All of the words used in conversations about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and belonging

Able-Bodied

A person who does not have a disability.

Ableism

Discrimination against people with disabilities. Can include denial, intentional or negligent, of accessibility. Ableism also refers to the systems of discrimination against people with disabilities that is deeply embedded in our society that leads to lack of accessibility and understanding of disabilities.

Accent

distinctive manner of expression in reference to the inflection, tone, or emphasis on pronunciation that is distinctly different from the listeners, and is taken to be unique. Characterizing an individual as having a thick accent, could be defining hem as “other” or “less than” and could be seen as stereotyping.

Accessible:

In the case of a facility, readily usable by a particular individual; in the case of a program or activity, presented or provided in such a way that a particular individual can participate, with or without auxiliary aid(s); in the case of electronic resources, accessible with or without assistive computer technology.

ADA

Acronym for American Disabilities Act, federal civil rights legislation dealing with discrimination in employment, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications on the basis of disability.

Advertising/Media and Diversity

Often a haven for stereotypes that affect the public’s perception of various groups, with dominant groups being presented as the norm, and others as deviations from the norm.

AFAB

Assigned Female at Birth. This is the most respectful way to refer to a transgender person’s sex assigned at birth. Because AFAB might never have had a female identity, it’s not correct to say “born a female” or “Previously female”.

Africa

Use when relating to the content as a whole. Use specific countries or regions when possible. Do not use Dark Continent.

African American

Americans of African origin. Black is also acceptable.

Age/Ageism

A group identity based on the chronological number of years since a person’s birth. Discrimination often occurs against people who are “too young” or “too old.” When in doubt do not refer to a person’s age.

Agnosticism

The belief that one cannot know the existence of God without physical evidence. Not a religion.

AIDS

Acronym for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Individuals diagnosed with AIDS prefer to be identified as people with AIDS (PWAs) rather than as AIDS victims.

Alien

Used to describe a foreign-born U.S. resident who is not a citizen. Those who enter legally are known as “resident aliens” and are issued “alien registration cards” or “green cards.” Those who enter illegally are classified as “illegal aliens.” These terms can be considered derogatory and should be avoided outside the legal context. These terms can be isolating and demeaning to immigrants. Use legal immigrant or legal resident instead of resident alien. Use undocumented immigrant instead of illegal alien.

Ally

A person who supports the efforts of a group but is not a member of a particular group.

Amerasian

Person born of American and Asian decent, in either Korea or Vietnam with an Asian mother and a non-Asian American father. Originally described people fathered by members of the U.S. military during the Korean and Vietnam wars. The term is not derogatory, but should be avoided.

American Indian

Term used to refer to those indigenous to the United States. Synonymous with Native Americans, though individuals sometimes prefer one over the other. Do not use Indian as a synonym.

Anti-bias

An active commitment to challenging prejudice, stereotyping, and all forms of discrimination.

Anti-Semitism

Hostility toward or discrimination against Jews.

Arab-American

U.S. citizen of Arabic descent.

Asexual

A person who experiences little or no sexual attraction to others and/or a lack of interest in sexual relationships/behavior. Sometimes shortened to “ace”.

Asian Indian

A person who originates or is descended from the Indian subcontinent, although commonly used to refer to a person from India.

Assistive Technology:

A device or piece of equipment used to maintain or improve the functional facility of people with disabilities (e.g., brace, crutches, descriptive video, hearing aid, prosthetic device, walker, wheelchair).

Atheism/Atheist

The belief that there is no God. A person who denies the existence of God. Not a religion.

Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests. People with ASD may also have different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention.

Baha’i

A religion that emphasizes the spiritual unity of humankind, and the oneness of God. Baha’i believe in the equality of men and women. Founded by Mirza Husayn-’Ali Nuri, who took the name Baha’u’llah while in exile in Baghdad.

Bear

A large, hairier man who projects an image of rugged masculinity and cuddliness.

Bigotry

An unreasonable belief or an irrational attachment to negative stereotypes and prejudices about other groups of people.

Bilingual

Fluency between any two languages.

BIPOC

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. This acronym emphasizes the particular and particularly virulent racism/colorism experienced by these three, sometimes overlapping identities, but it is not an identity itself. People don’t identify as BIPOC – and the grouping of these communities can be problematic when their experiences are not aligned.  Sometimes changed to IBPoc, to acknowledge Indigineous people first, or First peoples first.

Birth Defect

Derogatory term used for disability since birth. Use congenital disability or disability since birth.

