Glossary

2SLGBTQIA+: Two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, asexual, and ‘+’ meaning in addition to those who identify as part of sexual and gender-diverse communities who use different terminologies.

Ableism: Discrimination or prejudice against individuals with disabilities.

AFAB: Assigned female at birth. Used as an alternative to “female” or “born female” to acknowledge sex is assigned at birth based on the appearance of external genitalia. Used as a more gender-affirming term in medical care concerning issues that may happen to bodies without referring to womanhood or femaleness.

Ageism: Prejudice or discrimination against an individual or group based on their age. Often directed toward older age groups or the elderly.

Agender: A neutral gender identity in which the individual does not identify with nor experience gender. Of, relating to, or being a person whose gender identity is genderless or gender-neutral. Similar to nonbinary, with the exception that nonbinary people experience gender, whereas agender people do not.

Ally: An individual who supports or advocates for LGBTQ+ people. Includes not only cisgender or heterosexual people who advocate for LGBTQ+ people but also people in the LGBTQ+ community who advocate for others within the community.

AMAB: Assigned male at birth. Used as an alternative to “male” or “born male” to acknowledge sex is assigned at birth based on the appearance of external genitalia. Used as a more gender-affirming term in medical care concerning issues that may happen to bodies without referring to manhood or maleness.

Androgynous: Characterized by an external appearance of indeterminate gender. The state of having both masculine and feminine physical characteristics, expressed through sex, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation. Synonymous with androgyne (ann-dro-jine).

Anti-Oppressive/-Oppression Practice: Theory of social work that examines how systemic forms of discrimination (whiteness, racism, sexism, colonialism, classism, etc.) affect the everyday lives of individuals and families. Components of the theory include the understanding that people's daily experiences are shaped by intersecting oppressions, as well as assisting individuals while addressing the root causes of inequality and maltreatment.

Aromantic: An individual who does not experience romantic attraction. 

Asexual: An individual who does not experience sexual attraction. Not to be confused with celibacy, the person may still engage in relationships and sex but for alternative reasons than sexual arousal.

Binary/-ies/Queer Theory: The theory that in society, people are put into categories and power is distributed unfairly among them. Queer theory is the realization that many individuals do not fit into the binary of gender (man, woman) or sexual orientation (heterosexual, homosexual); these binary systems do not provide a sufficient description of who people are sexually attracted to, whom they share relationships, how they see themselves as a gendered being or wish to express their gender.

Binding: The practice of tightly wrapping one’s chest to minimize breast size and create the appearance of a flat chest. Used most often by transgender men, but also used by transmasculine and nonbinary individuals. Unsafe binding can cause negative health outcomes, such as broken ribs, trouble breathing, skin irritation, and can worsen respiratory conditions like asthma.

Bisexual: The sexual attraction to more than one gender. Typically characterized as the sexual attraction to both men and women, though this is not a requirement. The term “biromantic” is used to describe a person who can experience romantic attraction to more than one gender.

Bottom Surgery: Umbrella term referring to any surgery that alters a person’s genitalia to have their anatomy align with their gender identity, such as a phalloplasty or vaginoplasty.

Chest Feminization: Refers to a range of procedures done to enhance the size and shape of the chest to give a more feminine appearance. AKA Transfeminine Top Surgery/Breast Augmentation for Trans Women/MTF Top Surgery

Cisgender: A person whose gender identity corresponds with the gender assigned to them at birth.

Cisnormativity/Ciscentrism: The underlying belief that all people are cisgender where society is not built to support or understand transgender identities.

Cissexism: The belief that cisgender people are superior to or more valid than transgender people.

Cissexual: A person whose biological anatomy aligns with their sex at birth; not transsexual. A person can be cissexual despite their gender identity.

Closeted: Used to describe a person who is not publicly open about their sexual orientation or gender identity. A closeted person can often be referred to as “in the closet.” There are varying degrees of being closeted, either to family, work, oneself, or to society in general.

Clitoral Release: see Metoidioplasty

Clitoroplasty: Surgery to change or create the appearance of a clitoris.

Colonization: Refers to the social, economic, and cultural domination of a territory and the indigenous people of that area.

Crossdresser: A person who wears clothes designed for the opposite sex or gender. 

Decolonization: The process of freeing a people or area from colonial status.

