Category: Gender and Sexuality

The Defense of Marriage Act (also known as DOMA) was a law passed in 1996 that defined marriage as the union of one man and one woman, effectively outlawing same-sex marriages. The law’s definition of marriage was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2013, granting marriage rights to same-sex couples nationwide. The name of the law may be misleading to readers without further explanation of its policy, intent, and impact on LGBTQ+ couples and families.

“Don’t ask, don’t tell” (DADT), instituted by the Clinton administration in 1993, was the official US policy that said members of the US military would not be asked about their sexual orientation and required gay, lesbian, and bisexual people to keep their identity private. It protected LGBTQ+ service members from discrimination, but only if they never revealed their sexuality to anyone. The policy was repealed in 2011. If using the term, including some explanation of the policy and its defunct status provides essential context.

A crisis pregnancy center (CPC) is an organization that advertises as a family planning center but is focused on anti-abortion efforts. Because these facilities have purposes different from centers that focus on reproductive issues and family planning without the intent to dissuade certain kinds of medical care (though they may advertise themselves similarly), the term “crisis pregnancy center” is not interchangeable with “reproductive health center” (a facility like Planned Parenthood or Whole Woman’s Health). Giving a brief explanation on first reference is helpful.

The term deadname refers to the birth name of a trans or nonbinary person who changed their name after they came out. Using someone’s deadname (deadnaming them) is inaccurate and invalidates who they are. Using language like “Before she became a woman” suggests that a person changed their gender versus coming out as the gender they always were. Phrasing like “Before [he, she, they, etc.] came out” is more accurate. In general, unnecessary focus on someone’s gender identity, transition, or deadname can have a fetishizing or dehumanizing effect. 

Feminism is an umbrella term referring to various social, political, and economic movements for gender equality. It’s rooted in the fundamental belief that all genders are/should be equal. In discussions of feminism, it’s important to note the ways that factors including race, socioeconomic status, and immigration status can also affect positioning within existing power structures.

LGBTQ is an acronym for “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer” and is used to broadly reference nonheterosexual and transgender people. LGBTQIA adds “intersex” and “asexual” to the acronym for greater inclusivity. Using LGBTQ+ is maximally inclusive without lengthening the acronym, though, as with any identifier, being as specific as possible and following an individual’s preference whenever feasible ensures coverage reflects how someone self-identifies.

Gender is a set of characteristics, behaviors, and social norms used to group people into social categories. Gender has historically been defined along binary lines (called the gender binary) but is now understood by many to exist along a spectrum and to be fluid, rather than being a fixed binary characteristic, and to not be inherently attached to “biological sex.” As with any such identifier, if necessary and relevant to include, taking into account how someone self-identifies ensures coverage accurately reflects their identity and lived experience.

The LGBTQ+ “panic” defense is a legal tactic used to justify violence against LGBTQ+ people, often trans women of color. It is illegal in several states. “LGBTQ+ panic” is used to be inclusive of all nonheterosexual and noncisgender people, whose members experience hate crimes and violence at significantly higher rates. Being as specific as possible is helpful for clarity; for instance, using the phrase “trans panic defense” when covering an instance of transphobic violence.

Gender-based violence refers to violence perpetrated against an individual because of their gender or gender expression. It primarily affects cis and trans women and girls but also impacts all marginalized genders. While “gender-based violence” can be used as an umbrella term, being as specific as possible about the type or acts of violence being discussed (without sensationalizing or including unnecessarily graphic detail) provides clarity to audiences.

Marriage equality refers to the legalization of marriage between individuals of any genders. If it’s necessary to specify that a marriage is between two people of the same gender, using the term same-sex marriage rather than “gay marriage” is more precise (unless the individuals being discussed use the term).