Sexual and Gender Minority Definitions
Sex
Referring to sex assigned at birth as declared by a medical professional, usually based on the appearance of external genitalia. People are commonly categorized as “male,” “female,” or “intersex.” Sex is a multidimensional construct that can include observable characteristics of external genitalia, gonads, and sex chromosomes, among other variables
Intersex
Refers to those whose sex-defining characteristics or reproductive anatomy does not fit into binary standards of male or female
Gender/
Gender Identity
A person’s internal sense of gender, which includes cisgender, transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary identities among others
Gender
expression
The diverse, contextual, and malleable range of social, cultural, physical, and behavioural cues that a person uses to display their gender, including clothing, pronouns, and physical embodiment
Transgender
Someone whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth
Cisgender
Someone whose gender identity aligns with their sex assigned at birth
Nonbinary
Someone whose gender identity is not within the binary of man or woman. Someone who is gender nonbinary may identify as both man and woman (bigender), as having no gender (agender), as having a gender identity, which changes in expression and intensity over time (genderfluid or genderflux), among other gender identities
Genderqueer/ Gender nonconforming
Refers to people who display nonnormative gender roles, expressions, and identities as defined by cultural expectations for sex assigned at birth
Two-spirit
A culturally specific term used in some North American Indigenous populations which refers to someone who embodies both a masculine and feminine spirit
Gender
dysphoria
Refers to psychological distress due to the incongruence between sex assigned at birth and gender identity. Not all transgender people experience gender dysphoria
Gender
affirmation
Refers to practices aimed at supporting a person’s authentic gender identity, which may include mental health, medical, legal, and surgical aspects of care. Some refer to this process as a gender transition
Sexual
orientation
Distinct from gender. Refers to the gender(s) of the individual(s) towards whom someone is attracted. The Sex and Gender Minority community generally uses gender identity, and not sex, as the reference point for someone’s sexual orientation.
Asexual
Refers to a heterogenous sexual orientation defined by having limited or no sexual attraction to others
Gay, lesbian
Refers to someone who is attracted to the same sex or gender, such as women who are primarily attracted to women and men who are primarily attracted to men
Straight
Refers to someone who is attracted to a different sex or gender, such as women who are primarily attracted to men and men who are primarily attracted to women
Bisexual/
Pansexual/
Omnisexual
Historically refers to someone who is attracted to more than one sex or gender. More recently, the terms pansexual and omnisexual have been used to be more inclusive of transgender and nonbinary identities, with pansexual not considering gender in their attraction (i.e., gender blind) whereas omnisexual do consider gender in their attraction (i.e., not gender blind)
Demisexual
Refers to someone who can feels sexually attracted to another person only after they have developed a close emotional bond with them
Queer
A reclaimed slur for a sexual orientation or gender identity outside of culturally dominant and historically binary definitions of gender and sexuality. This word may be considered offensive to some and should only be used if someone self-identifies as such
Coming out
The process of accepting and disclosing a sexual or gender minority identity to others
From Lerario, M. P., Rosendale, N., Waugh, J. L., Turban, J., and Maschi, T. (2023). Functional neurological disorder among sexual and gender minority people. Neurologic Clinics, 41(4), 759–778. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ncl.2023.02.010