Primarily Canadian and U.S. American movement wherein police officers were banned from LGBTQ+ pride events in some locations, due to historical and contemporary mistreatment of LGBTQ+ persons, especially Black and Indigenous LGBTQ+ persons. In recent years acted as a response to the 2010-2017 Toronto serial homicides and the mishandling of the investigation by the Toronto Police Service.
Works consisting of sequential images often accompanied by text; use in reference to comics focusing on aromantic characters or themes.
Works consisting of sequential images often accompanied by text; use in reference to comics focusing on intersexual characters or themes.
Literary work, typically written in verse, that focuses on intersex characters, themes, or identity.
Works consisting of sequential images often accompanied by text; use in reference to comics focusing on asexual characters or themes.
Works consisting of sequential images often accompanied by text; use in reference to comics focusing on demisexual characters or themes.
Literary works that have erotic or sexual elements; use in reference to erotic literature focusing on asexual characters or themes.
Literary works that have erotic or sexual elements; use in reference to erotic literature focusing on intersex characters or themes.
Literary works that have erotic or sexual elements; use in reference to erotic literature focusing on demisexual characters or themes.
Genre that uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, and/or setting; use for fantasy fiction focusing on asexual characters or themes.
Genre that uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, and/or setting; use for fantasy fiction focusing on aromantic characters or themes.
Genre that uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, and/or setting; use for fantasy fiction focusing on intersex characters or themes.
Works consisting of sequential images often accompanied by text that generally contain stand-alone stories; used in reference to graphic novels focusing on asexual characters or themes.
Works consisting of sequential images often accompanied by text that generally contain stand-alone stories; used in reference to graphic novels focusing on demisexual characters or themes.
Works consisting of sequential images often accompanied by text that generally contain stand-alone stories; used in reference to graphic novels focusing on aromantic characters or themes.
Works consisting of sequential images often accompanied by text that generally contain stand-alone stories; used in reference to graphic novels focusing on intersex characters or themes.
Written works of fiction intended to frighten, scare, or disgust; use in reference to horror fiction focusing on aromantic characters or themes.
Written works of fiction intended to frighten, scare, or disgust; use in reference to horror fiction focusing on intersex characters or themes.
Written literary works about the investigation of crime or the work of detectives; use in reference to mystery and detective fiction focusing on asexual characters and themes.
Written literary works about the investigation of crime or the work of detectives; use in reference to mystery and detective fiction focusing on aromantic characters and themes.
Written literary works about the investigation of crime or the work of detectives; use in reference to mystery and detective fiction focusing on intersex characters and themes.
Works of fiction revolving around romantic and/or sexual relationships between the main characters; use in reference to romance fiction focusing on asexual characters.
Works of fiction revolving around romantic and/or sexual relationships between the main characters; use in reference to romance fiction focusing on aromantic characters.
Works of fiction revolving around romantic and/or sexual relationships between the main characters; use in reference to romance fiction focusing on intersex characters.
Written literary work about imaginative or futuristic concepts incorporating science, technology, space, time travel, and other speculative elements; use in reference to science fiction focusing on asexual characters or themes.
Written literary work about imaginative or futuristic concepts incorporating science, technology, space, time travel, and other speculative elements; use in reference to science fiction focusing on aromantic characters or themes.
Written literary work about imaginative or futuristic concepts incorporating science, technology, space, time travel, and other speculative elements; use in reference to science fiction focusing on intersex characters or themes.
Written literary works that are short in length and detail a self-contained incident or concept; use in reference to short stories focusing on asexual characters or themes.
Written literary works that are short in length and detail a self-contained incident or concept; use in reference to short stories focusing on aromantic characters or themes.
Written literary works that are short in length and detail a self-contained incident or concept; use in reference to short stories focusing on intersex characters or themes.
Motion pictures, or movies, created by transgender directors, depicting transgender people, or that are regarded as important within transgender culture.
Motion pictures, or movies, created by queer directors, depicting queer people, or that are regarded as important within queer culture.
Motion pictures, or movies, created by bisexual directors, depicting bisexual people, or that are regarded as important within bisexual culture.
Literary works with erotic or sexual elements; use in reference to erotic literature focusing on aromantic characters or themes.
Past events or accounts of the past concerning aromantic people, or people who might be perceived as aromantic if they were alive today.
The study, evaluation, and interpretation of literary works focusing on aromantic characters or themes; can also include interpretation of literature through the lens and frameworks of aromantic studies.
Written works describing imagined events or people; use in reference to fictional works focusing on asexual characters or themes.
Written works of fiction intended to frighten, scare, or disgust; use in reference to horror fiction focusing on asexual characters or themes.
Written literary works for an audience of readers from 12-18 years of age, also known as young adult literature or YA; use in reference to youth literature focusing on asexual characters or themes.
Past events or accounts of the past concerning asexual people, or people who might be perceived as asexual if they were alive today.
The study, evaluation, and interpretation of literary works focusing on asexual characters or themes; can also include interpretation of literature through the lens and frameworks of asexual studies.
Past events or accounts of the past concerning demisexual people, or people who might be perceived as demisexual if they were alive today.
Literary works with erotic or sexual elements; use in reference to erotic literature focusing on megasexual characters or themes.
Written works that include magical or fantastical elements; use in reference to fantasy fiction focusing on megasexual characters or themes.
Written works of fiction intended to frighten, scare, or disgust; use in reference to horror fiction focusing on megasexual characters or themes.
Written literary works about the investigation of crime or the work of detectives; use in reference to mystery and detective fiction focusing on megasexual characters or themes.
Megasexual mystery and detective fiction
Written literary work focusing on romantic relationships and love between people; use in reference to romance fiction focusing on megasexual characters or themes.
Written literary works about imaginative or futuristic concepts incorporating science, technology, space, time travel, and other speculative elements; use in reference to science fiction focusing on megasexual characters or themes.
Written literary works that are short in length and detail a self-contained incident or concept; use in reference to short stories focusing on megasexual characters or themes.
Works consisting of sequential images often accompanied by text; use in reference to comics focusing on megasexual characters or themes.
Past events or accounts of the past concerning megasexual people, or people who might be perceived as megasexual if they were alive today.
Ongoing connections between two or more individuals involving romantic behaviors or activities.
Literary works with erotic or sexual elements; use in reference to erotic literature focusing on greyromantic erotic literature characters or themes.
Written works that include magical or fantastical elements; use in reference to fantasy fiction focusing on greyromantic characters or themes.
Written works of fiction intended to frighten, scare, or disgust; use in reference to horror fiction focusing on greyromantic characters or themes.
Written literary works about the investigation of crime or the work of detectives; use in reference to mystery and detective fiction focusing on greyromantic characters or themes.
Greyromantic mystery and detective fiction
Written literary work focusing on romantic relationships and love between people; use in reference to romance fiction focusing on greyromantic characters or themes.
Written literary works about imaginative or futuristic concepts incorporating science, technology, space, time travel, and other speculative elements; use in reference to science fiction focusing on greyromantic characters or themes.
Written literary works that are short in length and detail a self-contained incident or concept; use in reference to short stories focusing on greyromantic characters or themes.
Works consisting of sequential images often accompanied by text; use in reference to comics focusing on greyromantic characters or themes.
Past events or accounts of the past concerning greyromantic people, or people who might be perceived as greyromantic if they were alive today.
Motion pictures, or movies, created by intersex directors, depicting intersex people, or that are regarded as important within intersex culture.
Motion pictures, or movies, created by aromantic directors, depicting aromantic people, or that are regarded as important within aromantic culture.
Motion pictures, or movies, created by asexual directors, depicting asexual people, or that are regarded as important within asexual culture.
Motion pictures, or movies, created by demisexual directors, depicting demisexual people, or that are regarded as important within demisexual culture.
Works consisting of sequential images often accompanied by text that generally contain stand-alone stories; used in reference to graphic novels focusing on non-binary characters or themes.
Literary works that have erotic or sexual elements; use in reference to erotic literature focusing on non-binary characters or themes.
Erotic or sexually explicit films featuring non-binary people.
Written literary works that are short in length and detail a self-contained incident or concept; use in reference to short stories focusing on non-binary characters or themes.
Works consisting of sequential images often accompanied by text; use in reference to comics focusing on non-binary characters or themes.
Literary work, typically written in verse, that focuses on non-binary characters, themes, or identity.
A portmanteau of two reclaimed terms (queer and crip) used to indicate that a person or a thing belongs to both queer and crip communities, often used to indicate unity or shared struggles. This term may also appear as "cripqueer" to emphasize the crip identity before the queer one.
69ing refers to an act of shared oral sex between two people simultaneously giving and receiving oral sex, said to look similar to the number 69.
People with one or more queer parent or caregiver, usually for self-identification. Queerspawn is believed to have been coined in 1995 or 1996 by Stefan Lynch for use in zine published by COLAGE, a U.S. based organization dedicated to supporting people with one or more LGBTQ+ caregiver.
