LGBTQIA+ Communities and History

Please see the Guidance for writing about LGBTQ+ people in UK cultural heritage for general guidance.

The LGBTQIA+ section has been separated into three subsections in order to make it easier to use. However, it is important to recognise that these divisions are often arbitrary. Some words that were slurs have been reclaimed by LGBTQIA+ communities, and then moved into general usage (such as "queer"). Some words that were once in general usage with (arguably) neutral connotations are now outdated or even offensive.

There is an argument that taxonomising LGBTQIA+ people in this way is always pathologising and reductive; on the other hand, not developing classifications for language can reduce confidence in deploying LGBTQIA+ terminology at all, which risks perpetuating archival silences. These categories should be in ongoing development, and discussion/editing of these divisions is invited.

Term	Contextual note	Time/Region	References
ace	See "asexual"	2000s-
A.F.A.B. and A.M.A.B. (sometimes C.A.F.A.B. and C.A.M.A.B.)	Acronyms meaning "assigned female at birth" or "assigned male at birth." When the "C" is added, it stands for "coercively," although this is used less widely. When it’s necessary to refer to the "birth gender" or birth-assigned sex of a trans person, this is the best way to do it. However, always ask yourself whether it is necessary to refer to this at all. Often simply referring to their gender (for example "trans man" or "genderfluid person") is all the information needed to make them visible in descriptions. See also "assigned gender at birth"	2000s-	Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [1]
agender genderfree neutrois	One who feels neutral in their gender or who rejects the influence of gender on their person. Sometimes the term ‘nongendered’ is used similarly. Identifying as neutrois or agender is neither indicative of one’s anatomy, birth assignment, nor pronoun use. They can be used in conjunction with another gender signifier, for example neutrois woman.	2000s-	Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [2]
AIDS	See "HIV."
allosexual allosexuality non-asexual	Term describes someone who regularly experiences sexual attraction to others. Opposite of "asexual." Not generally used to describe sexual identity - instead, this is a respectful term to use when distinguishing between asexual and non-asexual people.	2000s-	"LGBT+ Terminology," National Museums Liverpool [3]
androgyne androgyny androgynus androgynous	Contested terminology for a person appearing and/or identifying as neither male nor female, presenting a gender which is either mixed or neutral. Originally a scientific term used for intersex people, and later for effeminate homosexual men in the early 20th century. Later deployed to describe a gender presentation popular in the 80s onwards. More recently reclaimed as a gender identity and gender presentation. Only use this term if a person self-describes in this way, or use quotation marks.	1700s-	V&A - LGBTQ Terminology [4] Norena Shopland, A Practical Guide to searching LGBTQIA historical records (Routledge 2021) Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [5]
androsexual androphile androfile androgamie	Terms for people who feel sexual attraction towards males, largely outdated now. Only use if individual self-describes this way, or in quotations to indicate if present in material. “Androphic” or “androphilic” are expressions of Greek origin meaning “attracted by the male”. Androphile appears at the end of the 19th century, and it was coined by the German sexologist and homosexual rights defender, Magnus Hirschfeld, within a typological classification of male homosexuality based on the age of the object of sexual attraction.	1890s-	Norena Shopland, A Practical Guide to searching LGBTQIA historical records (Routledge 2021)
aromantic aro aromanticism aro-spec	Aromantic people typically do not experience romantic attraction towards other people. Often shortened to "aro." Should not be confused with asexual, though the identity is sometimes folded into the "ace spectrum." See "asexual." Other members of the aro community prefer to use the term "aro spectrum" or "aro-spec."	2000s-	Erica Mulder, AcesAndAros, "Aromanticism 101" - [6]
arsenothelys arsenothelus scrat Will-Jill	18th century terms for intersex people. See "hermaphrodite," "androgynus," and "intersex."	18th Century, UK	Norena Shopland, A Practical Guide to searching LGBTQIA historical records (Routledge, 2021)
asexual asexuality nonsexual non-sexual ace ace spectrum ace-spec aspec demisexual greysexual	An asexual person typically experiences low or no sexual attraction towards other people. - the “A” in “LGBTQIA+.” Historically, occasionally used to describe a person with no genitals, see “intersex.” Originated from scientific classifications of flora and fauna, though descriptions should differentiate material about the asexual identity from scientific material about asexual reproduction in flora and fauna. Generally, only use these terms if an individual self-describes in this way. Asexual is an identity/orientation, rather than a behaviour or embodied characteristic. Should therefore not be conflated with celibacy or infertility. Be cautious also of replicating descriptions or materials that use "asexual" as an insult to mean immature or socially awkward. Contemporary communities often self-describe as "ace" or "ace-spectrum/ace-spec." "Demisexual" and "greysexual" are examples of terms that are often considered within the ace spectrum, and are used by people who only experience sexual attraction towards others sometimes, or in certain circumstances. See also "aromantic" and "allosexual."	UK, USA	"Asexuality 101," Asexual Outreach [7]
assigned gender at birth designated gender at birth	The sex (male or female) assigned to a child at birth, most often based on the child’s external anatomy. Often but not always used synonymously with “sex assigned at birth." Also used in reference to the gendered roles and expectations associated with said gender marker. Also referred to as birth sex, natal sex, biological sex or sex, but these are terms contested within LGBTQ+ communities, and should be used with caution. See also "A.F.A.B. and A.M.A.B."	2000s-	John Hopkins Medicine – Glossary of transgender terms [8] Homosaurus [9]
aunt aunty auntie aunt fancy	Term used to refer to middle-aged or elderly gay men. Some suggest that Aunt(ie) was initially slang of “madam”, or old prostitute who ran a brothel, producing, as in many cases, a semantic transition from prostitute to homosexual man. Reclaimed in the context of queer families, see "found family," but remains contested vocabulary. "Auntie" is also used as a term of respect for older women in many African countries, such as Nigeria and Ghana, and in some Black British communities. LGBTQ+ and Black usages of these terms sometimes overlaps in queer Black British communities. Terms such as "aunt" are sometimes deeply-felt parts of gay (and Black) community language and even individual's identities. May be cautiously deployed to make visible that someone self-describes in this way, and consider using quotation marks to indicate that this is a self-description. Any version that includes a euphemistic name after "aunt" (such as "aunt fancy") should be avoided as these are historical slurs.	Unknown origin, probably nineteenth century	Imani Perry, "What Black Women Hear When They're Called “Auntie,” The Atlantic [10]
bachelor confirmed bachelor "He never married"	Sometimes used as euphemisms for "homosexual" in the 20th century, especially in obituaries. Treat with caution, as these only sometimes indicate that the subject self-described as gay or homosexual, but they can be a good indicator to check for corroborating evidence.	1900-, male homosexuality	"confirmed bachelor," Cambridge Dictionary [11] Rose Wild, The Times [12]
back gammon player	18th century local vernacular term for a gay man or “sodomite.” Rarely used in print, but may appear in handwritten or ephemeral material.	ca. 1700–1800	Norena Shopland, A Practical Guide to searching LGBTQIA historical records (Routledge 2021) Grose, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (London, 1785)
bisexual bisexuality bi ambisexual	A bisexual person is attracted to more than one gender. Commonly shortened to "bi." Traditionally, "bisexual" has meant being attracted to men and women, but in the 21st century, this has been deliberately expanded by many to explicitly include trans people and nonbinary people. See also "pansexual." During the 19th century, sometimes used to indicate plants with binary genders, as opposed to self-fertilising (such as holly, pears)		V&A - LGBTQ Terminology [13]
bugger buggery	"Originally: the act of anal intercourse between two men or between a man and a woman, or of sexual intercourse between a person and an animal, regarded as illicit or illegal. Now also: anal intercourse." Earliest uses in UK denote "heretic." Originates as a sexual term in the UK with the Buggery Act of 1533. This outlawed "unnatural" intercourse, which included bestiality, sexual abuse of children, and consensual anal sex between a homosexual or heterosexual couple. Homosexual buggery was prosecuted much more frequently that heterosexual buggery or bestiality. Buggery was redefined in the 1861 Unnatural Offences act. The Buggery law was repealed in the UK in 1967, but still exists in some countries that were formally colonized by Britain. In recent centuries, esp the 20th century, "buggery" and "bugger" have taken on archaic connotations, and are used as mild swear-words, esp in the UK. Considered offensive if referring to contemporary LGBTQ+ people or activities. Use caution when describing historic materials that use the term "bugger/y" as LGBTQ+, as it may be denoting one of its alternative hsitoric meanings. Use caution when describing more recent materials that use "bugger/y," as the term may also be used as an insult, or to obscure and tacitly excuse abusive behaviours, such as rape or child abuse. These instances should not generally be conceptually associated with LGBTQ+ material.	UK, USA, 1530s-	Oxford English Dictionary. Norena Shopland, A Practical Guide to searching LGBTQIA historical records (Routledge, 2021) "How to look for records of sexuality and gender identity history," The National Archives. [14]
butch	A masculine person of any gender. This term is sometimes used in mlm communities, but more commonly in lesbian and transmasculine communities. Contested terminology: "butch" has been reclaimed by some communities, but continues to be used as a slur as well. In the 20th century, "butch" was used to differentiate between masculine-presenting lesbians and feminine-presenting ("femme")lesbians, and couple were often expected to conform to a stereotypical butch/femme combination by mainstream heteronormative culture. This has been repeatedly challenged by wlw communities. Still used within queer communities to self-describe gender presentations and sometimes identities. Can be an adjective (I'm a butch woman), a verb (she went home to butch up), or a noun (they identify as a butch). See also "femme" and "masc." Should only be used if someone self-describes in this way, and consider indicating this reason by enclosing in quotation marks.	UK, USA, 20th century-	Homosaurus [15] V&A - LGBTQ Terminology [16] Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [17]
camp campy	Contested terminology, open to a wide variety of LGBTQIA+ interpretations. Two prominent uses of the term are: 1) "Mannerisms, speech, etc., in a man that are regarded as flamboyant, arch, or theatrical, esp. in a way often characterized as feminine or unmasculine, and stereotypically associated with some gay men." 2) "Art, performance, literature, etc., which is exaggerated, affected, or over the top in style or execution, esp. in a knowing or playful way, or which is not restrained by traditional or prevailing ideas of good taste or decorum, or current fashion." Susan Sontag famously stated that "camp sees everything in quotation marks," but also that "camp taste is a kind of love, love for human nature." She specifically linked camp with gay communities as "the vanguard" of camp taste, but argued that it went beyond this as well. The term probably comes from the French expression “se camper” which means posing (in front of someone) in an exaggerated way. Artists and writers may use this term to classify their own work, which can be replicated in description. It is often advisory to use quotation marks to indicate that the creator's own language is being replicated, though this may not always be appropriate, particularly if the users of a particular repository or collection are likely to be familiar with the term as an artistic sensibility. Though some queer communities have reclaimed the term "camp" to self-describe personal presentation, the term is considered outdated or even offensive if applied by others. Only use the term is this is a self-description, and make this clear.	Europe, USA, 1900s-	V&A - LGBTQ Terminology [18] Oxford English Dictionary. Susan Sontag, "Notes on 'Camp'" (1964) [19]
catamite Ganymede	A term borrowed from classical culture, during the Renaissance and later, indicating a boy or young man "kept" by an older gay man for sexual activity. Be cautious of 20th or 21st century materials that use this term, as it may be obscuring and tacitly excusing abusive behaviours. If necessary to include in description, include broader inclusive terms alongside.	Europe, 16th century-	Norena Shopland, A Practical Guide to searching LGBTQIA historical records (Routledge 2021) Oxford English Dictionary.
