SEXUAL ORIENTATION

Describes an individual’s sexual attraction with respect to sex. The three orientations are commonly referenced as straight or heterosexual (exclusively opposite-sex attracted), gay/lesbian or homosexual (exclusively same-sex attracted), and bi or bisexual (attracted to both sexes).

Sexual orientation, which means a heterosexual, homosexual, lesbian, or bisexual orientation is a protected characteristic under Prohibited Grounds for Discrimination in the New Zealand Human Rights Act 1993.

HETEROSEXUAL

Sexually attracted exclusively to the opposite sex
This term was coined, along with ‘homosexual’ (sexually attracted exclusively to the same sex), by human rights activist Karl Maria Kertbeny.


HOMOSEXUAL

Sexually attracted exclusively to the same sex.
This term was coined, along with ‘heterosexual’ (sexually attracted exclusively to the opposite sex), by human rights activist Karl Maria Kertbeny.

-LESBIAN

Colloquial term for a woman who is sexually attracted exclusively to other women; a homosexual woman. Lesbian is specified under the definition of ‘Sexual Orientation’ in the New Zealand Human Rights Act 1993, an acknowledgement of the dual discrimination faced by lesbians (female sex; homosexual orientation).

-GAY

Primarily referring to a man who is sexually attracted exclusively to other men; a homosexual man. Gay is also a colloquial term often used as a blanket description for both homosexual men and women.

BISEXUAL

Sexually attracted to both sexes, which may manifest as 50/50 (equally attracted to both), 99/1 (primarily attracted to one sex over the other), or anywhere in between. Bisexuals may also choose to pursue intimate relationships only with members of one sex.

GENDER

Often used synonymously and interchangeably with “sex,” we distinguish the two by defining “gender” as the social customs, norms, and expectations assigned to all individuals based on their sex (e.g., women are expected to be submissive / men are expected to be dominant). While these norms may vary across cultures, gender functions globally as a hierarchical system that upholds male dominance over the female class. We can think of this as the social & cultural manifestations of ‘masculinity’ and ‘femininity’.

GENDER NON-CONFORMITY

Divergence from the expected gender roles assigned to one’s sex. For women, this could mean anything from not wearing makeup to pursuing a career in construction; for men, it could mean wearing a dress or working as a stay-at-home parent. Many cultures have become more accepting of certain forms of gender-nonconformity over the past century, but many are still considered extremely taboo even in the most progressive cultures (for instance, a woman choosing not to shave her body hair). Everyone exhibits some form of gender-nonconformity, as it is impossible to fully conform at all times to every norm imposed upon our sex.

Since LGB people are automatically non-conforming by means of their sexual orientation and commonly deviate from other gender norms as well, gender-nonconformity (often abbreviated GNC) is generally associated or equated with homosexuality, even though straight people can also be GNC. Gender-nonconformity does not require a “gender identity” or any other label, and is unrelated to sexual orientation.

GENDER IDEOLOGY

Gender ideology is the belief system that “gender” is an innate quality that takes precedence over biological sex in determining one’s true sense of being male or female (or neither). Gender ideology relies on the sexist notion that gender (defined above as expectations and norms imposed upon both sexes) is inherently linked to biological sex rather than socially prescribed, resulting in the belief that individuals who feel disconnected from gender roles can also mentally disconnect from their sex by adopting a “trans” identity and/or pursuing medical intervention.

GENDER IDENTITY

”Gender identity” is defined many different ways by its proponents. It typically describes one’s personal sense of being male or female or neither, regardless of one’s actual sex. Since male and female are material reality and not feelings, “gender identity” is based on gender stereotypes. Since these vary across time and cultures, it is difficult to provide a concrete definition of the term, especially as new “genders” are regularly invented that seem to have nothing to do with sex or even necessarily gender roles, but rather serve as labels to express one’s personal interests or characteristics. We prefer to call this “personality.”

TRANSGENDER

Over time, transgender has been defined in many ways. Until recent years, it primarily referred to individuals who experienced sex dysphoria, an extreme discomfort or hatred of one’s sexed body, generally coupled with a strong aversion to the gender norms assigned to their sex (interests, appearance, personality traits, etc.). Dysphoria is an understandable reaction to society’s oppressive sex roles, given the power that these roles still hold on a global scale. Some individuals choose to alleviate their distress by taking measures to appear or live as the opposite sex, altering their appearance through dress, grooming, artificial hormones, and/or surgery to more closely match what society expects to see in members of that sex. This is commonly referred to as “transition.”