People who have two or more LGBTQ+ parents or caregivers. Includes individuals born to or adopted by people in a heterosexual relationship who later came out as LGBTQ+, as well as individuals born to or adopted by LGBTQ+ people who came together to create their own families, such as lesbian couples who choose to conceive with friends who are gay men. For use in a Canadian and United States context.
Term used to describe people who are LGBTQ+ and have at least one LGBTQ+ parent or caregiver.
Refers to families with LGBTQ+ individuals in multiple generations.
People who have one or more transgender parent or caregiver.
Term used to describe the feeling shared by many people with queer parents or caregivers that they grew up immersed in queer culture, including queer traditions, celebrations, media, and language.
Widely held but oversimplified and often offensive ideas regarding gender roles, which are socially-determined rules or standards for gendered behaviors. Use the term "Gender roles" to describe gender roles as a whole, rather than stereotypes related to them.
People who are biologically related to one another through a shared donor.
Siblings who are biologically related through one but not all of their parents.
Donors whose identities are known by the people to whom they donated gametes and/or the offspring born of that donation.
Donors who donated their gametes with the understanding that their identity and/or contact information would be released to any offspring born of that donation. The age at which the offspring receives this information varies, following the donor's preference.
People who were conceived through IVF, or in vitro fertilization.
Literary work, typically written in verse, that focuses on Māhū characters, themes, or identity.
Works consisting of sequential images often accompanied by text; use in reference to comics focusing on Māhū characters or themes.
Written works describing imagined events or people; use in reference to fictional works focusing on Māhū characters or themes.
Written literary works that are short in length and detail a self-contained incident or concept; use in reference to short stories focusing on Māhū characters or themes.
Erotic or sexually explicit films featuring Māhū people.
Literary works that have erotic or sexual elements; use in reference to erotic literature focusing on Māhū characters or themes.
Genre that uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, and/or setting; use for fantasy fiction focusing on Māhū characters or themes.
Written literary work about imaginative or futuristic concepts incorporating science, technology, space, time travel, and other speculative elements; use in reference to science fiction focusing on Māhū characters or themes.
Works consisting of sequential images often accompanied by text that generally contain stand-alone stories; used in reference to graphic novels focusing on Māhū characters or themes.
Written works of fiction intended to frighten, scare, or disgust; use in reference to horror fiction focusing on Māhū characters or themes.
Written literary works about the investigation of crime or the work of detectives; use in reference to mystery and detective fiction focusing on Māhū characters and themes.
Works of fiction revolving around romantic and/or sexual relationships between the main characters; use in reference to romance fiction focusing on Māhū characters.
Literary work, typically written in verse, that focuses on Two-Spirit characters, themes, or identity.
Works consisting of sequential images often accompanied by text; use in reference to comics focusing on Two-Spirit characters or themes.
Literary works that have erotic or sexual elements; use in reference to erotic literature focusing on Two-Spirit characters or themes.
Genre that uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, and/or setting; use for fantasy fiction focusing on Two-Spirit characters or themes.
Written literary work about imaginative or futuristic concepts incorporating science, technology, space, time travel, and other speculative elements; use in reference to science fiction focusing on Two-Spirit characters or themes.
Works consisting of sequential images often accompanied by text that generally contain stand-alone stories; used in reference to graphic novels focusing on Two-Spirit characters or themes.
Written works of fiction intended to frighten, scare, or disgust; use in reference to horror fiction focusing on Two-Spirit characters or themes.
Written literary works about the investigation of crime or the work of detectives; use in reference to mystery and detective fiction focusing on Two-Spirit characters and themes.
Two Spirit mystery and detective fiction
Two Spirited mystery and detective fiction
Two-Spirited mystery and detective fiction
Two-Spirit mystery and detective fiction
Works of fiction revolving around romantic and/or sexual relationships between the main characters; use in reference to romance fiction focusing on Two-Spirit characters.
Acronym used to describe Pasifika/Pacific Islander gender diverse identities as a group. The acronym includes Māhū (Hawai'i and Tahiti), Vaka sa lewa lewa (Fiji), Palopa (Papua New Guinea), Fa’afafine (Samoa), Akava’ine (Rarotonga), Fakaleitī (Tonga), Fakafifine (Niue), and more.
A term coined by the Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) queer community in the early 2000s that blends the term Māhū (for third gender indigenous people of Hawai'i and Tahiti who blend genders and often hold spiritual roles) and kāne (man).
A term coined by the Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) queer community in the early 2000s that blends the term Māhū (for third gender indigenous people of Hawai'i and Tahiti who blend genders and often hold spiritual roles) and wahine (woman).
Collections of records and materials relating to Two-Spirit people or Two-Spirit communities; can include a variety of organizations and institutions from community to government archives.
Accounts of individuals' lives written by those individuals; use for autobiographies written by Two-Spirit authors.
Written accounts of the lives of individuals known to be Two-Spirit
Bookshops that sell materials intended for use by Two-Spirit people or addressing topics related to Two-Spirit experiences.
Written literary works that are short in length and detail a self-contained incident or concept; use in reference to short stories focusing on Two-Spirit characters or themes.
Characters in creative works who are Two-Spirit
Two-Spirit people who have not yet reached the age of adolescence.
Spaces in which people from Two-Spirit communities meet for social, education, recreational, or organizing activities.
Partnerships in which both people are Two-Spirit
Works of fiction written to be performed; use in reference to dramatic works focusing on Two-Spirit characters or themes.
Institutions providing education, support, and information about Two-Spirit issues and Two-Spirit communities to Two-Spirit people.
Libraries that hold materials primarily pertaining to Two-Spirit people or intended for use by Two-Spirit people.
The study, evaluation, and interpretation of literary works focusing on Two-Spirit characters or themes; can also include interpretation of literature through the lens and frameworks of Two-Spirit studies.
A psychological diagnosis (replacing the outdated and offensive "gender identity disorder") used to describe the sense of unease or dissatisfaction an individual feels as a result of incongruence between their gender identity and their assigned gender, gender expression, and/or the way their gender is perceived by others. This term is also used colloquially by individuals to describe the discomfort and distress they experience as a result of this incongruence. Though gender dysphoria is often associated with trans people, people of any identity may experience gender dysphoria when they do not feel "right" in their body or the way their gender is being expressed. Use this particular term for works about children who experience or have experienced gender dysphoria.
A psychological diagnosis (replacing the outdated and offensive "gender identity disorder") used to describe the sense of unease or dissatisfaction an individual feels as a result of incongruence between their gender identity and their assigned gender, gender expression, and/or the way their gender is perceived by others. This term is also used colloquially by individuals to describe the discomfort and distress they experience as a result of this incongruence. Though gender dysphoria is often associated with trans people, people of any identity may experience gender dysphoria when they do not feel "right" in their body or the way their gender is being expressed. Use this particular term for works about adolescents (people between the ages of childhood and adulthood) who experience or have experience gender dysphoria.
Umbrella term for activism focused on the rights of Two-Spirit people and issues faced by Two-Spirit communities.
Institutions dedicated to the storage, exhibition, conservation, and preservation of materials relating to Two-Spirit people and Two-Spirit history.
Two-Spirit people who are the romantic, sexual, or play partners of another person or people.
Two-Spirit people serving in state and national armed forces.
Companies and organizations that publish materials for Two-Spirit communities or addressing Two-Spirit issues.
Auditory content broadcast on the radio (analog or digital) about Two-Spirit people and Two-Spirit issues.
Ongoing connections (romantic, sexual, or platonic) between two or more Two-Spirit people.
Legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement held by Two-Spirit people.
Colloquial or informal language related to Two-Spirit identity or used by Two-Spirit people.
Academic field of research and study about Two-Spirit people, Two-Spirit identity, and Two-Spirit communities.
Two-Spirit people who have experienced and survived hate crimes; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Two-Spirit people who have experienced and survived rape; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Two-Spirit people who have experienced and survived sexual abuse; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Two-Spirit people who have experienced and survived war; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Television shows featuring Two-Spirit characters or themes.
Works in the performance arts that focus on Two-Spirit characters or themes.
Two-Spirit people who have experienced hate crimes and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Two-Spirit people who have experienced rape and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Two-Spirit people who have experienced sexual abuse and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Two-Spirit people who have experienced war and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Two-Spirit people’s legal rights to be informed, present, and heard within the criminal justice system after having been harmed or injured as the result of of a crime, accident, or other event.
Businesses focusing on Two-Spirit clientele and products related to Two-Spirit communities.
Works of fiction written to be performed; use in reference to dramatic works focusing on intersex characters or themes.
Intersex people who are fathers. Only use for people who identify as fathers.
People who act as parents to one or more intersex person. For parents who are themselves intersex, use the term "intersex parents."
People whose sexual, romantic, or play partner is intersex.