character defect	A euphemism sometimes deployed to obliquely refer to non-normative sexualities, often to sneak coded references past media censors. Useful indicator of covert LGBTQ+ material or subtext - consider adding clarifying terminology to description of material that uses this phrase to aid discoverability as an LGBTQ+ source, if appropriate.	UK, USA, 20th century-	"How to look for records of sexuality and gender identity history," The National Archives. [20]
chosen family found family	Terms employed within queer and transgender communities to describe family groups constructed by choice rather than by biological or legal ties. Many queer and especially trans people are rejected by their birth parents, and so instead form family groups in which adults support and care for one another, without necessarily being related or in romantic relationships. Although archival taxonomies tend to follow legal and biological relationships as organising principles, these "chosen families" should be taken seriously if the subject/creator of the material does, and should be built into archival descriptive structures where possible, rather than applying heteronormative paradigms of kinship that obscure these important family groups. See also 3.1.2 Slurs and Slang, "drag family" for US-specific slang.	20th Century-	Jackson Levin et al. "'We Just Take Care of Each Other': Navigating 'Chosen Family' in the Context of Health, Illness, and the Mutual Provision of Care amongst Queer and Transgender Young Adults." Int J Environ Res Public Health, vol. 17, no. 19 (2020).
cis cisgender	Prefix or adjective that means not trans. Cisgender people identify more or less with the gender assigned to them at birth. The word is derived from the Latin root “cis” meaning “on this side.” Cis is not an insult, but a neutral descriptor – much like heterosexual is to homosexual. Also similarly to "heterosexual," there has been some pushback against this term in culturally conservative communities. However, "cis" and "cisgender" are not slurs in the regular sense (a pejorative word applied to a marginalised or minority group). "Cis" and "cisgender" are the best words to use if it is necessary to differentiate between people who are trans and people who are not.	2000s-	Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [21] John Hopkins Medicine – Glossary of transgender terms [22]
cishet cisheteronormative	Cishet is a contraction of cisgender and heterosexual, and means literally that a person is both. However, it also has a connotation of being cissexist and/or heteronormative, and is often used to point out when someone is making cissexist or heteronormative assumptions – “typical cishet”. In description, the contraction should be avoided, as it is colloquial and not neutral. Use the full terms "cisgender" and "heterosexual" when describing an individual, or "cisheteronormativity" when describing material that addresses this kind of social bias.	2000s-	Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [23]
cissexism cissupremacy	Bias in favor of cis people over trans people, or beliefs that cis people are inherently superior to trans, more real, more natural, etc. This often refers to systems which advantage cis people over trans people, such as unconscious or institutional bias, rather than transphobic individuals.		Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [24]
closet closeted come out of the closet coming out in the closet	Widely used terminology to denote whether someone from an LGBTQ+ community is open about their identity/ies or not. Queer people often swap "coming out" stories, describing when they disclosed their identity to important people such as parents or friends. “Coming Out” can also refer to the time when a person comes out to themself, denoting the process of recognising and accepting one's own identities. An individual may be "out" in some contexts but not others, and may only be "out" about one or some of multiple intersecting identities. For example, someone may be "out" as gay but not as trans, or someone's partner and friends may know that they are ace but not their colleagues and birth family. There is an argument that if someone has stayed closeted their whole life, this should be respected in archival description. However, wider practice acknowledges that circumstances change across history, and though it may not have been safe for people to be "out" historically, it is often important now to make LGBTQ+ history visible to contemporary users of archives. If an archive relates to a living person who is not widely "out," then this should always be respected.	1960s-	Green's Dictionary of Slang [25] "LGBTQ+ Terminology," Montclair State University [26]
cross-dress cross-dresser (crossdress) cross-dressing male/female impersonator	A person who wears the clothes that are typically associated with a different gender. Though some people in LGBTQ+ communities still use this term, it is generally considered outdated and offensive when describing recent history or people who are still living. Instead, use modern terms such as "Drag," "transgender," or "masculine-presenting," as appropriate. ONLY use this term if someone self-describes in this way. This can be a useful term when describing historical (pre-twentieth-century) practices, but caution is still advised. It is generally better to describe behaviours, rather than identities, eg "a person who cross-dressed" rather than "a cross-desser," as this avoids making assumptions about the ways in which someone understood themself. "Cross-dressing" should also be avoided if the person described was living as another gender in other ways as well, not just wearing gender-nonconforming clothes. See "cross-living." Historic individuals that "cross-dressed" for performance reasons (often described in the 19th Century as "impersonators") should be treated with similar respectful engagement. If someone continued wearing these clothes off-stage, then they may be described as "cross-living." If someone self-described as an "impersonator," then enclose in quotation marks and contextualise. See also "drag."		"How to look for records of sexuality and gender identity history," The National Archives. [27] Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [28] Norena Shopland, A Practical Guide to searching LGBTQIA historical records (Routledge, 2021) Search Tips & Terms - Digital Transgender Archive. [29]
cross-living (cross living) man in skirts woman in male attire female in disguise disguised as a man pretending to be a woman	This is a useful term for describing historical practices, when someone lived as a gender different from their birth-assigned gender. "Cross-living" may include cross-dressing, adopting different pronouns, working in a trade only available to another sex, and living under an assumed name. Identity labels such as "trans" were not available to people before the 20th-century, so it is often a good idea to describe behaviours, rather than identities, to avoid anachronism or misattributing motivations to people. That said, it can be a good idea to accompany these kinds of material with LGBTQ+ descriptive tags as well, in order to make these materials discoverable by users interested in queer history, and to avoid perpetuating archival silences. If a historical figure may be described as "cross-living," it is often advisable to use "they/them" pronouns for them, unless there is solid evidence that the person only cross-lived for reasons other than internal sense of self, enjoyment etc. For example, there are 18th-century materials that describe women cross-dressing and taking on a male persona in order to follow their lover into the army, a persona which they completely renounced following their return and marriage (though sometimes this was done under coercion, threat of prosecution etc). Be cautious, however, of previous archival description and remediation that in the past has sought to erase trans and gender-nonconforming people from history. Also the material iteself may well be biased towards a cisnormative reading, particularly in fictional accounts. Likewise, if there is evidence that the person self-described as their adopted gender, use the pronouns that they adopted. If in doubt, use the conveniently gender-neutral "they/them." When describing historical gender, be cautious of describing people as "male" and "female," as this refers to bodies, and we rarely have evidence of historical figures' bodies and should not reduce people to their assigned sexual characteristics. "Assigned male/female at birth" and "living as a man/woman" are often better, as these acknowledge the social roles that people inhabited. Terms such as "disguised" and "pretending" can be euphemisms for people cross-living in historical sources, and can also be found in past descriptive practices that chose to silence the presence of trans/gender-conforming people. Being aware of these terms can be helpful for identifying gender-nonforming people in archival material, though they are not always used in this way, so use caution. Scholars and archivists often interpret these individuals in different ways, so use multiple terms, rather than trying to pin to one. See also "gender-nonconforming." If the material deploying euphemistic terms does likely refer to an LGBTQ+ person, then this should be made clear in accompanying description. Do not perpetuate the erasure by repeating these euphemistic phrases, unless in quotation marks. Never use "diguised" or "pretending" for people that self-described in another way, or refused to stop living in their adopted gender, as this term obscures those choices.		Norena Shopland, A Practical Guide to searching LGBTQIA historical records (Routledge, 2021) "How to look for records of sexuality and gender identity history," The National Archives. [30] Jen Manion, Female Husbands: A Trans History (Cambridge UP, 2020) Parliamentary Archives blog - "Let them disguise themselves" [31] Word on the Street site review, National Library of Scotland, September 2023.
debauchery debauching	"Vicious indulgence in sensual pleasures." “Excessive indulgence in sex, alcohol, or drugs often considered immoral." A term with multiple meanings and connotations in different communities. Sometimes embraced by queer communities. Historically: pejorative and morally censorious. Sometimes used to indicate homosexual activity, though it is important to remember that homosexual activities were not necessarily rigidly distinguished from non-procreative heterosexual activities prior to the 19th century, and therefore this kind of activity may all be considered "queer" in the sense that it diverges from heteronormative, procreative behaviour. See also "fornication."	UK	Oxford English Dictionary. Norena Shopland, A Practical Guide to searching LGBTQIA historical records (Routledge 2021)
deadnaming deadname	Calling someone by their birth name after they have changed their name. This term is often associated with trans people who have changed their name as part of their transition. In general, using a trans person's deadname should be avoided, and is offensive and distressing when done deliberately. It is best practice to try and use the names that people within the materials chose to use for themselves. However, other names (e.g., given names, deadnames, nicknames) may need to appear within description of historic materials due to factors such as: 1) uncertainty about individuals’ preferences, which often shift situationally and throughout their lives; 2) the problematic power dynamics within historical materials, which are often authored without the consent or contribution of trans individuals; and, 3) the desire to make items searchable. Where possible, decisions about naming conventions should be explained within description of materials, in order to maintain an inclusive and transparent archival record.	2010s-	List of LGBTQ+ Terms, Stonewall. [32] Digital Transgender Archive - Policies [33]
degenerate sexual degeneracy delinquent sexual delinquency depraved sexual depravity	Terms sometimes used by 19th-century sexologists to describe homosexual activities. Also used in popular media descriptions of "crimes," particularly in 19th-century cheap periodicals, newspapers, and pamphlets. See also "sexology." "Degeneracy" in particular was most often used by those who proscribed to moral Darwinism and eugenics. These heteronormative, white supremacist logics linked homosexual activities with BIPOC communities, both of which were considered lower on the evolutionary scale. These terms do not always refer to homosexuality, but if someone is described in late-19th/early-20th-century material as "a sexual degenerate" or "sexually depraved," then it is likely they are referring to someone's sexual orientation and this should be checked and re-phrased in description using terms like "homosexual," "queer," or "LGBTQ+," as appropriate. Non-reclaimed terms, offensive.	Late-19th/early-20th century, UK, USA	Bauer, English Literary Sexology (Palgrave: 2009)
detransition retransition	Retransition (or detransition) is when a person who previously identified as transgender now identifies as cisgender, or a different transgender identity (e.g. they used to identify as non-binary, they now identify as a trans woman). “Retransition” acknowledges the possibility of transitioning to different identities multiple times, and affirms that transition-related healthcare should be available whether a person is affirming a cisgender or transgender identity. “Detransition” usually only refers to affirming a cisgender identity, and is often used in relation to preventing access to transition-related healthcare. For this reason, "retransition" is preferred term, and "detransition" should generally be enclosed in quotation marks if necessary to use.	21st Century-	Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [34] Oxford English Dictionary
deviant deviance	"Deviant" shares some history with "degenerate" and "depraved," in that was applied to homosexual and gender-nonconforming people and practices within medical/psychiatric contexts drawing on 19th-century sexology. It assumes a cisheteronormative position, implying that queer people "deviate" from a cisgender heterosexual norm, and should therefore be avoided, and for this reason it should not be added to description of materials that do not use the word. However, this term carries fewer pejorative connotations than "degenerate," and it has been partially reclaimed by some queer communities as a term of active resistance against heteronormativity, in a similar way to "punk."
