LGBTQ+
Glossary of LGBTQIA+ Identities
Expansive Therapy
Agender: A person who does not identify with any gender, or who feels that gender is irrelevant to their identity.
Ally: A person who supports and advocates for LGBTQIA individuals and communities, even if they do not identify as LGBTQIA themselves.
Androgynous: A person whose gender expression combines both masculine and feminine characteristics, or who has an ambiguous or indeterminate gender presentation.
Aromantic: A person who experiences little or no romantic attraction to others.
Asexual (Ace): A person who experiences little or no sexual attraction to others.
Bigender: Identifying with two genders, either at the same time or switching between them.
Bisexual: The potential to be attracted — romantically and/or sexually — to people of more than one sex and/or gender, not necessarily at the same time, not necessarily in the same way, and not necessarily to the same degree.
Demisexual: A person who only experiences sexual attraction after forming a strong emotional bond with someone.
Gay: A person who is romantically and/or sexually attracted primarily to others of the same gender.
Genderfluid: A gender identity that can change over time or in different situations, moving between masculine, feminine, or other gender identities.
Gender Expansive: A person with a wider, more flexible range of gender identity and/or expression than typically associated with the binary gender system. Often used as an umbrella term when referring to young people still exploring the possibilities of their gender expression and/or gender identity.
Gender Non-Conforming (GNC): Describes individuals whose gender expression does not conform to traditional societal expectations or stereotypes associated with their assigned sex at birth.
Genderqueer: A gender identity which extends outside or between the traditional categories of male and female. People who identify as genderqueer may see themselves as being both male and female, neither male nor female or as falling completely outside these categories.
Graysexual: A person who experiences sexual attraction rarely, weakly, or under specific circumstances.
Intersex: A person born with variations in sex characteristics, such as chromosomes, hormones, or reproductive anatomy, that do not fit typical definitions of male or female.
Lesbian: A woman who is romantically and/or sexually attracted to other women.
Neutrois: A non-binary gender identity that is neutral or null, devoid of specific gender characteristics or associations.
Non-Binary: A gender identity that does not exclusively align with the categories of male or female. Non-binary individuals may identify as a mix of both genders, as neither, or as a different gender entirely.
Pansexual: A person who is emotionally, romantically, or sexually attracted to individuals regardless of their gender identity or biological sex.
Pangender: A person who identifies with all genders or multiple genders simultaneously.
Queer: An umbrella term used by some individuals to describe their sexual orientation or gender identity, often indicating a non-normative or non-binary identity.
Questioning: Describes individuals who are exploring or uncertain about their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Third Gender: A concept used in some cultures to describe gender identities other than male or female, often recognized as a distinct social or spiritual category.
Transgender (Trans): 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. Being transgender does not imply any specific sexual orientation. Therefore, transgender people may identify as straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, etc.
Trans Man: A person who was assigned female at birth but identifies and lives as a man.
Trans Woman: A person who was assigned male at birth but identifies and lives as a woman.
Two-Spirit: A term used by some Indigenous cultures to describe individuals who embody both masculine and feminine qualities or roles.
Agender: A person who does not identify with any gender, or who feels that gender is irrelevant to their identity.
Ally: A person who supports and advocates for LGBTQIA individuals and communities, even if they do not identify as LGBTQIA themselves.
Androgynous: A person whose gender expression combines both masculine and feminine characteristics, or who has an ambiguous or indeterminate gender presentation.
Aromantic: A person who experiences little or no romantic attraction to others.
Asexual (Ace): A person who experiences little or no sexual attraction to others.
Bigender: Identifying with two genders, either at the same time or switching between them.
Bisexual: The potential to be attracted — romantically and/or sexually — to people of more than one sex and/or gender, not necessarily at the same time, not necessarily in the same way, and not necessarily to the same degree.
Demisexual: A person who only experiences sexual attraction after forming a strong emotional bond with someone.
Gay: A person who is romantically and/or sexually attracted primarily to others of the same gender.
Genderfluid: A gender identity that can change over time or in different situations, moving between masculine, feminine, or other gender identities.
Gender Expansive: A person with a wider, more flexible range of gender identity and/or expression than typically associated with the binary gender system. Often used as an umbrella term when referring to young people still exploring the possibilities of their gender expression and/or gender identity.
Gender Non-Conforming (GNC): Describes individuals whose gender expression does not conform to traditional societal expectations or stereotypes associated with their assigned sex at birth.
Genderqueer: A gender identity which extends outside or between the traditional categories of male and female. People who identify as genderqueer may see themselves as being both male and female, neither male nor female or as falling completely outside these categories.
Graysexual: A person who experiences sexual attraction rarely, weakly, or under specific circumstances.
Intersex: A person born with variations in sex characteristics, such as chromosomes, hormones, or reproductive anatomy, that do not fit typical definitions of male or female.
Lesbian: A woman who is romantically and/or sexually attracted to other women.
Neutrois: A non-binary gender identity that is neutral or null, devoid of specific gender characteristics or associations.
Non-Binary: A gender identity that does not exclusively align with the categories of male or female. Non-binary individuals may identify as a mix of both genders, as neither, or as a different gender entirely.
Pansexual: A person who is emotionally, romantically, or sexually attracted to individuals regardless of their gender identity or biological sex.
Pangender: A person who identifies with all genders or multiple genders simultaneously.
Queer: An umbrella term used by some individuals to describe their sexual orientation or gender identity, often indicating a non-normative or non-binary identity.
