Seward Pride Alliance has events year-round!
LGBTQ+ Terms
Ally* - an individual who supports, and advocates for, individuals and/or communities other than their own
Aromantic - an individual who experiences no romantic attraction to other people; may or may not experience sexual attraction
Asexual - an individual who does not experience sexual attraction
Bisexual - an individual attracted to people of either sex
Cisgender - a person whose gender identity matches the gender assigned at birth
Gay - a common synonym for homosexual; often used to describe men who have sex with men/are attracted to men
Gender* - a multi-factorial social construct that ascribes individuals as being “feminine”, “masculine”, “androgynous”, etc.
Gender expression - how an individual acts and dresses to show their gender
Gender identity* - an individual’s internal, or psychological, experience of their own gender
Gender non-conforming (GNC) - an individual who acts or dresses in a way that does not align with societal expectations for their gender
Genderfluid - a person whose gender identity switches from one to another
Genderqueer* - a gender identity for individuals outside of the culturally expected, or assumed, gender binary
Heteroflexible - someone who is primarily attracted to people of the opposite gender, but occasionally experiences attraction to people of the same gender
Heteromantic - an individual who experiences romantic attraction to people of a different gender
Heterosexual - an individual attracted to people of a different sex
Homoflexible - someone who is primarily attracted to people of the same gender, but occasionally experiences attraction to people of another gender
Homoromantic - an individual who experiences romantic attraction to people of the same gender
Homosexual - an individual attracted to people of the same sex
Intersex - an individual whose body does not fit the so-called “normal” definitions of “male” or “female”
Lesbian - common label for women who have sex with women/are attracted to women
Men who have sex with men (MSM) - often used by medical practitioners as a descriptor regardless of patient’s chosen label
Non-binary - an individual who identifies as neither male nor female
Pansexual - an individual attracted to people of any sex or gender
Polyamorous - a relationship (romantic and/or sexual) involving more than two people
Queer* - 1) a sexual orientation categorized by an interest or attraction to individuals, unfettered by gender identities or labels; 2) an umbrella term for individuals operating outside of or beyond social or cultural constructs of behavior, gender, identity, or sexuality; 3)[historically] a derogatory term used against [LGBTQIA+] people
Questioning - someone who is unsure of their sexuality or gender
Romantic attraction - an emotional attraction to another person; may or may not be accompanied by sexual attraction
Sex - the physical traits that are often used do categorize an individual as “male” or “female”; usually genitalia
Sex & gender binary - the idea that sex and gender only have two categories (usually “male” and “female”)
Sexual attraction - an attraction based on sexual desire; may or may not be accompanied by romantic attraction
Transgender - a person whose gender identity does not match the gender assigned at birth
Transsexual - a person who physically alters their body to match their gender identity, particularly if not the one assigned at birth
Transvestite/crossdresser - someone who routinely wears clothing most often associated with the opposite sex
Two-spirit - a modern, indigenous North American term that describes individuals who fulfill traditionally “third gender” or other gender-variant roles in the culture; NOT interchangeable with other LGBT labels
Women who have sex with women (WSW) - often used by medical practitioners as a descriptor regardless of patient’s chosen label
“+” - sometimes added to the end of the LGBTQIA acronym to stand in for letters not listed