dishonourable discharge Blue discharge Blue ticket	Dismissal from the military, often associated with dismissal for homosexuality. It was only recently made legal to be openly gay in the US army, after the repeal of "Don't ask, Don't tell." During WWII, to cut costs and save time, the US military began issuing ‘blue’ discharge or ‘blue tickets’. Named after the paper they were printed on, these were given to soldiers who had “undesirable habits and traits of character.” A broad definition used against women, African Americans, and LGBTQ servicemen, though African Americans were the group hit hardest by these. This was a highly discriminatory practice, as there was no way to appeal, and the discharges were public knowledge, making it hard for veterans to get civil jobs. People with blue tickets also could not access veteran benefits. It may be advidable to use quotation marks with these terms in descriptions, as "dishonourable" is pejorative.	USA	National Park Service - [35].
disorderly house	Euphemistic term used in the 18th and 19th centuries to indicate a variety of spaces, including coffee houses, small music halls and theatres, gambling venues, brothels, or any combination of these. Sometimes euphemistically deployed to refer to spaces where queer people gathered, including spaces for cross-dressing, homosexual activity, and other types of non-procreative behaviours. Esp likely to refer to queer people if no other clarifying information given, as eg "gambling" was probably more respectable to be spoken about than gay sex. This language can be preserved as it is largely inoffensive, open to interpretation, and historically accurate - but consider also using "LGBTQ+" or "queer" keywords if relevant to aid discoverability.	18th- and 19th-century, UK	"How to look for records of sexuality and gender identity history," The National Archives. [36] Oxford English Dictionary
drag drag queen drag king queen king	Drag queens and drag kings are (usually cross-dressing) performers who take on stylised, exaggerated gender presentation for entertainment purposes. Should not generally be confused with trans people, though some trans people do also do drag. To "drag" someone or something in this context is to mock (either fondly or satirically) someone through exaggerated mimickry or parody. See also "camp." It is generally considered polite to use "she/her" for a drag queen whilst in drag and "he/him" when out of drag, and vice versa for a drag king. However, this will not always be the case, as people of all genders do drag. Always follow a person's self-description, and use "they/them" if there is no other evidence available. There are various local traditions and types of drag, and it is sometimes used to describe exaggerated or parodic costumes that play with gender in different roles, eg military drag or clerical drag. See also 3.1.2 Slurs and Slang, "drag family." Historically, before the terms ”transsexual” and later "transgender" were coined, the term “queen” referred to trans women. Some older generation transfeminine people still prefer the term Queen, especially in America and the Pacific regions. However, others may see this as an insult. Similarly, the term "king" is sometimes used informally by transmasculine people, but would be offensive if applied externally. More generally, gay people will sometimes refer to each other as "queen" or "king," affectionately or pejoratively in different contexts. Does not necessarily imply the person performs drag when used in this context. Use with caution, and always follow self-descriptions rather than labels attributed by others.	18th century-	Oxford English Dictionary Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [37]
effeminate effeminacy affected	Historically, often used pejoratively to describe characteristics of a gay man that are considered appropriate to women and not for men. May imply weak, self-indulgent, lacking in self-control, over-refined. Now usually designating personal appearance, mannerisms, speech, bearing, etc., in a man stereotypically regarded as feminine, or as affected, overly flamboyant, or fastidious. May be used euphemistically to indicate a gay or queer man. Outdated, should only be used if a person self-describes in this way. May be offensive because it polices the "appropriateness" of gender characteristics for different people, and more generally implies that being "woman-like" is bad or not preferable. "Feminine" is often preferred as it does not imply value judgments. See also "List of terms referring to the perceived femininity of gay men, or for gay men in general." in 3.1.2 Slurs and Slang	20th Century-	Oxford English Dictionary
enby	Common shortening of "nonbinary," which phonetically presents the initials "NB." See "nonbinary." Some nonbinary people self-describe in this way, though it may be a good idea to include the full term "nonbinary" or other LGBTQ+ tags in description as well to aid discoverability. The term "enby" was developed to avoid appropriating "NB," which was already used in Black and minority ethnic communities to mean "non-Black," as in "NBPOC = non-Black people of colour."	21st Century	Cambridge Dictionary [38]
eonism	Sexologists' term coined by Havelock Ellis, to indicate cross-dressing or gender-nonconfirmity. Named after the 18th-century French courtier Chevalier d'Eon, who legally transitioned and lived as various genders across their life. May be used in quotation marks with contextual note, but accompany with modern terms, such as "trans."	1890s-	Oxford English Dictionary. Havelock Ellis, Eonism and Other Supplementary Studies, 1928.
facultative homosexuality	Term from later twentieth-century sexology. Facultative homosexuality is typically described as men having sex with other men in the forced absence of women and was almost exclusively observed in prison settings by researchers. Outdated, place in quotation marks in description.	1950s-1990s	Rebecca G. Anglemyer, "Forgetting Facultative Homosexuality," West Chester University, 2020. [39]
female husband
femme fem	An identity or presentation of non-heteronormative, reclaimed, queer femininity. Femme can be an adjective (she’s a femme woman), a verb (he loves to femme up), or a noun (they're a femme). Although commonly associated with feminine lesbian/queer women, it’s used by many to describe a distinct gender identity and/or expression, and does not necessarily imply that one also identifies as a woman. Only use if someone self-describes in this way, Historically used to differentiate between different "roles" in a gay (esp lesbian) relationship. This usage now outdated. See also "butch" and "masc."	20th Century-	Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [40] V&A - LGBTQ Terminology [41]
flats flatts game at flats game of flats playing at flats	Lesbian sex, specifically rubbing together vulvas. One of the more common euphemisms for discussing lesbians and lesbian activity in eighteenth century England.	18th Century, UK	Rictor Norton (Ed.), "The Game at Flats, 1715", Homosexuality in Eighteenth-Century England: A Sourcebook, 25 April 2007, updated 16 June 2008 [42] Green's Dictionary of Slang [43]
fornication fornicate	Biblical term that has historically also been used in certain legal contexts, and continues to be used in some global legal contexts. Refers to sex between an unmarried man and woman, but has also been used to refer to any non-procreative sexual activities. It is important to remember that sexual identities (LGBTQ+ etc) did not develop until the 20th century; people tended discuss sexual acts, rather than people's orientations.	1300-1900s	Oxford English Dictionary
fricatrice	Lesbian or someone who engages in lesbian sex; rarely used term from eighteenth-century England. Sometimes also a female prostitute.	18th Century, UK	Oxford English Dictionary
ftm f2m	Abbreviation of "female-to-male." Someone assigned female at birth, but who lives somewhere on the male spectrum and/or has undergone masculinizing medical treatment. The term originally comes from a medical context to differentiate types of trans people, but has also been used within trans communities. Use only if someone self-identifies in this way. If you are unsure, use "trans man" or "transmasculine," which do not emphasize birth gender. "Transmasc" is also a more inclusive identifier, as it includes transmasc nonbinary people and other minorities on this spectrum.	1970s	John Hopkins Medicine – Glossary of transgender terms [44] Oxford English Dictionary
gay	Preferable to the more medical and legal term “homosexual”, generally neutral in connotation. An individual who is gay is sexually and/or romantically attracted to members of their own gender. The term “gay” has been used with various meanings across history and region, including “colourful," “happy," and "in good health." In the early-mid twentieth century, the term was appropriated by the homosexual community and it was largely the preferred term in the gay liberation movement of the late 1960s, passing subsequently from slang into general use. It is now the most universal and internationally recognised way to refer to homosexual men. The word has sometimes been used pejoratively, in the context of homophobic slang eg “that’s’ so gay,” to mean “that’s so rubbish." This usage was particularly common among young people in late 1990s and early 2000s, but is now widely acknowledged to be homophobic. The term is also used as a noun for individuals, but this should be replicated with caution, as it may define people primarily by their sexuality, which is reductive and possibly offensive. For instance, avoid describing material as related to "gays" or "the gays." Instead, describe "a gay community" or "gay people." Gay people may affectionately refer to "the gays," but this should not be replicated by people outside the gay community.	1930s-	Tropenmuseum – Words Matter [45] Claire Haywood – No one was “gay” in the 18th century Oxford English Dictionary
gay liberation gay lib gay rights movement	Political movement advocating for the rights of gay people. Generally called the "Gay Liberation" movement in 1960s-1980s. After that, more inclusive terms were preferred, such as "LGBTQ+ rights" or "pride movement." Gay Liberation is a recognised historical phenomenon, and should be described in this way; consider accompanying with more updated terms as well to aid discoverability.	1960s-1980s, UK, USA	Brittanica, "Gay Rights Movement." [46] Wikipedia - Gay Liberation [47]
gender	A set of social, physical, psychological and emotional traits, often influenced by societal expectations, that classify an individual as feminine, masculine, androgynous or other. Gender refers to a persons recognition of themself as male or female, or something else. While some people’s self-perception is closely related to how others see them, transgender people are more likely to have their own understanding of their gender. "Social gender" refers to the gender which one is perceived as in a social context. "Registered gender" refers to a persons gender as recorded on their identification documents. with "sex," though some people use "sex" to refer to bodily characteristics and "gender" to refer to either social roles of an individual's internal sense of self. Others have challenged this division, arguing that sex, like gender, is not a binary or static (see "intersex" and "transition"), and that embodied sexual characteristics and social gender roles influence and shape one another.	In general use 1470s-, as distinct from "sex" 1940s-	"LGBTQ+ Terminology," Montclair State University - [48] Oxford English Dictionary Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [49]
gender affirming gender affirmation	Adjective used to refer to behaviors or interventions that affirm a person’s gender identity (e.g., a physician using cross-sex hormones for a transgender patient may be called gender affirming, as can the use of a correctly gendered pronoun, or wearing an item of clothing that supports a gender presentation that matches a person's identity). This process is most often used in the trans community, but it is important to remember that cis people also have their genders affirmed (eg getting a haircut that matches their perceived gender, or being habitually referred to by the corrext pronouns) - the main difference is that this process is normalized for cis people in contemporary society. "Gender affirming care/healthcare" is the preferred term when describing medical interventions as part of a trans person's transition.	20th Century-	John Hopkins Medicine – Glossary of transgender terms [50]