Biological Sex

The structural and functional characteristics of a person — genes, hormones and sexual anatomy — that differ by gender and determine whether an individual is male, female, or intersex.

Black

Non-white person of African descent regardless of national origin.

Bottom (also Passive)

A person who takes a more submissive role during sexual interactions. Often refers to the position assumed in insertive sex, but can be used to describe the position in any sexual practice.

Boy

Derogatory reference to an African American adult male, and sometimes other men of color. Homeboy, a term meaning someone native to one’s hometown, does not carry the same negative connotation.

Braille

A system for writing and printing for people who are visually impaired. When characters and letters are formed by raised dots felt with the fingers, not limited to English. Always capitalize.

Brain Injury

Describes a condition where there is long term or temporary disruption in brain function resulting from injury to the brain. Do not say brain damaged.

Butch

A person who identifies as masculine, whether it be physically, mentally or emotionally. In the lesbian community, Butch and Femme are often adopted as identities. In the gay community, they are more often just descriptors.

Cantonese

Dialect spoken in the Canton province of China and Hong Kong by many 19th century immigrants to the U.S. Still spoken in several Chinese American communities today.

Catholic

Usually refers to the Roman Catholic church, but can also refer to other Catholic Christian denominations such as the Eastern Orthodox churches.

Chicano/Chicana

Derived from Mexicano. Refers to people of Mexican American origin, used by some members of the younger Mexican American generation.

Chinese

A person from China, or the written language of China and Taiwan. The spoken language is Mandarin. Is not a synonym for a Chinese American.

Cisgender

Someone whose gender identity matches the gender they were assigned at birth. It is the inverse of Transgender— if a person is not transgender, Often shortened to to “cis,” and sometimes combined with a gender: “cis-male” or “cis-female.”

Civil Rights

Political, social and economic legal rights are responsibilities guaranteed by the government. The rights of personal liberty guaranteed to U.S. citizens by the 13th and 14th amendments to the Constitution and by acts of congress. The Civil Rights Movement refers to the struggles of African Americans. Do not use special rights.

Class

A group identity usually based on economic or social status.

Closed Captioning

An on-screen system that allows people with a hearing disability to view television with spoken words written across the bottom of the screen.

Code Switching

When a person switches between languages or dialects (codes) while speaking. Switching may occur for several reasons. The speaker may be unable to express themselves adequately in one language/dialect, the speaker may switch unconsciously when upset, tired, or excited, or the speaker may switch in order to express solidarity with a particular group.

Cognitive Disability

A disability that affects learning and similar brain functions. Do not use mental retardation and use specific disabilities when possible.

Coming Out

Abbreviated from “coming out of the closet,” meaning to reveal one’s formerly hidden sexual orientation or gender identity. Refers to the overall developmental process that gender and sexual minorities experience as they come to terms with their sexuality and/or gender identity.

Confucianism

Founded in the 5th and 6th centuries B.C. by the philosopher Confucius, one of the Chinese traditional religions, whose followers recorded his sayings and dialogues. Confucianism, which grew out of a tumultuous time in Chinese history, stresses the relationship between individuals, their families, and social, based on “li” (proper behavior) and “jen” (sympathetic attitude).

Cripple

Derogatory term for a person with a physical disability.

Cross-Dresser

Person who wears clothing associated with another gender and is not indicative of sexual orientation. Not synonymous with transgender.

Culture

The patterns of daily life learned consciously and unconsciously by a group of people. These patterns can be seen in language, governing practices, arts, customs, food, religion, holiday celebrations, dating, clothing, and more.

Cultural Competence

The ability to respond appropriately to people of varying cultures, ages, races, religions, sexual orientations, abilities, and ethnicities in a way that recognizes difference and allows individuals to feel respected and valued.

Cultural Sensitivity

Basic and obvious respect and appreciation of various cultures that many differ from your own.

Daddy

An attractive man of an older age.

Dead name

The birth name of someone who has changed to a new name, especially used in the LGBTQ community by people who are transgender and elect to go by their chosen name instead of their given name.

Demisexual

A person who experiences sexual attraction only in the context of a strong romantic emotional connection.

Derogatory Term

Offensive words or phrases that should be avoided.

Developmental Disability

Federal, local, and legal definitions vary, but the term can include conditions such as autism and epilepsy. Use specific terms when possible.

Disability

General term for functional limitation. Person with a disability, disabled person, or differently able is preferred. Do not use victim of, suffers from, stricken with, or afflicted with.

