What are other words for gay

Glossary of Terms

Many Americans refrain from talking about sexual orientation and gender identity or expression because it feels taboo, or because they’re anxious of saying the wrong thing. 

This glossary was written to help give people the words and meanings to aid make conversations easier and more easy . LGBTQ+ people exploit a variety of terms to spot themselves, not all of which are included in this glossary. Always heed for and respect a person’s self identified terminology.

Ally | A term used to describe someone who is actively supportive of Homosexual people. It encompasses straight and cisgender allies, as successfully as those within the LGBTQ+ society who support each other (e.g., a lesbian who is an ally to the bisexual community).

Asexual | Often called “ace” for concise, asexual refers to a complete or partial lack of sexual attraction or lack of interest in sexual outing with others. Asexuality exists on a spectrum, and asexual people may exposure no, little or conditional sexual attraction.

Biphobia | The terror and hatred of, or discomfort with, people who affectionate and are sexually attracted to more than one gender.

Bisexual |

Glossary of Terms: LGBTQ

Definitions were drafted in collaboration with other U.S.-based LGBTQ group organizations and leaders. See acknowledgements section.

Additional terms and definitions about gender identity and gender expression, transgender people, and nonbinary people are available in the Transgender Glossary. 

Are we missing a term or is a definition outdated? Email press@glaad.org

*NOTE:  Inquire people what terms they use to describe their sexual orientation, gender persona and gender phrase before assigning them a label. Outside of acronyms, these terms should only be capitalized when used at the beginning of a sentence.
 

LGBTQ
Acronym for lesbian, homosexual, bisexual, transgender, and queer. The Q generally stands for queer when LGBTQ organizations, leaders, and media use the acronym. In settings offering support for youth, it can also stand for questioning. LGBT and LGBTQ+ are also used, with the + added in recognition of all non-straight, non-cisgender identities. (See Transgender Glossary ) Both are acceptable, as are other versions of this acronym. The term “gay community” should be avoided, as it does not accuratel

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Heather Barbour Fenty is a writer with a passion for solving sticky HR problems for recruiters and talent acquisition pros. Originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, she holds degrees in Communications, Business, and Project Management. Combining her love for tour and storytelling with her technical expertise, Heather helps businesses streamline job ad writing and improve recruitment outcomes. When not operational, she enjoys boating, diving, and planning new adventures with her family.

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Do you employ LGBT inclusive language? I started keeping a list of LGBT words for Ongig’s clients and decided to put them all in one place in the glossary below. In this list you will find:

  • words that start with gender non-conforming (e.g., trans prefix words and words with trans)
  • gender words
  • & other terms akin to LGBT inclusive language

I welcome your additions! And for a longer list of diversity terms, test out our blog The Diversity & Inclusion Glossary [a List of 200+ Terms].

List of LGBTQ Words

A to C | D to F | G to I | J to L | M to O | P to R | S to U | V to X | Y to Z 

LGBT Words Starting with

LGBTQIA+ Slurs and Slang

TermContextual noteTime/Region Referencesace queen1970s term meaning “great queen”. Prison slang for a dude who wears a more “feminine” look i.e. shaved legs, plucked eyebrows. May be described as part of incarcerated homosexual customs. Should not be confused with the more widely-used term "ace," a shortening of "asexual." Look "asexual." UK, USA, 1970s Mosca de Colores – Gay Dictionary alphabet peopleOffensive contemporary term for LGBTQ+ people, often used by right-wing people reacting to perceived advancements in LGBTQ+ people's rights. 2020s- Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ bathroom queen

bog queen

Gay slang expression for people who frequent public toilets looking for sexual encounters.

Synonyms: Bathsheba (composition between bathroom and Sheba to create a name reminiscent of the Queen of Sheba), Ghost (50s, ghost, because they wander the corridors of the bathroom).

USA, UK Mosca de Colores – Gay Dictionary batting for the other teamA euphemistic statement indicating that someone (of any gender) is gay. This expression is not a slur or especially