KNOWhomo

Trans* Umbrella

Following terms from GLAAD

TRANSGENDER-SPECIFIC TERMINOLOGY

Transgender An umbrella term (adj.) for people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. The term may include but is not limited to: transsexuals, cross-dressers and other gender-variant people. Transgender people may identify as female-to-male (FTM) or male-to-female (MTF). Use the descriptive term (transgender, transsexual, cross-dresser, FTM or MTF) preferred by the individual. Transgender people may or may not decide to alter their bodies hormonally and/or surgically.

Transsexual (also Transexual) An older term which originated in the medical and psychological communities. While some transsexual people still prefer to use the term to describe themselves, many transgender people prefer the term transgender to transsexual. Unlike transgender, transsexual is not an umbrella term, as many transgender people do not identify as transsexual. It is best to ask which term an indi­vidual prefers.

Transvestite Derogatory see Cross-Dressing

Transition Altering one’s birth sex is not a one-step process; it is a complex process that occurs over a long period of time. Transition includes some or all of the follow­ing personal, legal and medical adjustments: telling one’s family, friends and/or co-workers; changing one’s name and/or sex on legal documents; hormone therapy; and possibly (though not always) one or more forms of surgery.

Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS) Refers to surgical alteration, and is only one small part of transition (see Transition above). Preferred term to “sex change operation.” Not all transgender people choose to or can afford to have SRS. Journalists should avoid overemphasizing the role of SRS in the transition process.

Cross-Dressing To occasionally wear clothes traditionally associated with people of the other sex. Cross-dressers are usually comfortable with the sex they were assigned at birth and do not wish to change it. “Cross-dresser” should NOT be used to describe someone who has transitioned to live full-time as the other sex or who intends to do so in the future. Cross-dressing is a form of gender expression and is not necessarily tied to erotic activity. Cross-dressing is not indicative of sexual orientation.

Gender Identity Disorder (GID) A controversial DSM-IV diagnosis given to transgender and other gender- variant people. Because it labels people as “disordered,” Gender Identity Disorder is often considered offensive. The diagnosis is frequently given to children who don’t conform to expected gender norms in terms of dress, play or behavior. Such children are often subjected to intense psychotherapy, behavior modification and/or institutionalization. Replaces the outdated term “gender dysphoria.”

Intersex Describing a person whose biological sex is ambiguous. There are many genetic, hormonal or anatomical variations that make a person’s sex ambiguous (e.g., Klinefelter Syndrome). Parents and medical profession­als usually assign intersex infants a sex and perform surgical operations to conform the infant’s body to that assignment. This practice has become increasingly controversial as intersex adults speak out against the practice. The term intersex is not interchangeable with or a synonym fortransgender.

TRANSGENDER TERMS TO AVOID

PROBLEMATIC TERMS

Problematic: “transgenders,” “a transgender”
Preferred: “transgender people,” “a transgender person”
Transgender should be used as an adjective, not as a noun. Do not say, “Tony is a transgender,” or “The parade included many transgenders.” Instead say, “Tony is a transgender man,” or “The parade included many transgender people.”

Problematic: “transgendered”
Preferred: “transgender”
The adjective transgender should never have an extraneous “-ed” tacked onto the end. An “-ed” suffix adds unnecessary length to the word and can cause tense confusion and grammatical errors. For example, it is grammatically incorrect to turn transgender into a participle, as it is an adjective, not a verb, and only verbs can be used as participles by adding an “-ed” suffix.

Problematic: “sex change,” “pre-operative,” “post-operative”
Preferred: “transition”
Referring to a sex change operation, or using terms such as pre- or post-operative, inaccurately suggests that one must have surgery in order to transition. Avoid overemphasizing surgery when discussing transgender people or the process of transition.

DEFAMATORY TERMS

Defamatory: “deceptive,” “fooling,” “pretending,” “posing” or “masquerading”
Gender identity is an integral part of a person’s identity. Do not characterize transgender people as “deceptive,” as “fooling” other people, or as “pretending” to be, “posing” or “masquerading” as a man or a woman. Such descriptions are defamatory and insulting.

