Glossary of Terms
Check out the glossary below for an introduction to all things genderqueer. Note that these definitions have been developed with the intention of promoting gender issues among the wider community. There is a great degree of variation about these terms and their definitions, so keep in mind that depending on who you speak to or what you read, there may be alternate ideas.
Androgynous - An individual who expresses both masculine and feminine characteristics.
Androgynous Dyke - Alesbian of indeterminate shape; 'butch lite', (see butch, androgyne, epicene). Also called androdyke, transdyke, hermaphrodite, pseudohermaphrodite.
Assigned Sex - The sex (female, male) assigned to us at birth based on the appearance of our genitialia.
Bi-gender - One who does not exclusively identify as male or female, irrespective of physical sex.
Bio Female - Usually refers to a transexual, transgender or genderqueer individual whose birth sex was female.
Bio Male - Usually refers to a transexual, transgender or genderqueer individual whose birth sex was male.
Birth Sex - The sex (female, male) assigned us at birth based on the appearance of our genitalia.
Cross Dressing - To dress as the gender opposite one's birth sex.
Cross Living - To live 24/7 as the gender opposite one's birth sex. This is done most often by transexuals.
Drag King - Dressing in (usually exaggerated) male costume, often for entertainment, humor or parody.
Drag Queen - Dressing in (usually exaggerated) female costume, often for entertainment, humor or parody.
Epicene - (19th century, from a Greek root, meaning 'common' or 'shared') a person of indeterminate shape, an androgyne; an effeminate or bisexual man. Oscar Wilde was considered to be epicene (see androgyne, bigendered, omnigendered, gender variant, polygendered).
FTM - Female to Male (usually refers to a transexual). An individual whose birth sex was female but whose gender identity is male.
Gender Identity - How one perceives one's own gender.
Genderfuck/Genderfucker - Used to describe gender-crossing play, such as cross dressing for social, political or entertainment interests.
Genderqueer - An individual whose gender identification does not reflect the socially accepted polarized gender system.
GRS - Acronym for 'gender reconstructive surgery.' Also called SRS / Sexual Reassignment Surgery. A surgical procedure whereby the sex organs of a person are refashioned to that of the gender in which they identify.
Gender Terrorist - Anyone who consistently and intentionally subverts, destablizes and challenges the binary gender system (in the words of Del LaGrace Volcano)
Gender Variant - a person who varies from the expected characteristics of biological gender but who is not necessarily aware of their variation or any of the larger issues relating to gender.
Hermaphrodite - An outdated and (now) derogatory term for intersex persons. (Some intersex persons have reclaimed this term for their own use, much the same way "queer", "dyke" and "fag" is affectionately used within the queer community.)
Hermaphrodyke - Also called 'androgynous dyke', a lesbian of indeterminate shape; 'butch lite', (see butch, androgyne, epicene). Also called androdyke, transdyke, hermaphrodite, pseudohermaphrodite.
Intersex - A person with an intersex condition is born with sex chromosomes, external genitalia, or an internal reproductive system that is not considered "standard" for either male or female. This definition is gathered from The Intersex Society of North America, www.isna.org
MTF - Male to Female transexual. An individual whose birth sex was male but whose gender identity is female.
Non gender - One whose identity is free of gender, neither masculine nor feminine.
NoHo - Abbreviation for "No Hormones". A transexual who cannot afford to take hormone therapy or who chooses not to.
NonOp - Abbreviation for "Non Operation". A transexual who cannot afford a sex altering operation or who chooses not to have one.
Oestrogen - A hormone commonly used by transexual women.
Omni gender - One whose identity embodies all genders.
Pansexual - Capable of being attracted to all, or many genders. [ note this is a sexuality ]
PostOp - Abbreviation for "Post Operation". A transexual who has had sex altering surgery.
PreHo - Abbreviation for "Pre Hormone". A transexual who has yet to begin taking hormones.
PreOp - Abbreviation for "Pre Operation". A transexual who has not had sex altering surgery.
Queer - A more inclusive term for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender. Includes pansexual, genderqueer and other fluid gender and sexual identities.
Sexual Orientation - The "object of one's affection," regardless of the admirer's gender. Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation are often confused with one another.
SOFFA - An acronym for Significant Others, Friends, Family & Allies of transgender people.
SRS - Acronym for 'sexual reassignment surgery.' Also called GRS / Genital Reconstructive Surgery. A surgical procedure whereby the sex organs of a person are refashioned to that of the gender in which they identify.
TG - Acronym for Transgender.
TS - Acronym for Transexual.
TV - Acronym for Transvestite.
Testosterone - A hormone commonly used by transexual men. 2. A hormone sometimes used by genderqueer people of the f to m direction.
Third Gender - A person of a gender other than that of one's assigned birth sex, similar to genderqueer. 2. A gender other than the western culture's concept of two polar genders (male, female). In some cultures, there are commonly recongized and accepted gender(s) in addition to the male and female genders.
Transexual - An individual whose gender is opposite one's birth sex. A transexual may take hormones and have full or partial surgery, or may choose not to, or may not be able to afford to. Transexual is also spelled with two s' > transsexual.
Transgender - An individual whose gender identification is different to that of their birth sex and/or does not reflect the socially accepted polarized gender system.
Transvestite - Men who enjoy wearing women's clothing on occasion or frequently for pleasure, or for sexual, emotional or spirituatl gratification.
Transvestites are often heterosexual identified men who enjoy dressing in women's clothing in private or openly. This term is offensive to some.
