This section of the guide is meant to serve as a starting point for thoughtfully conducting 2SLGBTQIA+ research.
These letters stand for Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, Questioning, and Asexual, among many more sexual and gender identities. There are several variations of this phrase, and sometimes people will use the term “rainbow community” in reference to people who self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two-spirit, intersex, queer, and/or questioning. Halifax Sexual Health Centre
Gender: Gender refers to a collection of traits, behaviours, and roles that are culturally associated with maleness or femaleness. For example, the color pink is stereotypically associated with females and blue with males. Female children are stereotypically expected to play with dolls, while male children are often expected to play with toy cars.
Gender is a social and cultural construct, which means that it is something that is created and then supported by a society/culture through things like language, media, and policies. Concepts of gender may differ across cultures and throughout time.
Biological Sex: Biological sex refers to the categories that we are commonly (and imperfectly) divided into, based primarily on the physical anatomy of our genitals. Typically, these categories are male and female, but it is possible for people to have a mixture of male and female biological sex characteristics.
Intersex: Intersex refers to people who have ambiguous or indeterminate genitalia and/or biological sex characteristics. For example, a person may have genitals that do not fit the typical definition of male or female, or a person may be born with external genitals that are easy to identify as male or female, but have internal reproductive organs that are usually associated with the other sex.
Transgender: A transgender person is someone who does not identity with their assigned gender at birth. Their gender identity and/or gender expression may differ from conventional expectations of their biological sex. For example, a person may be born “female” (a label based on genitalia), but may not have an internal self-awareness of being female.
The word “transgender” or “trans” is often used as an umbrella term to describe a diverse range of identities and experiences. Examples include Assigned Female At Birth (AFAB), Assigned Male at Birth (AMAB), non-binary, gender queer, gender fluid, and many more.
AFAB & AMAB: Assigned Female At Birth (AFAB), Assigned Male at Birth (AMAB) are other terms that trans people may use to describe themselves. FTM (female to male) and MTF (male to female) may also be used.
Two-Spirit: This is a term that refers to Indigenous traditions within some Native American and Indigenous groups. Two-Spirit often means that an individual has both a masculine and feminine spirit within their body, which is associated with a variety of unique roles and practices within Indigenous culture.
Cisgender: This term refers to persons whose gender is the same as their assigned biological sex. For example, someone who is born with female biological sex characteristics and identifies as a female.
Sexual orientation refers to the gender(s) that a person is sexually, emotionally, and/or romantically attracted to. Even though orientation is where a person’s attractions lie, that does not necessarily mean that it is connected to sexual behaviour. There are several types of sexual orientations:
Gay: This is an umbrella term that can be used to describe persons of all genders who are attracted to people of the same sex and/or gender or specifically for men who are attracted to men.
Lesbian: Women attracted to women.
Bisexual: Attracted to one's own and other gender(s).
Queer: A term used in academic, activist, and 2SLGBTQ+ circles that is meant to encompass all identities of sexualities and gender presentations rather than using 2SLGBTQ+. This term was a common slur in the past and has been reclaimed by the queer community. It should be used carefully, as some 2SLGBTQ+ persons and/or institutions (such as schools) may not be okay with it. It also serves as a sexual orientation.
Heterosexual: Attracted to the opposite sex and/or gender. Often referred to as “straight”.
Pansexual: Attraction regardless of gender.
Asexual/Aromantic: Someone who does not experience sexual and/or romantic attraction. This is not a disorder or abstinence. Asexuality and aromanticism often works on a scale.