Affirming care
Support from a therapist, doctor, or service that respects who you are and helps you make your own informed choices.
Words, explained simply
A plain-language glossary.
Identity and mental-health words can feel like a lot. Here are clear, respectful definitions — no gatekeeping, no pressure to use any label. You get to describe yourself however feels right.
Language changes, and people use these words differently. These are gentle starting points, not rules. The word that fits you is the right one — and you can change your mind anytime.
A
Ally
Someone who isn’t LGBTQ+ themselves but supports and stands up for the community.
Anxiety
More than everyday nerves — lasting worry or fear that can affect your body, sleep, and daily life. It’s common and treatable.
Aromantic (aro)
Someone who feels little or no romantic attraction. Aro people can still have deep, important relationships.
Asexual (ace)
Someone who feels little or no sexual attraction. Ace people can still have romantic relationships and close bonds. It’s a spectrum.
B
Bisexual
Someone attracted to more than one gender. It doesn’t have to be an equal split, and it’s valid no matter who you’re dating.
C
Chosen family
The people who love and support you for who you are, related or not — close friends, mentors, community. For many LGBTQ+ people, this is vital support.
Cisgender (cis)
When your gender identity matches the sex you were assigned at birth.
Coming out
Sharing your sexual orientation or gender identity with someone. It’s your choice, your timeline, and it can happen many times over a life.
Conversion therapy
Any practice that claims to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. It does not work, it causes harm, and it’s rejected by every major medical group. It is the opposite of affirming care.
Crisis line
A free, confidential service you can call, text, or chat any time you’re in distress, like The Trevor Project (1-866-488-7386).
D
Deadname
The name a trans person was given at birth but no longer uses. Using it on purpose is hurtful.
Depression
More than a bad day — feeling empty, hopeless, or exhausted for weeks, and losing interest in things. It’s common and treatable.
G
Gay
Someone attracted mainly to people of the same gender. Often used by men, but anyone can use it.
Gender dysphoria
The distress some people feel when their body or how they’re seen doesn’t match who they are. Not everyone trans experiences it.
Gender euphoria
The joy or relief of being seen and living as your true gender — a name that fits, a moment that feels right.
Gender expression
How you show your gender on the outside — clothes, hair, voice, name. It doesn’t have to “match” anyone’s expectations.
Gender identity
Your own inner sense of your gender — girl, boy, both, neither, or something else. Only you can know it.
Genderfluid
When your sense of gender shifts or changes over time.
GSA
A Gender & Sexuality Alliance — a student club where LGBTQ+ students and allies support each other. Many schools have one.
I
Intersex
Being born with a body that doesn’t fit typical ideas of “male” or “female.” It’s about physical traits, and is separate from gender identity and orientation.
L
Lesbian
A woman (including some nonbinary people) who is mainly attracted to other women.
LGBTQ+
An umbrella term for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning people. The “+” includes everyone else in the community, like intersex, asexual, and pansexual people.
M
Minority stress
The extra, ongoing stress that comes from facing prejudice, hiding, or bracing for rejection. It’s a real reason LGBTQ+ youth can struggle more — and it’s not your fault.
Misgender
Referring to someone with the wrong pronouns or gendered words. Usually accidental — the kind thing is to correct it and move on.
N
Nonbinary
A gender that isn’t only “man” or “woman.” It can mean both, neither, or somewhere in between.
O
Outing
Revealing someone else’s LGBTQ+ identity without their permission. It can be unsafe — it’s never okay to do to someone.
P
Pansexual
Someone who can be attracted to people of any gender, where gender isn’t the deciding factor.
Pride
Celebrating LGBTQ+ identities and community — and the ongoing movement for equal rights and safety.
Pronouns
The words people use to refer to you, like she/her, he/him, they/them, or others. Sharing yours — and respecting others’ — is a basic kindness.
Q
Queer
A broad, flexible word for not being straight and/or not being cisgender. Once used as a slur, now reclaimed with pride by many — though not everyone likes it, and that’s okay.
Questioning
Still exploring your sexual orientation or gender identity. It’s a completely valid place to be, for as long as you need.
S
Safety plan
A simple, personal list of warning signs, coping steps, and people to reach when things feel overwhelming. Best made with someone you trust.
Sex assigned at birth
The label (usually “male” or “female”) a doctor gave you when you were born, based on your body. It’s separate from your gender identity.
Sliding scale
When a therapist sets their fee based on what you can afford, making care more reachable.
T
Therapist / counselor
A trained professional you can talk to confidentially about your feelings. Affirming ones respect your identity from the start.
Transgender (trans)
When your gender identity is different from the sex you were assigned at birth.
Transition
The steps a person may take to live as their true gender. It can be social (name, pronouns, clothes), medical, both, or neither — all are valid.
Two-Spirit
A term used by some Indigenous North American people for a person who holds both masculine and feminine spirits. It’s specific to Native cultures.
W
Warmline
A support line for when you’re struggling but not in immediate crisis — someone to talk to before things get to that point.
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