Guide
Guide

LGBTQ Inclusive Language DOs and DON'Ts

Virtual Lab School Focused Topics Creating Gender Safe Spaces Lesson 3 Learn LGBTQ Inclusive Language DOs and DON'Ts
Guide
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ACTIVITY ID: 21161
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AVOID SAYING... SAY INSTEAD... Why? Example
”Hermaphrodite” ”Intersex” Hermaphrodite is a stigmatizing, inaccurate word with a negative medical history. "What are the best practices for the medical care of intersex infants?"
"Homosexual" "Gay" "Homosexual" often connotes a medical diagnosis, or a discomfort with gay/lesbian people. "We want to do a better job of being inclusive of our gay employees."

"Born female" or "Born male"

"Female-bodied" or "Male-bodied"

 "Assigned female/male at birth"

"Assigned" language accurately depicts the situation of what happens at birth.

"-bodied" language is often interpreted as pressure to medically transition, or invalidation of one's gender identity

 "Max was assigned female at birth, then he transitioned in high school."
"A gay" or "a transgender" "A gay/transgender person" Gay and transgender are adjectives that describe a person/group "We had a transgender athlete in our league this year."
"Transgender people and normal people" "Transgender people and cisgender people" Saying "normal" implies "abnormal," which is a stigmatizing way to refer to a person. "This group is open to both transgender and cisgender people."
"Both genders" or "opposite genders" "All genders" "Both" implies there are only two; "opposite" reinforces antagonism amongst genders. "Video games aren't just a boy thing -- kids of all genders play them."
"Ladies and gentlemen" "Everyone," "Folks," "Honored guests," etc. Moving away from binary language is more inclusive of people of all genders. "Good morning everyone, next stop Picadilly Station."
"Mailman," "fireman," "policeman," etc. "Mail clerk," "firefighter," "police officer," etc. People of all genders do these jobs. "I actually saw a firefighter rescue a cat from a tree."
"It" when referring to someone (e.g., when pronouns are unknown) "They" "It" is for referring to things, not people. "You know, I am not sure how they identify."

This content was adapted to be accessible from a PDF available on The Safe Zone website.