The terms related to sexual orientation may be new to many of us. However, language in this area is always changing and we need to ensure that we are using the most up to date and correct terminology. 

Ally – a (typically) straight and/or cis person who supports members of the LGBT community.

Asexual – an asexual person is someone who doesn’t experience sexual attraction. They may still experience romantic attraction and consider themselves Bisexual or Lesbian or Gay.

Bisexual – a bisexual person is someone who is attracted to people of more than one gender. 

Cisgender or Cis – this refers to someone whose gender identity is the same as the sex they were assigned at birth. The term ‘non-trans’ is also used by some people.

Gay – a gay man is attracted to men.

Heterosexual or straight – both these terms refer to a man who has an attraction towards women or to a woman who has an attraction towards men. At ICAS we use the term ‘straight’ rather than heterosexual as it is more inclusive and sounds more modern.

Gender identity – this refers to a person’s innate sense of their own gender, whether male, female or something else (see non-binary in the ‘Trans’ section, below), which may or may not correspond to the sex assigned at birth.

​Gender reassignment – this is another way of describing a person’s transition. To undergo gender reassignment usually means to undergo some sort of medical intervention, but it can also mean changing names, pronouns, dressing differently or living in a self-identified gender. Gender reassignment is a characteristic that is protected by the Equality Act 2010, and it is further interpreted in the Equality Act 2010 approved code of practice.

Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) – this enables trans people to be legally recognised in their affirmed gender and to be issued with a new birth certificate. Not all trans people will apply for a GRC and you currently must be over 18 to apply. You do not need a GRC to change your gender markers at work or to legally change your gender on other documents such as your passport.

Homosexual – we don’t use this term at ICAS because is a little outdated and has a medical origin. For some people it also conveys a negative historic impression.

Lesbian – a lesbian is a woman who is attracted to women.

Queer – queer is a term used by people wanting to reject specific labels of sexual orientation and/or gender identity. It can also be a way of rejecting the perceived norms of the LGBT community. While some people might find the term offensive and hear it used in an insulting way, it has been claimed by the Queer community who are proud to use it about themselves.

Straight or heterosexual – both these terms refer to a man who has a sexual orientation towards women or to a woman who has a sexual orientation towards men. At ICAS we use the term ‘straight’ rather than heterosexual as it is more inclusive and sounds more modern.

Trans – this is an umbrella term to describe people whose gender is not the same as, or does not sit comfortably with, the sex they were assigned at birth. Trans people may describe themselves using one or more of a wide variety of terms, including (but not limited to) transgender, transsexual, gender-queer (GQ), gender-fluid, non-binary, gender-variant, crossdresser, genderless, agender, nongender.

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Transgender man – this is a term used to describe someone who is assigned female at birth but identifies and lives as a man. This may be shortened to trans man, or FTM, an abbreviation for female-to-male.

Transgender woman – this is a term used to describe someone who is assigned male at birth but identifies and lives as a woman. This may be shortened to trans woman, or MTF, an abbreviation for male-to-female.

Please find more information at the Stonewall website, where we took guidance on these terms from.