Defamatory: “she-male,” “he-she,” “it,” “trannie,” “tranny,” “shim,” “gender-bender”
These words only serve to dehumanize transgender people and should not be used.

Defamatory: “bathroom bill”
A new term created and used by far-right extremists to oppose non-discrimination laws that protect transgender people. The term is geared to incite fear and panic at the thought of encoun­tering transgender people in public restrooms. Use non-discrimination law/ordinance instead.

LGBTQ* Phrases You Should Know

The Rumor* Of: “Friend of Dorothy”

Friend(s) of Dorothy (FOD) was a slang term used within the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual community of the 1950’s.

Judy Garland was one of the first celebrities to embrace her gay fans and the Wizard of Oz was viewed as a “gay” fairy tale for many queer Americans at the time. The Stonewall Riots also occurred immediately after Judy Garland’s passing while many people were in mourning. Some claim that police brutality, homophobia and Garland’s death were all triggers for fighting back the night of the riots. 

The phrase was often used as the password to enter gay establishments.

LGBTQ* Terms,Definitions and Origin History

“Homosexual”

The first time the word “homosexual” appeared in print was in 1869.

The word was created/established BEFORE the word heterosexual and used within scientific classification.

The term was coined by a journalistand a human and civil rights activist to replace the word “sodomite/pervert.”

LGBTQ* Definitions and Terms

 Pan- as a prefix (Greek πᾶν, pan, “all,” “of everything,” “involving all members” of a group)

LGBTQ* Terms, Definitions and Asexual Identification(s)

(taken from Aven wiki — Please note, I am NOT affiliated with AVEN nor do I agree with each definition presented. This is strictly for insight as to what some people use as personal definition or adjectives to describe themselves. -Rebecca)

Romantic relationships and identity

Asexuals, while lacking in sexual desire for any gender, may engage in purely emotional romantic relationships. Terms concerning this are:

aromantic: lack of romantic attraction towards anyone

biromantic: romantic attraction towards person(s) of two different genders – the romantic aspect of bisexuality

heteroromantic: romantic attraction towards person(s) of a different gender – the romantic aspect of heterosexuality

homoromantic: romantic attraction towards person(s) of the same gender – the romantic aspect of homosexuality

panromantic (also omniromantic): romantic attraction towards person(s) of any gender or lack of gender, including persons of nonbinary gender – the romantic aspect of pansexuality

polyromantic: romantic attraction towards more than one person at any given time (the term does not express the gender of these persons) – the romantic aspect of polysexuality

demiromantic: romantic attraction after developing an emotional connection beforehand (the term does not express the gender of these persons)

LGBTQ Terms, Definitions and Origin Stories

“DYKE”

What is the origin of the term “dyke?”

NO ONE KNOWS!  Seriously, the origin of “dyke” as a lesbain term is one of complete speculation. There is not a definite printed first case in which to compare/contrast the evolution of the term as vocabulary for lesbian.

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary (thanks Licorice Stars on Halloween) “Dyke” first appeared in print in it’s current form in 1931. It appeared as part of the word “Bulldyker” in 1921.

What are some of the origin theories?

Fortunecity.com claims “Dyke” is possibly from Boudicca (Bou-dyke-ah), a Celtic queen. Boudicca was seen as a threat to the power structure - having organized a revolt against the Roman Empire in 67 A.D. The term would later be changed from meaning a “woman of power/influence” to “lesbian.”

If you are willing to trust WIKIPEDIA.org, then the word dike appeared in 1710 in a British newspaper in a story about a cross-dressing pirates (supposedly about lesbian pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read).

GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network) suggests (and teaches) that the word “dyke” comes from the colloquial “dike” which means to “overdress.” The phrase “diked out” is similar to the usage of the phrase “decked out in one’s finest” or “decked to the nines.”