Glossary

Asian American Pacific Islanders. Sometimes also abbreviated as API (Asian Pacific Islanders) to be inclusive of non-American individuals.

Having the mental and/or physical capacity to engage in one or more major life activities, such as seeing, hearing, speaking, walking, breathing, performing manual tasks, learning, or caring for oneself.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Education Glossary Terms, Anti-Defamation League, 2018.

Beliefs and practices that assume being non-disabled is “normal” and disabled people need to be "fixed." This can result in discrimination against people with physical, intellectual, or psychiatric disabilities.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Harvard DIB Glossary: Foundational Concepts & Affirming Language

Appreciating and welcoming others for who they are as individuals without judgment. When we accept someone, it shows that we value and respect their identity (“who they are”).

Intentionally designing experiences (such as a building, recreational facility, program, activity, or online resource) to be easily usable for individuals with disabilities. For example, creating an accessible pool could include incorporating pool lifts or sloped entries.

A person from one identity group who speaks out or takes action in support of individuals from another group.

A non-binary gender identity that exists in the approximate middle of the gender spectrum between "male" and "female" presentation and identity.

_FROM: The Trevor Project

The marginalization and/or oppression of people who are of immigrant origin, transnational, or outside the dominant national identity or culture.

Actively working to eliminate individual, institutional, and systemic racism as well as the causes of racism, oppression, and injustice. When we choose to be anti-racist, we take actions to end racial inequities in our daily lives.

Learn more about steps you can take to be anti-racist

_{ADAPTED FROM:} NMAAHC.SI.EDU and NCJW.ORG

The fear or hatred of Jews, Judaism, and related symbols.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Pacific University Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Glossary of Terms

Asexuality is a sexual orientation like gay, lesbian, bisexual, or pansexual. Asexual people may have little interest in sex and may still desire relationships.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} The Trevor Project

A preference for or against an individual or group that interferes with or influences fair judgment. Bias can be both conscious and unconscious. For more information on unconscious bias, check out the definition for implicit bias.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Education Glossary Terms, Anti-Defamation League, 2018

BIPOC is an acronym that stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.

Black can refer to dark-skinned peoples of Africa, Oceania, and Australia or their descendants without regard for the lightness or darkness of skin tone and who were enslaved by white people. Indigenous, here, refers to ethnic groups native to the Americas, and who were killed en masse by white people. People of color is an umbrella term for non-white people, especially as they face racism and discrimination in a white dominant culture.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Dictionary.com

Describes someone who is physically, romantically, and/or emotionally attracted to more than one gender, including those outside the gender binary.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} The Trevor Project

The assumption that everyone identifies with the gender assigned to them at birth. This can be harmful to everyone navigating the pressure to conform to rigid social expectations regarding expression and behavior.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} The Trevor Project

The act of using elements of a culture that are not your own (e.g. clothing, symbols, and ideas) without demonstrating understanding, respect, or reverence for the culture’s history, experience, wishes, or traditions.

The ability to interact effectively with people of diverse backgrounds and different identity groups by being sensitive, appreciative, respectful, and responsive to beliefs, practices, and cultural needs that are different from your own.

Referring to a transgender person by the name that they were assigned at birth but no longer use. This can be extremely harmful as it can be a reminder that the person using that name does not acknowledge the individual as they authentically are.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} The Trevor Project

A mental or physical condition that restricts an individual’s ability to engage in one or more major life activities (e.g. seeing, hearing, speaking, walking, communicating, sensing, breathing, performing manual tasks, learning, working, or caring for oneself). When discussing people with disabilities, it is important to use “person first” language that avoids defining an individual by their disability by placing the reference to a disability after the reference to a person (e.g. “a person with a disability,” rather than “a disabled person”).

_{ADAPTED FROM:} National Center on Disability and Journalism, Education Glossary Terms, Anti-Defamation League, 2018

Unfavorable or unfair treatment of an individual or group based on identity labels such as race, ethnicity, skin color, religion, age, gender, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Sierra Club

Differences in cultures, abilities, ideas, philosophies, backgrounds, and histories that exist among individuals.

An artist of any gender identity who uses drag to express femininity.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} The Trevor Project

When everyone has access to the same rights, opportunities, and resources.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Education Glossary Terms, Anti-Defamation League, 2018

Equity is when everyone gets what they need in order to have access, opportunities, and a fair chance to succeed. Equity recognizes that the idea of equality (“the same for everyone”) may not address widespread disparities and individual circumstances where individualized solutions are necessary.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Education Glossary Terms, Anti-Defamation League

A person’s identification with a group based on characteristics such as shared history, ancestry, language, and culture.