Disclosure: The act or process of revealing one’s gender identity or sexual orientation. Different from “coming out” in that it often refers to a specific instance. Eg. if a trans woman is asked by a doctor when her last period was, she “discloses” that she is transgender. 

Drag Queen: A person, typically a male, who uses extreme gender presentation in female drag for performance and entertainment, utilizing costume, makeup, dance, lip-syncing, etc. Not to be confused with transgender.

Emphasized Femininity: Term used to describe how femininity is formed around compliance to gender inequality and is used to accommodate the interest and needs of the male sex in the display of sociability rather than technical competence, fragility in mating scenes, a priority of empathy and childbearing, stress on a thin and desirable appearance, etc.

Erectile/Penile Implant: A device surgically implanted inside the penis to aid in achieving an erection. Typically done on cisgender men who struggle with erectile dysfunction, but is also recommended as part of gender-affirming surgery for transgender men after a metoidioplasty or phalloplasty. AKA Erectile Device/Inflatable Penile Prosthesis

Erectile Tissue Release: The surgical creation of a penis by releasing the erectile (clitoral) ligaments from the pubis.

Facial Surgery: Blanket term to describe gender-affirming surgeries done on the face, often divided into facial feminization surgery (FFS) and facial masculinization surgery (FMS). These include the addition or separate surgeries of changes to the brows, cheekbones, jawline, chin, throat, facelift, skin-tightening, rhinoplasty, lipofilling, hair transplantation, etc.

FTM: Abbreviation for female-to-male; a transgender man.

Gatekeeping: The act of deciding who has access to a community, identity, resources, or identity. In regards to LGBT communities, refers to the act of deciding who has a valid identity and who deserves to be part of said community. There is what’s known as medical gatekeeping when medical practitioners put up excessive barriers to patients who need to access particular services.

Gender: Refers to the behavioral, cultural, and psychological characteristics and expectations associated with boy, girl, man, and woman; describes the socially constructed meaning attached to men and women. Differs from sex in that sex refers to one’s biology, whereas gender refers to the understood meaning of a person’s sexual biology.

Gender Affirmation: Refers to the actions, behaviours, interventions, and support systems that validate or recognize a person’s gender identity. Has social, psychological, medical, and legal dimensions.

Gender-Affirming Care (GAC): Refers to medical, surgical, and mental health services that help to align gender identity and aid in the process of transition goals. GAC does not end upon an individual’s transition.

Gender Affirmation Surgery (GAS): Describes surgeries done to alter primary and secondary sex characteristics to have an individual’s body match their gender identity.

Gender Binary: The system or belief that there are only two genders; furthermore, the belief and expectation that everyone must be either male or female.

Gender Creative: Describes a child whose gender identity and gender expression differ from social and cultural expectations. Gender creative children may be transgender and some may not.

Gender Divergent: Refers to gender identities that step out of the binary.

Gender Diverse/Diversity: Refers to including all gender identities.

Gender Dysphoria: The extreme distress or discomfort when an individual’s assigned sex and gender do not align with their gender identity. Was known as gender identity disorder (GID) before the DSM-V (2013).

Gender Expression: The ways in which a person communicates or enacts their gender in everyday life, such as mannerisms, dress, hairstyle, makeup, mannerisms, speech, body language, tone of voice, etc. A person’s gender expression does not have to align with one’s gender identity, nor does their expression imply their gender; a man may express themselves in an effeminate way but will still consider themselves a man.

Gender Fluid: A person whose gender identity is not fixed and can fluctuate over time.

Gender Identity: A person’s internally understood sense of self in regard to gender.

Gender Incongruence: According to the ICD-11, the persistent and ongoing discordance between a person’s experienced gender and their assigned sex that often leads the person to “transition.” Replaces the ICD-10’s “transsexualism” and “gender identity disorder in children” and has been removed from the ICD’s “Mental and Behavioral Disorders” chapter into “Conditions Related to Sexual Health;” being transgender is no longer classified as a mental illness according to the WHO.

Gender-Neutral/Gender-Neutrality: Not gendered. Can refer to language use, pronouns, spaces (eg. bathrooms), etc.

Gender Non-Conforming (GNC): General term for an individual who does not adhere to gender stereotypes or to their expected gender role or expression.

Gender Policing: Refers to when individuals or groups attempt to regulate appropriate gender expression or behaviour, often through teasing, harassment, punishment, exclusion, etc.

