18 helpful LGBTQ definitions, important LGBTQ figures in New York
Unless otherwise noted, definitions are provided by “The Teaching Transgender Toolkit: A Facilitator’s Guide to Increasing Knowledge, Decreasing Prejudice & Building Skills” by Eli R. Green, PhD, CSE; Luca Maurer, MS, CSE, CFLE.
an adjective to describe a person whose gender identity is congruent with (or "matches") the biological sex they were assigned at birth. (Some people abbreviate this as "cis").
Playwright, actor and director Cleve Thomas worked with the New York Shakespeare Festival, Negro Ensemble Company, the Public Theatre and La Mama Experimental Theatre Company in New York City. He founded youth groups in Ithaca, Albany, and New York City. He also founded the Red Room Consortium. Thomas was also an HIV/AIDS activist and a regular speaker for Ithaca College’s “Living with AIDS” panel presentations. He died Feb. 16, 2011 at the age of 50. His home is featured on Ithaca College’s LGBTQ History Walking Tour.
A female performer who exaggerates male behaviors and dress for the purposes of entertainment at bars, clubs, or events. Some drag kings might identify as transgender. ("Transgender identity terms and labels," provided by Planned Parenthood)
A male performer who exaggerates female behaviors and dress for the purposes of entertainment at bars, clubs, or events. Some drag queens might identify as transgender. ("Transgender identity terms and labels," provided by Planned Parenthood)
Gender dysphoria (GD)
The formal diagnosis in the American Psychiatric Associations "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition (DSM 5)," used by psychologists and physicians to indicate that a person meets the diagnostic criteria to engage in medical transition. In other words, the medical diagnosis for being transgender. Formerly known as Gender Identity Disorder. The inclusion of Gender Dysphoria as a diagnosis in the DSM 5 is controversial in transgender communities because it implies that being transgender is a mental illness rather than a valid identity. On the other hand, since a formal diagnosis is generally required in order to receive or provide treatment in the U.S., it does provide access to medical care for some people who wouldn't originally be eligible to receive it.
A person's outward gender presentation, usually comprised of personal style, clothing, hairstyle, makeup, jewelry, vocal inflection and body language. Gender expression is typically categorized as masculine or feminine, less commonly as androgynous. All people express a gender. Gender expression can be congruent with a person's gender identity, but it can also be incongruent if a person does not feel safe or supported, or does not have the resources needed to engage in gender expression that authentically reflects their gender identity.
A person’s deep-seated, internal sense of who they are as a gendered being—specifically, the gender with which they identify themselves. All people have a gender identity.
The marker (male or female) that appears on a person’s identity documents (e.g., birth certifcate, driver’s license, passport, travel or work visas, green cards, etc.). The gender marker on a transgender person’s identity documents will be their sex assigned at birth until they undergo a legal and logistical process to change it, where possible.
A person whose gender expression is perceived as being inconsistent with cultural norms expected for that gender. Specifically, boys/men are not masculine enough or are feminine, while girls/women are not feminine enough or are masculine. Not all transgender people are gender non-conforming, and not all gender non-conforming people identify as transgender. Cisgender people may also be gender non-conforming. Gender non-conformity is often inaccurately confused with sexual orientation.
A person whose gender identity is neither male nor female, is between or beyond genders, or is some combination of genders.
A pianist, composer and performer, Julius Eastman grew up in Ithaca and was one of the first to utilize minimalism in popular music. He gave his work provocative titles, including “Gay Guerrilla.” In a 1976 interview, he said, “What I am trying to achieve is to be what I am to the fullest. Black to the fullest, musician to the fullest, a homosexual to the fullest.” His childhood home is featured on Ithaca College’s LGBTQ History Walking Tour.
An acronym commonly used to refer to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning individuals and communities. LGBTQ is often erroneously used as a synonym for “nonheterosexual,” which incorrectly implies that transgender is a sexual orientation.
A long-term series of medical interventions that utilizes hormonal treatments and/or surgical interventions to change a person's body to be more congruent with their gender identity. Medical transition is the approved medical treatment for gender dysphoria.
A continuum or spectrum of gender identities and expressions, often based on the rejection of the gender binary's assumption that gender is strictly an either/or option of male/men/masculine or female/woman/feminine based on sex assigned at birth. Words that people may use to express their non-binary gender identity include "agender," "bigender," "genderqueer," "genderfluid," and "pangender."
Sex assigned at birth
The determination of a person's sex based on the visual appearance of the genitals at birth. The sex someone is labeled at birth.
A transgender person’s process of a creating a life that is congruent with their gender identity, which often includes asking others to use a name, pronoun, or gender that is more congruent with their gender identity. It may also involve a person changing their gender expression to match their gender identity.
An adjective used to describe a person whose gender identity is incongruent with (or does not “match”) the biological sex they were assigned at birth. “Transgender” serves an umbrella term to refer to the full range and diversity of identities within transgender communities because it is currently the most widely used and recognized term.
Transgender women and girls
People who identify as female, but were assigned male at birth. Also sometimes referred to as trans women.