Discrimination

A prejudice-based action taken by a dominant group member against a subordinate group member. These actions are used to limit another group’s opportunities, confidence,

access, and ability to perform in society.

Diversity

The condition of being different or having differences. Differences among people with respect to age, class, ethnicity, gender, health, physical and mental ability, race, sexual orientation, religion, physical size, education level, job and function, personality traits, and other human differences.

Diversity as Economic Empowerment

A diverse employee base creates value for patients, employees, and stakeholders through innovation technology, and operational expertise. It establishes access to market shares and new talent and legitimizes the organization to critical consumer or constituent groups.

Diversity as Inclusion

Human capital is the greatest asset of an organization and key to its effectiveness. Diversity is an organizational asset because differences enhance work practices by redefining markets, products, and strategies. A healthy, diverse workplace also listens to the needs of its constituents and does not view diversity as merely a public relations or marketing strategy.

Diversity as Social Justice

Eliminating oppression or the ways in which inequitable practices of power is used. Eradicating the “-isms” or destructive beliefs and attitudes that are based solely on group identity.

Domestic Partner

Unmarried same-sex partners who share living quarters. Not the same as marriages or civil unions.

Drag Queen

Men who dress like women and personify femaie stereotypes for entertainment purposes. A very popular archetype that has moved from the gay community into mainstream.

Drag King

Women who dress like men and personify male stereotypes for entertainment purposes.

Dwarf

A person whose limbs and features are often proportioned differently when compared to the average human anatomy. Derogatory term for a person of short stature. Derived from dwarfism, a medical term. Use Little Person.

Dwarfism

A genetic condition resulting in short stature.

Ebonics

A slang dialect or language used in some black American communities. Literally means “black sound.” The term is a blend of ebony and phonics.

Effeminate

Having or showing characteristics regarded as typical of a woman; unmanly

Emigrant

Person who leaves their country of origin to reside in a foreign country.

ESL

Acronym for “English as a Second Language,” a method of teaching English in the United Sates to non-English speaking people.

Ethnicity

Classification of human based on shared cultural heritage, such as place of birth, language, customs, etc. Do not use “race” as a synonym.

Ethnocentrism

Using one’s own group as a norm or standard by which to assess others. Systemic oppression based on the often unconscious belief in the inherent superiority of one’s group.

European American

A citizen of the U.S. with European ancestry.

Faggot

Pejorative term used chiefly in North America primarily to refer to a gay man or boy

Fag Hag

A woman who associates either mostly or exclusively with gay and bisexual men

Female

Biological adjectives that refers to humans, animals plants etc., but can tend to be dehumanizing when inappropriately used as a synonym for woman or women.


Feminist/Feminism

A social movement advocating equal rights and opportunity based on the belief that women are equal to men. The term is often applied to in a derogatory way to people who support this belief. Has many subsets, such as intersectional feminism and radical feminism. Though feminist movements have often focused solely on gender and sex, they can also include other types of identities, such as race, class, and ability.

Fetish

Non-conventional sexual practices, concepts or fantasies. Kink is increasingly used as an orientation, as the practice often defines the identy of members of the community. See Kink.

Filipino

Person from the Philippines.

FTM (or F2M)

A trans person who transitioned or is transitioning from female to male.

Fundamentalism/Fundamentalist

A movement or point of view, usually religious, characterized by a return to fundamental principles, by rigid adherence to those principles, and often by intolerance of other views.

Gay

A person who experiences romantic and/or sexual attraction to people of the same gender, and defines their sexuality in that attraction.

Gay (male) 

A person who experiences romantic and/or sexual attraction to people of the same gender, and defines their sexuality in that attraction. Usually refers to men, but some women also identify as gay.

Gender

A social construction that assigns particular characteristics, norms, and roles to sex and genitalia. Do not use sex as a synonym.

Gender Binary

The culturally common but biologically incorrect idea that gender exists solely as either Male or Female.

Gender diversity 

Although used in business to indicate a balance of male/female employees, in the LGBTQ+ community, gender diversity embodies the concept that gender is more than just male and female, acknowledging the existence of non-binary people.

Gender Queer

A person who does not subscribe to conventional gender distinctions but identifies with neither, both, or a combination of male and female genders

Gender Norms

Refers to the different roles that women and men, and non-binary/gender- nonconforming people play in society. The behavioral, cultural, and psychological traits typically associated with one’s biological sex. Usually refers to those aspects of life that are shaped by social forces or to the meaning that society gives to biological differences.

