Inclusive Language Guide

By Anastasia Craig 

Language can make people feel included, valued and empowered, but it can also offend, belittle, and reinforce harmful stereotypes.

Understanding and using language effectively is crucial to fostering an inclusive community at UNE. For those unfamiliar with the terminology of the LGBTQIA+ community, we’ve compiled a guide below to help you further your understanding and include inclusive language in your everyday interactions.  

This list of terms was collected by the UNE Ally Network in 2023. They acknowledge that this list is not exhaustive and as language continues to evolve, so will the meaning of these terms.  

LGBTQIA+ Terminology 

• Asexual (Ace): A sexual orientation describing people who experience little to no sexual attraction and/or have a lack of interest in engaging in sexual behaviours. Some identities in this area include gray ace,demisexual. 

• Bi-Erasure: Bi-erasure is the tendency to ignore, remove, falsify, or reexplain evidence of bisexuality in history, academia, the news media, and other primary sources. In its most extreme form, bisexual erasure can include the denial that bisexuality exists. 

• Biphobia: The range of negative attitudes and misconceptions someone may have about bisexuality and toward bisexual people. 

• Bisexual (Bi): A sexual orientation describing an individual whose primary attraction is to people of multiple genders. 

• Brotherboy: A term used for, but not limited to, trans and gender diverse men within some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. It is best to only use this term after someone has expressed that they are comfortable with its use. 

• Cisgender (Cis): A term used to describe people whose gender identity corresponds to the gender they were assigned at birth. The majority of people fall within this category and is seen as the ‘norm’ within society. 

• Coming out (Out of the closet): The process through which an individual comes to recognise and acknowledge (both to self and to others) their sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status. 

• Deadnaming: Using a name that someone no longer uses or feels uncomfortable being used. This can directly make worsen feelings of gender dysphoria and result in significant distress. 

• Drag (Drag king/ Drag queen): A performance art that is historically significant to the LGBTIQA+ community. It is important to remember that not all performers are trans nor do all trans people perform drag. The gender identity of the performer is irrespective of their drag persona. 

• Gay: A sexual orientation describing an individual, often a man, who is sexually, romantically and/or emotionally attracted to those of the same gender, sometimes used as an umbrella term for the LGBTIQA+ community. 

• Gender: A system of social categorisation forming part of a person’s social identity. Gender categories are socially constructed sets of characteristics such as expression, behaviour and roles that are culturally associated with sex 

• Gender affirmation (Gender transition): The process of affirming one’s gender identity and expression with self and/or others. There is no one way to go through this process and everyone’s gender affirmation process will be unique to them. 

• Gender Binary: A system of gender classification in which a person is categorised to either be a man or a woman. This rudimentary understanding of gender identities leaves no room for those who don’t fit into one of two boxes. 

• Gender diverse: A range of gender identities that sit outside the binary of woman and man. This includes trans and nonbinary identities. 

• Gender dysphoria: The distress that is caused by an incongruence between a person’s gender identity and their sex assigned at birth. Can induce discomfort in every one aspect of someone’s life from identity to self-worth and social interaction. It is important to remember not all gender diverse people experience gender dysphoria and it is not a criterion for being trans. 

• Gender expression: Refers to the way in which a person communicates their gender identity to others; such as their clothing, grooming, mannerisms or role. 

• Gender identity: A person’s concept of themself as fitting into or outside of the socially constructed system of gender. This may include labels such as man, woman, nonbinary etc. 

• Gender incongruence: A marked and persistent incongruence between a person’s experienced gender and assigned sex at birth. 

• Gender neutral language: Language that does not associate a gender with the person who is being discussed. This includes using gender neutral pronouns e.g. (they/them), avoiding gendered familial titles like (sister, father, aunt) and avoiding words with gendered application like (beautiful, handsome). 

• Gender non-conforming: An identity, behaviour or expression that does not fit into what is expected in a binary gender system. 

• Gender reassignment (Transitioning): The process of altering one’s self to conform to an individual’s understanding of their own gender. This may involve hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and/or surgery. It is immensely important to understand that there is no one way to be trans and the belief that trans people must medically transition is harmful and is known as transmedicalism. 

• Genderfluid: A term describing people whose gender identity changes over time or may shift between different identities at different times. 

• Genderqueer: A term describing someone whose gender identity doesn’t fit rigidly within the binary expectations of being a man or woman. 