Systematic mistreatment of intersex people on the basis of their sex or gender identity.
Sons who have one or more intersex parent. For sons who are themselves intersex, use the term "Intersex sons."
Institutions providing education, support, and information about intersex issues and intersex communities to intersex people.
Libraries that hold materials primarily pertaining to intersex people or intended for use by intersex people.
The study, evaluation, and interpretation of literary works focusing on intersex characters or themes; can also include interpretation of literature through the lens and frameworks of intersex studies.
Written literary works about intersex characters or themes.
Collections of records and materials relating to asexual people or asexual communities; can include a variety of organizations and institutions from community to government archives.
Professional or recreational sports players who self-identify as asexual.
Bookshops that sell materials intended for use by asexual people or addressing topics related to asexual experiences.
Black people who are intersex. Use only for individuals who self-identity as Black. Follow the individual’s preference for African American or Black whenever possible.
Daughters who have one or more intersex parent.
People who assume the role of father to intersex people. Only use to describe individuals who identify as fathers.
Latin American people who are intersex; only use to describe individuals who self-identify as Latino, Latina, or Latinx. Do not conflate with Chicano/a/x or Hispanic.
Characters in creative works who are asexual.
Asexual people who are trained, professional cooks, typically holding a leadership role in the kitchen in which they are employed.
Asexual people who have not yet reached the age of adolescence.
Groups of people who share the experience of being asexual.
Spaces in which people from asexual communities meet for social, education, recreational, or organizing activities.
Collections of records and materials relating to intersex people or intersex communities; can include a variety of organizations and institutions from community to government archives.
Accounts of individuals' lives written by those individuals; use for autobiographies written by intersex authors.
Written accounts of the lives of individuals known to be intersex.
Partnerships in which both people are asexual.
Institutions providing education, support, and information about asexual issues and asexual communities to asexual people.
Libraries that hold materials primarily pertaining to asexual people or intended for use by asexual people.
Umbrella term for activism focused on the rights of asexual people and issues faced by asexual communities.
Institutions dedicated to the storage, exhibition, conservation, and preservation of materials relating to asexual people and asexual history.
Asexual people who are the romantic, sexual, or play partners of another person or people.
Asexual people serving in state and national armed forces.
Companies and organizations that publish materials for asexual communities or addressing asexual issues.
Auditory content broadcast on the radio (analog or digital) about asexual people and asexual issues.
Ongoing connections (romantic, sexual, or platonic) between two or more asexual people.
Legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement held by asexual people.
A term that encompasses testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and other hormones primarily produced in the testes but also in the ovaries and adrenal glands.
Chimeras, or people with chimerism, have two different sets of DNA. This happens when a person is pregnant with fraternal twins, but the embryos combine into one fetus.
People with complete gonadal dysgenesis are born with XX or XY chromosomes and gonadal tissue that has not developed into testicles or ovaries (also known as streak gonads). They are generally born with a vulva and vagina, and they will not usually develop secondary sex characteristics at puberty because streak gonads do not produce hormones.
Patient care model developed by John Money, a New Zealand psychologist who theorized that gender was completely dependent on "nurture." This model advocates for performing genital surgery on intersex infants and raising them as girls. Money's theories have resulted in many surgically misgendered children who have had to deal with life-long gender dysphoria, depression, sexual dysfunction, bowel and urinary incontinence, and nerve pain. A patient-centered model, in which the intersex child is allowed to grow up and make their own choices regarding their gender and surgical option, is now preferred.
Surgical procedure to remove the gonads, including testes and ovaries.
A patient care model that gained popular usage in the 1950s. In this model, parents are used to quickly decide on a gender assignment for their intersex baby, under the assumption that the child would identify with whichever gender their parents raised them as. If a child later deviated from the assigned gender, parents were encouraged to verbally and physically "correct" the child and enforce gender norms. In practice, this resulted in life-altering, unnecessary genital surgeries, irreversible hormone treatments, and dishonesty on the parent's part. A patient-centered model, in which the intersex child is allowed to grow up and make their own choices regarding their gender and surgical option, is now preferred.
The practice of weighing all options and considering evidence, alternatives, and potential risks in order to make a truly informed medical decision. Such decisions are best made over a period of time rather than under pressure.
This term is not common in the English language as to not confuse intersex with a gender identity or sex orientation by adding "ual" but it is used in other languages such as Spanish to mean "intersex."
Non-lifesaving cosmetic procedures intended to change and "normalize" natural variations in genital appearance and/or reproductive anatomy. Intersex surgery was first developed in the early 20th century, with doctors making unresearched claims about an "urgent need" for these operations.
Academic field of research and study about Asexual people, Asexual identity, and Asexual communities.
Asexual people who have experienced and survived hate crimes; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Asexual people who have experienced and survived rape; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Asexual people who have experienced and survived sexual abuse; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Asexual people who have experienced and survived war; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Television shows featuring asexual characters or themes.
Asexual people who have experienced rape and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Asexual people who have experienced sexual abuse and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Asexual people who have experienced war and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Asexual people’s legal rights to be informed, present, and heard within the criminal justice system after having been harmed or injured as the result of a crime, accident, or other event.
Businesses focusing on asexual clientele and products related to asexual communities.
People with mild androgen insensitivity syndrome (MAIS) respond to testosterone at a somewhat reduced level compared to typical levels, which means that they will usually be born with a penis (which may or may not be smaller than typical) and will later develop secondary sex characteristics associated with a typical testosterone puberty. Because their bodies convert a small amount of their naturally produced androgens into estrogen, they may have visible variations in features, such as the amount of facial hair, body hair, or muscle tone they develop. They may also experience some breast development during puberty.
People with mixed gonadal dysgenesis are born with a mosaic (usually 45X/46XY) chromosome pattern and may develop some gonadal streak tissue and testicular tissue. They may be born with a vulva or penis, or with visible genital variations. They usually have a partially or completely developed uterus, and they may have combinations of internal reproductive structures such as a fallopian tube and a vas deferens on opposite sides of the body. In adolescence, people with mixed gonadal dysgenesis may develop some secondary sex characteristics associated with a typical testosterone puberty, depending on the amount of hormone-producing testicular tissue they have.
People with XX chromosomes can have a broad range of variations in how their Müllerian ducts (which typically form the uterus, fallopian tubes, cervix, and upper portion of the vagina) develop. They might have a variation that causes their uterus to develop with a different shape than typical, or to be doubled. Others may have vaginal variations such as a “hemivagina” (where one side of the vagina is obstructed, which can sometimes block menstrual blood from exiting), or a band of tissue dividing the vaginal canal (known as a vaginal septum). Müllerian duct variations usually don’t cause someone to have any variations in their ovaries or hormone production.
Non-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a subtype of CAH, does not usually become apparent until later in childhood, adolescence, or even young adulthood.
Late-onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Non-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia
The steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) protein is a transcription factor involved in sex determination. The SF-1 protein controls the activity of genes related to the gonads and adrenal glands.
Minimally developed gonadal tissue that is present in place of either testes or ovaries. Streak gonads are more common in certain intersex variations such as Swyer syndrome.
Gender markers that indicate a person is NOT cisgender. X gender markers may be assigned to or adopted by intersex people or transgender people.
Asexual people who belong to one or more of the various Indigenous peoples of Australia; do not use to refer to the Indigenous people of the Torres Strait Islands, who are considered ethnically and culturally distinct. Only use to describe people who identify as Aboriginal Australian.
Asexual people of African descent born in Canada or asexual people born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to Canada. Use for individuals who self-identify as Afro-Canadian.
Asexual people of African descent born in the Caribbean or asexual people born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to the Caribbean. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Afro-Caribbean.
Asexual people who have experienced hate crimes and may or may not have survived; follow the individual's preference for "victims" or "survivors" whenever possible.
Asexual people of African descent born in European countries or asexual people born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to Europe. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Afro-European.
The unjust or prejudicial treatment of asexual people due to their sexual identity; may include the denial of legal rights, employment, and housing.
Behavior involving physical force intended to harm or kill asexual people on the basis of their identity.
Asexual people who do not identify as such to others.
Daughters who have one or more asexual parent.
People who assume the role of father to asexual people. Only use to describe individuals who identify as fathers.
A person who assumes the role of mother to an asexual person; use only for individuals who self-identify as mothers.
People who act as parents to one or more asexual person. For parents who are themselves asexual, use the term "Asexual parents."
People whose sexual, romantic, or play partner is asexual.
Systematic mistreatment of asexual people on the basis of their sexual identity.
Asexual people who are Romani, or part of the traditionally nomadic Indo-European people.
Sons who have one or more asexual parent. For sons who are themselves asexual, use the term "Asexual sons."
Intersex people who are mothers. Only use to describe individuals who identify as mothers.
Institutions dedicated to the storage, exhibition, conservation, and preservation of materials relating to intersex people and intersex history.
