The month of June was chosen for LGBTIQA+ Pride Month to commemorate the Stonewall riots in New York City, which occurred at the end of June 1969. As a result, many pride events are held during this month.
Language gives meaning and dignity, and here we share a glossary of terms to honour Pride Month.
ASSIGNED SEX the sex you were assigned at birth and raised as.
BISEXUAL being attracted to more than one gender.
CISGENDER a match between your biological sex and your gender. For example, a female sexed person identifying with their female gender.
CISNORMATIVITY the assumption that all individuals we come into contact with are cisgender. Though we may know that people can be transgender, we often operate under the assumption that we've never met a transgender person.
CROSS DRESSING, CROSS DRESSER wearing or liking to wear clothing associated with the "opposite" sex to the one assigned at birth (ie, a man who likes to wear women's clothes). Typically, cross dressers have no desire to transition and are happy in their sex assigned at birth.
GAY being attracted to people of the same gender. Most often used to describe men, but not always.
GENDER how a person feels with regard to male/female/neither/both/fluid - a cognitive process of recognising one's identity.
GENDERQUEER a gender diverse person whose gender identity is neither male nor female; is between or beyond genders, or a combination of male and female.
HETEROSEXIST beliefs, systems and attitudes that privilege heterosexual people and relationships. Often includes the assumption that all individuals are heterosexual.
HOMOSEXUAL a person attracted to people of the same gender. Some people dislike the term due to its wide usage in medical language where homosexuality was considered a mental illness. It is, however, widely accepted.
INTERSEX a person whose sex does not fit into either the "male" or "female" binary categories typical in Western medical language.
LESBIAN a woman attracted to other women. LGBT - a common initialism used standing for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender.
LGBTQIUA+ a longer and more inclusive initialism used for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, unsure, asexual.
TRANSGENDER MAN someone assigned female at birth but who has transitioned or intends to transition to male and live full time as a man.
TRANSGENDER WOMAN someone assigned as male at birth who has transitioned or intends to transition to female and live full time as a woman.
• Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng (MBChB), sexual and reproductive health practice, Disa Clinic, safersex.co.za. Mofokeng has been named SA's Commissioner of Gender Equality by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Do you have a question about sex?
E-mail your questions to lifestyle@sundaytimes.co.za with SEX TALK as the subject. Anonymity is assured.
