LGBTQ+ Health

A person who identifies as having no gender.

A person who is not LGBTQ+ but supports LGBTQ+ people and promotes equality in a variety of ways.

A person who does not experience sexual attraction or desire for other people. Sometimes abbreviated as "ace."

The sex (male or female) assigned to a child at birth, most often based on the child’s external anatomy. Commonly referred to as birth sex, natal sex, biological sex, or sex.

A person emotionally, romantically, or sexually attracted to more than one sex, gender or gender identity though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way or to the same degree.

A term used to describe a person whose gender identity and/or expression aligns with those typically associated with the sex assigned to them at birth (for example, a woman who was assigned female sex at birth). Sometimes abbreviated as "cis."

The process by which one accepts and/or comes to identify one’s own sexual orientation or gender identity (to come out to oneself).

Also the process by which one shares one’s sexual orientation or gender identity with others (to come out to friends, family).

The act of calling a transgender person by an incorrect name; often the name they were given at birth and no longer use.

A person’s chosen name is an integral part of their identity and often reflects their own journey toward self-discovery.

Deadnaming can be accidental, but it can also be malicious. Deadnaming is important to public health because it harms the person who has been misidentified. Purposeful deadnaming is a form of discrimination.

A person who is emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to members of the same gender.

A social construct used to classify a person as a man, woman, or some other identity—fundamentally different from the sex one is assigned at birth. Gender is recognized as a non-medical factor that can affect health outcomes. This is also known as a social determinant of health.

One’s innermost concept of self as male, female, a blend of both or neither—how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. One’s gender identity can be the same or different from their sex assigned at birth. Gender identity is important for public health because gender is a non-medical factor that can affect health outcomes. This is also known as a social determinant of health.

A gender expression that differs from a given society’s norms for males and females.

A set of expectations based on gender. In the United States, these roles are strongly embedded in our culture, informing us from a young age what it means to be a man or a woman, a boy or a girl. Gender norms and behaviors can affect health outcomes in a variety of ways.

The assumption in individuals and/or institutions that everyone is heterosexual, or that heterosexuality is superior to all other sexual orientations.

An umbrella term used to describe a wide range of natural bodily variations. Some of these traits are visible at birth and some are not apparent until puberty, and others may never be physically apparent. Variations can involve anatomy, hormones, chromosomes, or any trait that differs from expectations generally associated with male and female bodies.

A woman who is emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to other women.

The act in which someone addresses or refers to another person by the wrong gender, either accidentally or intentionally. This can include referring to someone by the wrong pronouns or using a trans person’s deadname (see deadnaming). It is important to avoid misgendering people because it harms the person who has been misidentified. Purposeful misgendering can be a form of discrimination.

An adjective describing a person who does not identify exclusively as a man or a woman. The term "nonbinary" is sometimes colloquially abbreviated as "enby."

Nonbinary people may identify as being both a man and a woman, somewhere in between, or as falling completely outside these categories. While some also identify as transgender, not all non-binary people do.

It is important to consider nonbinary people in public health because of their experience of health disparities.

Someone who has the potential for emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction to people of any gender though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way or to the same degree.

The words people use when they are referring to someone, but not using their name. Examples of pronouns are she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs, and ze/zir/zirs. A person chooses their own pronouns based on their gender identity.

Examples of using gender-neutral pronouns:

• That’s the person we’re supposed to meet. Look, they’re waving at us.
• Ze is a writer and wrote that book zirself. Those ideas are zirs.

Pronouns are important in public health because using the wrong pronouns is misgendering, which can cause harm.

An umbrella term that describes people who think of their sexual orientation or gender identity as outside of societal norms.

Some people view the term queer as more fluid and inclusive than traditional categories for sexual orientation and gender identity.

Due to its history as a derogatory term, the term "queer" is not embraced by, or used by, all members of the LGBTQ+ community.

An umbrella term used to describe people who are in the process of exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity.

A person’s enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction to another person. Sexual orientation may be a non-medical factor that affects health outcomes. This is also known as a social determinant of health.

An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or expression is different from cultural expectations based on the sex they were assigned at birth. The term transgender is sometimes colloquially abbreviated as "trans."

Being transgender does not imply any specific sexual orientation, so transgender people may identify as straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or asexual. Some, but not all, nonbinary people are also transgender.

Transgender people face significant disparities in access to health care.

A person who embodies both a masculine and a feminine spirit. The term two-spirit is sometimes abbreviated as "2S."

This is a culturally specific term used among some Native American, American Indian, and First Nations people.