Serialized print or digital periodicals created by or for intersex people, often with the purpose of sharing news and information related to intersex communities and intersex issues.
Serialized print or digital publications about intersex issues (and typically produced by intersex people or intersex organizations) that contain news, articles, columns, correspondence, and advertisements.
Intersex people who are the romantic, sexual, or play partners of another person or people.
Intersex people serving in state and national armed forces.
Intersex people with significant or total hearing loss. Some but not all Deaf people prefer to capitalize Deaf in recognition of the cultural and linguistic identity they share with other Deaf people.
Groups of people who share the experience of being intersex.
Academic field of research and study about intersex people, intersex identity, and intersex communities.
Intersex people of African descent born in the United States or intersex people born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to the United States. Use for individuals who self-identity as African American. Follow the individual’s preference for African American or Black whenever possible.
A practice in which law enforcement agents or agents of the state coerce an LGBTQ+ person to commit a "crime" they would have otherwise been unlikely or unwilling to commit. Legal definitions of entrapment vary widely depending on the jurisdiction, but the term is often used colloquially to refer to police acting dishonestly or in bad faith, as well as policing focused on anticipating and inducing crime, rather than responding to reports of crime.
Criminalization of existing or identifying as an LGBTQ+ person, being perceived as LGBTQ+, or engaging in any of various actions considered to be linked to LGBTQ+ status.
Criminalization of acts considered to be sexual or romantic between individuals perceived as being of the same gender category in a given sociocultural context.
Criminalization of same-gender relations
Unexpected and unannounced entry into and searches of bathouses, saunas, or spas owned or frequented by LGBTQ+ people by law enforcement officers with the aim of using surprise to seize evidence or arrest suspects. Police raids may be undertaken legally using a search warrant or through exigent circumstances, such as probable cause, though the latter is highly subjective and civilians often have little resources to appeal illegal raids.
Unexpected and unannounced entry into and searches of meeting places owned or frequented by LGBTQ+ people, including individuals' residences, businesses, and other institutions, by law enforcement officers with the aim of using surprise to seize evidence or arrest suspects. Police raids may be undertaken legally using a search warrant or through exigent circumstances, such as probable cause, though the latter is highly subjective and civilians often have little resources to appeal illegal raids.
Unexpected and unannounced entry into and searches of drinking establishments owned or frequented by LGBTQ+ people by law enforcement officers with the aim of using surprise to seize evidence or arrest suspects. Police raids may be undertaken legally using a search warrant or through exigent circumstances, such as probable cause, though the latter is highly subjective and civilians often have little resources to appeal illegal raids.
Unexpected and unannounced entry into and searches of nightclubs owned or frequented by LGBTQ+ people by law enforcement officers with the aim of using surprise to seize evidence or arrest suspects. Police raids may be undertaken legally using a search warrant or through exigent circumstances, such as probable cause, though the latter is highly subjective and civilians often have little resources to appeal illegal raids.
Criminalization of any expression of gender considered to be nonconforming in a given sociocultural context.
Criminalization of gender non-conformity
Criminalization of any expression of gender considered to be cross-dressing in a given sociocultural context.
Primarily a U.S. American and Canadian movement which supports divesting funds from, or abolition of, police departments (and often police structures generally) and reallocating them to non-policing forms of public safety and community support, such as social services, youth services, housing, education, healthcare and other community resources.
A primarily U.S. American and Canadian political movement that advocates replacing policing with other systems of public safety. Police abolitionists believe that policing, as a system, is inherently flawed and cannot be reformed—a view that rejects the ideology of police reformists. While reformists seek to address the ways in which policing occurs, abolitionists seek to transform policing altogether through a process of disbanding, disempowering, and disarming the police. Abolitionists argue that the institution of policing is deeply rooted in a history of white supremacy and settler colonialism and that it is inseparable from a pre-existing racial capitalist order, and thus believe a reformist approach to policing will always fail.
Identification of LGBTQ+ people, or people believed to be LGBTQ+, by police using digital tools, such as phone records, mobile applications, facial identification algorithms, and artificial intelligence technologies. Such data is then used to entrap and prosecute LGBTQ+ persons, especially in areas where being LGBTQ+ is still criminalized.
Digital stop and search to identify LGBTQ+ people
Identification of LGBTQ+ people by police using phone data
Police use of digital tools to identify LGBTQ+ people
Digital identification of LGBTQ+ people by police
Attitudes and assessments of feelings, relationships, and interactions between LGBTQ+ people and police.
Perceptions of police by LGBTQ+ communities
Attitudes of LGBTQ+ people toward police
Shooting of LGBTQ+ individuals or individuals perceived as being LGBTQ+ by police officers.
LGBTQ+ activism undertaken by police organizations and institutions which intends to increase the social capital of such institutions, rather than to actually serve LGBTQ+ communities.
A primarily U.S. American and Canadian decentralized political and social movement advocating for non-violent civil disobedience in protest against incidents of police brutality and all racially motivated violence against Black people. The broader movement and its related organizations typically advocate against police violence towards Black people, as well as for various other policy changes considered to be related to Black liberation.
A part of the Black Lives Matter movement which specifically advocates for Black trans people (especially Black trans women) and fights for racial equity and Black liberation.
Literary work, typically written in verse, that focuses on aromantic characters, themes, or identity.
Literary work, typically written in verse, that focuses on asexual characters, themes, or identity.
Genre that uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, and/or setting; use for fantasy fiction focusing on demisexual characters or themes.
Written works of fiction intended to frighten, scare, or disgust; use in reference to horror fiction focusing on demisexual characters or themes.
Written literary works about the investigation of crime or the work of detectives; use in reference to mystery and detective fiction focusing on demisexual characters and themes.
Demisexual mystery and detective fiction
Works of fiction revolving around romantic and/or sexual relationships between the main characters; use in reference to romance fiction focusing on demisexual characters.
Written literary work about imaginative or futuristic concepts incorporating science, technology, space, time travel, and other speculative elements; use in reference to science fiction focusing on demisexual characters or themes.
Written literary works that are short in length and detail a self-contained incident or concept; use in reference to short stories focusing on demisexual characters or themes.
Works in the performance arts that focus on aromantic characters, communities, or issues.
Aromantic people who are between the ages of childhood and adulthood.
Written literary works for an audience of readers from 12-18 years of age, also known as young adult literature or YA; use in reference to youth literature focusing on aromantic characters or themes.
Accounts of individuals' lives written by those individuals; use for autobiographies written by aromantic authors.
Accounts of individuals' lives written by those individuals; use for biographies written by aromantic authors.
Works in the performance arts that focus on asexual characters, communities, or issues.
Accounts of individuals' lives written by those individuals; use for autobiographies written by asexual authors.
Accounts of individuals' lives written by those individuals; use for biographies written by asexual authors.
Works in the performance arts that focus on demisexual characters, communities, or issues.
Demisexual people between the ages of childhood and adulthood.
Written literary works for an audience of readers from 12-18 years of age, also known as young adult literature or YA; use in reference to youth literature focusing on demisexual characters or themes.
The study, evaluation, and interpretation of literary works focusing on demisexual characters or themes; can also include interpretation of literature through the lens and frameworks of demisexual studies.
Works in the performance arts that focus on megasexual characters, communities, or issues.
Megasexual people between the ages of childhood and adulthood.
Written literary works for an audience of readers from 12-18 years of age, also known as young adult literature or YA; use in reference to youth literature focusing on megasexual characters or themes.
The study, evaluation, and interpretation of literary works focusing on megasexual characters or themes; can also include interpretation of literature through the lens and frameworks of megasexual studies.
Works in the performance arts that focus on greyromantic characters, communities, or issues.
Bisexual people who are ethnically Armenian.
Queer people who are ethnically Armenian.
Transgender people who are ethnically Armenian.
Intersex people who are ethnically Armenian.
Asexual people who are ethnically Armenian.
Greyromantic people between the ages of childhood and adulthood.
Written literary works for an audience of readers from 12-18 years of age, also known as young adult literature or YA; use in reference to youth literature focusing on greyromantic characters or themes.
The study, evaluation, and interpretation of literary works focusing on greyromantic characters or themes; can also include interpretation of literature through the lens and frameworks of greyromantic studies.
Erotic or sexually explicit films featuring Two-Spirit people.
Motion pictures, or movies, created by Two-Spirit directors, depicting Two-Spirit people, or that are regarded as important within Two-Spirit culture.
Written works of fiction revolving around romantic and/or sexual relationships between the main characters; use in reference to romance fiction focusing on non-binary characters.
Written literary works about the investigation of crime or the work of detectives; use in reference to mystery and detective fiction focusing on non-binary characters or themes.
Non-binary mystery and detective fiction
Written works of fiction intended to frighten, scare, or disgust; use in reference to horror fiction focusing on non-binary characters or themes.
Written literary work about imaginative or futuristic concepts incorporating science, technology, space, time travel, and other speculative elements; use in reference to science fiction focusing on non-binary characters or themes.
