Terminology

[floit63]

This post got me thinking. How many of our arguments (either amongst ourselves or with others) stem from the fact that everyone has a slightly different interpretation of key words we use? I'm going to post a few different words that are rather important when discussing trans issues and I'd love it if everyone could go through and give their definitions of these words so that I can make a list for n00bs (all of them can be anon if you wish). My own definitions will be in the comments.

The Words:
Sex
Gender
Transgender
Transexual
Trans*
Male
Female
Man/boy
Woman/girl
Cisgender
Gay
Lesbian
Straight
Bisexual
Pansexual
Polysexual
Asexual
Ally
Stealth
Out (as in out of the closet, not as in out to the store)
Pride

Comments

[shemale]

Sex: An act between two or more participants involving pleasurable physical stimulation of the romantic variety

Gender: The classification of a word or grammatical form in a category or set, one category of such a set, or the distinguishing form or forms used in reference to one category of such a set.

Transgender: A general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies that diverge from the normative gender role (woman or man) commonly, but not always, assigned at birth, as well as the role traditionally held by society.

Transexual: Persona que adopta los caracteres sexuales del sexo opuesto-asignado mediante procesos hormonales y quirúrgicos.

Trans*: A reference to all or any of the words (and groups described by said words) beginning with the prefix trans- (and, additionally, the adjective "trans" as well).

Male: Someone who identifies their body as such

Female: Someone who identifies their body as such

Man/boy: Someone who identifies within that particular social category

Woman/girl: Someone who identifies within that particular social category

Cisgender: Not transgender

Gay: Same-gender loving, also a sexual identity

Lesbian: Same-gender loving woman

Straight: Opposite-gender loving

Bisexual: Both/any-gender loving

Pansexual: Lover of pans, flutes, and trannies. Often used by chasers.

Polysexual: Did you mean "polyamorous?"

Asexual: Single-organism reproduction. Also, a sexual identity indicating low or nonexistent libido.

Ally: Someone who's rather full of them-self to feel that they're entitled to base an identity indicating how great they are on the existence of marginalized groups from whose oppression they benefit.

Stealth: The quality or characteristic of being furtive or covert. See also: Assimilation

Out (as in out of the closet, not as in out to the store): Openly queer and/or trans

Pride: Fun event for the warmer seasons

[sqrrel]

Pansexual: Lover of pans, flutes, and trannies. Often used by chasers.

ILU.

[floit63]

Out of curiosity, what would you say about transpeople who identify as pansexual? I occasionally feel like every other transguy online is pansexual/polysexual and I'm not sure how comfortable I am considering them chasers.

And no, polysexual was not a mistake. I've spoken to people who actually have stated a preference so I thought I'd include it in the hopes that *someone* could give me a real reason as to why it's different from pansexual.

[shemale]

Oh, that's less of a problem; with the rare exception, trans people are usually pretty good about not exoticizing themselves and other trans people. Maybe a little pretentious, though.

I've never heard the term "polysexual" before in my life.

[dashingdeviant]

Ally: Someone who's rather full of them-self to feel that they're entitled to base an identity indicating how great they are on the existence of marginalized groups from whose oppression they benefit.

YES. THIS.