Genderqueer: Gender identity that does not adhere to the gender binary. Those who identify as genderqueer may see themselves as outside or inside the gender binary.

Gender Spectrum: Understanding that gender is a continuum as opposed to a binary

Hair Removal and Hair Replacement Therapy: Refers to therapies aimed to remove or add body/facial hair to the individual. Transfeminine patients may wish to have their facial hair removed via electrolysis and transmasculine patients can take testosterone to increase body and facial hair.

Hegemonic Masculinity: Term coined by R.W. Connell that many versions of masculinity exist in a culture but that only one is prized and honoured. This hegemonic ideal is compared favourably over the subordinate masculinities as well as women. Subordinate masculinities can include non-white men, gay men, trans men, physically unfit men, disabled men, etc.

Heteronormativity/Heteronormative: The societal belief that all people are and ought to be heterosexual and that only sexual attraction to the opposite sex is normal or acceptable.

Heterosexism: The prejudice or discrimination against people who are not heterosexual due to the belief that heterosexuality is superior and preferable.

Heterosexual: A person who is attracted to members of the opposite sex. Often referred to as “straight.”

Homonormativity: The phenomenon of many gay or queer communities upholding and conforming to similar standards of their heterosexual counterparts, such as the emphasis on marriage rights, maintaining Christian morality and family standards, etc.

Hormone Therapy: The use of hormone intervention on transgender individuals to align their physical characteristics with their gender identity. AKA Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)/Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT)

Human Rights: Fundamental rights that deserve to belong to all persons.

Hysterectomy/Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy: A surgical procedure to completely or partially remove the uterus. A total hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy involves the removal of the uterus, both ovaries, and the fallopian tubes are removed. Done on cisgender women but sought by transgender men and some non-binary people to alleviate gender dysphoria.

Indigenous/Indigeneity: A collective name referring to the original native peoples of North America and their descendants. The Canadian Constitution recognizes three groups as Indigenous: First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. Indigeneity refers to the state of being Indigenous, relating to their identity, culture, territory, community, or traditions.

Intersectionality: The crisscrossing of multiple identities and forms of discrimination; the theory that no form of discrimination operates independently from other forms of discrimination.

Intersex: Refers to people affected by hormonal, chromosomal, or genital disorders leading to an ambiguity in their biological sex. Intersex individuals, as infants, have historically been subject to aggressive medical interventions to align their bodies with the male or female sex. Previously referred to as a hermaphrodite, which is considered socially inappropriate nor scientifically accurate.

Labiaplasty: The surgical creation of a labia.

Mastectomy with Chest Masculinization: A surgical procedure that involves the removal of all or part of the breasts. Most often done on cisgender women to prevent breast cancer, but done on trans men and non-binary individuals to give a masculine appearance to the chest. This could include pectoral implants, pectoral augmentation, etc.

Metoidioplasty (met-toyed-dah-plast-ee): A variant surgery to the phalloplasty where a neophallus is created from a hormonally enlarged clitoris. Can provide the patient with a sexually sensitive penis that can become erect without the need for a penile implant.

Misgender/Misgendering: The act of intentionally or unintentionally referring to a transgender person by pronouns or forms of address they do not identify with.

Misogynoir: Term used to describe the intersection of racism and misogyny that black women uniquely experience.

Mononormativity/Mononormative: The societal belief that monogamy is the normal or preferred type of relatedness, as the only relationship that is legitimate or fit for marriage.

MTF: Abbreviation for male-to-female; a transgender woman.

Neopronouns: Singular third-person pronouns that may be used by trans, non-binary, and gender-fluid individuals. Could be used to express their gender identity or may not be a reference to gender at all. Examples of neopronouns are ey/em, ze/zir, ve/ver, etc.

Neutrois: A type of nonbinary gender identity classified as not having a gender or genderless. Similar to agender.

Non-Binary/NB/Enby: Umbrella term for gender identities that are outside the gender binary of male and female or a combination of male and female. Nonbinary gender identities can refer to genderqueer, gender fluid, bigender, agender, neutrois, etc.

Old Name: Refers to the name a transgender person was given at birth that they no longer wish to use upon transitioning. It is inappropriate to use a trans person’s old name in conversation with the person or in conversations about the person. AKA Previous Name/Assigned Name at Birth/Given Name

Oophorectomy: The surgical removal of one or both of the ovaries.