Genre that uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, and/or setting; use for fantasy fiction focusing on non-binary characters or themes.
A form of cultural appropriation involving identification with Two-Spirit identity by people who cannot claim citizenship, belonging, and/or descent from Indigenous people in North America.
Falsely claiming belonging to a marginalized group (including, but not limited to: disability, ethnicity, race, and sexuality).
Appropriation of marginalized identities
The phenomenon in which lesbians internalize or adopt lesbophobic beliefs (i.e., negative perceptions of and intolerance toward lesbians and lesbianism) as a result of being raised or socialized within a lesbophobic environment or culture.
The phenomenon in which bisexual people internalize or adopt biphobic beliefs (i.e., negative perceptions of and intolerance toward bisexual people and bisexuality) as a result of being raised or socialized within a biphobic environment or culture.
The phenomenon in which transgender people internalize or adopt transphobic beliefs (i.e., negative perceptions of and intolerance toward transgender people and trans identities) as a result of being raised or socialized within a transphobic environment or culture.
The phenomenon in which queer people internalize or adopt queerphobic beliefs (i.e., negative perceptions of and intolerance toward queer people and queerness) as a result of being raised or socialized within a queerphobic environment or culture.
The phenomenon in which intersex people internalize or adopt intersexphobic beliefs (i.e., negative perceptions of and intolerance toward intersex people and intersex variations) as a result of being raised or socialized within a intersexphobic environment or culture.
Term for different forms of creative activity, including visual, material, and performing arts, by transgender artists or about transgender topics and communities.
Term for different forms of creative activity, including visual, material, and performing arts, by Two-Sprit artists or about Two-Spirit topics and communities.
Umbrella term for different forms of creative activity, including visual, material, and performing arts, by gay artists or about gay topics and communities. Use a more specific term if possible.
Term for different forms of creative activity, including visual, material, and performing arts, by lesbian artists or about lesbian topics and communities.
Term for different forms of creative activity, including visual, material, and performing arts, by bisexual artists or about bisexual topics and communities.
Term for different forms of creative activity, including visual, material, and performing arts, by queer artists or about queer topics and communities.
Term for different forms of creative activity, including visual, material, and performing arts, by intersex artists or about intersex topics and communities.
Term for different forms of creative activity, including visual, material, and performing arts, by aromantic artists or about aromantic topics and communities.
Term for different forms of creative activity, including visual, material, and performing arts, by asexual artists or about asexual topics and communities.
Term for different forms of creative activity, including visual, material, and performing arts, by demisexual artists or about demisexual topics and communities.
People who donated their gametes with the understanding that their identity would remain unknown by any potential offspring.
The introduction of semen into the cervical opening, uterus, or fallopian tube using assistance from reproductive technology. Some choose not to use this term due to the implications of the word "artificial."
An umbrella term used to describe all methods of conception beyond sexual intercourse, including but not limited to donor insemination, artificial insemination, surrogacy, egg donation, and IVF.
Direct action and organizing to achieve political or social change and acceptance for Two-Spirit people.
Two-Spirit people working to bring about political or social change through public organizing.
Gay men whose brains process, learn, and/or behave differently from what is considered typical by society. Some of these neurological differences can present as learning disabilities, medical disorders, and other conditions.
Lesbians whose brains process, learn, and/or behave differently from what is considered typical by society. Some of these neurological differences can present as learning disabilities, medical disorders, and other conditions.
Bisexual people whose brains process, learn, and/or behave differently from what is considered typical by society. Some of these neurological differences can present as learning disabilities, medical disorders, and other conditions.
Transgender people whose brains process, learn, and/or behave differently from what is considered typical by society. Some of these neurological differences can present as learning disabilities, medical disorders, and other conditions.
Queer people whose brains process, learn, and/or behave differently from what is considered typical by society. Some of these neurological differences can present as learning disabilities, medical disorders, and other conditions.
Two-Spirit people with significant or total loss of vision.
Two-Spirit people with significant or total hearing loss. Some but not all Deaf people prefer to capitalize Deaf in recognition of the cultural and linguistic identity they share with other Deaf people.
Two-Spirit people with significant or total hearing loss who may or may not consider themselves d/Deaf.
Two-Spirit people who have long-term health conditions that require continued medical attention and/or significantly impact or limit daily life; some but not all people with chronic illnesses consider themselves disabled.
Two Spirit people with chronic illnesses
Two Spirited people with chronic illnesses
Two-Spirited people with chronic illnesses
Two-Spirit people with chronic illnesses
Gay people who seek to entertain an audience by making them laugh, through jokes, slapstick, employing prop comedy, or other amusing means.
Lesbians who seek to entertain an audience by making them laugh, through jokes, slapstick, employing prop comedy, or other amusing means.
Bisexual people who seek to entertain an audience by making them laugh, through jokes, slapstick, employing prop comedy, or other amusing means.
Transgender people who seek to entertain an audience by making them laugh, through jokes, slapstick, employing prop comedy, or other amusing means.
Queer people who seek to entertain an audience by making them laugh, through jokes, slapstick, employing prop comedy, or other amusing means.
Intersex people who seek to entertain an audience by making them laugh, through jokes, slapstick, employing prop comedy, or other amusing means.
Asexual people who seek to entertain an audience by making them laugh, through jokes, slapstick, employing prop comedy, or other amusing means.
Two-Spirit people who seek to entertain an audience by making them laugh, through jokes, slapstick, employing prop comedy, or other amusing means.
Written literary works about Two-Spirit characters or themes.
Two-Spirit people who are between the ages of childhood and adulthood.
Serialized print or digital periodicals created by or for Two-Spirit people, often with the purpose of sharing news and information related to Two-Spirit communities and Two-Spirit issues.
Serialized print or digital publications about transgender people or Two-Spirit issues (and typically produced by Two-Spirit people or Two-Spirit organizations) that contain news, articles, columns, correspondence, and advertisements.
Direct action and organizing to achieve political or social change, bodily autonomy, and acceptance for intersex people.
Direct action and organizing to achieve political or social change and acceptance for asexual people.
Asexual people with significant or total loss of vision.
Asexual people who have long-term health conditions that require continued medical attention and/or significantly impact or limit daily life; some but not all people with chronic illnesses consider themselves disabled.
Cultural experiences shared by members of asexual communities or products of asexual culture (e.g., art and media created by and for asexual people, activism focused on asexual issues, slang commonly used in asexual communities, etc.).
Colloquial or informal language related to asexual identity or used by asexual people.
Serialized print or digital periodicals created by or for asexual people, often with the purpose of sharing news and information related to asexual communities and asexual issues.
Serialized print or digital publications about asexual people or asexual issues (and typically produced by asexual people or asexual organizations) that contain news, articles, columns, correspondence, and advertisements.
Asexual people working to bring about political or social change through public organizing.
Gay men or mascs who are candidates for public office, are currently holding public office, or have held political positions. Politicians can be elected by public election or otherwise appointed.
Lesbians who are candidates for public office, are currently holding public office, or have held political positions. Politicians can be elected by public election or otherwise appointed.
Bisexual people who are candidates for public office, are currently holding public office, or have held political positions. Politicians can be elected by public election or otherwise appointed.
Queer people who are candidates for public office, are currently holding public office, or have held political positions. Politicians can be elected by public election or otherwise appointed.
Transgender people who are candidates for public office, are currently holding public office, or have held political positions. Politicians can be elected by public election or otherwise appointed.
Intersex people who are candidates for public office, are currently holding public office, or have held political positions. Politicians can be elected by public election or otherwise appointed.
Asexual people who are candidates for public office, are currently holding public office, or have held political positions. Politicians can be elected by public election or otherwise appointed.
Two-Spirit people who are candidates for public office, are currently holding public office, or have held political positions. Politicians can be elected by public election or otherwise appointed.
People with 17-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 deficiency, abbreviated as "17-beta," have XY chromosomes and testes, but their bodies do not have one of the enzymes needed to synthesize testosterone. Most people with 17-beta are born with a vulva and vagina, and their testes are most often undescended. Some people with 17-beta will be born with genitals that do not clearly resemble a typical penis or a typical vulva. Some will have a penis that may be smaller than typical (known as a micropenis), and the urethra may open on the underside of the penis rather than at the tip (known as hypospadias). In adolescence, people with 17-beta will often develop some secondary sex characteristics associated with a typical testosterone puberty.
17-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 deficiency
A term used to describe a birth variation in which the outer genitals do not have the typical appearance of those associated with either boys or girls. This is often the first sign many doctors and parents see that indicate their child has an intersex variation. Ambiguous genitalia can be caused by a variety of variations and rarely require immediate surgical intervention as long as the child is able to excrete and urinate without complications. Many intersex people find this term stigmatizing, so it should not be used unless the individual uses it to describe themselves.
