Glossary

Identity is personal, so there are many ways to describe and express it. And because those ways change, this is a living document about what we mean when we talk about identity.

We use some of these abbreviations, words, and phrases more often than others, but none of them are our own. They're shared understandings—contributions from communities of people creating better representation for themselves and others.

Abbreviations

A11Y - accessibility

GNC - Gender-non-conforming

LGBTQ+ - Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning, and others

NB - Non-binary

POC - People of color

WOC - Women of color

Words and phrases

Sexual orientation - Emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction to other people

Other sources

The conversation about identity includes a lot of voices we respect and encourage you to support. Our glossary isn't a substitute for their work. If you'd like to learn more about how people talk about identity, we recommend:

• Human Rights Campaign's glossary of terms
• It's Pronounced Metrosexual's list of terms