Gender and Sexual Minorities (GSM)

Refers to any non-heterosexual and/or trans* individual. Includes homosexuals, bisexuals, pansexuals, asexuals, transgender people, and other non-binary individuals. Some incorrectly consider pedophilia to be a sexual minority, prompting objection to this term.

Gender-Neutral Pronouns

Pronouns that do not designate gender. Singular “they/them” is considered grammatically correct and should be the default pronouns used until a person expresses their preferred pronouns. Other examples include “xe/xem” (pronounced zee/zem).

Gender Expression

Describes how gender identity is expressed, through external characteristics and behavior that are socially defined as feminine or masculine, regardless of sexual orientation.

Gender Nonconforming

Term referring to people whose gender expression is not based off of societal gender norms. Gender nonconforming people can be any gender.

Gender Non-Conforming

People whose gender expression doesn’t conform to what their society expects of a male or female person. It can be used as a descriptor of gender or adopted as a a gender identity label by a person who identifies outside of the gender binary. Often abbreviated as “GNC.”

Genocide

The systematic and planned extermination of an entire national, racial, political or ethnic group.

Ghetto

An area or section of the city where groups live based on class, race, ethnicity, or religion, and can be derogatory when used by someone outside of the community. Often offensively used to refer to predominately black neighborhoods. Do not use ghetto when describing a particular area; use the name of the neighborhood. Similarly pejorative terms include sketchy or ratchet.

Group Identity

A category of differences that describes a set of common physical traits, characteristics, or attributes. Everyone has multiple group identities including, age, ability, class, education level, ethnicity, gender, nationality, race, language, religion, and sexual orientation. In organizations and society, the extent to which one is aware of the meaning and impact of these identities is key to understanding the impact of diversity and changing the status quo.

Group Membership

Denotes inclusion with regards to a particular group identity; for each identity there is at least one dominant and subordinate group. Recognizing and understanding the impact of one’s membership is essential to changing the dynamics of oppression.


Handicapped

Although not derogatory, “disabled” or “differently-abled” are preferred.

Hate Crime

An act by any person or group against the person or property of another which constitutes an expression of hostility because of race, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, gender, or ethnicity.

Hearing impairments:

Complete or partial loss of ability to hear caused by a variety of injuries or diseases including congenital defects.

Hermaphrodite

A medical term for an entity with both male and female reproductive organs. A derogatory term for an intersex person.

Heterosexism

The presumption that heterosexuality is superior to homosexuality. Prejudice, bias, or discrimination is based on this presumption. Systemic oppression of sexual minorities.

Heterosexual/Straight

People who experience romantic and/or sexual attraction exlusively or primarily with people of the opposite gender on the male-female binary.

Hinduism

The dominant religion in India emphasizing dharma, basic principles of cosmic or individual existence within nature, with its resulting ritual, social observances, mystic contemplations, and ascetic practices.

Hip Hop

An urban culture rooted in rap music, break dancing, and graffiti created by African Americans and Latinos in the late 70s.

HIV/AIDS

Human Immunodeficiency Virus — HIV — causes the disease AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), which interferes with the body’s ability to fight infections. Untreated, HIV infection is almost always fatal, but HIV Positive (or HIV+) who take anti-viral drugs are generally able to reduce the virus to a level where it poses minimal health risks to the HIV+ person, and zero risk of transmission to others.

Homo

Derogatory term referring to a gay man.

Homosexual

This term referring to gay and/or lesbian people carries some stigma, from its history in describing same-sex attraction as a mental illness. Use gay and/or lesbian when referring to people, use same-sex when referring to attraction.

Horizontal Hostility

The act of oppressed groups policing their own community’s actions, appearances, and beliefs to uphold mainstream ideologies. For example, traditionally masculine gay men who are contemptible of effeminate gay men. Similar to respectability politics.

HSI

Acronym for Hispanic Serving Institution, a term created by the federal government. HSI’s must have at least 25% Latinos, half of which are low income. Universities that earn this classification become eligible for additional funding.


IBPoc

A reordering of BIPoC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), to acknowledge Indigineous people first, or First Peoples first. This acronym emphasizes the particular and particularly virulent racism experienced by these three, sometimes overlapping identities.

Immigrant

Person who resides in a nation, country, or region, other that of their origin.

