Gender and Sexuality

Heteronormativity is the belief that heterosexuality is the default or “normal” sexual orientation, which in turn implies that any other sexual orientation is abnormal or unnatural. It also assumes that binary genders are the norm and that anything else is an aberration. To avoid perpetuating heteronormativity, it’s helpful to apply identifiers equally across all sources; for instance, if identifying someone as queer (when relevant), also identify someone as straight (when relevant).

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.

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.

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).

Masculinity refers to the set of attributes and behaviors traditionally associated with men and boys. While many qualities of masculinity have been constructed within a patriarchal power structure, masculinity itself is not inherently negative or positive and has no fixed meaning. Certain negative manifestations of masculinity can be described as toxic masculinity, which can result in valorizing physical and mental “toughness,” suppressing emotion, violence as a precursor to power, internalizing misogyny, or being homophobic. Specifying the actions or behaviors being described and the context in which they occurred can clarify the meaning and impact of toxic masculinity. 

Misogyny is a contempt for or ingrained prejudice against women and girls. Generally the adjective form, “misogynistic,” is more accurate to describe someone’s actions (e.g., “made misogynistic comments” instead of “is a misogynist”). It may be helpful to specify and define the particular type of misogyny being discussed (for instance, misogynoir is directed specifically toward Black women and girls, and transmisogyny is directed specifically at trans women and girls).

Passing is a term that identifies someone as able to “pass,” or be perceived as a member of a dominant group. In the context of gender and sexuality, this could mean, for one example, the ability of nonbinary and trans people with more conventional gender presentations to pass for cisgender. The ability to pass is often considered a privilege. It offers safety and access to opportunities that people who can’t pass don’t have. However, a person’s ability to pass does not erase their identity, nor should the ability to pass be used to invalidate their gender or sexual orientation.