Today, many who identify as transgender do not necessarily experience bodily dysphoria but still wish to escape gender norms or otherwise differentiate themselves from others by means of an identity that they feel embodies the traits with which they identify—traits not culturally associated with their sex. Not merely synonymous with gender non-conformity (i.e. many gender-nonconforming people do not identify as trans), a “trans” identity is most commonly defined by purely ideological beliefs not based in science—for example, as being “born in the wrong body” or “assigned” the wrong sex at birth (except in extremely rare cases of intersex conditions, sex is not assigned but clearly observable at or before birth); or having a “male brain in a female body” or vice versa (brains, like all other organs, contain the same sex chromosomes as the rest of our bodies). Given that humans are not capable of changing sex, all definitions of “transgender” rely on the sexist notion that gender norms are innately linked to sex rather than socially prescribed.
While we support bodily autonomy and the right of informed, consenting adults to undergo any form of “transition” they desire, we oppose the transitioning of children, who are not mature enough to consent to such life-altering decisions. We also remain highly critical of the medical industry that is profiting off the dysphoria of vulnerable individuals, many of whom are frequently denied the truth about risks and repercussions of medical transition, and are thus unable to provide fully informed consent to these procedures.

NON-BINARY

Often abbreviated NB, non-binary is one of the most common identities adopted under the trans umbrella and generally means that one does not “identify” as either male or female but views oneself as somewhere in between, neither, or something else entirely. This label is often adopted by individuals who are uncomfortable with their sex or assigned gender roles, but are not pursuing medical transition.

QUEER

Queer” has been primarily used as a longtime slur against same-sex oriented people. In recent decades, it has been reclaimed by some in the LGB community to describe themselves, but has also been co-opted by some straight people to describe any form of non-standard sexual behavior or presentation of gender-nonconformity.

ASEXUAL

A complete lack of sexual attraction to either sex. Devoid of a sexual orientation altogether.

SEX/GENDER DYSPHORIA

Generally referred to as “gender dysphoria” but is typically integrated with feelings about one’s sex, this is a psychological condition describing an extreme hatred or discomfort of one’s sex and/or the gender roles assigned to their sex. Because gender roles are so intertwined with biological sex on a global scale, many people are unable to view the two as separate, which leads to the misconception that hatred of the gender roles assigned to one’s sex indicates that one is a different sex.

DETRANSITION & DESISTANCE

Detransition refers to individuals (detransitioners) who have undergone some form of medical “transition” (hormones, surgery, or both) and have since decided to cease further treatment and/or attempt to reverse their transition. Desisters are those who did not necessarily pursue medical transition but who, at one point, identified as transgender, and no longer do.

ROGD

Rapid-Onset Gender Dysphoria is a term recently coined to refer to the epidemic of young and adolescent women, many of whom are lesbian or bisexual, who seemingly suddenly decide to pursue “gender transition.” Distinct from children who showed marked gender-nonconformity and/or dysphoria from a very young age, ROGD generally describes the cases of teen and pre-teen girls who did not previously exhibit signs of dysphoria, but who began suddenly embracing gender ideology through social and media influences.

CONVERSION THERAPY/PRACTICE

Conversion therapy describes the attempt to change an individual’s homosexual or bisexual orientation to heterosexual through psychological, physical, medical, and/or spiritual means. Primarily used by homophobic doctors and religious fundamentalists, conversion therapy remains one of the most horrific forms of oppression against same-sex oriented people. LGB Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand adamantly opposes all forms of conversion therapy, including the encouragement of gender non-conforming and LGB youth to “transition” into an opposite-sex role. Homophobia amongst transition-affirming parents is well documented, as most parents would rather have a straight “trans” child than a gay one, which many have openly admitted.

COTTON CEILING/BOXER CEILING

The term “cotton ceiling” was coined by trans activist and porn star Drew DeVeaux as a play on “glass ceiling,” which describes the challenges in workforce advancement that women face due to misogyny. The “cotton” in cotton ceiling is a reference to lesbians’ underwear; thus, the term refers to the challenge that trans-identifying males face when attempting to coerce lesbians into accepting them as sexual partners. Similarly, the “boxer ceiling” later arose in reference to trans-identified females attempting to coerce gay men into sex. Both concepts are deeply lesbophobic and homophobic, promoting rape rhetoric and conversion therapy.