Questioning: Describes individuals who are exploring or uncertain about their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Third Gender: A concept used in some cultures to describe gender identities other than male or female, often recognized as a distinct social or spiritual category.
Transgender (Trans): 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. Being transgender does not imply any specific sexual orientation. Therefore, transgender people may identify as straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, etc.
Trans Man: A person who was assigned female at birth but identifies and lives as a man.
Trans Woman: A person who was assigned male at birth but identifies and lives as a woman.
Two-Spirit: A term used by some Indigenous cultures to describe individuals who embody both masculine and feminine qualities or roles.
Agender: A person who does not identify with any gender, or who feels that gender is irrelevant to their identity.
Ally: A person who supports and advocates for LGBTQIA individuals and communities, even if they do not identify as LGBTQIA themselves.
Androgynous: A person whose gender expression combines both masculine and feminine characteristics, or who has an ambiguous or indeterminate gender presentation.
Aromantic: A person who experiences little or no romantic attraction to others.
Asexual (Ace): A person who experiences little or no sexual attraction to others.
Bigender: Identifying with two genders, either at the same time or switching between them.
Bisexual: The potential to be attracted — romantically and/or sexually — to people of more than one sex and/or gender, not necessarily at the same time, not necessarily in the same way, and not necessarily to the same degree.
Demisexual: A person who only experiences sexual attraction after forming a strong emotional bond with someone.
Gay: A person who is romantically and/or sexually attracted primarily to others of the same gender.
Genderfluid: A gender identity that can change over time or in different situations, moving between masculine, feminine, or other gender identities.
Gender Expansive: A person with a wider, more flexible range of gender identity and/or expression than typically associated with the binary gender system. Often used as an umbrella term when referring to young people still exploring the possibilities of their gender expression and/or gender identity.
Gender Non-Conforming (GNC): Describes individuals whose gender expression does not conform to traditional societal expectations or stereotypes associated with their assigned sex at birth.
Genderqueer: A gender identity which extends outside or between the traditional categories of male and female. People who identify as genderqueer may see themselves as being both male and female, neither male nor female or as falling completely outside these categories.
Graysexual: A person who experiences sexual attraction rarely, weakly, or under specific circumstances.
Intersex: A person born with variations in sex characteristics, such as chromosomes, hormones, or reproductive anatomy, that do not fit typical definitions of male or female.
Lesbian: A woman who is romantically and/or sexually attracted to other women.
Neutrois: A non-binary gender identity that is neutral or null, devoid of specific gender characteristics or associations.
Non-Binary: A gender identity that does not exclusively align with the categories of male or female. Non-binary individuals may identify as a mix of both genders, as neither, or as a different gender entirely.
Pansexual: A person who is emotionally, romantically, or sexually attracted to individuals regardless of their gender identity or biological sex.
Pangender: A person who identifies with all genders or multiple genders simultaneously.
Queer: An umbrella term used by some individuals to describe their sexual orientation or gender identity, often indicating a non-normative or non-binary identity.
Questioning: Describes individuals who are exploring or uncertain about their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Third Gender: A concept used in some cultures to describe gender identities other than male or female, often recognized as a distinct social or spiritual category.
Transgender (Trans): 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. Being transgender does not imply any specific sexual orientation. Therefore, transgender people may identify as straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, etc.
Trans Man: A person who was assigned female at birth but identifies and lives as a man.
Trans Woman: A person who was assigned male at birth but identifies and lives as a woman.
Two-Spirit: A term used by some Indigenous cultures to describe individuals who embody both masculine and feminine qualities or roles.
Want more content like this?
Join our mailing list
Book Your Intro Session With A Therapist
Find A therapist
Read more from the blog
Read more from the blog
Let’s Dance! The Benefits of Dance/Movement Therapy for Queer Clients
Alisha Borges, APCC
5 Ways to Prepare for the Holidays if You're Queer
Nick Fager, Expansive Cofounder
The Overlap of Neurodivergence and Trauma
Stephanie Yandow, Resident Therapist
What is Freysexuality? A Therapist Explains.
Nick Fager, Expansive Cofounder
The Importance of Sleep: Recharging Your Life
Lizzy Barna, MHC-LP
Alisha Borges, APCC
Let’s Dance! The Benefits of Dance/Movement Therapy for Queer Clients
Nick Fager, Expansive Cofounder
5 Ways to Prepare for the Holidays if You're Queer
Alisha Borges, APCC
Let’s Dance! The Benefits of Dance/Movement Therapy for Queer Clients
Nick Fager, Expansive Cofounder
5 Ways to Prepare for the Holidays if You're Queer
Stephanie Yandow, Resident Therapist
The Overlap of Neurodivergence and Trauma
Nick Fager, Expansive Cofounder
What is Freysexuality? A Therapist Explains.
Stay in the Know
Join our newsletter to get mental health tips and promotional offers delivered to you weekly.
Stay in the Know
Join our newsletter to get mental health tips and promotional offers delivered to you weekly.
& New York
352 7th Ave, Suite 1201
New York NY 10001
In California
606 N Larchmont Blvd, 4 B, Los Angeles, CA 90004
Limited in-person availability:
Stay in the Know
Join our newsletter to get mental health tips and promotional offers delivered to you weekly.
© 2023 EXPANSIVE THERAPY | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Stay in the Know
Join our newsletter to get mental health tips and promotional offers delivered to you weekly.
Stay in the Know
Join our newsletter to get mental health tips and promotional offers delivered to you weekly.