Gender Affirming Care	Bottom surgery: Colloquial phrase to describe gender affirming genital surgery. Breast augmentation: Enlarging the breasts using breast implants. Chest masculinization: A bilateral mastectomy that removes most of the breast tissue, shapes a contoured male chest, and refines the nipples and areolas. Facial feminization surgery: Includes such procedures as reshaping the nose, and brow or forehead lift; reshaping of the chin, cheek and jaw; Adam’s apple reduction; lip augmentation; hairline restoration and earlobe reduction. Facial masculinization surgery: Includes forehead lengthening and augmentation; cheek augmentation, reshaping the nose and chin; jaw augmentation; thyroid cartilage enhancement to construct an Adam’s apple. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): The process in which transgender people choose to take a prescription of synthetic hormones. For transgender women, that may include estrogen as well as testosterone blockers (often known as T-blockers). For transgender men: testosterone (often known as T). Metoidioplasty: A surgical procedure that works with existing genital tissue to form a phallus, or new penis. It can be performed on anyone with significant clitoral growth caused by using testosterone Penile construction/phalloplasty: The construction of a penis generally includes several procedures that are often performed in tandem. They may include the following: a hysterectomy to remove the uterus, an oophorectomy to remove the ovaries, a vaginectomy to remove the vagina, a phalloplasty to turn a flap of donor skin into a phallus, a scrotectomy to turn the labia majora into a scrotum, a urethroplasty to lengthen and hook up the urethra inside the new phallus, a glansplasty to sculpt the appearance of an uncircumcised penis tip, and a penile implant to allow for erection. Top surgery: Colloquial phrase to describe gender affirming surgery of the chest — either bilateral mastectomy or breast augmentation. Vaginal construction/vaginoplasty: A procedure in which surgeons may remove the penis and testes, if still present, and use tissues from the penis to construction the vagina, clitoris and labia. Some people use "pre-op" or "post-op" to describe someone's transition status, but this is problematic for a number of reasons. As detailed about, there are many types of gender-affirming surgical procedures, many of which are not exclusive to trans people (eg "breast augmentation"), which means there is no clear "before/after" moment for most trans people. Also it reduces trans people to their bodies, and implies that a person's gender/transness is dependent on their body. In general, it is best to avoid referring to a trans person's medical history in general. If material is directly addressing trans healthcare, use the specific terms listed above, as appropriate. For historical materials that use other terms (eg "sex reassignment surgery"), use quotation marks to show that these are quotes from the material, and accompany with contemporary terminology in brackets.		John Hopkins Medicine – Glossary of transgender terms [51]
gender critical gender critical movement	A minority but loud movement within Feminism, organised around the belief that "biological sex" is an immutable fact that outweighs "gender identity." This is widely acknowledged within LGBTQ+ communities to be a transphobic perspective. Many Feminist thinkers also see this movement as hostile to women's rights in general, as it reduces women to their bodies' reproductive capacites, which is something that Feminist movements have fought against for many decades. There are also well-documented ideological links (and sometimes social/financial links) between gender-critical organisations and far-right fundamentalist organisations. If material being described concerns "gender critical" people or opinions, include other terms in description as well, or a contextual note, to make it clear that material may be trans-exclusionary or transphobic. See also "TERF."	1980s-	Judith Butler, "Why is the idea of ‘gender’ provoking backlash the world over?" The Guardian, October 2021. [52] Oxford English Dictionary Deborah Shaw, "A Tale of Two Feminisms," Women's History Review (2022).[53]
gender dysphoria gender euphoria gender incongruence	Clinical term referring to dissonance between one’s assigned gender and/or body, and their personal sense of self. Originally the DSM diagnosis was “transsexualism”, which was later changed to “gender identity disorder”, followed by “gender dysphoria”. In each case the diagnosis was updated as it led to gender variance being stigmatised and misunderstood as a pathological condition. “Gender Dysphoria” is now similarly being moved away from as a diagnosis because it focuses only on the difficult aspects of being trans, and not the joyful aspects. Preferred term is now the more neutral "gender incongruence." Trans people also use the terms "gender dysphoria/dysphoric" and "gender euphoria/euphoric" to describe the intense feelings of distress or joy that come with being perceived as the incorrect or correct gender. Not all trans people experience these. Use only as part of self-description or with caution when describing medical materials.	1970s-	Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [54] Oxford English Dictionary
gender expression gender presentation	The outward expression of one’s gender; for example through clothing, hairstyle, speech, make up, body shape, behaviours, mannerisms, roles, and social interactions, which are traditionally linked to masculinity, femininity, or androgyny. Most transgender people face barriers (such as discrimination) that make it hard to have their preferred gender expression or presentation.	1970s-	Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [55] "LGBTQ+ Terminology," Montclair State University - [56] Oxford English Dictionary
gender identity	An individual's personal sense of being or belonging to a particular gender or genders, or of not having a gender. In some circles, gender identity is falling out of favour, as one does not identify as a gender, but simply is that gender. "Gender identity" has also been used to avoid affirming some trans or nonbinary people's lived gender in some contexts, which has made some trans people wary of the phrase. For this reason, preferred term is usually "gender."	1960s-	Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [57] Oxford English Dictionary
gender minorities gender expansive gender creative gender diverse gender diversity gender variant gender variance	Contested terminology. These terms were developed as a shorthand to include people who are trans, nonbinary, genderfluid, genderqueer, or any other gender that is non-cisnormative. Useful when describing material that relates to multiple groups, or where you are unsure how people identify. Some people/organisations prefer to self-describe with terms that affirm rather than pathologise, such as "gender expansive/creative," which should be followed in description, though consider including other terms as well to aid discoverability. Also try to include more specific terms as well if these are available, to avoid homogenising different experiences, and to aid discoverability. Some communities prefer "gender diverse" as an inclusive term, meaning "variety." However, some view this term as vague and euphemistic, preferring "gender minorities," because “minority” indicates a group which is seen as different to the social majority, and is often discriminated against on this basis, and should be protected by anti-discrimination legislation. The guidance in this document uses "gender minorities" for this reason.	21st Century	Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [58] LGBTQ+ Terminology, Montclair State University - [59]
gender-nonconforming gender non-conformity	Contested terminology. "Gender-nonconforming" can be a helpful term when describing pre-20th-century materials, as historical people did not have access to modern identity-based terminology, and "gender-nonconforming" describes behaviours, rather than identities. However, not everyone agrees this is appropriate terminology for more recent materials, as this term was challenged by lesbian Feminist activists in the 1980s after it was used to delegitimize "butch" lesbian women. "Nonconformity" and "variance" suggests a bias that believes in the adherence to gender stereotypes of a binary gender system. The Homosaurus classifies "gender-nonconforming identity" as a subsection to "gender identity." This term will often be found in official documents as a catch-all term, but include quotation marks when replicating this in descriptions, to help future-proof catalogues. It is also occasionally used as a gender self-description nowadays, but only use if someone self-describes in this way.	1980s-	Homosaurus [60] Cataloging Lab - Problem LCSH [61]
genderqueer queer gender	People whose gender identity and/or gender expression falls outside the binary categories of man and woman. They may define their gender as falling somewhere in between man and woman, or they may define it as wholly different from these terms. They may also simply feel restricted by gender labels or the idea of having to define themself. See also "nonbinary." Some genderqueer people do identify within the binary (e.g. “genderqueer woman”), but reject the conventions and expectations associated with that gender. Only use if person self-describes in this way. Can be used as an adjective ("a genderqueer person"), a noun ("this documentary explore queer genders"), or a verb ("this article genderqueers a historical person").	1990s	LGBTQ+ Terminology, Montclair State University - [62] Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [63] John Hopkins Medicine – Glossary of transgender terms [64] Oxford English Dictionary
gender recognition	Process for changing your gender markers on legal documentation, most recently established in the UK by the Gender Recognition Act of 2004. Preferred term - do not use "legal sex change" or similar, as this is outdated. It is also important to note that the process of gender recognition did not originate with the 2004 law. Hormone therapy was developed in the early 20th century and transgender was defined as a subsection of intersex. In the 1960s, psychiatrists pushed to have being transgender redefined as a mental illness. Prior to this, trans people (with the means to do so) did undergo medical transition without having to "prove" their transness, and were allowed to change their birth certificates to reflect their gender. The 2004 act was therefore a reinstatement of (some of) the rights that had been eroded, rather than any advancement.	20th Century-	"How to look for records of sexuality and gender identity history," The National Archives. [65] Zoë Playdon, The Hidden Case of Ewan Forbes: the transgender trial that threatened to upend the british establishment, 2021.
GLBT	Early alternate version of "LGBT." Criticised for centering male homosexual experiences, above those of gay women. Use LGBT, unless part of a title etc, in which case enclose in quotation marks.	20th Century-	Moscas de Colores – LGBT Dictionary [66]
gynosexual	Rarely used technical term for anyone who has sexual attraction towards women or feminine presenting people. Only use if someone self-describes in this way.		"LGBTQ+ Terminology," Montclair State University - [67]
he-she	A term used in various contexts, could be referring to a trans person, an intersex person, a cross-dressing person, a masculine lesbian, a feminine gay man, or any other non-normative gender presentation or body. A relatively neutral, though informal, term in the late 19th Century, but gaining offensive connotations in the 20th Century. Only use if someone self-describes in this way, or in quotaiton marks if necessary to quote from material.	1870s-, UK, USA	Green's Dictionary of Slang - [68]
hermaphrodite hermaphroditism hermie psychical hermaproditism	Generally refers to intersex people; outdated, pathologising, and offensive. Used by Victorian doctors to stigmatize non-normative sexual characteristics that did not fit into their proposed binary. Historically, the term hermaphrodite was used to describe people with ambiguous genitalia or gender, but in mythology referred to a person with fully functioning male and female genitalia. The word entered the English lexicon in the late 14th century derived from the Greek ‘Hermaphroditus’, a compound of ‘hermes’ and ‘aphrodite’. Use caution when describing historical materials that include this term, as the word was also used in many other overlapping senses, including people who presented as the opposite gender from the one assigned at birth (who we would now call "trans"). In the context of 19th Century sexology, sometimes referred to gay men and lesbians (known as "psychical hermaphroditism").	14th Century-	Tropenmuseum – Words Matter [69] John Addington Symonds, A Problem in Modern Ethics, Being an Inquiry into the Phenomenon of Sexual Inversion (London: 1896). Intersex Society of North America – On the Word Hermaphrodite [70] Oxford English Dictionary
heteroflexible homoflexible	Similar to bisexual or pansexual, but with a stated heterosexual or homosexual preference respectively. Heteroflexible indicates that one is primarily interested in heterosexual relationships but is “flexible” when it comes to sexual activities. Homoflexible, indicates that one is primarily interested in homosexual relationships but is “flexible” when it comes to sexual activities. Use only if someone self-describes in this way, and consider enclosing in quotation marks to future-proof description.	21st Century-	Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [71]
heterosexual hetero	An individual who is heterosexual is solely attracted to members of the opposite sex, or identifies themself as such. The term was invented by sexologists in the 1890s, prior to which people did not necessarily define their identities according to sexual preference. See also "sexology." Generally a neutral term, though sometimes the shortened form "heteros" is used teasingly by gay people, similarly to "the straights."	1890s-, UK, Europe, USA	V&A - LGBTQ Terminology [72] Oxford English Dictionary
heteronormative	This term describes a world-view which regards gender roles as fixed to biological sex and heterosexuality as the normal and preferred sexual orientation. It is also used to refer more generally to communities that are composed of heterosexual-identifying people, particularly in the context of describing barriers faced by queer people.	1990s-	Oxford English Dictionary