A person with anorchia has 46 XY chromosomes and is born without testes. As a result, they do not produce typical levels of testosterone. Someone with anorchia will usually have a typical-appearing penis and scrotum because these organs are already formed by the stage of fetal development when the testes disappear.
People with aromatase deficiency do not have the enzyme responsible for converting androgens into estrogen. At birth, someone with aromatase deficiency and XX chromosomes may have a larger-than-typical clitoris and partially or completely fused labia (resembling the appearance of a scrotum). At puberty, they may not develop breasts, may not begin menstruating, and may develop some secondary sex characteristics associated with a typical testosterone puberty. They may also develop multiple cysts on their ovaries. People with XY chromosomes can also have aromatase deficiency, but they do not typically experience variations in their sex characteristics, though they may grow taller than is typical because estrogen is usually responsible for closing the bone growth plates.
People with aromatase excess have increased production of aromatase, which converts androgens (like testosterone) into estrogen. People with XY chromosomes and aromatase excess syndrome will therefore have more active estrogen in their bodies than is typical. As a result, they will often stop growing at a shorter height and/or develop breasts in adolescence along with features associated with a typical testosterone puberty. People with XX chromosomes can also have aromatase excess, but it doesn't usually cause their sex characteristics to vary from what is considered typical for those assigned female at birth, though they may also experience breast enlargement and short stature, along with menstrual irregularities.
People with bladder exstrophy are born with their urinary bladder exposed (through an open abdominal wall) or outside of the body. They may also have an open pelvis (resulting from the pubic bones not joining together), which causes genital differences. People with bladder exstrophy and XY chromosomes often have a shorter-than-typical penis with epispadias (meaning the urethra opens on the top surface of the penis instead of at the tip) and undescended testes. People with XX chromosomes and bladder exstrophy often have a urethra that is placed higher than usual, widely spaced labia (due to the wide spacing of their pubic bones), and a clitoris formed in two halves with a split in the middle.
Term used to describe the variation in which a person is born with two or more different sets of DNA. This can occur when multiple zygotes (such as fraternal twins) combine and develop into one fetus. Sex-chromosome discordant chimerism occurs when at least one embryo with XX chromosomes fuses with at least one embryo with XY chromosomes. A person who develops this way would have sets of both XX and XY chromosomes, or a chromosome pattern of 46XX/46XY, and could have a wide variety of different possible sex characteristics. Many people with chimerism and XX/XY chromosomes have both ovarian and testicular tissue, while others have only testes or only ovaries, and still others have gonadal dysgenesis. Some have noticeable genital differences and others do not.
People who have classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a subtype of CAH, have more pronounced issues with cortisol and/or aldosterone production. This variation is likely to be noticed at birth or shortly after.
Classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia
People born with cloacal exstrophy are born with an open abdominal wall exposing their colon, bladder, and sometimes other abdominal organs. Their organs may also be positioned outside of the body at birth. The bladder is often split into two halves, and the colon and bladder may be connected. The anal opening may be blocked or not have been formed. The pubic bones do not join together, resulting in an open pelvis with noticeable genital differences. People with XY chromosomes and cloacal exstrophy may have a smaller-than-typical penis that is flat or split into two halves with an epispadic urethra (opening on the top of the penis rather than at the tip) and undescended testes. Someone with XX chromosomes and cloacal exstrophy usually has a clitoris that is split into two halves, and they may have two vaginal openings.
People with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) have no response to androgens and are born with a vulva and clitoris, as well as a shorter-than-typical vagina and undescended testes. In adolescence, they will develop breasts and other features associated with a typical estrogen puberty due to the body’s natural conversion of testosterone to estrogen. However, people with CAIS do not menstruate because they do not have a uterus or ovaries.
Complete androgen insensitivity syndrome
People born with congenital chordee have a penis that curves upward or downward or bends to one side, usually due to bands of fibrous tissue that pull the penis in a particular direction. People with congenital chordee often have hypospadias, meaning that their urethral opening is not at the tip of the penis.
An intersex variation in which one or both of the testes do not descend from the abdomen into the scrotum. If both testes are undescended, this is known as "bilateral cryptorchidism," whereas "unilateral cryptorchidism" occurs when only one the testes does not descend.
De la Chapelle syndrome causes people with XX chromosomes to be born with a penis and testes. This usually happens because a particular gene typically seen on Y chromosomes (known as the SRY gene) ends up on one of their X chromosomes and causes their genitals and internal reproductive organs to develop as they typically would in someone with XY chromosomes. People with de la Chapelle might have testes that are smaller than typical or that are undescended, and they are often infertile. In adolescence, they may experience breast growth, and they might not develop the characteristics that are usually associated with a typical testosterone puberty.
People with epispadias are born with a urinary opening located on the upper surface of their penis rather than at the tip (similar to the more common variation hypospadias). People with vulvas can also be born with epispadias, in which case the urethral opening is wider and located higher than typical. The clitoris may also be split into two halves. Epispadias is usually present whenever bladder exstrophy or cloacal exstrophy develop, but epispadias can also occur by itself.
People with estrogen insensitivity syndrome (EIS) have a genetic variation in which their bodies do not respond to estrogen. People with XX chromosomes and EIS are usually born with a vulva and vagina, may have a small uterus and enlarged ovaries that later develop multiple cysts, and may produce very high levels of estrogen that their bodies do not recognize. In adolescence, they will most likely not experience the changes associated with a typical estrogen puberty such as breast development or menstruation. They may instead develop pubic hair and acne due to the influence of androgens. People with XY chromosomes can also be born with EIS, and they may or may not experience variations in their other hormone production, testicular development, and development of secondary sex characteristics as a result.
People with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) insensitivity have a genetic variation where their bodies do not respond to FSH. People with XX chromosomes and FSH insensitivity will usually be born with a vulva, vagina, and ovaries. Their ovaries may produce lower amounts of estrogen than is considered typical, and they may not produce fertile follicles (eggs). In adolescence, they may not develop secondary sex characteristics associated with a typical estrogen puberty and may not menstruate. People with XY chromosomes and FSH insensitivity may develop smaller-than-typical testes, may produce fewer sperm than usual, and may not be fertile.
Follicle-stimulating hormone insensitivity
People with Fraser syndrome are usually born with differences in the development of their eyelids, fingers, and toes. They may also have variations in their sex characteristics, such as a larger-than-typical clitoris or undescended testes. They may develop without one or both kidneys, and other parts of the urinary system can additionally be affected.
People with hyperandrogenism have higher-than-typical levels of testosterone and/or other androgens. In people with XX chromosomes, hyperandrogenism can result in the development of secondary sex characteristics that are associated with the influence of testosterone (such as facial and body hair) to varying degrees. Hyperandrogenism may or may not be the result of an underlying intersex variation, but it is common in several variations (including CAH and PCOS). People with hyperandrogenism who aren’t intersex will nonetheless often have many experiences in common with intersex people, such as encountering exclusion and discrimination in sex-segregated contexts like sports.
People with hypogonadism produce lower-than-typical levels of hormones like testosterone and estrogen, or none at all. This can affect how a person’s secondary sex characteristics develop as well as their fertility. Hypogonadism can be a result of a difference in how someone’s brain signals for their gonads to produce (or not produce) hormones, or it can be a feature of their gonads directly. Hypogonadism is not always caused by an intersex variation, but can be related to Klinefelter syndrome, Turner syndrome, and several other variations.
People with isolated 17,20-lyase deficiency (ILD) have one of several specific variations in their genes that cause their bodies to make lower-than-typical amounts of testosterone. They may be born with genitals that do not appear quite like a typical penis, and their testes may be descended or undescended. In adolescence, they may not experience all of the changes related to a typical testosterone puberty because their variation impacts their hormone production.
People with Jacobs syndrome develop with an extra Y chromosome. They might not have any obvious physical variations as a result, or they may be taller than usual or have other identifiable differences that do not relate to sex characteristics. Some people with Jacobs syndrome may also have a smaller-than-typical penis or scrotum, hypospadias, and/or undescended testicles.
Kallmann syndrome can occur in people with XX or XY chromosomes and is a form of hypogonadism. People with Kallmann syndrome and XY chromosomes are often born with a smaller-than-typical penis and undescended testes. In adolescence, most people with Kallmann syndrome will either start puberty later than usual or not experience typical pubertal changes (such as developing facial hair and a deeper voice for people with XY chromosomes or developing breasts and starting to menstruate for people with XX chromosomes) unless they receive hormone therapy. Kallmann syndrome also affects someone’s sense of smell.
People with XY chromosomes and luteinizing hormone insensitivity develop the variation Leydig cell hypoplasiae. Because people with XX chromosomes do not typically produce Leydig cells to begin with, someone with XX chromosomes who has a genetic insensitivity to luteinizing hormone will not be affected in the same way. A person with XX chromosomes whose body does not respond to luteinizing hormone will not usually have any noticeable differences at birth, but their ovaries may not produce fertile follicles (eggs), and they may not menstruate.