• Heteronormativity (cisnormativity): The belief and normalisation of an alignment between sex, gender and sexuality leading to the evaluation that being endosex, cisgender and heterosexual is a bundled set of essential characteristics and together this is the ‘good’ and ‘permissible’ way of being within society 

• Heterosexual (Straight): A sexual orientation describing an individual whose primary attraction is to a gender different to their own. The majority of people fall within this category and it is seen as the ‘norm’ within society. 

• Homophobia: Fear, hatred, intolerance of or discomfort with LGBTIQA+ people and behaviours outside the boundaries of the heteronormative binary. 

• Homosexual (Gay, Lesbian): People who are sexually, romantically and/or emotionally attracted to people of the same gender as their own. Additionally, homosexual may also be used by some in the queer community as a synonym for queer. 

• Intersectionality: A term referring to the understanding that queer identities can interact with other forms of oppression and how multiple identities can be present with the LGBTIQA+ 

• Intersex: A term describing people born with physical, hormonal or genetic characteristics that fall outside of the expected combinations associated with male and female sexes. 

• Lesbian: A sexual orientation often describing a woman whose primary attraction is to other women. 

• LGBTQIA+: An acronym for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender diverse, queer and questioning, intersex, asexual and aromantic, plus other related identities; these letters may appear in a different order. 

• Misgendering: Is an occurrence where a person is described or addressed using language that does not match their gender identity including incorrect use of pronouns (she/he/they), familial titles (sister, father, aunt) and words with gendered application (beautiful, handsome). Misgendering someone can directly contribute to gender dysphoria and result in significant distress. 

• Non-binary (Enby, nb, gender queer, gender diverse): A gender identity outside the binary of woman and man, also sometimes called genderqueer and used as an umbrella term for gender diverse identities. Some identities in this include: agender, demi-boy, demi-girl. 

• Outing: Involuntary or unwanted disclosure of another person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status. It is extremely important to never out someone who is not ready to come out as it is disregarding their autonomy and can often be unsafe. 

• Pansexual (Pan): A sexual orientation describing an individual whose primary attraction is to people of any gender, or people regardless of their gender. 

• Pronouns: A way to refer to someone in place of using their name. Commonly used pronouns are (she/her, they/them, he/him). People may also use multiple sets of pronouns like (she/they or they/he) in which either she/her or they/them pronouns can be used interchangeably. Whilst this list is not exhaustive it is important to remember that we should always use whatever language someone wants to use to describe them. 

• Queer: An umbrella term for people of diverse genders and sexualities. A reclaimed slur used by some people to describe their gender identity or sexual orientation. It is best to only use this term after someone has expressed that they are comfortable with its use. 

• Questioning: A term used to describe people who may be unsure or are still exploring their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. 

• Sex Assigned At Birth (Gender Assigned at Birth – different but linked): A term used to identify a person’s assigned sex (not gender identity). Someone may be AFAB (Assigned Female At Birth) or AMAB (Assigned Male At Birth) depending on external sex characteristics. As sex and gender are wrongly assumed to be linked in our society a gender is also assigned at birth eg boy or girl. 

• Sex characteristics: The group of five biological features including chromosomes, hormones, gonads, genitalia and secondary sex characteristics. 

• Sexual orientation: A complex range of desires, including emotional, physical and erotic aspects, and who or what type of person those desires are directed towards. 

• Sexuality: A combination of our sexual desires, behaviours and identity. 

• Sistergirl:A term used for, but not limited to, trans and gender diverse women within some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. It is best to only use this term after someone has expressed that they are comfortable with its use.  

• The closet (Closeted, not out): A term used by the queer community to describe someone who has not come out yet. Someone who is in the closet has not had their sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status recognised and acknowledged by themselves and/or others. 

• Transgender (Trans): A term describing people whose gender identity is different from what is typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth. 

• Transphobia: The fear and hatred of, or discomfort with trans people and/or gender non-conforming individuals. This can include intentionally deadnaming or misgendering gender diverse people. 

Using inclusive language and understanding all of the above terminologies is vital for fostering community. We hope you find the glossary helpful and that you can apply your new or refreshed knowledge in everyday interactions. Let’s work together to create a more inclusive environment for all at UNE.  

Resources

Wanting to learn more or seeking support? Access our LGBTQIA+ resources or reach out to the UNE Ally Network and join their Facebook group. Educate yourself and display empathy to help us make UNE an inclusive community for all.