HIV HIV/AIDS gay plague gay cancer Gay Related Immune Deficiency Syndrome (GRIDS) person with HIV person living with HIV and AIDS HIV-positive person	A disease of the immune system characterised by increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections caused by a retrovirus (Human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]) and transmitted chiefly through blood. AIDS cannot be caught or transmitted; only HIV can be transmitted. A person lives with HIV once infected with the virus, or progresses to having an AIDS diagnosis. Therefore, refer in description to HIV and HIV-positive people, unless you need to distinguish that material excludes people whose HIV has not progressed to AIDS, in which case use "HIV/AIDS," or "people living with HIV and AIDS." Avoid terms that imply HIV is only present in gay communities. See also guidance in Section 2: Disability and Mental Health History, regarding terms such as "victim," "patient," and "carrier."	1970s-, USA, Europe	V&A - LGBTQ Terminology [73] Center for Disease Control, "A Guide to Talking About HIV." [74]
homoerotic homoeroticism female homoeroticism	Relating to, involving, or characterized by same-sex attraction or sexual activity. Originating from psychology, as a term for "homosexual," specifically between men, whereas attraction between women was "female homosexuality." Now often used to describe subtext - portrayals of people (of any gender) in fine art and popular media that have queer overtones or implications, but are not explicitly LGBTQ+. "Homoerotic" can be a useful way to describe ambiguous material, but more precise tags should be used where possible to avoid euphemism.	1910s-	V&A - LGBTQ Terminology [75] Oxford English Dictionary
homogenitalism	Archaic medical term for homosexuality. Outdated, avoid.	1940s	Philip Lawrence Harriman, The Dictionary of Psychology, 1947. [76]
homophilia homophile movement	Outdated term for homosexuality, originating from pathologising medical terminology. The term was reclaimed by gay men, and was used to advocate for political rights in the 1940s-1960s, overlapping with "Gay Liberation." Also use "Gay Liberation" and/or more general tags alongside this term, to ensure discoverability.	1940s-1960s	Moscas de Colores - LGBT Dictionary [77] Oxford English Dictionary
homophobia homophobic lesbophobia biphobia queerphobia gay bashing	The fear and/or hatred of homosexual people and homosexuality. Homophobia can manifest at any level, ranging from mild discomfort around gay people, to avoidant tactics, to hate speech and acts of violence against gay people. Also sometimes used to mean broader societal discrimination against gay people. See "heteronormative." Homophobia is often used as a shorthand to describe hatred of LGBTQ+ people in general, but there are also a variety of more specific terms for hatred against specifc groups, including lesbophobia and biphobia. Discrimination against these smaller groups can also be present within the broader LGBTQ+ community. Avoid older terms that include "bashing," as this are too informal and minimizing.	1960s-, UK, USA	V&A - LGBTQ Terminology [78] Oxford English Dictionary
homosexual homosexuality	“Homosexual” is originally a medical term to refer to same-sex or same-gender attractions. The term was invented in the late-19th by psychologists and sexologists attempting to pathologise sexual behaviours. The term became more commonly used in the 20th century, though primarily in legal and medical contexts, often as part of stigmatizing legislation or psychological/medical documentation. Generally used neutrally rather than degoratively, but often rejected by LGBTQ+ communities due to its pathologising origins and clinical connotations. Use more inclusive tags such as "queer" or "LGBTQ+" if possible.	1890s-, UK, USA	Tropenmuseum – Words Matter [79] V&A - LGBTQ Terminology [80] Oxford English Dictionary Norena Shopland, A Practical Guide to searching LGBTQIA historical records (Routledge 2021)
Husband and wife (LCSH)	LCSH redirects "Spouses--legal status, laws, etc." to "Husband and wife", which has a scope note that excludes same-sex spousal pairs. It reads, "Here are entered works on legal relations between husband and wife. Works on the legal status of women during marriage, and on the effect of marriage on their legal capacity, are entered under Married women—Legal status, laws, etc.". Cataloging resources about the legal relations of individuals in a same-sex marriage therefore don't have an appropriate LCSH at this time. The problem could be solved by flipping the reference to Use: "Spouses--legal status, laws, etc. In archival description, try to follow self-descriptions, ie "partners," "spouses", "wives," "husband and husband" etc. Some LGBTQ+ couples self-described as "married" before same-sex marriage was legal. Try to reproduce these self-descriptions, though quotation marks can be used to indicate where it is an epithet rather than a legal status. See "female husband."		Cataloging Lab - Problem LCSH [81]
importuning street offences cruising	To approach someone for the purpose of arranging a sexual encounter; spec. to offer one's services as a prostitute, to solicit. Often used to criminalize gay men seeking sex with other men in the 19th century and earlier. Informal slang term for this is "cruising." This term may be used in quotation marks and can be more affirming than the language of criminalization, but generally neutral terms such as "looking for casual sex" are more appropriate.		"How to look for records of sexuality and gender identity history," The National Archives. [82] Oxford English Dictionary
indecency gross indecency indecent acts immoral sexual immorality	The OED defines indecency as "A condition which offends against personal delicacy or the recognized standards of propriety; immodesty; a quality savouring of obscenity." Historically, this term was often applied as a euphemism for queer sexuality. Many anti-gay laws have termed gay sex as "indecent acts" or "gross indecency" and cross-dressing as "immoral behaviours." However, use caution when tagging material with these terms as LGBTQ+, as they could have a variety of other meanings - always check context. If unsure, include LGBTQ+ terms to aid discoverability, but make it clear that these are possibilities only.	17th Century-	A History of LGBT Criminalisation [83] Oxford English Dictionary "How to look for records of sexuality and gender identity history," The National Archives. [84]
indorser endorser	18th Century term for a gay man, or a man who has gay sex. Often used in sensational newspaper reports.	18th Century	Norena Shopland, A Practical Guide to searching LGBTQIA historical records (Routledge 2021) Green's Dictionary of Slang - [85]
intersex intersexed person intersexual	Intersex describes a a range of conditions where a person has one of over 40 innate variations of sex characteristics from birth, which are ambiguous in the context of the male/female sex binary. Intersex can be used as an umbrella for people who have an intersex condition, and is sometimes used as an individual identity, e.g. “I’m an intersex man” or “I’m intersex”. A person may not know they have an intersex condition until they reach puberty and their body changes differently than expected, though most people who are diagnosed with an intersex condition were diagnosed at birth. When an intersex infant is born with ambiguous external genitalia, parents and clinicians typically assign them a binary sex and perform surgical operations to conform the infant’s body to that assignment. However this practice is increasingly recognised as unethical and harmful. Being intersex does not necessarily imply anything regarding one’s gender, anatomy, orientation, or trans status. Preferred term is "intersex," rather than "intersexed" or "intersexual." "Intersexual" has occasionally also been used as a synonym for "homosexual," especially in the early 20th Century.	1910s-	Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [86] V&A - LGBTQ Terminology [87] Oxford English Dictionary
invert inverted sexual inversion congenital invert	Late 19th-Century clinical term for "homosexual." Invented by Karl Heinrich Ulrichs, the term "invert" was popularized in Britain by sexologist Havelock Ellis. The term was given wider media coverage after the publication of Radcliffe Hall's novel about sexual inversion The Well of Loneliness in 1928. The publishers of the novel were prosecuted for obscenity, and the book was banned, despite Hall and other prominent writers defending it in a high-profile court case. Although many "inverts" from this period might be called lesbians (or sometimes gay men when applied to men), the modern identity does not map flawlessly onto the "invert" identity. There was also an expectation that an invert was gender-nonconforming and preferred traditionally feminine women. This was sometimes referred to as "congenital inversion." The feminine women in these relationships were not necessarily considered inverts, but thought of as "persuaded" by their partner, but would otherwise be living a traditional heteronormative life. In description, it should be made clear that both agents were queer, to avoid perpetuating this bias. It can sometimes be appropriate to describe people from this period with modern labels, such as "lesbian," as some will have lived into the period of overlap when LGBTQ+ identities were crystallized. "Invert" should also be included, especially if someone self-describes in this way, as this was a recognised and not always derogatory label, though enclose in quotation marks. Should never be used to describe more recent people or materials.	1890s-1920s	Heike Bauer, “Theorizing Female Inversion: Sexology, Discipline, and Gender at the Fin de Siècle,” Journal of the History of Sexuality 18, no. 1 (2009): 84–102. [88] John Addington Symonds, A Problem in Modern Ethics, Being an Inquiry into the Phenomenon of Sexual Inversion (London: 1896). Norena Shopland, A Practical Guide to searching LGBTQIA historical records (Routledge 2021) "How to look for records of sexuality and gender identity history," The National Archives. [89] Havelock Ellis, Studies in the Psychology of Sex: Sexual Inversion, 1908.
Jack Gentleman Jack	A slang term with many meanings across different time periods, regions, and contexts, including as a general insult and to indicate (for example) a working-class boy, a nineteenth century posting carriage, a sailor, and an erection. "Jack" or "Gentleman Jack" were also sometimes applied to queer women in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, often with derogatory connotations. There is evidence that some early nineteenth-century queer women reclaimed this term as a phrase to indicate either an "active" sexual role and/or gender-nonconformity (which were often conflated), similar to modern terms such as "top," or "butch" and "masc." This is a historically recognisable term that is not especially offensive now, so if material uses "jack" in this way, consider including in description in quotation marks and accompanying with other terms such as "lesbian" or "gender-nonconformity" for clarity and to aid discoverability.	18th and 19th Centuries, UK	Green's Dictionary of Slang - [90] Mette Hildeman Sjölin, "Adapting the queer language of Anne Lister’s diaries," Journal of Lesbian Studies, 26, no. 4 (2022): 382-399. Norena Shopland, A Practical Guide to searching LGBTQIA historical records (Routledge 2021)
lambda	Eleventh letter of the Greek alphabet, symbol used in 1980s lesbian communities as code to indicate queerness.	1980s, USA	"Gay Symbols," Sappho Speaks: The Lesbian and Gay Quarterly Journal at UCSD, December 1985. [91]
lavender lavender set lavender menace	Euphemism for gay, or anything relating to homosexuality. In the 1940s, newspapers dsimissively referred to communities of queer men as "the lavender set" (much like contemporary right-wing people refer to the "rainbow brigade"). The term "lavender menace" was used in the 1970s to demonise lesbians and exclude them from the women's rights movement. However, this was quickly reclaimed and weaponised by lesbians, who wore clothing with the phrase hand-printed on it. The phrase has been kept alive as a symbol for activism by Edinburgh-based bookshop and later archive Lavender Menace.	1870s-, UK, USA	Green's Dictionary of Slang - [92] Keeva McMillan, "Violet delights: A queer history of purple," V&A Dundee. [93]
lesbian lisbian lesbianism	An identity label widely used, mostly by women who are emotionally, romantically, sexually, affectionately, or relationally attracted to other women, though a nonbinary person may also self-describe as a lesbian, and some bisexual women feel included in this term. Historically used to refer to someone or something that comes from the Greek island of Lesbos. Occasionally this had queer overtones when used as an oblique reference to Lesbos as the home of ancient queer poet Sappho. "Lesbian" and "lesbianism" as sexual identity and practice were only established recognisably from the 1870s. Use if a person self-describes in this way. For pre-1870s people, include either historically-specific terminology, or broader terms such as "queer" to avoid ahistoricism, though tagging as "lesbian" as well may still be appropriate if material has been interpreted by lesbian-identifying people as relevant.	1870s-	"LGBTQ+ Terminology," Montclair State University - [94] V&A - LGBTQ Terminology [95] Oxford English Dictionary
lesbic	Rarely used synonym for "lesbian." Avoid or place in quotation marks.	1890s-	Oxford English Dictionary