Indian/East Indian

Accurately defined as one who originates from the Indian continent or East Indies. Use Indian American if referring to someone born in the U.S. of Eastern Indian descent. The term has inaccurately been applied to Native people who inhabited North America before it became the United States; the preferred term for that group is American Indian.

Indigenous

Descendants of native people from any region.

Intersectionality

Coined by legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989, this concept describes the ways in which multiple identities intersect and cannot be disentangled. It also posits that oppressive institutions, such as sexism and racism, work in tandem; as such, these forces should be analyzed together.

A classic example of intersectionality is the combined effects of racism and sexism on black women. In the mid-19th century when women and black people were vying for the right to vote, black women faced a unique struggle: they would have to wait for both groups to receive suffrage before they could use that right.

Intersex

A collection of physical traits (including hormonal and chromosomal) that differ naturally from the expected patterns of male or female. Intersex people are born with or develop at puberty some combination of typically-male and typically female sex characteristics. The existance of intersex traits (estimated to 1.7% of the human population) makes it impossible to scientifically declare all humans as either male or female. Historicaly, Intersex people have been called hermaphrodite (or hermaphroditic), outdated names that are now derogatory.

Islam

Religion founded by the prophet Muhammed who is believed to be the last in a long line of holy prophets, preceded by Adam, Abraham, Moses and Jesus. Being devoted to the Koran, followers worship Allah. They respect the earlier prophets but regard the concept of the divinity of Jesus as blasphemous. There are two main divisions: the Sunnis and the Shiite. They are divided over the succession after the prophet. The Shi’a believe the prophet explicitly appointed Imam Ali as his successor. The Sunnis do not believe that Ali was appointed; rather, they adhere to the orthodox tradition and acknowledge the first four caliphs are rightful successors. Islam is the religion, while Muslim refers to an adherent of Islam.

Judaism/Jewish/Jew

Founded 2000 B.C. by Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, espouses belief in a monotheistic God who leads his people by speaking through prophets. His word is revealed in the Torah (Old Testament). They believe that a messiah will eventually bring the world to a state of paradise. The term Jew can be both religious and ethnic. Jews can be of any race or nationality.

Jihad

Arabic word for struggle or striving. It can refer to internal as well as external efforts to be a good Muslims or believer, as well as working to inform people about the faith of Islam. Jihad does not refer to violence and is not a declaration of war against other religions.

Kink

Non-conventional sexual practices, concepts or fantasies. Kink is increasingly used as an orientation, as the practice often defines the identy of members of the community. See Fetish. 

LGBTQAIP+

Acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, asexual, intersex, and pansexual. There are countless variations of this acronym, but LGBT is the most widely accepted and used. The A has sometimes been incorrectly used to include ally.

Latin America

Includes all countries in North and South America that are primarily Spanish and Portuguese speaking.

Leather

A blanket term for a large array of sexual preferences, identities, relationship structures, and social organizations loosely tied together by the thread of what is conventionally understood as sadomasochistic sex.

Lesbian

A woman who experiences romantic and/or sexual attraction to people of the same gender, and defines her sexuality in that attraction.

Lifestyle

Incorrectly used as a synonym for sexual minorities (i.e. the notion that not being straight is a “lifestyle

Lipstick

A lesbian who exhibits a greater amount of feminine gender.

Macho

The Spanish word for male. It is often used in Latino and Latin American cultures to mean sexist.

Male

Biological adjective that may refer to humans, plants, or animals.

Mandarin

Official language of China and Taiwan, not a dialect. Refers to spoken language only. Written language is Chinese.

MBE

Acronym for Minority Business Enterprise. MBE certification allows companies to compete for certain business.

Minority

Segment of the population not in the majority based on certain characteristics and is often subject to differential treatment.

Miscegenation

Term referring to sexual relations between women and men of different races that produce multiracial children. Can also refer to interracial marriage or cohabitation. Sprang from the white supremacist desire to keep the white race “pure” after traditional forms of slavery were illegalized. Anti-miscegenation laws were legal in the U.S. until the 1967 Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia.

Mobility impairment

Disability that affects movement ranging from gross motor skills such as walking to fine motor movement involving manipulation of objects by hand.

Model Minority

Stereotyping description of a particular subordinated group that is being favored at any given time by the majority culture. The model group is chosen based on how well they are perceived to uphold majority group behaviors. In America, Asians are often viewed as the model minority.

MTF

Acronym for male to female. Describes a transgender person designated male at birth who is transitioning, has transitioned, or who identifies as a woman.