Oppositional Sexism: The belief that males and females are separate and rigid categories that do not overlap.

Orchiectomy/Orchidectomy: The surgical removal of one or both of the testicles. Having an orchiectomy performed eliminates the need for testosterone blockers.

Pangender/Polygender: Describes a person who identifies with more than one gender.

Pansexual/Panromantic: Person who is attracted to all genders or that gender does not determine who they are attracted to. Panromantic indicates the person can have a romantic attraction to anyone regardless of gender.

Passing: Being seen by others as the gender one identifies with, or a transgender person being perceived or inferred to be cisgender. Alternatively, in gay communities, refers to being perceived as heterosexual. The want to pass or not will vary depending on the trans individual; not every trans person wants to pass. Trans people who wish to pass may seek medical intervention to change primary or secondary sex characteristics to aid in doing so; furthermore, the ability to pass is believed to make the trans person safer and less likely to be harassed, assaulted or subject to discrimination.

Penectomy: The surgical removal of the penis.

Phalloplasty: The surgical creation of a penis using skin from other areas of the body. The surgery can encompass urethral lengthening to allow for urination while standing (urethroplasty), constructing a head for the penis (glansplasty), creating a scrotum (scrotoplasty) with testicular prosthesis, closing of the vagina (vaginectomy), removal of the uterus (hysterectomy) and/or ovaries (oophorectomy).

Polyamory/Polyamorous: The practice or state of consensually having more than one intimate, sexual, or romantic partner at the same time.

Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP): A combination of medications taken to prevent an HIV infection after a person has been exposed. Must be taken within 72 hours of suspected exposure.

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP): A combination of medications taken to reduce the risk of HIV acquisition. PrEP is taken once a day on an ongoing basis.

Post-Op: Post-operative; describes a transgender person who has undergone gender affirmation surgery, often specifically referring to bottom surgery.

Pre-Op: Pre-operative; describes a transgender person who has not undergone gender affirmation surgery but is seeking it.

Puberty Suppression: The medical intervention of delaying the changes of puberty and the secondary sex characteristics that follow. The use of puberty blockers is administered to trans youth to prevent the mental distress of unwanted secondary sex characteristics and thus prevent the need for surgeries or procedures later on.

QTIBIPOC: Queer, trans, intersex, black, Indigenous, and people of colour.

QTIPOC: Queer, trans, intersex, and people of colour.

Queer: An umbrella term used by some LGBTQ+ people to describe themselves and their community or as a term for sexual orientations or gender identities that fall outside of cisgender and heterosexual norms. Originally used as a pejorative, but is often reclaimed in LGBTQ+ spaces.

Questioning: The crucial process of exploring one’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Just because a person is questioning does not mean they are queer, gay, or transgender.

Racialization: The process by which a group of people are defined by their race; the process of fashioning and utilizing race in any capacity.

Racism: The prejudice or discrimination against people based on their race, ethnicity, or colour of skin. Often accompanied by the belief that race is a biological determinant of human traits, and these innate differences make some superior to others. “Systemic racism” refers to the intentional or unintentional systems, laws, written and unwritten policies, beliefs, and attitudes that allow or condone the unfair treatment of other races.

Repronormativity: The belief that cis-hetero reproduction is the only desirable, preferable, or legitimate form of reproduction, whereas non-gestational or queer family structures are seen as less legitimate. Repronormativity operates to dictate who should reproduce, who has the capacity to produce, whose reproductive losses count, and who is, therefore, deserving of services and support.

Scrotoplasty: The surgical creation of a scrotum.

Sex: Refers to the biological attributes associated with being male, female, or intersex among humans and animals. Biological attributes pertain to genitalia, chromosomes, hormones, and secondary physical characteristics. When referring to a trans person’s sex, avoid terms that may be offensive, such as “genetically male/female,” “biological male/female,” “biological man/woman,” “used to be a woman/man,” etc. For example, avoid referring to a transgender woman as a “biological man.”

Sexism: Prejudice or discrimination based on one’s sex or gender.

Sexual Orientation: Term to describe the direction of a person’s emotional, sexual, or romantic attraction; whom one is attracted (eg. heterosexual, bisexual, lesbian, gay, etc.)

SOGI/SOGIE: Abbreviation for sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression

SRS: Sex reassignment surgery. Refers to gender-affirming surgery, often specifically to genital reconstruction surgeries like a phalloplasty, vaginoplasty, etc. Typically synonymous with “bottom surgery.”