LGBTQ+ LGBT LGBTQIA LGBTQQIP2SA 2SLGBTQ+	Contested terminology. Various acronyms are used for inclusive queer communities; some of the common one are listed here. "LGBT" has been used to indicate "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people for decades and is widely recognized. Other letters have been added to include previously un-acknowledged and marginalized sexuality, sex, and gender minority groups. "LGBTQ+" is often best-practice, as "queer" (the Q initial) is considered by many as a shorthand for any non-heteronormative identities, communities, and practices. Similarly, the "plus" indicates that there are many other identities that could be represented by more initials. However, it is important to remember that not everyone agrees on the sufficiency of this acronym, and may feel marginalized or unrepresented by it. Always consider the likely users and context before settling on which acronym to use. The longest well-used version is "LGBTQQIP2SA," which stands for "lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, questioning, intersex, pansexual, two-spirit, and ace." It has also become good practice to include 2S ("two-spirit") at the beginning of the acronym when referring to North-American demographics, to foreground the intersecting marginalized identity barriers that this group lives with. It is important to remember that these terms are modern identity labels, which did not exist prior to the late 19th century, even though people who would today self-describe in this way did exist. It can be a good idea to describe or tag related historical materials using one of these terms, alongside any period-specific terminology, to aid discoverability. See also "queer."	20th Century-	Homosaurus [96] List of LGBTQ+ Terms, Stonewall. [97] "Ten Steps to Tackling Homophobic, Biphobic, and Transphobic Language in your School," Stonewall. [98] "How to look for records of sexuality and gender identity history," The National Archives. [99] Talking About LGBTQ+ History," English Heritage. [100] Oxford English Dictionary
LGB	"LGB" was used as an acronym before transgender people were generally included in the gay rights movement. In this case, include in quotation marks and with a contextual note. However, if used in contemporary material it is often offensive, as it has more recently been used by transphobic organisations. In this case, avoid using unless quoting from material, and then enclose in quotation marks and contextualise.	20th Century-
madge madge-cove madge-cull	18th-century British slang for gay man or "sodomite." Obsolete from 19th century.	18th Century, UK	A New Dictionary of All the Cant and Flash Languages, by Humphry Tristram Potter, London, n.d. Green's Dictionary of Slang - [101]
mlm msm	Abbreviations for "men who love men," and "men who have sex with men." This term emphasizes the behavior, rather than the identities of the individuals involved. Not widely used in the UK - "queer men," "gay men, or "LGBTQ+ men" are often preferred, unless specifically talking about sexual behaviour, eg in a medical context.		"LGBTQ+ Terminology," Montclair State University [102]
molly mollies molly house	"Molly" was used relatively widely in 18th- and 19th- century Britain to denote gay men, or people who cross-dressed and cross-lived, who we may now recognise as transfeminine. This term was often used pejoratively during the period, but there is also evidence that some queer people used it affirmingly. Always enclose in quotation marks to indicate it is period-specific vocabulary, and accompany with broader LGBTQ+ terms to aid discoverability. Never use "molly" to describe post-19th-century material, as this came to be used as a slur. See also 3.1.2 Slurs and Slang, "Nancy." A "molly house" was a venue (such as an alehouse or boarding house) where gay men met and socialised. There are various reports from the 19th century in particular of police disrupting "dances" in which half the people there were cross-dressing. The term sometimes also suggested a place of queer sex work, or brothel.	18th and 19th Century, UK	Green's Dictionary of Slang - [103] Norena Shopland, A Practical Guide to searching LGBTQIA historical records (Routledge 2021) The Proceedings of the Old Bailey [104]
morphodite morphoditism morphydite	Originally an alternative term for "hermaphrodite," meaning intersex person, coming from classical mythology but appropriated by sexology in the late 19th century. From around the 1940s, term was used more colloquially to mean gay person.	18th Century-	Oxford English Dictionary
mtf m2f	Abbreviation of "male-to-female." Someone assigned male at birth, but who lives somewhere on the female spectrum and/or has undergone feminizing medical treatment. The term originally comes from a medical context to differentiate types of trans people, but has also been used within trans communities. Use only if someone self-identifies in this way. If you are unsure, use "trans woman" or "transfeminine," which do not emphasize birth gender. "Transfem" is also a more inclusive identifier, as it includes transfem nonbinary people and other minorities on this spectrum.	1970s	John Hopkins Medicine – Glossary of transgender terms [105] Oxford English Dictionary
neuter	This term is sometimes used to mean "render harmless or ineffectual." Avoid using this term in this context, as it comes from the same thinking as "effeminate," in that it assumes feminine men are less powerful/valuable. Highly offensive if used about a person. Even in a historical context, try to avoid using "neuter" to describe forced castration of a person, as it obscures historical violence.	20th Century-	Oxford English Dictionary
nonbinarynon-binary	An umbrella term for all genders other than exclusively female/woman/girl or male/man/boy. Includes people who are agender, genderfluid, bigender, and monay other genders. Also commonly used to describes someone's gender on its own (eg "they are a nonbinary person"). Non-binary identities are varied and can include people who identify with some aspects of binary identities, while others reject them entirely. Can also be in combination with other genders or as a qualifier (eg "she is a nonbinary woman"). Some people understand this term to be part of the "trans umbrella," and indeed "trans" is sometimes used in a similar way, to indicate a gender that exists outside of the binary. However, some nonbinary people do not understand themselves as "trans," and rather see the communities as overlapping. This is a good inclusive term to use for a person that lives outside binary gender today, if you do not have a self-description available. Always use as an adjective or to describe ways of living if you are unsure. For pre-1980s people, this term is anachronistic; consider using "gender-nonconforming" instead.	Late-20th Century-	Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [106] List of LGBTQ+ Terms, Stonewall. [107]
Old Horatian way Juvenal	Coded classical allusion used by Romantic poet Byron and his circle to refer to queer sex. "Horatian" began to be used in slightly broader circles, but there were also many other euphemisms used in this "homosexual double-talk," including "the Ellenics," being "philosophical," "botanical studies," and even being "methodistical." Writing phrases such as "kiss" in Greek could also be an indication that he was talking about a male partner. These kinds of multi-linguistic codes were deployed by various queer aristocrats of the early nineteenth century, including women. For example, famous queer landowner Anne Lister used references to Juvenal's Sixth Satire as a code for lesbian sex.	18th and 19th Century, UK	Gary Dyer, “Thieves, Boxers, Sodomites, Poets: Being Flash to Byron’s Don Juan,” PMLA 116, no. 3 (2001): 562–78. [108] Chris Roulston, "Sexuality in Translation: Anne Lister and the Ancients," Journal of the History of Sexuality 30, no. 1 (2021): 112-135.
pansexual pansexuality pan	Pansexual means being open to attraction to people of any gender, and explicitly includes transgender and non-binary genders. Widely used to indicate someone experiences attraction based on characteristics other than gender, but not everyone uses it in this way. Pansexual does not necessarily mean without preference. Often shortened to "pan." Originally a term used by psychologists and sexologists when describing theories of sexual fluidity. Later, when “bisexual” was understood to mean "attraction to both men and women," those who wanted to acknowledge being attracted also to non-binary people, or whose own gender was non-binary or trans, reclaimed the term pansexual. "Bisexual" is now used with broader meanings as well, see "bisexual." Note: While some texts will say that pansexual is under “the bisexual umbrella” or “part of the bisexual community”, others will say bisexual comes under the broader “pansexual umbrella”. Always follow someone's self-description.		Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [109] Oxford English Dictionary
passing	To "pass" is a widely-used term indicating that someone is being regarded as their correct gender by people around them. It also carries connotations of being assumed to be cisgender. This can be due to physical (hair, clothes, body type) and/or social cues (mannerisms, expressions, voice) that are historically associated with one gender. Contested terminology, with a complex history. It was used within African-American communities in the early 20th Century to indicate where an African-American or mixed-race person with light skin had transitioned to living in a white community, where people assumed they were white. See, for example, Nella Larsen's novel Passing. Since the second half of the 20th Century, "passing" has been used by and about transgender people to describe living "sucessfully" in their gender. The term is deeply problematic, as it implies that someone is "failing" if they do not pass, and that appearing cisgender is and should be the goal for trans people. Many trans people cannot or do not want to "pass." However, some trans people do find affirmation in being correctly gendered, or feel safer when they do "pass" as cisgender, especially in transphobic social settings. If necessary to include discussion of "passing" in archival description, enclose in quotation marks and try to acknowledge the term's fraught history and present. "Gender affirmation" can also be a good alternative term in some contexts, but only when there is no pivotal assumption that someone looks cisgender.		Andrea James, "Transgender Map." [110] List of LGBTQ+ Terms, Stonewall. [111]
pederasty paederasty pederafty pederast pederastie	17th century term, originally describing a set of socially acknowledged practices in Ancient Greece and Rome, which involved a mentorship between an older and younger man or boy, which also included homosexual and often pedophilic activity. Quickly became used to describe abusive and non-abusive homosexual practices in British society, often conflating the two. Over the past century (and ongoing), sometimes used by groups that deliberately conflate homosexuality with pedophilia for homophobic agenda. Attempts to recover queer classical history have been challenged by queer activists because of the prevalence of pederasty. Should be replicated with caution when describing historical materials, as it may be obscuring abusive practices - enclose in quotation marks and accompany with clarifying language. Should never be used about more recent (post-1900) materials unless necessary to indicate a document's title etc, as it will either offensively conflate gay people with pedophiles, or obscure and tacitly excuse child abuse.	1600-	Norena Shopland, A Practical Guide to searching LGBTQIA historical records (Routledge 2021) Oxford English Dictionary Alissa Martinez, "Constructing Queerness: Pederasty." [112]
perversion pervert sexual pervsersion perverted	During the rise of sexology in the 1890s, homosexuality and transgender were classed among "sexual perversions." This often meant that being queer was pathologised and conflated with abusive or criminal practices, or with being mentally unwell, and stigmatised as such. The term "perverted," or "perv" is still often applied to queer people in homophobic contexts. Highly offensive. If describing historic materials, enclose in quotation marks to indicate that the term is quoted directly from the material. Double check that material refers to queer people, rather than to a different (possibly harmful) sexual practice, before tagging with LGBTQ+ terms.	1500s-	John Addington Symonds, A Problem in Modern Ethics, Being an Inquiry into the Phenomenon of Sexual Inversion (London: 1896). Norena Shopland, A Practical Guide to searching LGBTQIA historical records (Routledge 2021)
pink	A colour often associated with queerness, especially with gay men, pivoting on the colour's association with femininity, and the stereotype of the feminine gay man. Historically sometimes used as a slur, eg "pink finger." See also "lavender" and "rainbow."	1890s-	Green's Dictionary of Slang [113]
poly polyamory polyamorous	The practice of having simultaneous close emotional relationships with two or more other individuals; an alternative relationship practice/identity to monogamy. Implies consent of all people involved (it is still possible to "cheat" on someone in a poly relationship). Also known as "ethical-nonmonogamy" or "ENM." Often shorted to "poly" as an asdjective (eg "she is poly," "they are in a poly relationship").  There are also straight people who practice polyamory, though some people view polyamory as inherently within the queer umbrella. It has been practised more commonly within LGBTQIA+ communities. There are many types of relationship structure included within the "poly" umbrella, including closed polycules, relationship anarchy, solo poly, parallel poly, open relationships, and many others.  Often used as a self-descriptor, which should be replicated without quotation marks. May be used in quotation marks when described historical practices. Should not be confused with "polygamy," which refers to marrying multiple people, and is often used prejoratively.	1990s-	Oxford English Dictionary. "Guide to Polyamory Terms," Polyamory UK. [114]
