We use the following terms as event labels to indicate the groups for which our events are designed:

An acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, Aromantic or Agender and other sexual orientations and gender identities. The plus sign (+) encompasses additional identities that are not specifically listed. Events with this label are open to everyone who identifies themselves with any of these groups.

Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer men*, emphasizing inclusivity within male-identified communities. The use of the asterisk is to signal denaturalization and cultural constructedness of categories such as man* and woman*.

Individuals who were assigned male at birth and identify on the female spectrum, including trans women and non-binary individuals with a female identity.

Individuals who were assigned female at birth and identify on the male spectrum, including trans men and non-binary individuals with a male identity.

Transgender, intersex and non-binary people and their allies and other community members who support gender diversity.

Sexual Orientation: Refers to a person’s emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attraction to others. It’s not the same as gender identity.

Gay: A person who is emotionally, romantically, or sexually attracted to members of the same gender. This term is used by men, women, and non-binary individuals.

Lesbian: A woman who is emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to other women.Bisexual: A person who has the potential to be emotionally, romantically or physically attracted to more than one gender, but not necessarily at the same time or to the same degree.Pansexual: A person who has the capacity to form attractions regardless of gender identity. This term emphasizes the inclusion of all gender identities.

Asexual: A person who experiences little or no sexual attraction to others and may have a lack of interest in sexual activity. Asexual individuals may still experience romantic attraction and form intimate relationships. Asexual is an umbrella term that can also include people who are demisexual, meaning a person who does experience some sexual attraction, but only in certain situations, for example, after they have formed a strong emotional or romantic connection with a partner.

Aromantic: A person who experiences little or no romantic attraction to others. Aromantic individuals may still form deep emotional connections. Aromantic is an umbrella term that can also include people who are demiromantic, meaning a person who does not experience romantic attraction until a strong emotional or sexual connection is formed.

Heterosexual: A person whose enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction is to people of a sex different than their own. Also: straight.

Gender Identity: Describes a person’s internal sense of being male, female, neither, or both. It may or may not align with the sex assigned at birth.

Transgender/Trans*: An umbrella term for people whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.

Non-binary: Describes people who experience their gender identity and/or gender expression as falling outside the binary gender categories of man or woman. Non-binary individuals may identify as both, neither, or a blend of male and female genders.

Genderqueer: Similar to non-binary, this term is used by people who reject static gender categories and embrace fluidity.Intersex: Describes a person with one or more innate sex characteristics, including genitals, internal reproductive organs, and chromosomes, that do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies. Intersex people are assigned a sex at birth – either male or female – and that decision by medical providers and parents may not match the gender identity of the child.

Agender: A person who identifies as genderless or feels no connection to a gender identity.Two-Spirit: A term used by some Indigenous people to describe a person who embodies both masculine and feminine spirits. This term is specific to Indigenous cultures and should be used with cultural sensitivity and respect.

Two-Spirit: an umbrella term that has a different meaning to each individual that uses it. It’s used by some Indigenous people who consider themselves to be gender diverse, non-binary or trans; others may not. This term is specific to Indigenous cultures and should be used with cultural sensitivity and respect.

Genderfluid: Refers to someone whose gender identity can change over time or depending on the situation.

Cisgender: A person whose gender identity corresponds to their sex assigned at birth. Often shortened to “cis”.

Queer: An umbrella term for sexual and gender identities that are not heterosexual or cisgender. It has been reclaimed by some as a positive term, though historically it has been used as a slur, and it may still be considered derogatory by others.

Questioning: The process of exploring one’s own sexual orientation and/or gender identity.MSM (Men who have Sex with Men): A term used to describe men who engage in sexual activity with other men, regardless of how they identify their sexual orientation. Trans MSM describes individuals who are “men” or “trans men” who are sexually attracted to and/or have sex with men. Sexual orientation is independent of gender identity.

TIN (Transgender, Intersex, Non-Binary): An acronym that represents transgender, intersex and non-binary people and focuses on gender diversity.WLW (Women who Love Women): A term used to describe women who are emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to other women, including lesbian, bisexual and pansexual women.FLINTA: An acronym for Women, Lesbian, Intersex, Non-Binary, Trans, and Agender people. It is used to highlight individuals who are marginalized or oppressed by patriarchal structures.

Gender Non-Conforming (GNC): Describes people whose gender expression does not conform to traditional or societal expectations based on the gender assigned at birth.Allies: A straight and/or cisgender person who supports and advocates for LGBTQIA+ people. Allyship involves actively supporting and advocating for LGBTQ+ individuals, listening to queer voices, educating yourself and challenging discriminatory behavior, even if you don’t identify as part of the community yourself.

Chosen Family: A support network of people, often LGBTQIA+, who are not biologically related.Passing: Being perceived as a cisgender or heterosexual person.Pronouns: (like he/him, she/her, they/them) are how people refer to themselves. Using correct pronouns shows respect for a person’s identity.

Misgendering: Is referring to someone using a gender they don’t identify with, often through incorrect pronoun use. It can be hurtful and disrespectful.