LGBTQ+ & Mental Health Glossary
Plain-language definitions of key LGBTQ+ and mental health terms, maintained by Kueer.
Interactive LGBTQ+ & Mental Health Glossary Quiz
Test Your Knowledge
Test your understanding of key terms and concepts in an interactive 5-question quiz. Learn as you play!
- LGBTQ+ [ˌɛl.dʒi.bi.ti.kjuː ˈplʌs]
- An acronym encompassing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, and other sexual and gender minorities. The plus (+) sign represents additional identities including intersex, asexual, pansexual, and two-spirit people.
- Queer [kwɪə(r)]
- An umbrella term for sexual and gender identities that are not heterosexual or cisgender. Once used as a slur, it has been reclaimed by many LGBTQ+ individuals as a self-affirming descriptor. Some people still find the term offensive; it is important to use it only when someone uses it for themselves.
- Gender Identity [ˈdʒɛn.dər aɪˈdɛn.tɪ.ti]
- A person's internal, deeply held sense of their own gender - whether that is man, woman, non-binary, genderfluid, or another identity. Gender identity is distinct from biological sex and from gender expression (how a person presents outwardly).
- Gender Dysphoria [ˈdʒɛn.dər dɪsˈfɔːr.i.ə]
- A clinically significant distress that can occur when a person's experienced or expressed gender is different from the gender they were assigned at birth. Not all transgender or non-binary people experience gender dysphoria, and its presence or absence does not determine the validity of a person's gender identity.
- Transgender [trænzˈdʒɛn.dər]
- A term for people whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. A transgender person may identify as a trans man, trans woman, or with a non-binary identity. Being transgender is not a medical condition and does not require any surgery or medical intervention to be valid.
- Non-binary [nɒnˈbaɪ.nə.ri]
- An umbrella term for gender identities that fall outside the traditional binary of "man" or "woman." Non-binary people may identify as both, neither, or somewhere else on the gender spectrum. Related identities include genderqueer, genderfluid, agender, and bigender.
- Two-Spirit [ˈtuːˌspɪr.ɪt]
- A term used by some Indigenous North American peoples to describe a person who fulfils a traditional third-gender or other gender-variant role in their culture. Two-Spirit is a culturally specific term rooted in Indigenous traditions and should only be used by Indigenous people to describe themselves.
- Affirming Therapy [əˈfɜː.mɪŋ ˈθɛr.ə.pi]
- A therapeutic approach that affirms and respects a client's sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression. Affirming therapists do not attempt to change, suppress, or pathologize LGBTQ+ identities. This approach is also called LGBTQ+-affirmative therapy or identity-affirming therapy.
- Conversion Therapy [kənˈvɜː.ʃən ˈθɛr.ə.pi]
- Any practice that attempts to change, suppress, or eliminate a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. Conversion therapy is widely condemned by medical and psychological associations worldwide as ineffective and deeply harmful. It is illegal in Canada (Criminal Code, Section 320.101).
- Coming Out [ˈkʌm.ɪŋ aʊt]
- The process by which an LGBTQ+ person discloses their sexual orientation or gender identity to others. Coming out is a deeply personal and ongoing process - people may come out at different times to different people in their lives. There is no single correct way to come out.
- Sexual Orientation [ˈsɛk.ʃu.əl ˌɔː.ri.ənˈteɪ.ʃən]
- A person's enduring emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction to others. Common sexual orientations include heterosexual (straight), gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, and asexual. Sexual orientation is distinct from gender identity and from sexual behaviour.
- Intersectionality [ˌɪn.tə.sɛk.ʃəˈnæl.ə.ti]
- A framework for understanding how overlapping social identities - such as race, gender, sexuality, class, disability, and immigration status - interact to create overlapping systems of discrimination or privilege. In LGBTQ+ mental health, intersectionality recognises that a queer refugee faces different and compounded challenges compared to a queer person with citizenship and economic security.
- Mental Health [ˈmɛn.təl hɛlθ]
- A person's emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Mental health affects how people think, feel, and act, and influences how they handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health exists on a spectrum and can change over time.
Related: Affirming Therapy
Related: LGBTQ+
Search
Sources & References
Definitions are compiled and verified using trusted references, including leading educational, psychological, and mental health organizations.
Missing a term?
If you think an important term is missing or a definition could be improved, let us know.
Contact