Multicultural/Multiculturalism

As a synonym for diversity it is a focus on recognizing the significance of all cultures regardless of differences. A pluralistic culture that reflects the interests, contributions, and values of members of diverse groups.

Muslim

Follower of the Islamic religion.

Mx.

A gender-inclusive honorific (can be used in place or Mr. or Ms.)

National Origin

A group identity based on the nation from which a person originates, regardless of the nation in which they resides.

Native American

Descendants of native inhabitants of the United States. Often used interchangeably with American Indian. First people can also be acceptable. The best practice is to refer to the specific tribal affiliation or nation. When in doubt, ask.

Negro

Outdated term for African Americans and black people.

Nelly

Disparaging term used for effeminate homosexuals

Neurodiversity or Neurodivergent

Neurodivergent means having a brain that works differently from the average or “neurotypical” person.

Non-binary

A person who does not identify with the binary choice of male or female, and experiences their gender as neither, both, or some combination of male and female.

Oppression

Systematic mistreatment of particular individuals. Oppression is not just an isolated incident. Rather, it is a complex system of sustained and pervasive beliefs, laws or policies, behaviors, and feelings.

Oppression can be broken up into four levels: ideological, institutional, interpersonal, and internalized.

• Ideological oppression refers to societal beliefs of one group being superior to another. It is manifested in the subsequent three levels of oppression.

• Institutional oppression is laws and policies that reflect and enforce prejudiced ideology. For example, laws that. School policies that prohibit trans* individuals from putting their preferred pronouns or names on their transcripts are another example.

• Interpersonal oppression is what we normally think of when we think of oppression. It refers to individual acts of racism, sexism, homo/transphobia, classism, or ableism, such as calling a person who uses a wheelchair “crippled.”
  

Organizational Cultural Competence

A goal toward which all organizations strive; it is the capacity to function effectively with all cultures and to creatively utilize a diverse workforce.

Out

For lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, it is the state of having one’s sexual orientation or gender identity being known.

Pacific Islander

Used by U.S. Census Bureau to describe people from Fiji, Guam, Hawaii, Northern Mariana islands, Palau, Samoa, Tahiti, and Tonga. Use specific countries when possible.

Pacific Rim

Imaginary line that frames the Pacific Ocean. Primarily bordering the U.S., Canada, China, Japan, and Australia. Use specific countries and regions instead.

Pansexual

A person who experiences romantic and/or sexual attraction for adult people of all gender identities/expressions. Often shortened to “pan.”

Paragender

A gender identity in which one feels very close to being a certain gender, but encompasses another gender or feeling that prevents them from being fully that gender. Paragender people are in the range of feeling 51-99% of a connection to another gender. The majority gender or partial gender paragender people feel may include any binary or non-binary gender. Paragender is similar to perigender and offgender.

Partner

Used to identify someone in a romantic relationship with another, typically same-sex relationships, but becoming more common to use in heterosexual relationships.

Passing

The ability of a person to be regarded as a member of an identity group or category different from their own — for queer people, passing for a cis-gendered, straight person may result in greater safety, privileges, rewards, or acceptance.

People of Color

Describes all racial and ethnic groups other than white.

People of Size:

A person who is overweight or large-bodied.

PEP

Post-Exposure Prophylaxis is a medication regimen given to HIV negative people who have been exposed to HIV within the previous 72 hours to prevent the virus from replicating into an infection.

Pink Triangle

Symbol gay men were required to wear in Nazi concentration camps. Reclaimed in the late 1970s as a symbol of gay pride.

Political Correctness

Relating to or supporting broad social, political, and educational change, to redress historical injustices in matters such as race, class, gender, sexual orientation, and ability. In practice, people attempting political correctness try to avoid offending others by taking measures or using language they perceive as safe. At the root of political correctness are compassion, respect, and empathy.

Polyamorus

People whose orientation includes a foundational desire for, or orientation toward consensual non-monogamous relationships — that may include multiple partners. Often shortened to “poly.”

Prejudice

A preconceived judgment or opinion regarding a person or a group based on insufficient or incorrect evidence. Can be positive or negative.

Pre-op

Refers to the person planning on having sexual reassignment surgery; a sex-change operation.

Primitive

Offensive term characterizing, individuals, groups, or societies, as uncivilized or less sophisticated.

Privilege

Power and advantage derived from historical oppression and exploitation of other groups. A right or immunity granted as a benefit. The power structure of organizations and government through their infrastructure, policies, and practices reinforces the privileged group by advantaging them and disadvantaging others by creating barriers to attaining equal status. For example, white people in America are privileged in that their race will not limit their economic or educational prospects.

