Upcoming Events
Our Sponsors
Cavanaugh, Meares & Foster Wealth Management Group
Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Bank at Broadmoor
Pikes Peak Community Foundation
United States Olympic Committee
Vista Grande Community Church
First Congregational Church
All Souls Unitarian Church
[Click here to register today and for more information!]
The Pikes Peak Safe @ School Coalition meets the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 5:30 at 235 S Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs at Inside Out’s center. [MORE INFO]
Talking the Talk: LGBTIQ Terms
- Asexual - Person who does not define or express his or her sexuality in any way that is commonly held or identified.
- Biological Sex – Physiological and anatomical characteristics of maleness or femaleness with which a person is born.
- Bisexual – Individual who is physically or emotionally attracted to both men and women and who identifies as a member of this community.
- Cisgender - A person whose biological sex and sex assigned at birth matches with gender identity and presentation.
- Closet – Place where LGBTIQ people figuratively hide their sexual orientation from others.
- Cross Dresser – Term representing someone who steps out of their gender role by dressing in clothing socially assigned to another gender. Term usage is less acceptable in today’s society.
- Gay – A male who is physically and emotionally attracted to other men. In addition, term sometimes used to describe anyone with a homosexual or bisexual orientation, regardless of whether a man or woman.
- Gender – One’s psychological sense of self as being either male or female (or other gender expression). Can include identity, appearance, expression or behavior.
- Gender Role – Set of socially-defined roles and behaviors assigned to females or males. Can vary from culture to culture in society. Often described in terms of masculinity or femininity.
- Heterosexism – Overt or tacit bias or assumption of superiority in society of heterosexuals or heterosexual behavior. Could be assumption that all people are heterosexual in society.
- Heterosexual – Person physically and emotionally attracted to a person of the opposite sex.
- Homophobia – Fear or hatred of homosexuality, usually held by some heterosexuals.
- Homosexual – Term used to describe someone physically and emotionally attracted to a person of the same sex. Slightly derogatory in use for describing a group of LGBTIQ people.
- Intersex – People born with varying degrees of the biological aspects of both biological males and biological females. Often “assigned” a male or female identity at birth that may not correspond with identities later in life.
- Lesbian – Female physically and emotionally attracted to other women.
- LGBTIQ – Acronym used to describe people of a non-heterosexual orientation and non-cisgender people. Implies Inclusivity to people of all gender and sexual identities and sexual orientations
- Outing – Revealing another person’s sexual orientation, especially a person in the LGBTIQ community.
- Pansexual – A person who is attracted to people without regard to gender.
- Queer – Term used by some LGBTIQ people to refer to anyone whose sexual orientation, gender identity or expression is not “standard” in society. Synonym for gay. Historically was a slur reclaimed by many in the LGBTIQ community.
- Questioning – Term used to describe people who are in the process of uncovering their sexual orientation or gender identity.
- Sexual orientation – Refers to one’s sexual, romantic, physical, emotional, psychological and/or spiritual attraction.
- Straight – Person physically and emotionally attracted to a person of the opposite sex.
- Trans* – Inclusive term to refer to anyone who is transsexual, transgender, genderqueer, or gender non-conforming
- Transgender – Term for communities whose gender identities transcend conventional definitions of “man” and “woman” in society. Person whose gender identifies with one not assigned by society.
- Transphobia – Fear or hatred of trans people, sometimes manifested through violence, harassment and discrimination.
- Transsexual - People who do not identify with their birth-assigned sexes and sometimes alter bodies surgically and/or hormonally.
- Transvestite - Out-of-date term for someone who chooses to dress in clothing assigned to a different gender.
- Two-Spirit – General term used for some transgender Native Americans, highly regarded in a tribe and often given special status such as a medicine man/woman.
- Ze/Zer – A gender neutral pronoun used in publication, print, and by some gender non-conforming individuals.