GENDER AND SEXUALITY

REFER TO BASIC TERMS FOR BEST UNDERSTANDING

1. homosexual:
   its historic relevance has made it a term often used by anti-LGTBQ+ extremist. Before the 1970's, it was used by the by the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association as a disorder or something that could be cured.
   
   -Gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, depending on the person
   *note that "queer" and "gay" have been reappointed and are no longer considered derogatory.
   
   
   

2. gay:
   should ONLY be used when referring to a person's sexual orientation or gender identity choice. Never to be used as a derogatory term. Ex: "that's so gay!". Using it this way perpetuates discrimination against LGTBQ+ people and reinforces society's toxic masculinity constructions.
   When used out of context, " homosexuality is considered to be irritating, annoying and unpleasant. While many people who use this phrase would argue that it does not have anything to do with homosexuality, it reveals the extent to which homosexuality is “othered” in our culture and our language" (Inspire solutions)
   
   

3. dyke:
   according to the Oxford English Dictionary, “dyke” refers to a variety of ditches, trenches, pits, caves, pools, fences, embankments, dams, piers, causeways, fissures, faults, and barriers. In Geology, a “dyke” is a mass of mineral matter that fills a hole in a rock formation. Do you want me to explain the relationship between "matter that fills a hole" and using the word to refer to lesbians?... The use of this term is dehumanizing, objectifying and offensive.
   
   -lesbian
   -same-sex orientation
   
     

4. fag/faggot:
   the history of the term "faggot" extends way back to the 1300's, and in all of its uses, has been a word associated with discrimination, oppression, and violence. 1) faggot was a bundle of sticks. It was used as a reference of those who were burnt alive due to sinful behavior. 2) it was later used as "something difficult to bear", often used as a sexist insult to refer to a burdensome wife. 3) faggot was used in all-male-boarding schools to refer to the younger students who were expected to bring bundles of sticks to the older students’' rooms to keep igniting their fireplace. It was used to give someone a submissive position, which usually led to sexual assault. Do you really need any more explanation?
   
   -gay
   -same-sex orientation
   
   
   

5. “preferred” gender pronouns/sexual preference: 
   Avoid saying “preferred” pronouns, as gender identification, like sexual orientation, is an identity, not a preference!
   
   -sexual orientation
   -gender expression
   -gender identity
   -singular they
   
   
   

6. Tranny/she-male/it/shim: 
   this is dehumanizing to transgender people.
   
   -use their pronouns.
   -singular they.
   
   
   

7. transgender person
   why do you even want to note the transition in the first place? just say man or woman or whatever they chose to identify with.
   If must use, note it should be used as an adjective and NOT a noun.
   
   
   

8. transgendered:
   -ed suffix causes tense confusion and brings to mind the identity with which the person didn't identify with.
   
   -Use “transition” if referring to the change in gender expression.
   -Use their pronouns.
   -singular they.