Protestantism

Religious denominations which broke from the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century. Includes Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Quaker. Not appropriate use for Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christian Scientist, Mormons, or Eastern Orthodox churches.

Psychiatric Disability

Acute or chronic mental illness. Psychotic, schizophrenic, neurotic and similar words should only be used in the appropriate clinical context. Crazy, manic, lunatic, demented, insane, psycho, and schizo are offensive. Use psychiatric disability, psychiatric illness, emotional disorder, or mental disorder.

Quadriplegia

A physical impairment where a person cannot use their arms or legs.

Queen

A term used to refer to a flamboyant or effeminate gay man. The term can either be pejorative or celebrated as a type of self-identification.

Questioning

Someone figuring out their gender identity and figuring out how they want to identify their sexual orientation

Quran

Muslim holy book. Alternately spelled Koran.

Race

Group identity related to local geographic or global human population distinguished as a group by genetic physical characteristics, such as skin color, hair texture, facial features, etc. Today, race is understood as a social construct. Without biological merit. Ethnicity and race are not synonymous. For example, a black Frenchman might consider his ethnicity French while his race would be black.

Racism

Systematic discrimination based on race. Racial prejudice + power = racism. While it is possible to discriminate against white people, it is not possible to be racist to a white person in the United States.

Religion

An organized belief system based on certain doctrines of faith or a belief in a supreme being or God. Organized religion suggests the manner in which people should live and the beliefs that they should accept or reject.

Reservation

A section of land set aside by the federal government for Native Americans, or for a special purpose.

Reverse Discrimination

Perceived discrimination against the majority group, especially resulting from policies enacted to correct past discrimination. While such discrimination may be racially motivated, reverse discrimination is not the same as racism and other -isms because the former is not institutionally enforced.

Same-Sex Couple

Two people of the same gender in a romantic or sexual relationship. 

Same-Sex Union

These terms are used to describe marriage between two people of the same gender. This is preferable to “Gay Marriage”, which can imply a lower-status to “Marriage”

Screen reader

Software used to echo text on a computer screen to audio output, often used by people who are blind, with visual impairments, or with learning disabilities.

Self-Stimulatory Behavior (Stimming)

Stimming is when a child engages in repetitive behaviors. This can be spinning, dropping, rocking, clapping, making vocalizations, or any other repetitive action. Autistic individuals may use stimming to self-soothe and alleviate stress related to overstimulation.

Sensory Impairment

A disability that affects touch, sight and/or hearing.

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)

Sensory Processing Disorder is a neurological condition that exists when the brain does not adequately process sensory signals. For example, a person with a sensory processing disorder may be highly sensitive to certain textures or foods.

Sexism

Systemic oppression based on sex and/or gender. Gendered prejudice + power = sexism, therefore cisgender men cannot experience sexism.

Sexual Attraction

Innate sexual desire towards a particular gender(s). A component of sexuality. While sexual attraction is innate, it can be fluid.

Sexual Identity/Orientation

An identity based on emotional, romantic, and sexual desires, often determined by a person’s sexual attraction. A component of sexuality. Do not use sexual preference.

Sexual Preference

A term that is often based on the incorrect assumption that people choose their sexual orientation. This term is also connected with the term lifestyle as it is assumed in both cases that the person or group chooses to behave in a particular manner. Use sexual identity or sexual orientation.

Shinto/Shintoist

The ancient native religion of Japan. Stresses belief in spiritual beings and reverence for ancestors. Adherents are expected to celebrate their gods, or kami. Support the societies in which kami are patron, remain pure and sincere, and enjoy life.

Sign language

Manual communication commonly used by deaf. The gestures or symbols in sign language are organized in a linguistic way. Each individual gesture is called a sign. Each sign has three distinct parts; the handshape, the position of the hands, and the movement of the hands. American Sign Language (ASL) is the most commonly used sign language in the United States. Deaf people from different countries speak different sign languages.

Slang Terms

Words or language peculiar to particular group. Slang should be avoided and can be considered derogatory, vulgar, or abusive, especially when used by an outsider of the group to which the slang term belongs.

Social Construct

A perception of a person, group, or idea has been constructed through cultural and social practice and norms but appears to be natural. For example, gender is a social construct. Any perceived difference among genders is not universally true and is a result of socially constructed/fabricated notions of what any one gender is and how people of that gender should act. Though social constructs do not have a basis in physical reality, they have real implications because their existence is socially upheld and enforced.