_{ADAPTED FROM}: Education Glossary Terms, Anti-Defamation League, 2018

Someone who experiences attraction to individuals of the same gender, often specifically identifying as men or masculine. While historically associated with men, the term now encompasses anyone, including women and nonbinary individuals, who experiences same-gender attraction.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources?s=gay">The Trevor Project

A social construct about the roles, behaviors, and actions men and women perform in a society. The attitudes, customs, and values associated with gender are learned and are not something we are innately born with.

How a person defines and conceptualizes their own gender. Since gender identity is internal, one’s gender identity is not necessarily visible to others.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Sierra Club, Education Glossary Terms, Anti-Defamation League, 2018

A broad term referring to people who do not behave in a way that conforms to the traditional expectations of their gender or whose gender expression does not fit neatly into a category. Some gender-nonconforming individuals identify as a man or a woman, some identify as neither, and others identify as a mix of both.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Pacific University Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Glossary of Terms

Roles and behaviors that others expect based on an individual’s gender assigned at birth.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Education Glossary Terms, Anti-Defamation League, 2021

A group, culture, or community where an individual shares a sense of belonging based on physical, social, or philosophical characteristics. It is likely that each of us belongs to many identity groups based on gender, sex, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and age.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Sierra Club, Central Michigan University

The assumptions, stereotypes, and unintentional actions (positive or negative) we make towards others based on identity labels like race, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, or ability. Because our implicit associations are stored in our subconscious, we may act on our biases without even realizing it. Often, our implicit biases contradict our values.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Anti-Defamation League Education Glossary Terms, 2018

Supporting and embracing diversity in a way that clearly shows all individuals are valued, recognized, and accepted for who they truly are. This involves demonstrating respect for the abilities, beliefs, backgrounds, and cultures of those around you and engaging those with diverse perspectives, so that others feel an unconditional sense of belonging for who they are.

The idea that people whose individual identities overlap with a number of marginalized groups experience multiple, overlapping threats of discrimination.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Merriam-Webster, Care2.com

Intersex people are born with a variety of differences in their sex traits and reproductive anatomy, including differences in genitalia, chromosomes, internal sex organs, hormone production, and more.

_{ADAPTED FROM: Guide to Pride}

A gender neutral way to refer to other people that is a variation of the term “folks.” The “x” signifys the variability of identity and experience of the LGBTQ+ community and is inclusive of nonbinary or gender expansive individuals.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} The Trevor Project

"Latine" or "Latinx" refers to a person of Latin American origin or descent. It is used as a gender-neutral or non-binary alternative to Latino or Latina. The emergence of Latine or Latinx coincides with a global movement to introduce gender-neutral nouns and pronouns into many languages whose grammar has traditionally used male or female constructions. It is important to note that a recent Gallup poll found only 4% of Hispanic and Latino adults in the United States prefer the term Latinx to identify themselves primarily because Latinx does not fit into the conventional dynamic of the Spanish language. Identity and what people choose to be called is personal and can differ case by case – Latinx, Latine, Hispanic etc." The best term to use is best answered by the person or group of people you are referring to.

_{ADAPTED FROM: PewResearch.org and NewsObserver.com}

Someone who identifies as women or feminine and is attracted to other women. Some nonbinary people assigned female at birth also use this term to express their attraction to women, even if they do not identify as women.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} The Trevor Project

Acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. The term is often used to refer to the community as a whole. Other common variations of LGBTQ+ include LGBT, LGBTQ, LGBTQIA, and LGBTQIA+ which include individuals who identify as queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, and more.

The process of putting or keeping someone (or a group of people) in a powerless position within a society by not giving them an active voice, identity, or place within it. Marginalization can show up in subtle or overt actions, such as using derogatory language, assuming someone’s accomplishments are not based on merit, and expecting individuals to act a certain way based on stereotypes.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Syracuse University Counseling Center, Merriam-Webster

The everyday slights, put-downs, and insults that marginalized people experience in their daily interactions. Microaggressions are often linked to our implicit biases, occur outside of our consciousness, and may be unintentional. Microaggressions may occur verbally (“you speak good English”) or nonverbally (clutching one’s purse more tightly when passing someone on the street) and can make people feel ashamed and dehumanized.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Education Glossary Terms, Anti-Defamation League, 2018

Solely refers to a person’s citizenship by origin, birth, or naturalization.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Education Glossary Terms, Anti-Defamation League, 2018

Describes a person who does not identify exclusively as a man or a woman. Non-binary people may identify as being both a man and a woman, somewhere in between, or as falling completely outside these categories. Also referred to as gender queer and gender variant.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Education Glossary Terms, Anti-Defamation League, 2021 and Guide to Pride

A system of mistreatment and exploitation where a dominant group benefits (socially, economically, or politically) at the expense of the marginalized group(s).