pronouns	Words we use to refer to people’s gender in conversation - for example, ‘he’ or ‘she’. Some people may prefer others to refer to them in gender neutral language and use pronouns such as they/their, or "neo-pronouns" such as ze/zir, xe/xer, and fae/faer. In archival description, use they/them when you cannot discover how someone prefers to be referred to.		List of LGBTQ+ Terms, Stonewall. [115]
queer queer theory queers	Contested terminology. Originally a term meaning strange or eccentric. First applied to sexuality around the trial of Oscar Wilde in 1895, at which point it developed as a slur for gay people. However, there is evidence that the term was also used as an affirming self-descriptor as early as the 1910s. The term was publicly reclaimed by radical LGBT activist groups in the 1980s and 1990s, such as "Queer Nation." It was intended to convey an assertive and radical alternative to conventional notions of sexuality and gender as part of a wider campaign in response to the AIDS crisis. This was also partly a rejection of the assimilationist homonormative respectability politics that enforced heterosexual narratives, such as the fight for inclusion in institutions like marriage and the military. Academia in the 1990s saw the development of "queer theory," an approach to literature, culture, history, and social studies that challenges heteronormativity. In this sense, the word "queer" is a verb as well as an adjective. For example, to "queer" a piece of culture is to explore LGBTQ+ themes in it, or to interpret a cultural work self-consciously using the author's own queer identities, or to expose oppressive structures inherent in it. Since the 2010s, it has become relatively commonplace in LGBTQ+ communities for someone to describe themself as queer, particularly for people who feel they do not fit neatly into one of the traditional binary LGBT categories. It is also used by some to acknowledge intersecting marginalisations within the LGBTQ+ population, such as ableism, racism etc. "Queer" is now often used as a catch-all umbrella term, similar to "LGBTQ+."  It is also affectionately used by many LGBTQ+ communities to refer to themselves collectively ("the queers"), but this label should not be externally imposed on LGBTQ+ communities. For historical materials (pre-1900), it can be a very useful shorthand to indicate that materials relate to people or practices we would now consider LGBTQ+, as they did not yet have these identity labels and "queer" is a deliberately elusive term. It is important to acknowledge that this term is not universally reclaimed, and in particular older generations of LGBTQ+ people may find the term offensive. With materials that relate to 20th- and 21st-century people, it is always best to follow how someone self-describes. That said, it can be a useful standard tag to include alongside more specific terminology. This term is now considered best practice terminology in some contexts, but consideration should be given before settling on use of this word as a tag, rather than LGBTQ+ (or alongside it). This decision may be best made as part of top-level cataloguing practices, and included in your institution's policy statement on archival terminology. This statement should also acknowledge that some people may still find the term offensive, and clearly state the rationale for using it.		Oxford English Dictionary The National Archives blog - "'Queer' history - a history of Queer." [116] List of LGBTQ+ Terms, Stonewall. [117] Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [118] Homosaurus [119] Tropenmuseum – Words Matter [120] V&A - LGBTQ Terminology [121]
rainbow rainbow communities	Rainbow, or Rainbow communities, is an umbrella term similar to LGBTQ+ and queer. The term "Rainbow" seeks to unite people of minority sexual orientations, genders, and sex characteristics, without needing to rely on longer acronyms such as LGBTQIA+. The name comes from the rainbow pride flag.  Although it can be a useful term when referring inclusively to contemporary communities (particularly if you want to avoid "queer" due to its origins as a slur), it is not yet widely recognised in the UK (though the rainbow flag is), and so will need accompanying terms and context.	20th Century-	Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [122]
romantic friendship eccentric friendship companions bosom friends life friends inseperable friends	There has been a long tradition of historians and archivists describing people as "close friends" or "lifelong companions" in order to obscure or silence queer relationships and lives. This is not usually done with malice, but out of caution, because we live in a heteronormative society that assumes cisgender heterosexuality and places onus on queer people to "prove" that they exist. However, this is still a form of cultural violence, which makes queer history invisible, which in turn impacts contemporary narratives about sexuality and gender. It also inaccurately conflates materials, as some described in this way do not relate to queer lives. Therefore, it is important to find ways to acknowledge queer possibility where it exists, without labelling them anachronistically. More recent materials may refer to living or recently-living people, in which case every effort should be made to correct the archival record to reflect how a person self-described. For historical materials, this is often not possible, but archivists should try to agree upon ways of indicating the probable presence of queer materials that are appropriate for their institution's collections, social contexts, and users, and also appropriate for specific collections. It is good practice to include some explanation of these decisions in your repository's policy statement on inclusive terminology and/or in a contextual note for a collection's description or catalogue. Some ways to do this may include: using "LGBTQ+" or similar terms as an invisible tag to make it discoverable in this way but without pinning an anachronistic label; using "queer" as a general term in descriptions; recording on the catalogue when a researcher or individual archivist has interpreted material as "queer," to promote transparency and to acknowledge that archives are always subject to interpretation. Phrases like "eccentric friendship" do not need to be erased from archival catalogues, as they are not inaccurate or offensive, and they also record attitudes at the time the description was produced. But they should be accompanied by clearer terms as well to address archival silences and aid discoverability.		David Thomas et al., The Silence of the Archive, Facet Publishing, 2017. [123] Martha Vicinus, Intimate Friends: Women Who Loved Women, 1778-1928, University of Chicago Press, 2004.
sapphic sapphick sapphism sapphist Sappho	Relating to classical poet Sappho from the Greek island of Lesbos c.600 BC. Sappho's writing famously included descriptions of sex with and love of other women. This is also where the word "lesbian" comes from, meaning "from Lesbos." The term “Sapphic” appeared in the 18th century to describe lesbian relationships, but the term wasn’t often included in dictionaries and other publications until the 1850s. The term “Sapphic” was also used in the 18th century to describe a someone with an enlarged clitoris, similarly to "tribade." Still sometimes used to refer to queer women. Sometimes used as an alternative to "lesbian" that deliberately includes bisexual women and nonbinary people (though lesbian is also used in this way sometimes). Only use if someone self-describes in this way. Can also be a useful historically-specific term for 19th century material that relates to queer women, though more general terms should be included as well to aid discoverability.	Female homosexuality, 1850-	"How to look for records of sexuality and gender identity history," The National Archives. [124] Norena Shopland, A Practical Guide to searching LGBTQIA historical records (Routledge 2021) Oxford English Dictionary Homosaurus [125]
sex-based rights women's sex-based rights	Often used by transphobic or "gender critical" organisations to promote a binary "biological" system of gender, that excludes trans women from accessing women's healthcare and social support, and more generally from participating in society. See "gender critical." Identify with caution, as this was occasionally used in a more inclusive sense in previous decades. If material being described uses this phrase to discuss rights that are specific to some people's anatomies, use more specific terminology. For example, "reproductive rights," "abortion rights," or "access to menstrual products." Including terms such as "women" as well is important to aid discoverability, but make sure that you use inclusive terminology alongside, in order to prevent the exclusion/erasure of trans people. For example, you may write "women and gender-nonconforming people's access to menstrual products." If material being described concerns "gender critical" organisations or trans-exclusionary ideologies, include other terms in description as well, or in a contextual note, to make it clear that material may be transphobic. See also "TERF."	1980s-	Deborah Shaw, "A Tale of Two Feminisms," Women's History Review (2022).[126]
sex change change of sex gender reassignment	Outdated terminology, referring to various trans-specific experiences. Avoid using this term now, as "sex change" 1) reduces trans people's experiences to their bodies and 2) implies that they have changed gender, when in reality these processes affirm the gender they have already felt themself to be. If a general term is required, use "transition" or "gender transition." However, the term "sex change" has been used in many ways, and it is always best to be precise if you can. Use "gender-affirming care" or "medical transition" or "trans healthcare" when describing medical interventions. Use "social transition" when describing someone's experience of coming out and living in their correct gender. Use "legal gender recognition" or "birth certificate/document amendment" when describing changing the legal sex on a person's documents. See also "transition."	20th Century	"How to look for records of sexuality and gender identity history," The National Archives. [127] Homosaurus [128] Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [129]
sexology sexologist	The study of human sexual life and/or relationships. This term is most commonly used to refer to a group of late-19th/early-20th century psychologists, medical practitioners, biologists, anthropologists, and philosophers, who termed themselves "sexologists." This movement is largely responsible for the pathologisation of queer people, as they attempted to categorise human behaviours, bodies, and identities into "normal" and "abnormal." Many of these terms (such a "homosexual") were then taken up and reclaimed by queer communities in the face of rising 20th-century homophobia and transphobia. This process then gave rise to modern LGBTQ+ identities. Terms taken from sexology in this glossary are given rough approximations in contextual notes. Their meanings and uses are actually more complex than this. It is important to understand that taxonomies created by sexologists and queer responses to these taxonomies are largely what gave rise to contemporary understandings of self-identity along the axis of sexual preference and gender expression. There are also well-documented links between sexology and eugenics, though some practitioners challenged this.	1880s-	Oxford English Dictionary. John Addington Symonds, A Problem in Modern Ethics, Being an Inquiry inmto the Phenomenon of Sexual Inversion (London: 1896). Bauer, English Literary Sexology (Palgrave: 2009)
sexual orientation sexual identity sexuality sexual preference	The definition of "sexual orientation" used by the Office for National Statistics is "an umbrella concept which encapsulates sexual identity, behaviour and attraction." In practice, these concepts overlap. "Orientation" is also used in some contexts as an umbrella term for sexual and romantic orientations. Self-definition should always be the authority in archival description, and so cataloguers should prioritize discussing "sexual identity" when describing 20th and 21st century materials. However, sexual orientation was not a stable way that people formed their sense of identity prior to the rise of sexology in the 1890s, and so should be avoided for historical material. In this context, phrases such as "non-normative sexuality," "sexual behaviours," or "queerness" may be appropriate. "Sexual preference" can be problematic, as it suggests that the gender someone is attracted to is always optional or fungible. Though this may be the case for some people, there are also some queer (and straight) people with a strong, fixed sense of sexual identity.	20th Century-	Office for National Statistics [130] List of LGBTQ+ Terms, Stonewall. [131]
sexual minority	See "gender minority." The same logic applies when discussing sexuality or physical sexual characteristics, and this phrase may refer to either.
