Identity & diversity glossary

Explore each term in this topic, then open its full explanation for context, sources and related reading.

Aromantic
An orientation generally describing little or no romantic attraction. Aromantic, often shortened to aro, can also serve as an umbrella for varied aro-spectrum experiences.
Asexual
An orientation generally describing little or no sexual attraction. Asexual, often shortened to ace, is also an umbrella for varied ace-spectrum experiences.
Bisexual
An orientation involving the potential for sexual and/or romantic attraction to more than one gender. Attraction need not be equal, simultaneous, constant or expressed through behaviour.
Demisexual
An ace-spectrum identity commonly describing sexual attraction that occurs only after a significant emotional bond has formed. A bond makes attraction possible rather than guaranteed.
Gender dysphoria and euphoria
Gender dysphoria is significant or persistent distress or discomfort related to gender incongruence or how gender is treated. Gender euphoria describes positive feelings of recognition, comfort or affirmation in gender.
Gender expression
How a person presents or communicates gender through clothing, grooming, voice, name, movement, roles or other social signals. Expression may be feminine, masculine, androgynous, mixed or not gendered.
Gender identity
A person's internal and self-described sense of gender, such as woman, man, non-binary, another gender or no gender. It may or may not correspond with sex registered or assigned at birth.
Intersex
An umbrella for innate variations in sex characteristics—such as chromosomes, hormones, gonads, internal reproductive anatomy or genitals—that do not fit typical female or male patterns.
Kink identity
A person's integration of kink, BDSM, fetish interests, roles or community belonging into their self-understanding. Its centrality can range from recreational preference to a major identity.
Minority stress
Additional chronic stress produced by stigma, discrimination and unequal social conditions affecting a minoritised group, including external events and internal pressures shaped by those conditions.
Non-binary
An umbrella and personal identity for genders not exclusively woman or man. Non-binary experiences can include having no gender, more than one gender, a fluid gender or another gender entirely.
Pansexual
An orientation commonly describing the potential for attraction regardless of gender or across all genders. Individuals determine how gender matters, or does not matter, in their own attraction.
Queer
A reclaimed umbrella, community or personal identity relating to sexuality, gender or resistance to fixed categories. It also has a history and continuing use as an anti-LGBTQ+ slur.
Romantic orientation
A pattern of romantic attraction or the identity used to describe it. It may align with, differ from or be described independently of sexual orientation.
Transgender
An umbrella commonly describing people whose gender differs from the sex registered or assigned to them at birth. Many people use the shorter term trans; individual identities and language vary.