Introduction to Allyship
Definitions
Glossary of Major LGBTQIA2S+ Terms by the Human Rights Campaign
Familiarize yourself with the most common terms related to gender identity and sexual orientation here!
Encounter a term you don’t know? Check these resources: Glossary by the UC Davis LGBTQIA Resource Center, List of LGBTQ+ Terms by the Stonewall human rights charity, LGBTQIA+ Wiki
Remember identity is personal! While these resources will help you establish a basic understanding, the best way to know how someone identifies, what terms they use, and how they define those terms is to ask.
Pronouns
They/Them
Singular “they” has been in use since the 14th century and is widely accepted as grammatically correct, akin to singular “you.” They/them pronouns are always acceptable for people whose pronouns you don’t know.
Examples: Someone left their jacket here, I hope they get it back! / I haven’t met Mae, what pronouns do they use?
While they/them is often acceptable for referring to people of any gender, it should not be used to avoid using someone’s preferred pronouns. For example, a trans man who uses he/him pronouns may feel you don’t respect his identity if you only refer to him with gender-neutral language instead of speaking to him as you would a cis man.
Multiple Pronouns
Some people use multiple sets of pronouns, such as he/they or fae/she. Feel free to ask them if they have any preference between their pronoun sets, or what gendered language they use if any. In most cases, people are happy to be referred to with any of the pronouns they provide, sometimes with a preference for the first listed.
Examples: He likes to sing, sometimes they play piano too. / Fae uses some feminine language but she doesn’t identify as a woman.
Neopronouns
Pronouns that aren’t officially recognized are called neopronouns, such as ae/aer or xe/xem. Despite the name, some neopronouns date back to the 1800’s! Pronouns.page has conjugation tables, pronunciation guides, and example sentences for many neopronouns. In the same way it’s important to pronounce someone’s name correctly even if it’s complicated or you’ve never heard it before, learning someone’s correct pronouns shows you respect them.
Examples: Ae is walking aer dog. / Xe let me borrow xyr pen.