People with penoscrotal transposition are born with a different genital configuration than typical, with their penis located below or in the middle of their scrotum instead of above it. Their scrotum might be bifid (split into two halves), and they may also have hypospadias and/or chordee.
People with Persistent Müllerian duct syndrome (PMDS) have XY chromosomes, male-typical reproductive organs and external genitalia, and some component(s) of a female-typical reproductive tract, such as a uterus, fallopian tubes, and/or upper vaginal canal. PMDS occurs when the Müllerian ducts—internal structures that ordinarily break down in an XY fetus—remain and develop as they would in an XX fetus. PMDS is ordinarily not diagnosed at birth, and individuals with this variation often have a male gender identity.
People with this variation have XX chromosomes and are generally born with a vulva and vagina, a uterus, and ovaries. Later in life, their ovaries often produce higher-than-typical levels of androgens like testosterone. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can also result in the development of characteristics such as facial and body hair, and it can interfere with the process of ovulation. This in turn can cause irregular periods or no periods, and people with PCOS may struggle to become pregnant. Some people with PCOS have small cysts (fluid-filled sacs) on their ovaries, but some do not. Signs of PCOS generally will not show up until a person starts menstruating, or later in life.
A term previously used in medical contexts to refer to different groups of intersex variations, usually divided into categories of “male pseudohermaphroditism” and “female pseudohermaphroditism” on the basis of the person’s chromosomes. People may still find these terms used in their medical records or in medical journal articles when researching their variation, but they are often considered highly stigmatizing in addition to being vague and inaccurate. Do not use this term to describe a person's variation unless they do so themselves.
People who have salt-wasting congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a subtype of classical CAH, experience "salt-wasting," a dangerous scenario a person's low levels of aldosterone cause their body to lose too much sodium. They may experience life-threatening adrenal crises, especially when their body is under stress.
Salt-wasting congenital adrenal hyperplasia
A term sometimes used in medical contexts to refer to different variations in which a person is born with XY chromosomes and a vulva and vagina or XX chromosomes and a penis.
People with Trisomy X are born with 47XXX chromosomes rather than the typical 46XX. If they receive the additional X chromosome from their parent's original sperm or egg cell, they will have 47XXX chromosomes in all their cells. If the additional chromosome appears during the embryo's development process, however, only some cells will have 47XXX chromosomes and the person will be born with a mosaic chromosome pattern. Most people with 47XXX chromosomes do not develop any variations in their other sex characteristics but some may have ovaries that stop producing hormones at an earlier-than-typical age and some may not menstruate.
People with Type 1 Leydig cell hypoplasia (LCH) produce almost no testosterone and will usually be born with a vulva and vagina and undescended testes. They are usually assigned female at birth, often without their variation being recognized until adolescence, at which point they generally will not develop any secondary sex characteristics or experience other changes typically associated with puberty.
People with Type 1 Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome typically have only the differences associated with MRKH syndrome.
Type 1 Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome
People with Type 2 Leydig cell hypoplasia (LCH) have some response to luteinizing hormone and produce lower-than-typical amounts of testosterone, but more than people with Type 1 LCH. At birth, their testes may be descended or undescended, and they may have a smaller-than-typical penis, often with other noticeable differences such as hypospadias. In adolescence, they will often develop some characteristics associated with a typical testosterone puberty.
People with Type 2 Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome have both the differences associated with MRKH syndrome and additional differences in other parts of their body, such as their fallopian tubes, kidneys, spine, or heart. A specific example of Type 2 MRKH known as Müllerian agenesis, Renal agenesis, Cervicothoracic Somite (MURCS) association, occurs when someone’s kidneys do not develop typically. They may have scoliosis or fused vertebrae in addition to the usual features of MRKH.
Type 2 Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome
People with this variation may be born without a vaginal opening, a shallow “dimple” where an opening would typically be, or a vaginal opening that is fused or blocked by fibrous tissue. People with vaginal atresia often have a typical upper vaginal canal (along with a typical uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, and ovaries) with differences in the lower portion of the vagina only.
People with XXYY syndrome are born with an extra copy of both an X and Y chromosome, resulting in an 48XXYY chromosome pattern instead of the typical 46XY. People with XXYY chromosomes may have undescended testes and produce lower-than-typical amounts of testosterone, which can cause them to start puberty at a later age than typical and develop less pronounced secondary sex characteristics like muscle tone and facial hair. They may also experience breast growth. People with XXYY syndrome often have other physical features that are similar to those developed by people with Klinefelter syndrome (47XXY).
Operas created by gay directors, depicting gay men, or that are regarded as important within gay culture.
Operas created by bisexual directors, depicting bisexual individuals, or that are regarded as important within bisexual culture.
Operas created by transgender directors, depicting transgender individuals, or that are regarded as important within transgender culture.
Operas created by asexual directors, depicting asexual individuals, or that are regarded as important within asexual culture.
Operas created by intersex directors, depicting intersex individuals, or that are regarded as important within intersex culture.
Latin American people who are asexual; only use to describe individuals who self-identify as Latino, Latina, or Latinx. Do not conflate with Chicano/a/x or Hispanic.
Asexual people of African descent born in Latin American countries or asexual people born in African countries who live in or have a strong connection to Latin America. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Afro-Latin American.
Asexual people who belong to two or more racial groups.
Asexual people who are Inuit, or part of several Indigenous peoples inhabiting the Inuit homeland in the Arctic and subarctic regions of Greenland, Canada, and Alaska. Only use for people who identify as Inuit.
People who are part of the Native peoples of the continental United States and Canada (excluding Inuit people) and self-identity as asexual. Use more specific terms when available.
Asexual people who identify as both Pacific Islanders (or of Pacific Islander ancestry) and American.
Pacific Islander American asexual people
Asexual people who are Papuan, or part of the Indigenous peoples of new Guinea; only use for people who identify as Papuan.
Intersex people who have long-term health conditions that require continued medical attention and/or significantly impact or limit daily life; some but not all people with chronic illnesses consider themselves disabled.
Intersex people with significant or total loss of vision.
Intersex people working to bring about political or social change through public organizing.
Any of various forms of inappropriate conduct, illegal actions, or abuses of power undertaken by law enforcement agents or agents of the state against Black LGBTQ+ members of the public. This includes but is not limited to racial, ethnic, and other forms of profiling; unwarranted surveillance, searches, and seizure; selective enforcement; excessive use of force; sexual misconduct; intimidation and witness tampering; falsification of evidence; coerced confessions; false arrests and imprisonment; and bribing or lobbying.
Police harassment of Black LGBTQ+ people
Any of various forms of inappropriate conduct, illegal actions, or abuses of power undertaken by law enforcement agents or agents of the state against Indigenous LGBTQ+ members of the public. This includes but is not limited to racial, ethnic, and other forms of profiling; unwarranted surveillance, searches, and seizure; selective enforcement; excessive use of force; sexual misconduct; intimidation and witness tampering; falsification of evidence; coerced confessions; false arrests and imprisonment; and bribing or lobbying.
Police harassment of Indigenous LGBTQ+ people
Identification of LGBTQ+ people, or people believed to be LGBTQ+, by police using any of various tools and mechanisms, many of which are pseudoscientific in nature. Such data is then used to entrap and prosecute LGBTQ+ persons, especially in areas where being LGBTQ+ is still criminalized.
Identification of LGBTQ+ people by police
Historical and contemporary linkages between white supremacist ideologies and modern policing institutions, primarily discussed within the context of the countries of Canada and the United States.
Infiltration of police by white supremacists
Police officer ties with white supremacists
Literary work, typically written in verse, that focuses on demisexual characters, themes, or identity.
Written literary works about aromanticism, aromantic characters, or aromantic themes.
Works of fiction written to be performed; use in reference to dramatic works focusing on aromantic characters or themes.
Written literary works about asexuality, asexual characters, or asexual themes.
Works of fiction written to be performed; use in reference to dramatic works focusing on asexual characters or themes.
Works of fiction written to be performed; use in reference to dramatic works focusing on demisexual characters or themes.
Accounts of individuals' lives written by those individuals; use for autobiographies written by demisexual authors.
Written accounts of the lives of people known to be demisexual.
Works of fiction written to be performed; use in reference to dramatic works focusing on megasexual characters or themes.
Accounts of individuals' lives written by those individuals; use for autobiographies written by megasexual authors.
Accounts of individuals' lives written by those individuals; use for biographies written by megasexual authors.
Works of fiction written to be performed; use in reference to dramatic works focusing on greyromantic characters or themes.
Literary works, typically written in verse, that focus on greyromantic characters, themes, or identity.
Accounts of individuals' lives written by those individuals; use for autobiographies written by greyromantic authors.
Written accounts of the lives of individuals known to be greyromantic.
Erotic films or movies, created by lesbian directors, depicting lesbian people, or that are regarded as important within lesbian culture.
