Hermaphrodite A misleading term sometimes used to describe intersex people . In biology , hermaphrodites ( such as snails , some fish and plants ) possess fully functioning fertile sets of both ‘ male ’ and ‘ female ’ sex organs . This is impossible in mammals . The medical establishment has diagnosed some intersex people as ‘ pseudo-hermaphrodites ’ or ‘ true hermaphrodites ’. While some intersex people reclaim the term , others find it stigmatising due to its medical and biological uses .
Homosexual An outdated term that is considered derogatory . Use ‘ gay ’, ‘ lesbian ’, ‘ bisexual ’ or ‘ queer ’, as appropriate .
Intersex A simple – and the least stigmatising – term for a broad range of congenital physical traits or variations that lie between the stereotypical ideals of male and female . Intersex people are born with physical , hormonal or genetic features that are neither wholly female nor wholly male , or a combination of female and male .
Lesbian A woman whose enduring physical , romantic and / or emotional attraction is to other women . Some lesbians may prefer to identify as ‘ gay ’ or as ‘ gay women ’.
Misgendering Describing or addressing someone using personal pronouns or other language that does not match a person ’ s gender identity . Deliberate misgendering constitutes bullying and harassment . For intersex people , this may include a presumption that they have a non-binary gender identity , just as much as an assumption that they are a man or a woman .
MtF / M2F / MtoF Male to female . See also ‘ Transgender or trans ’.
Non-binary or enby Someone with a gender identity other than man or woman ; there are a diverse range of non-binary gender identities .
Out A person who identifies as LGBTIQ + in their personal , public or professional lives . This term is preferred over ‘ openly gay ’ or ‘ avowed gay ’, which suggest that one ’ s sexual orientation or gender identity could be shameful or otherwise require secrecy .
Pansexual or pan Someone who is attracted to all gender identities , or to people regardless of gender .
Queer An umbrella term for a wide range of non-conforming gender identities and sexual orientations .
Sex The chromosomal , gonadal and anatomical characteristics associated with biological sex .
Sexual orientation Whether a person is attracted to people of the same sex ; people of a different sex ; people of the same sex and people of a different sex ; or people of neither sex . Intersex people have diverse sexual orientations . Avoid ‘ sexual preference ’, which can be considered offensive .
Sistergirls Indigenous transgender women . See also ‘ Transgender or trans ’.
Transgender or trans A person who identifies as having a different gender to what was assigned at birth may consider themselves ‘ transgender ’ or ‘ trans ’. A trans person might identify as man or woman , or as non-binary ( and relate to terms such as ‘ gender-fluid ’, ‘ genderqueer ’ or ‘ bigender ’). Some women might use terms such as ‘ trans woman ’ or ‘ MtF ’, and some men might use terms such as ‘ trans man ’ or ‘ FtM ’ to describe their lived experience ; others do not . Additionally , Indigenous trans women might identify as ‘ sistergirls ’ and Indigenous trans men as ‘ brotherboys ’.
‘ Transgender ’ should be used as an adjective , not as a noun .
Use the pronouns that are appropriate for the gender with which a person identifies . If you are not sure , ask the person which pronouns they use . Some people use the singular ‘ they ’ to reflect a nonbinary gender identity . For example : ‘ Jacob writes eloquently about their non-binary gender identity . They have also appeared in the media to talk about reactions to their gender expression .’
A person who was assigned male at birth and transitions to live as a woman is a ‘ transgender woman ’, whereas a person who was assigned female at birth and transitions to live as a man is a ‘ transgender man ’.
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Same-sex attracted Attraction towards people of one ’ s own gender . The term has been used particularly in the context of young people whose sexual identity is not fixed , but who experience sexual feelings towards people of their own gender .
Writing Style Guide | Equity , diversity and inclusion 21 | Back to contents