Testicular Implant: An implant placed inside an empty scrotum meant to give a realistic look and feel of a testicle. AKA Testicular Prosthesis

Third Gender: An additional gender identity outside of man and woman usually established and understood by their society at large. Examples of third genders are the hijras in South Asia, nadles in Navajo society, and the alyha/hwame roles of the Mohave people. Not to be confused with modern transgender people, for the individuals in these societies were initiated into the third gender at birth, some chose it in adulthood, or some took on the role as a response to family needs.

Top Surgery: Term referring to a trans person’s chest surgery, either chest feminization or a mastectomy.

Tracheal Shave/​​Chondrolaryngoplasty: Surgery done to reduce the size of the thyroid cartilage, or Adam’s apple, to make it less prominent. 

Transfeminine: An AMAB transgender person whose gender identity on the spectrum aligns much closer to the feminine.

Transgender/Trans: Umbrella term to describe a person whose gender identity differs from their assigned gender at birth. Inappropriate uses of the term to describe a transgender person is saying they are “transgendered,” “a transgender,” to say they are in the process of “transgendering,” referring to “transgenderism” as a concept, and using the plural “transgenders” rather than “transgender people.”

Transgender Man/Trans Man: A person who was assigned female at birth but identifies as a man. See FTM.

Transgender Woman/Trans Woman: A person who was assigned male at birth but identifies as a woman. See MTF.

Transition/Transitioning: The range of social, legal, and medical interventions for one to live in their gender identity. Social transition involves coming out to friends, family, work, or society and living as one’s authentic gender identity (changed name, pronouns, dress, etc.). Legal intervention involves name change, gender marker change, etc. Medical change can involve HRT and gender-affirming surgeries. The level of transitioning is highly variable across trans individuals, and their idea of when they transitioned can refer to when they came out publicly, when they got SRS, etc. 

Transmasculine: An AFAB transgender person whose gender identity on the spectrum aligns much closer to the masculine.

Transmisogyny: Misogyny, prejudice, or discrimination that trans women or transfeminine individuals uniquely experience; describes the intersection of misogyny and transphobia.

Transphobia: The prejudice or discrimination of transgender people.

Transsexual: A clinical term which describes a person who lives as a member of the sex other than the one they were assigned at birth, especially one who has undergone sex reassignment surgery. Unlike "transgender," it delineates differences in anatomy. It is a pertinent term in medical contexts as it establishes not only gender identity but also has biological emphasis unique to transsexual patients that will differ from cisgender people, intersex people, and some transgender patients. 

Tucking: The practice of positioning the penis and testes in a particular way to give the appearance of a flatter crotch area, usually with the use of tape or tight undergarments. Excessive tucking can lead to health implications, like rashes, genital pain, skin infections, urinary tract infections, inflammation, issues with urine flow, and may affect fertility.

Two-Spirit/2Spirit (2S): A culture-specific umbrella term for a First Nations or Indigenous individual who is gender diverse, non-binary, or transgender. Two-spirit people often serve monumental roles in their communities as leaders and healers. Derives from the northern Algonquin term “niizh manitoag,” meaning “two spirits,” referring to having both a masculine and feminine spirit. Not be used by non-Indigenous people.

Vaginal Dilation: Practice after a vaginoplasty of using a dilator on a regular basis to maintain the depth and width of the newly formed vaginal canal.

Vaginectomy: The surgical closing and removal of the vaginal canal and opening.

Vaginoplasty: The surgical procedure of creating both an inner and outer vagina by using the skin and tissue of the penis. Often the surgery encompasses the removal of the penis (penectomy), the testicles (orchiectomy), creation of a clitoris (clitoroplasty), labia (labiaplasty), mons, and urethral opening.

Voice Surgery: Surgeries done to align someone’s voice pitch with their gender identity. Feminizing voice surgeries raise voice pitch, and masculinizing voice surgeries lower the pitch.

Voice Therapy: Speech therapy aimed at making a person’s voice more feminine, masculine, or gender-neutral. Includes the learning and practice of learning communication styles, enunciations, resonance, rhythm of words, airflow techniques, pitch, etc.

Vulvoplasty: The surgical creation of a vulva, often including the mons, labia, clitoris, and urethral opening.