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Education Glossary Terms, Anti-Defamation League

Describes someone who has the potential for emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction to people of any gender though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way or to the same degree.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Education Glossary Terms, Anti-Defamation League, 2021 and Guide to Pride

Pronouns are how we refer to each other in everyday conversation when not using names, for example: "This is Laura. She went to school with me." Preferred gender pronouns (or PGPs) are the pronouns that people ask others to use in reference to themselves. Because pronouns often express gender (his, hers), it is important to use the correct pronouns for people that align with their gender identity. Gendered pronouns include she and he, her and him, hers and his, and herself and himself. Gender neutral pronouns include they, them, their(s). Some people state their pronoun preferences as a form of allyship.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Harvard DIB Glossary: Foundational Concepts & Affirming Language and Guide to Pride

"People of color" broadly identifies individuals who belong to a racial or ethnic minority group. When referring to a specific minority group, it is best to use more specific terms, such as Black or African American. The best term to use is best answered by the person or group of people you are referring to.

The unrecognized advantages, benefits, or rights granted upon people of a non-marginalized group.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Education Glossary Terms, Anti-Defamation League

Acronym for Queer People of Color. Refers to people of color who also identify as queer.

Acronym for Queer and Transgender People of Color. Refers to people of color who also identify as queer and/or transgender.

Refers to individuals who are exploring their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Questioning individuals may be looking for more information and support as their identity develops.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} The Trevor Project, Glossary

A term people use to express fluid gender identities and sexual orientations. It is often used interchangeably with LGBTQIA+. The term has and can still be used in a derogatory context, but many LGBTQIA+ individuals have worked to positively reclaim the term.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Education Glossary Terms, Anti-Defamation League, 2021 and Guide to Pride

Refers to societal categorization of individuals based on physical appearance (such as skin color, hair type, facial form, or eye shape), ancestral heritage, or cultural affiliation.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Sierra Club. Education Glossary Terms, Anti-Defamation League, 2018

Violation of a right or of the rights of another based on race.

The marginalization, oppression, and discrimination against people of color based on a socially constructed racial hierarchy that privileges white people.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Education Glossary Terms, Anti-Defamation League

An organized system of faith and worship that can include beliefs, observances, rituals, and rules used to demonstrate devotion to one or more gods/goddesses.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Education Glossary Terms, Anti-Defamation League, 2018

Blaming an individual or group for something based on that person or group’s identity when the person or group is not responsible. Bias, prejudicial thinking, and discriminatory acts can lead to scapegoating.

A label that you’re assigned at birth based on medical factors, including your hormones, genetics, and physical anatomy. Most people are assigned male or female at birth, but when someone’s anatomy doesn’t fit traditional definitions of female or male, they may be described as intersex.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} The Trevor Project

Refers to how an individual defines their emotional, physical, and/or romantic attractions. Categories of sexual orientation include, but are not limited to, gay and lesbian (attracted to some members of the same gender), bisexual (attracted to some members of more than one gender), and heterosexual (attracted to some members of another gender).

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Education Glossary Terms, Anti-Defamation League, 2018

An oversimplified generalization about a group of people without regard for individual differences. Stereotypes often cause us to make assumptions (both negative and positive) about people based upon superficial characteristics. An example of a stereotype is any time you group individuals together based on an identity label and make a judgment about them without knowing them.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Perception Institute, Education Glossary Terms, Anti-Defamation League, 2018

Structural racism is a combination of systems and factors that advantage white people. For people of color, structural racism causes widespread harm and disadvantages in access and opportunity. One person or even one group of people did not create structural racism. Structural racism:

1. Is grounded in the history of our laws and institutions which were created on a foundation of white supremacy;
2. Exists in the institutions and policies that advantage white people and disadvantage people of color; and
3. Takes places in interpersonal communication and behavior (e.g. slurs, bullying, and offensive language)

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Education Glossary Terms, Anti-Defamation League

Being accepting and open-minded to different opinions, beliefs, practices, and cultures from our own, even if we do not necessarily agree with the differences.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Sierra Club

Often abbreviated as "trans." An umbrella term used to describe people whose true gender identity does not “match” the sex or gender they were assigned at birth. People who are transgender express themselves in many ways and do not necessarily need to alter their appearance in any way. When talking to or about someone who identifies as transgender, it is important to be respectful of how they identify and use their self-ascribed identity, name, and pronouns.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} The Trevor Project

The process by which someone makes changes, whether physical or otherwise, to align with their identified gender.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} The Trevor Project

The feelings of shame and remorse some white people experience when they recognize the legacy of racism and racial injustice and perceive the ways they have benefited from it.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Dictionary.com

Term used to characterize various belief systems that are built around the idea that white people should dominate society because they are superior to those of all other races, especially the Black race.

_{ADAPTED FROM:} Education Glossary Terms, Anti-Defamation League

Dislike of or bias against people who are considered “strangers” or foreigners.