Erotic films or movies, created by gay directors, depicting gay people, or that are regarded as important within gay culture.
Erotic films or movies, created by bisexual directors, depicting bisexual people, or that are regarded as important within bisexual culture.
Erotic films or movies, created by transgender directors, depicting transgender people, or that are regarded as important within transgender culture.
Erotic films or movies, created by queer directors, depicting queer people, or that are regarded as important within queer culture.
Erotic or sexually explicit films featuring intersex people.
Erotic or sexually explicit films featuring aromantic people.
Erotic or sexually explicit films featuring asexual people.
Erotic or sexually explicit films featuring demisexual people.
A form of cultural appropriation and race shifting involving false claims of citizenship, belonging, and/or descent from Indigenous people in North America. Not to be confused with disconnected or reconnecting descendants.
Erotic art, created by Two-Spirit artists, depicting Two-Spirit people, or that are regarded as important within Two-Spirit culture.
The process by which donated sperm is placed inside a person with a uterus to induce pregnancy.
The process by which a person donates their eggs for reproduction.
The process by which a person donates their sperm for reproduction.
The process by which a person becomes pregnant using a donated egg.
Asexual people whose brains process, learn, and/or behave differently from what is considered typical by society. Some of these neurological differences can present as learning disabilities, medical disorders, and other conditions.
Intersex people whose brains process, learn, and/or behave differently from what is considered typical by society. Some of these neurological differences can present as learning disabilities, medical disorders, and other conditions.
Two-Spirit people whose brains process, learn, and/or behave differently from what is considered typical by society. Some of these neurological differences can present as learning disabilities, medical disorders, and other conditions.
Written literary works for an audience of readers from 12-18 years of age, also known as young adult literature or YA; use in reference to youth literature focusing on Two-Spirit characters or themes.
Newspapers, magazines, or other publishing outlets aimed at Two-Spirit audiences and/or operated by Two-Spirit people.
Intersex people who are not white and who identify as people of color.
Intersex people of Asian heritage or descent born in the United States or born in Asian countries who live in or have a strong connection to the United States. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Asian American.
Intersex individuals of Asian heritage or descent, living in Asia or part of the Asian diaspora. Only use for people who self-identify as Asian.
Asexual people with significant or total hearing loss. Some but not all Deaf people prefer to capitalize Deaf in recognition of the cultural and linguistic identity they share with other Deaf people.
Asexual people with significant or total hearing loss who may or may not consider themselves d/Deaf.
Newspapers, magazines, or other publishing outlets aimed at asexual audiences and/or operated by asexual people.
Asexual individuals of Asian heritage or descent, living in Asia or part of the Asian diaspora. Only use for people who self-identify as Asian.
Asexual people of Asian heritage or descent born in the United States or born in Asian countries who live in or have a strong connection to the United States. Only use for individuals who self-identify as Asian American.
Asexual people who are part of the Indigenous people of Mokupuni o Hawai‘i, or the Hawaiian Islands; only use to refer to people who identify as Kanaka Maoli.
Any of various forms of inappropriate conduct, illegal actions, or abuses of power undertaken by law enforcement agents or agents of the state against LGBTQ+ members of the public. This includes but is not limited to racial, ethnic, and other forms of profiling; unwarranted surveillance, searches, and seizure; selective enforcement; excessive use of force; sexual misconduct; intimidation and witness tampering; falsification of evidence; coerced confessions; false arrests and imprisonment; and bribing or lobbying.
Any of various forms of police violence aimed toward LGBTQ+ people.
Written works describing imagined events or people; use in reference to fictional works focusing on megasexual characters or themes.
Literary works, typically written in verse, that focus on queer characters, themes, or identity.
Written works describing imagined events or people; use in reference to fictional works focusing on greyromantic characters or themes.
Erotic films or movies, created by Two-Spirit directors, depicting Two-Spirit people, or that are regarded as important within Two-Spirit culture.
Erotic films or movies, created by intersex directors, depicting intersex people, or that are regarded as important within intersex culture.
Erotic films or movies, created by aromantic directors, depicting aromantic people, or that are regarded as important within aromantic culture.
Erotic films or movies, created by asexual directors, depicting asexual people, or that are regarded as important within asexual culture.
Erotic films or movies, created by demisexual directors, depicting demisexual people, or that are regarded as important within demisexual culture.
Erotic art, created by lesbian artists, depicting lesbian people, or that are regarded as important within lesbian culture.
Erotic art, created by gay artists, depicting gay people, or that are regarded as important within gay culture.
Erotic art, created by bisexual artists, depicting bisexual people, or that are regarded as important within bisexual culture.
Erotic art, created by transgender artists, depicting transgender people, or that are regarded as important within transgender culture.
Erotic art, created by queer artists, depicting queer people, or that are regarded as important within queer culture.
People with Leydig cell hypoplasia (LCH) have XY chromosomes and a genetic insensitivity to luteinizing hormone. LCH can be either complete (known as LCH Type 1) or partial (known as LCH Type 2). Luteinizing hormone is typically responsible for the development of Leydig cells in the testicles and for signaling for those cells to produce androgens like testosterone. Someone with LCH will develop few or no Leydig cells and therefore will produce less testosterone than is typical.
Written literary works about demisexuality, demisexual characters, or demisexual themes.
Written literary works about megasexuality, megasexual characters, or megasexual themes.
Written literary works about greyromanticism, greyromantic characters, or greyromantic themes.
Erotic art, created by intersex artists, depicting intersex people, or that are regarded as important within intersex culture.
Erotic art, created by aromantic artists, depicting aromantic people, or that are regarded as important within aromantic culture.
Erotic art, created by asexual artists, depicting asexual people, or that are regarded as important within asexual culture.
Erotic art, created by demisexual artists, depicting demisexual people, or that are regarded as important within demisexual culture.
Asexual people who are not white and who identify as people of color.
Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome occurs when a person's Müllerian ducts, which typically become the uterus and upper portion of the vagina during fetal development, do not develop in the typical way. People with MRKH have XX chromosomes and are usually born with a vulva and either a vagina that is shorter than typical or no vagina. They usually do not have a cervix and may have a partial uterus (uterine remnant) or no uterus. They often do not mensturate but may experience cyclic pain if they have a uterine remnant with endometrial lining, and they can develop menstruation-related conditions like endometriosis.
Unexpected and unannounced entry into and searches of establishments owned or frequented by LGBTQ+ people by law enforcement officers with the aim of using surprise to seize evidence or arrest suspects. Police raids may be undertaken legally using a search warrant or through exigent circumstances, such as probable cause, though the latter is highly subjective and civilians often have little resources to appeal illegal raids.
Police raids on LGBTQ+-related establishments
Written works describing imagined events or people; use in reference to fictional works focusing on non-binary characters or themes.
The phenomenon in which someone in a marginalized group internalizes or adopts oppressive beliefs (i.e., negative perceptions of and intolerance toward any marginalized identities they hold) as a result of being raised or socialized within an oppressive environment or culture.
Long-form musical performances combining singing, orchestral music, and often ballet, typically set to a dramatic narrative or libretto and presented on a theater stage centered on LGBTQ+ characters or themes.
Asexual people who are part of an Indigenous people, or culturally distinct ethnic group whose members are directly descended from the earliest known inhabitants of a particular region and, to some extent, maintain the language and culture of those people. Only use to describe people who identify as Indigenous; use more specific terms whenever possible.
Umbrella term including any of various forms of interactions between police and LGBTQ+ individuals or communities.
Creators of written works who are known to be demisexual.
Creators of written works who are known to be megasexual.
Creators of written works who are known to be greyromantic.
The process by which a fetus is conceived through donor insemination, egg donation, surrogacy, IVF, and/or other reproductive technologies.
LGBTQ+ people who are ethnically Armenian.
Written works describing imagined events or people; use in reference to fictional works focusing on demisexual characters or themes.
LGBTQ+ people who seek to entertain an audience by making them laugh, through jokes, slapstick, employing prop comedy, or other amusing means.
LGBTQ+ people who are candidates for public office, are currently holding public office, or have held political positions. Politicians can be elected by public election or otherwise appointed.
LGBTQ+ people whose brains process, learn, and/or behave differently from what is considered typical by society. Some of these neurological differences can present as learning disabilities, medical disorders, and other conditions.
Erotic films or movies, created by LGBTQ+ directors, depicting LGBTQ+ people, or that are regarded as important within LGBTQ+ culture. Use a more specific narrower term where applicable.
Umbrella term for different forms of creative activity dealing with or engaging with erotic themes, including visual, material, and performing art, by LGBTQ+ artists or about LGBTQ+ topics and communities. Use a more specific term if possible.
Term used to refer to a wide range of variations in sex characteristics. The term "intersex conditions" is a pathologizing term used to mean people born with variations in their physical sex characteristics also known as intersex traits.