A person’s assigned sex is generally determined by a cursory visual inspection of an infant’s external genitalia and may or may not be congruent with the person’s gender identity or with other biological markers of sex such as chromosomes and internal reproductive structures.īiphobia/Binegativity: a myriad of behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes ranging from hatred, discomfort, fear, erasure, violence against/towards people who identify or are perceived as bisexual, non-monosexual, etc., that manifest interpersonally, institutionally, and systemically. Some identities that fall under the “ace” umbrella do experience varying amounts of sexual attraction, such as demisexuals and grey-asexuals.Īssigned Sex: The sex recorded on a person’s birth certificate. There is considerable diversity among the asexual community each asexual person experiences things like relationships, attraction, and arousal somewhat differently. Some identities that fall under the “aro” umbrella do experience varying amounts of romantic attraction, such as demi-romantics and grey-romantics.Īsexual: A person who experiences little or no sexual attraction. Unlike celibacy, an action that people choose, asexuality is a sexual identity. There is considerable diversity among the aromantic community each aromantic person experiences things like relationships, attraction, and arousal somewhat differently. Aromantic people may or may not experience sexual attraction, which is unrelated to their aromantic identity. See Accomplice for more information.Īndrogyny: Displaying physical and social characteristics identified in this culture as both feminine and masculine.Īromantic: A person who experiences little or no romantic attraction.
To be acting in allyship means that you are actively working to dismantle structures of oppression. These efforts can only be named as allyship by the marginalized group. This work should be done as directed by those communities. This is a practice of showing up, working in solidarity with, and centering the needs and voices of marginalized groups. “Assigned-at-birth” serves to imply that sex is without the agency of the individual.Īllyship : the lifelong process of building relationships with marginalized communities to which one does not belong. “Assigned-at-birth” serves to imply that sex is without the agency of the individual.ĪMAB: An abbreviation for “assigned-male-at-birth,” a term frequently used, often by the transfeminine community, as a self-descriptor. There has been some critique of this term because of its association with criminality when many marginalized communities are viewed as already, always criminal.ĪFAB: An abbreviation for “assigned-female-at-birth,” a term frequently used, often by the transmasculine community, as a self-descriptor. As always, listening is the key to understanding.Īccomplice: A term coined by Indigenous Action Network to critique the ways in which “ally” as an identity term has been deployed absent of action, accountability, or risk-taking. New language and terms emerge as our understanding of these topics changes and evolves. Rather, they provide a starting point for conversations. The following terms are not absolutely-defined.
Knowing and understanding the meaning of the words we use improves communication and helps prevent misunderstandings. The words we use, and how we use them, can be very powerful.