GSM
Definition
GSM is an acronym for “Gender and/or Sexuality Minority.” This is the basic catch-all for people who are not cisgender and/or heterosexual. It is more encompassing than the traditional LGBT and other such acronyms while still including those who don’t identify as queer or who are offended by the term.
Considering that GSM is more inclusive, not all LGBT spaces are truly GSM spaces as many of them function on excluding those who are not cisgender, gay, white, rich men. Using the term GSM is not meant to excuse exclusivity but to inspire inclusivity.
Usage
GSM is used in a sentence in the same way you’d use LGBT, QUILTBAG, and other acronyms.
Examples:
- The space is GSM friendly which is why I go.
- Did you go to the most recent GSM community support meeting?
- I am a part of the GSM community!
See also
LGBT, LGBTQ, QUILTBAG, queer
submitted by veggieburgerwithbacon and edited by queerdictionary.
Genderqueer (adj.)
Definition
Genderqueer is a gender identity that generally refers to not identifying as male/female and/or as a man or woman. It’s possible for someone to identify as multiple genders, so identifying as genderqueer does not mean you do not or cannot identify as something else. It is a specific identity but is sometimes also incorrectly used as an umbrella term for non-binary (read: people who are not just men or women) gender identities. Some people prefer to just use the word genderqueer to describe their identity, some non-binary people don’t care for the term genderqueer to describe them (even in an umbrella sense) for a variety of reasons (use of the word “queer” which may implicate subversion when no identity is actually intrinsically subversive, potential political connotations, etc.).
Someone does not have to look androgynous in order to identify as genderqueer.
People often mistake genderqueer to mean that someone identifies as a point “in between” male/female and/or man/woman; it is often used as though it were synonymous with androgynous. Someone who identifies as genderqueer may identify as these things, but androgynous and genderqueer are not the same thing.
Usage
Genderqueer is technically an adjective but is also sometimes colloquially used as a noun.
Examples:
- “Oh yeah, my genderqueer friend was telling me about a non-binary festival coming up!”
- “Not all genderqueers prefer to be referred to as ‘they’.”
See also
Non-binary
Genderpivot
/ˈjendərˈpivət/ (noun):
a term i coined to describe the intersection of genderfluid and bigender identities in which one of the genders remains stagnant while the second gender fluctuates without a predestined path.
As a noun:
Person A: How do you identify, B?
Person B: I’m a genderpivot.
As a verb (signifies a shift in identity):
Person A: Hey, B, what are your preferred pronouns for today?
Person B: I’ve been genderpivoting a lot lately. So, I think I’ll go with they/them/theirs for now.
Person A: Sounds like a plan!
See also
Non-binary, Bigender, Genderfluid
Gender (verb)
Definition
To gender is to assign someone else a gender. This is, for most people, an almost automatic action, so it is often not noticed as being an active process by the person assigning the gender (“perceiving someone as a certain gender”).
Gendering someone is done based on behavioural cues and body presentation (secondary sex characteristics). It is distinct from sexing (see: sexing (verb)).
The act of gendering someone incorrectly is known as misgendering. Misgendering is also the term used when someone intentionally uses the wrong pronouns for someone.
As gendering is such an immediate, pervasive, but often (consciously) unaware act of speculation often, when someone is misgendered, the person who did the misgendering feels misled or deceived, even though the person who was misgendered was not (actively) part of the gendering process.
Usage
If you look like a supermodel, you can act as butch as you want to, but other people will inevitably gender you as female. And if you like like a linebacker, you can act as femme as you want, but others will still gender you as male. While the way we “do” gender may influence whether people perceive us as queer or straight, and may tip the scales for those whose appearance is somewhat gender-ambiguous to begin with, the vast majority of us are gendered primarily on our physical bodies rather than our behaviors. (Julia Serano in Whipping Girl, p. 193)
See Also
Gender (noun), sex (noun), sex (verb), Pass (verb)
GLBT
Definition
GLBT is an acronym. It stands for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual/Transgender (people), it is meant to represent the different groups who make up a community. Many now consider it too limited, so alternative acronyms (such as QUILTBAG) or extended acronyms (LGBTQ, LGBTQI+,…) have been proposed.
Not everyone who identifies with one of the identities named in the acronym consider (or want to be considered) part of the community.
Usage
The Pride parade is being organised by the local LGBT groups.
See Also
QUILTBAG, LGBT
Gender (noun)
Definition
Gender is the name for a grouping of behavioural and social norms that are applied to people based on the gender they are perceived as having. The conduct shown by people in light of these norms, this accountability is not produced by gender: it is gender.
Gender is thus also someone’s identity: the gender someone identifies with (and as) forms the internal framework for that person’s behaviour.
Usage
(…)
See also
Gender (verb), sex (noun), sex (verb)
