GLBTQ: This acronym is used to refer collectively to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Queer and Questioning people. It is considered less controversial than the terms queer or lesbigay and is more comprehensive than homosexual or simply gay

Lesbian: Refers to females with a sexual orientation exclusively or almost exclusively towards females.

Gay: Refers specifically to males with a sexual orientation exclusively or almost exclusively towards males.

Bisexual: Refers to persons who are attracted more than just one gender. While traditionally bisexuality has been defined as 'an attraction to both males and females', it commonly encompasses Pansexuality 'an attraction where the gender of the partner is of little or no relevance'

Queer: A re-appropriated term used to describe a sexual orientation and/or gender identity or gender expression that does not conform to heterosexual society.

Ally: An Ally to the GLBTQ community is anyone who supports GLBTQ people through actions, word and deeds. To be an Ally doesn't mean you are GLBTQ yourself.

Heteronormativity: reinforcement of certain beliefs that human beings fall into two distinct categories of male and female and that heterosexuality is considered to be the only normal sexual orientation. Those who identify and criticize heteronormativity say that it distorts discourse by stigmatizing alternative concepts of both sexuality and gender and makes certain types of self-expression more difficult.

Sex: The determination of sex as “male” or “female” which is almost always based on physical anatomy.

Gender: A collection of traits, behaviors, and characteristics that are culturally associated with maleness or femaleness. Traits considered masculine or feminine can differ from culture to culture or in different historical periods.

Gender Identity: One’s internal and psychological sense of oneself as female, male, both or neither. A person’s self-concept of their gender may be the same as, or different from, their sex at birth.

Gender Expression: The external behaviors and characteristics (i.e., dress, mannerisms, social interactions, speech patterns, etc.) that a person displays in order to indicate their gender identity.

Transgender: The word "transgender" is a broad term that describes all people who feel that their anatomical sex does not match their gender identity, and/or whose appearance and behaviors do not conform to the societal roles expected of their sex.

Transsexual: A transsexual person self-identifies as a member of the gender opposite to the one assigned to them at birth. Many transsexuals alter their primary or secondary sex characteristics with hormone treatments, surgery, or both. However, these alterations need not be a part of the transsexual lifestyle. Transsexuals make up only a minority within the transgender community.

FTM and MTF: Abbreviations for “female to male” and “male to female” transgender or transsexual persons, respectively.

Two-Spirit: A term that refers to transgender traditions of some Native American cultures; such traditions varied among groups.