sexual offences silent sin	Gay sex between men, and less often between women, has been criminalized in many countries, and is still illegal in some. When this phrase appears in materials, try to double-check whether it is referring to queer sex, and if so, include appropriate accompanying terms to aid discoverability. Consider including a content warning, given that the material is likely to castigate queerness.	19th Century-	"How to look for records of sexuality and gender identity history," The National Archives. [132]
sodomy sodomite sodom sodomitical sod Sodom and Gomorrah	"Sodomy" is a term that has shifting meanings across time periods, regions, and contexts. See also "buggery" and "fornication." OED definition: "Formerly: any form of sexual intercourse characterized as unnatural or immoral, or otherwise culturally stigmatized. Later: any of a number of forms of sexual intercourse other than heterosexual vaginal intercourse. Now chiefly: anal intercourse, esp. between men; (sometimes more generally) homosexual activity, homosexuality." Currently highly offensive when applied to LGBTQ+ people. When found in pre-existing archival descriptions, this term should be corrected/enclosed in quotation marks/contextualised in an additional note (as appropriate). Consider applying additional terminology, such as "LGBTQ+" or "gay history." However, double check this is appropriate, as some historic material may use this term to indicate sexual acitivites that are today illegal in the UK, eg bestiality. Some countries still use this term in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. Always enclose in quotation marks and contextualise when quoting from archival material in description.	14th Century-	Homosaurus [133] Norena Shopland, A Practical Guide to searching LGBTQIA historical records (Routledge 2021) Oxford English Dictionary "How to look for records of sexuality and gender identity history," The National Archives. [134]
TERF T.E.R.F. terfs trans-exclusionary	Stands for "Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist." OED definition: "A feminist whose advocacy of women’s rights excludes (or is thought to exclude) the rights of transgender women. Also more generally: a person whose views on gender identity are (or are considered) hostile to transgender people, or who opposes social and political policies designed to be inclusive of transgender people. Originally used within the radical feminist movement. Although the author of quot. 2008 (a trans-inclusive feminist) has stated that the term was intended as a neutral description, TERF is now typically regarded as derogatory." This term is widely used to informally describe transphobic opinions and activists, often intended as a neutral descriptive shorthand. People with trans-exclusionary opinions sometimes view "terf" as a slur and prefer the term "gender critical." The "trans-exclusionary" movement is mainly organised around advocating for the erosion of trans people's rights, including access to healthcare, legal protections, and safe spaces. The rationale is often organised around biological essentialism, arguing that people cannot change their "biological sex," particularly aiming this at trans women. There are well-documented ideological (and sometimes financial/social) links between trans-exlusionary activist groups and far-right fundamentalist groups (see reference "Judith Butler"). See also "gender critical" and "transmisogyny." It is generally best to be as specific as possible in description, and avoid the informal term "terf," unless it is quoted from material. For materials relating to organisations, events etc that are generally acknowledged to be transphobic, then use the term "transphobia" if required in description. Where this is not the case, the terms "trans-exclusionary" or "anti-transgender" can be more precise and less informal than "terf." Avoid using "gender critical" unless quoted from material or as a self-descriptor.	2000s-	Oxford English Dictionary Judith Butler, "Why is the idea of ‘gender’ provoking backlash the world over?" The Guardian, October 2021. [135] Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [136] Deborah Shaw, "A Tale of Two Feminisms," Women's History Review (2022).[137]
third gender	A term for those who belong to a category other than masculine or feminine. For example, Native American two-spirit people, hijira in India, kathoeys in Thailand, and travestis in Brazil. The term is contested terminology in itself, as it has been used by western researchers and queer communities to homogenize and romanticize non-binary genders across different cultures and languages. Try to use more specific language where available, unless someone self-describes in this way.	20th Century-	"LGBTQ+ Terminology," Montclair State University [138] Towle et al, "Romancing the Transgender Native: Rethinking the Use of the 'Third Gender' Concept," GLQ, 2002. [139]
tomboy	Term in colloquial use since the 17th Century to indicate "a girl or young woman who acts or dresses in what is considered to be a boyish way, esp. one who likes rough or energetic activities conventionally more associated with boys." This term is not offensive, and still in colloquial use. However, be cautious of applying it to people who do not self-identify (or have historically been identified) in this way, as some consider this term to reinforce gender stereotypes of what is "appropriate" for a girl. It may also obscure lesbian, butch, and transmasc practices, if applied to people in history. Accompany with other terms as possilities when describing a historical figure in this way.	17th Century-	Oxford English Dictionary Homosaurus [140]
tommy tabby	Terms used since at least the 18th Century for women who had sex/relationships with other women, usually exclusively other women ie lesbians. There is also an element of gender-nonconformity implied at times, so there may also be a transmasc reading of some of these figures. Not offensive, but should be enclosed in quotation marks and contextualised.	18th Century-	Norena Shopland, A Practical Guide to searching LGBTQIA historical records (Routledge 2021) Green's Dictionary of Slang - [141]
trans trans* transgender transsexual trans person	"Trans" is an umbrella term used by many to indicate that someone's gender differs from their birth-assigned sex. Being trans does not necessarily indicate how someone presents (clothes, voice, mannerisms etc) or whether someone has undergone gender-affirming healthcare. Some trans people are binary (as in "trans man/woman"), some are trans-nonbinary, and some see "trans" as a third gender in itself. Self-description should always be followed. Some people use "trans*" to indicate that this includes nonbinary people and other gender minorities, though others view "trans" as already including nonbinary people. Some nonbinary people also do not view themselves as "trans." If in doubt, use "trans and nonbinary people" to be clearly inclusive. See also "gender minorities." The term "transsexual" was coined in the 1940s to describe someone who underwent gender-affirming healthcare, usually spefically people who had surgical procedures. This term is now outdated, and potentially offensive if applied to a trans person, as it reduces trans people's lives and experiences to their bodies and enforced conformation to norms of a binary-gendered culture. "Transgender" is now the preferred term. However, there are still a small number of people (usually from older generations who lived through the use of this term) who still identify as "transsexual." If material relates to someone who self-described as "transsexual," then this should be respected, and enclosed in quotation marks or preceded by "self-descrived" to indicate this, and accompanied by terms such as "trans" or "transgender" to aid discoverability. Some other outdated terms to avoid include "transgendered" (transgender is already an adjective and a noun), and "trans-identified" (being trans is a lived experience, not just an identity). Also avoid the pathologizing term "transgenderism," unless quoting from materials concerning 1950s trans medicine. If a noun is required, use "transness," "being trans," or "trans people's experiences."	1950s-	Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [142] Oxford English Dictionary Homosaurus [143] Tropenmuseum – Words Matter [144]
transition gender transition	The steps a trans person may take to live in the gender with which they identify. Each person’s transition will involve different things. For some this involves medical intervention, such as hormone therapy and surgeries, but not all trans people want or are able to have this. Transitioning also might involve things such as telling friends and family, dressing differently and changing official documents. "Gender transition" can be used to describe a trans person's general process of coming out, beginning to live in their correct gender, and possibly undergoing medical treatment. If only one of these elements is being referred to, then be specific. Use "social transition" and "gender affirming healthcare" instead.	20th Century-	John Hopkins Medicine – Glossary of transgender terms [145] List of LGBTQ+ Terms, Stonewall. [146]
trans man trans woman transmasculine transfeminine	Best practice terminology for a binary trans person, or a trans person who lives somewhere on the spectrum of "man" or "woman" (rather than simply "nonbinary"). Use instead of FTM or MTF, unless quoting from materials. Can be shortened to "transmasc" and "transfem." Always follow a person's self-description.	20th Century-	List of LGBTQ+ Terms, Stonewall. [147] Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [148]
transmisogynytransmisogynoir	Hatred of trans women and transfeminine people. The intersection pf misgyny and transphobia. This may include campaiging against trans women's rights, or objectifying and dehumanizing trans women. In a patriarchal society it is seen as a threat to masculinity when people who "could have been men" reject manhood in favor of a "lower status" position – womanhood. As such, trans women are often treated with abjection, or transmisogyny, both interpersonally and structurally. Acknowledging the presence of this in archival materials is important, as transfeminine people are statistically some of the most vulnerable people in society, and yet prejudice towards them is still widespread. "Transmisogynoir" is a rerm coined by coined by Trudy of the womanist blog Gradient Lair to describe the intersection of transphobia, misogyny, and anti-Black racism as directed toward Black trans women.		Homosaurus [149] Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [150]
transphobia	Transphobia consists of three main parts – anti-trans stereotypes, anti-trans prejudice, and anti-trans discrimination. Any of these elements on it’s own can be transphobia. Stereotypes include, for example, the idea that trans people aren’t real, that they are delusional, or that they are dangerous. Misconceptions of biology, and ideas of gender oppression revolving around reproductive capacity (gender essentialism) are two further examples of stereotypes – or overgeneralised ideas. Prejudicial feelings are usually based on these stereotypical ideas, and may include fear, anger, discomfort, distrust, disgust, or hatred directed towards trans people. Discrimination is actions, based on prejudice. ‘Transphobia’ is used similarly to ‘homophobia’.		Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them [151]
transvestite	Outdated term for someone who dresses in clothing generally identified with the opposite gender/sex. Potentially offensive if applied to trans people today. Occasionally still used as a self-descriptor, in which case enclose in quotation marks to make this clear. Preferred term for historical people is either "cross-dressing" or "cross-living" (see entries for these). Has been used in the 1950s- as a synonym for "transsexual"; in this context, use "transgender" unless quoting directly from material.	transvestite	Tropenmuseum – Words Matter [152] "LGBTQ+ Terminology," Montclair State University - [153] "How to look for records of sexuality and gender identity history," The National Archives. [154] V&A - LGBTQ Terminology [155]
tribade	Term for lesbian borrowed from French ca. 1580s, and absorbed into English usage by the 18th Century. Also called "rubster," "female rubber," or "fricatrice." Often used to specifically refer to more masculine women, or perceived "tops." No longer in common usage, but gave rise to later term for a lesbian sexual practice known as "tribbing."	16th-19th Century, UK	Oxford English Dictionary. Examining the OED blog, "Case study: terms for lesbian(ism)," 2012. [156]
twiddle-poop	18th-century British slang for an effeminate man, implying homosexuality.	18th Century	Norena Shopland, A Practical Guide to searching LGBTQIA historical records (Routledge 2021) Green's Dictionary of Slang - [157]
Two Spirit	A gender identity in Native American culture that describes people that have both a male and female spirit within them and are blessed by their Creator to see life through the eyes of both genders. The term does not diminish the tribal-specific names, roles and traditions nations have for their own Two Spirit people. Examples of such names are the winkte among the Lakota and the nadleeh among the Navajo people. Use specific terms if avilable, and also "Two Spirit" to aid discoverability. If describing material for a repository that has little or no other American material, consider including broad UK terms such as "nonbinary" or "LGBTQ+" alongside to aid discoverability further, but always contextualise and explain this decision, to avoid imposing colonizer gender descriptors that do not fit Native American people.		"LGBTQ+ Terminology," Montclair State University - [158]
unnatural acts unnatural lust unnatural offences unnatural crimes vicious irregularities unaccountable intimatice uncommon lust preternatural lust unnatural affections unnatural appetites abominable pollutions unnatural pollutions vile passions	Terms used since at least the 17th Century to describe gay sex. See "degenerate" and "immoral" for guidance.	17th Century-	Norena Shopland, A Practical Guide to searching LGBTQIA historical records (Routledge 2021) Claire Hayward – Queer Terminology "How to look for records of sexuality and gender identity history," The National Archives. [159]
uranodioninge	A late 19th-century sexologists' term for bisexual. See "bisexual" and "sexology."	1890s-	John Addington Symonds, A Problem in Modern Ethics, Being an Inquiry inmto the Phenomenon of Sexual Inversion (London: 1896).
Urning uranian uranianism	Late 19th-century sexologists' terms for homosexual, invented by Krafft-Ebbing. See also "sexology." This neologism of that time referred to the goddess Aphrodite Urania that appears in Plato’s Symposium as protective of homosexual love. "Uranian" was partially reclaimed by lesbians in the early decades of the 20th Century, but was rarely used, so should be accompanied by explanation and modern terminology to aid discoverability.	1890s-	John Addington Symonds, A Problem in Modern Ethics, Being an Inquiry into the Phenomenon of Sexual Inversion (London: 1896). Niamh Carey, "The Politics of Urania," Glasgow Women's Library. [160]
venery male venery male-venery	18th century term for homosexuality in men. Enclose in quotation marks and consider adding broader tags such as "LGBTQ+," if appropriate.	18th Century	Norena Shopland, A Practical Guide to searching LGBTQIA historical records (Routledge 2021) Rictor Norton (Ed.), "Homosexual Terms in 18th-century Dictionaries", Homosexuality in Eighteenth-Century England: A Sourcebook, 2021 [161]
wlw wsw	Abbreviations for "women who love women," and "women who have sex with women." This term emphasizes the behavior, rather than the identities of the individuals involved. Not widely used in the UK - "queer women," "lesbians," or "LGBTQ+ women" are often preferred, unless specifically talking about sexual behaviour, eg in a medical context.		"LGBTQ+ Terminology," Montclair State University [162]