligned with. Agender: a person who doesn’t identify with any gender, or identifies as being genderless. Their gender identity may live outside of the gender binary. Agender people may or may not identify as transgender (trans). Androgynous (androgyne): a person whose gender expression (e.g. clothing, hairstyle, etc.) doesn’t fall into the gender binary, or falls somewhere in between masculine and feminine. Cisgender: a person whose gender identity and gender expression match the sex they were assigned at birth. Gender fluid: a person whose gender identity and gender expression are not static, and can shift with time and/or circumstance. Genderqueer: a person who identifies as neither, both or a mix of man and woman. Individuals who identify as genderqueer may or may not also identify as trans. Non-binary: a person who doesn’t accept a society that only acknowledges the gender binary of man and woman and defines their gender outside of those norms. People who are non-binary may identify as having no gender, feel in between genders or have a gender that is not always the same. Individuals who identify as non-binary may or may not also identify as trans. |
|
What is the difference between sex and gender?
Sex is a term that’s usually used to talk about a person’s biology, or what body parts are used to assign their sex at birth (e.g. which visible sex organs a person is born with, like a penis or a vulva).
Gender is a term that’s usually used to talk about how a person feels inside (e.g. if a person feels like a woman, a man, neither woman nor a man, both a woman and a man and/or another gender). The way a person’s gender is expressed can involve things such as the name or pronoun they use (e.g. he, she, they, etc.) and the clothing they wear.
Sex is a term that’s usually used to talk about a person’s biology, or what body parts are used to assign their sex at birth (e.g. which visible sex organs a person is born with, like a penis or a vulva).
Gender is a term that’s usually used to talk about how a person feels inside (e.g. if a person feels like a woman, a man, neither woman nor a man, both a woman and a man and/or another gender). The way a person’s gender is expressed can involve things such as the name or pronoun they use (e.g. he, she, they, etc.) and the clothing they wear.
Pronouns
Personal pronouns are words that replace people’s names. Each person may like to be addressed with pronouns (e.g. “they”, “he”, “she”, etc.) that reflect their gender identity. If you have questions about pronouns, it’s OK if you’re not sure where to start. Using someone’s pronouns is the easiest way to support them and validate their gender identity. Acknowledging and using someone’s pronouns is a sign of respect.
For gender non-conforming / transgender (trans) / non-binary folks in particular, pronoun usage is integral to feeling welcome and affirmed. Not using someone’s proper pronouns is known as misgendering* and can contribute to or trigger gender dysphoria for some.
*Misgendering means using a word, pronoun or form of address that doesn’t reflect someone’s gender identity
It’s important to never assume people’s pronouns. If you’re unsure of a person’s pronouns in a conversation, you can offer yours as a soft ask* — stating one’s own pronouns in hopes that they will respond with theirs — and they might tell you theirs as an exchange.
*An example of a soft ask is, “Hello my name is Ann. My pronouns are she/her.” “Nice to meet you Ann. My name is Ezra, and my pronouns are they/them.”
Personal pronouns are words that replace people’s names. Each person may like to be addressed with pronouns (e.g. “they”, “he”, “she”, etc.) that reflect their gender identity. If you have questions about pronouns, it’s OK if you’re not sure where to start. Using someone’s pronouns is the easiest way to support them and validate their gender identity. Acknowledging and using someone’s pronouns is a sign of respect.
For gender non-conforming / transgender (trans) / non-binary folks in particular, pronoun usage is integral to feeling welcome and affirmed. Not using someone’s proper pronouns is known as misgendering* and can contribute to or trigger gender dysphoria for some.
*Misgendering means using a word, pronoun or form of address that doesn’t reflect someone’s gender identity
It’s important to never assume people’s pronouns. If you’re unsure of a person’s pronouns in a conversation, you can offer yours as a soft ask* — stating one’s own pronouns in hopes that they will respond with theirs — and they might tell you theirs as an exchange.
*An example of a soft ask is, “Hello my name is Ann. My pronouns are she/her.” “Nice to meet you Ann. My name is Ezra, and my pronouns are they/them.”