Sodomy

Oral or anal sex. Often used to refer to anal sex between two or more gay men. In June 2003, the Supreme court ruled in Lawrence et al v. Texas that sodomy between consenting adults was an issue of privacy and was therefore not illegal.

SOGI

This acronym stands for Sexual Orientation Gender Identity. Not frequently used, and usually in academic settings to group together all of the sexual and gender diverse communities instead of LGBTQ+ and other variants that rely on the acronym of the actual communities.

Spanish

Language primarily spoken in Spain and Latin America, or a person from Spain. Not a synonym for Latino or Hispanic.

Speech impairment

Problems in communication and related areas such as oral motor function, ranging from simple sound substitutions to the inability to understand or use language or use the oral-motor mechanism for functional speech.

Stereotyping

A standardized impression of a person or group that represents an oversimplified opinion, image, attitude, or uncritical judgment.

Straight

Person who is attracted to people of a gender different than their own. Synonymous with heterosexual.

Systemic Racism

Patterns of discrimination against Black, Indigenous and People of Color embedded in the policies and practices of organizations, institutions and society.  This shifts the focus of racism from individual acts to the broader systems that perpetuate inequality.

Straight

Person who is attracted to people of a gender different than their own. Synonymous with heterosexual.

Taoism/Taoist

Both a philosophy and a religion. Founded in China in 604 B.C. by Lau-tzu, derived primarily from the Tao-te-ching, which claims that an ever changing universe follows the Tao or path. Taoism prescribes that people live simply, spontaneously, and in close touch with nature. Meditation allows people to achieve contact with the Tao. It has been discouraged since the Communist revolution in China but flourishes in Taiwan.

Third-gender

People who identify with a gender other than male or female. It means different things to different people, and is used mostly by contemporary and historic societies that recognise three or more genders.

TOEFL

Acronym for Teaching of English as a Foreign Language, a method of teaching English in other countries to non-English speaking people.

Tolerance

Acceptance and open mindedness to different practices, attitudes and cultures; does not necessarily mean agreement with differences.

Top (also Active)

A person who takes a more dominant role during sexual interactions. Often refers to the position assumed in insertive sex, but can be used to describe the position in any sexual practice.

Top surgery

Surgery performed on the chest as part of gender confirmation especially to remove breast tissue and produce a masculine appearance of the chest in female-to-male surgery.

Tranny

Derogatory term refrring to the transgender community

Transsexual

A trans* person who wishes to have sex reassignment surgery. Sometimes considered offensive by members of the trans* community.

Tribe

A unit of social organization consisting of families, clans, or other groups who share a common ancestry, culture and leadership. Many Native Americans prefer Nation. In various African countries tribe may be offensive and ethnic group is preferred.

Twink

A young man in his late teens to early twenties whose traits may include: general physical attractiveness; little to no body or facial hair; a slim to average build; and a youthful appearance that may belie an older chronological age.

Underrepresented

Group identities whose numbers are demographically fewer than the larger majority groups. A historically oppressed group characterized by lack of access to the full benefits of the economic, social, and political opportunity, and often used as a replacement term for minority.

Undetectable

An HIV+ person whose medication is working effectively has no detectable virus in their blood. People who are HIV+ and undetectable cannot transmit HIV to another person.

Vers/Switch

A person who enjoys both dominant and submissive roles during sexual interaction. Versatile (Vers) is commonly in the gay community, and Switch is common in the lesbian community.

Vision impairments

Complete or partial loss of ability to see, caused by a variety of injuries or diseases including congenital defects. Legal blindness is defined as visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with correcting lenses, or widest diameter of visual field subtending an angular distance no greater than 20 degrees.

WBE

Acronym for “Women’s Business Enterprise.” WBE certification by federal law  allows companies to compete for certain businesses.

WSW

Acronym for women who have sex with women. Clinical label that often refers to gay, bisexual, or pansexual cisgender women, but could refer to straight cisgender women. Is not exclusive of women who have sex with women. Patients will rarely used to describe themselves. Do not use call patients WSWs; instead, use their given sexual identity.

Xe/Xer

Gender-neutral pronouns used by some genderfluid, genderqueer, trans and non-binary people instead of he or she.

Ze/Zir

Gender-neutral pronouns used by some genderfluid, genderqueer, trans and non-binary people instead of he or she.