Sometimes it’s hard to find the words. Not because they do not exist, but because they have not been taught to us.
And that happens a lot when we talk about identities, orientations or gender expressions outside the norm. What does “non-binary” mean? What is the difference between pansexual and bisexual? And why is it important to use the terms well?
In this article we are going to give you a clear and close guide with some of the most important concepts of the LGTBIQ+ universe.
You don’t need to learn everything. But you should read it with curiosity, with an open mind and, above all, with the desire to better name what is diverse.
🧠 Why an LGTBIQ+ dictionary?
Because to name is also to exist.
Many people in the collective have spent years without knowing the name of what they felt. Without a word to explain them, to open the way for them.
And when someone finally finds that term that fits them, that reflects them, that names them… something fits inside.
This glossary is neither definitive nor complete. Words evolve, change, become more nuanced. But it is a starting point. To understand each other. To respect us. And to stop saying “I respect all that, but I don’t understand anything.”
🌈 LGTBIQ+ dictionary: terms you should know
1. Lesbian
Woman (cis or trans) who feels emotionally or sexually attracted to other women. There are as many ways to be lesbian as there are people who identify that way.
2. Gay
Term usually used by men who are attracted to other men, although it can also be used as an umbrella by other non-hetero identities.
3. Bisexual
A person who is attracted to more than one gender. It is not “confusion” or “a stage.” It doesn’t involve 50/50 attraction or having to “choose.”
4. Pansexual
Attraction to people regardless of their gender identity or expression. Similar to bisexual, but with an even more gender-inclusive approach.
5. Asexual
A person who does not experience sexual attraction (or very little), although they may have emotional and romantic ties. There is an asexual spectrum with many nuances.
6. Trans
A person whose gender identity does not match the sex assigned to them at birth. The term includes trans men, trans women, and non-binary people.
7. Non-binary
Person whose gender identity does not fit within the binomial man/woman. You can identify as genderfluid, agender, bigender, etc.
8. Intersex
A person born with sexual characteristics (genital, hormonal or chromosomal) that do not fit into the typical categories of “male” or “female”.
9. Queer
Term recovered by activism as a way of challenging the norm. It can encompass non-cishetero identities. For some it is political identity, for others, personal.
10. Cisgender
Person whose gender identity does coincide with the sex assigned at birth. The opposite of trans, although it should not be understood as “normal.”
11. Aromantic
A person who does not feel romantic attraction (or very little). You may or may not want emotional relationships. There is an aromatic spectrum, just like the sexual one.
12. Demisexual
A person who only experiences sexual attraction when there is a strong prior emotional bond. Often confused with “romanticism”, but it is not the same.
13. Drag
Artistic expression (not identity) based on gender play, aesthetic exaggeration and performance. Not all drag people are trans, nor do all trans people do drag.
14. Gender expression
The way we express our gender: clothing, gestures, way of speaking… It does not always coincide with our gender identity or our orientation.
15. Gender identity
How we feel and identify ourselves internally: as a man, a woman, both, neither… It is not the same as the sex assigned at birth.
❓What if I make a mistake when using a term?
It can happen to us. But the important thing is how we react when they correct us.
Apologize, correct and learn. There is no need to make a drama or feel eternal guilt. What matters is showing respect and a willingness to do better.
The same applies if you are part of the collective and are discovering new terms. We don’t have to know everything. We are in process.
💬 Beyond the labels
Labels help us understand each other. To find community. To feel less sunny. But they are not cages.
Not everyone wants to define themselves with an exact word. There are those who prefer broad terms or none at all. And that’s fine too.
Identities are living, changing, complex. What defines you today, may not tomorrow. Or you can add other layers.
Can you imagine if we interacted with more curiosity and less demand?
⚠️ Critical perspective: labels or excess of labels?
There are those who say that there are already “too many letters”, that it has become confusing, that so many labels divide.
And yes, it can seem overwhelming at first. But what lies behind each word is not a whim. It’s an experience. A life. A right to be named with dignity.
Is it complex? Sometimes.
Is it worth the effort? Always.
🌐 Recommended Resources
- “Trans Glossary” – Euforia.org
- “Queer Dictionary” – Pikara Magazine
- @gender_wtf on Instagram – Graphic and educational content
- “All the names, all the identities” – Chrysallis educational project
Learning to name is a way to love
Understanding the terms of the LGTBIQ+ collective is not a fashion. It is a form of respect. Of care. Of coexistence.
You don’t need to know everything today. You don’t even need to use all the words. But you do dare to ask, to listen, to accompany without fear of making mistakes.
Because, deep down, this is about that: recognizing the difference, and building bridges with words.
