GLOSSARY OF TERMS

  • LGBTQIAP - acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual and ally, pansexual

  • Lesbian - women with enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attractions to other women.

  • Gay - a person with enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attractions to people of the same sex.

  • Bisexual - An individual who is sexually and/or romantically attracted to men and women.

  • Transgender - an umbrella term capturing many different ways in which someone does not identify with their biological sex. Typically, a biological man who identifies as a women, or vice versa.

  • Queer or Questioning - an identity without essence, not a condition but a horizon of possibilities, fluidity in gender and sexuality that can change to and from over time.  A sort of catch all term for other experiences or identities that aren’t straight or cisgender.  It used to be a derogatory term but it’s now been used positively by younger people.

  • Cisgender - you identify with your biological sex.

  • Intersex -  condition where someone is born with some abnormality in their sexual anatomy, reproductive system, endocrine system, and/or sex chromosomes. Not the same as transgender.

  • Asexual - a person who lacks desire for or has a low interest in sex. Not sexually attracted to anyone.

  • Pansexual - also known as omnisexual. Expressing or involving sexuality in all its forms, or sexual activity with people of any sexual orientation or gender identity. Pansexual people sometimes refer to themselves as being gender blind, in which gender and sex are insignificant or irrelevant to their sexual or romantic attractions.

  • Celibate - Remaining sexually abstinent for life or for an extended period of time. A person often intentionally makes a vow or is called by God to live in this manner.

  • Same-sex attracted (SSA) - a subjective experience of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions to the same sex.  Those who identify as LGB do not normally use this term.  Rather, it is a term used by those who believe that homosexual sex and romantic relationships should not be pursued and do not want to identify as LGB. For some, this places less emphasis upon their sexual attractions and more emphasis upon their faith.  This term is offensive to some who do identify as LGB.

Definitions taken from the glossary of Holy Sexuality and Leadership Forum Handbook forThe Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender