Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender & Questioning Teens
Tucson Arizona

Androgynous dyke

A lesbian who is neither very masculine nor very feminine. The push for lesbians to look androgynous came during the 1970s as part of lesbian feminism, and was a backlash against the Butch/Femme social structure of the working class bar scene. See also flannel-shirt dyke and PC dyke. (RS)

Bareback

Engaging in sex without a condom, extremely risky, possibly life-threatening practice.Top of Page

Bisexual

Attracted to people of both sexes.

Bull Dyke

A lesbian who dresses and behaves in a masculine fashion.

Butch

A male or female who has strong male characteristics, mannerisms, or behavior. Strong or tough. Displaying traits considered masculine. Describes both physical build and personality, and applied to both genders.

Butch/Femme

1) (adj) describing a relationship in which one person is femme and one is butch, and describing the dynamic between them 2) the social structure prevalent in working-class lesbian bars up through the early 1970s. This structure was strictly enforced by peer pressure. One had to be either a butch or a femme, and butches only dated femmes and femmes only dated butches. There was a lot of backlash against this structure in the 1970s when lesbian feminism emerged, and for a long time butches and femmes were absolutely politically incorrect, and were likely to be shunned by the feminist lesbian community. Butch/femme is starting to make a comeback. In its new form, it is not rigidly enforced: women are butch or femme because it is their own personality, and nothing else. Butch-on-butch and femme-on-femme are no longer discriminated against. There is, however, still very strong anti-butch/femme sentiment. (RS)

Camp

An ironic, often gay-identified approach to life, dress and speech gaining popularity following Susan Sontag's essay, "Notes Toward a Definition of Camp" in the Parisian Review in 1964. (RS) Top of Page

Chicken

A young gale male, usually in his teens or early twenties. (RS)

Chicken hawk

An older gay man who pursues boys or very young men. (RS)

Clone

First appearing in the 1970s, it refers to a gay man of a certain, somewhat standardized appearance. The classic look includes short-cropped hair, trim mustache, flannel shirt and Levi's brand 501 jeans -- on a relatively well sculptured body. Interchangeable with Castro clone after the main street of San Francisco's gay district. (RS)

Closet

The place where gay women and men figuratively hide their homosexuality. (RS) "In the closet" means not being open about being gay. This person may be referred to by others as "a closet case" or "closet queen".

Come out

To acknowledge your homosexuality; either to oneself or others. See closet. (RS)

Community

Describes the sense of finally belonging or identifying with a group of gays.

Cruise

To actively look for a sex partner in areas others are likely to be found engaged in the same pursuit.

Dharma

Sanskrit word, means law, truth, anything Buddhist. It is used in the sense of all things, visible or invisible. The historical Buddha held talks with his followers about the truth of our existence as human beings.Top of Page

Diamond Sangha

A sect of Zen Buddhism founded by Robert Aitken Roshi (a co-founder of Buddhist Peace Fellowship) based upon teachings by Yamada Roshi and Yasatani Roshi. Diamond Sangha has personal freedom as one of its precepts including non-discrimination for sexual orientation.

Drag

To dress in a way usually identified with the opposite sex. Differs from transvestitism in that drag usually refers to a specific act of cross-dressing, while transvestitism is applied to the general enjoyment of the act. "Dressing in drag," "Im in a drag show," "I'll be going to the party in drag." See also drag queen.

Drag Queen

A person known to dress in drag on occasion, or who performs in public in drag.

Dyke

A lesbian. Derived from 19th cent. slang, dike, referring to male clothing. When first used it carried a derogatory connotation of masculine appearance or behavior. The connotation is still present, but many lesbians adopted the word as their term of preference. (RS) Also used as a put-down for a lesbian. "What a dyke."

Faerie

A common derogatory term of the 20th century for a male homosexual, especially one who acts and dresses in an effeminate manner. Recently reclaimed by gay men. Radical faeries, are asserting pride in their refusal of the traditional male roles. A gay/bisexual male who may not conform to societys stereotypical role of a male, not butch and not extremely femme.Top of Page

Fag Hag

A heterosexual woman who socializes extensively with gay men. Sometimes, but not always pejorative. (RS)

Fag(got)

A male homosexual. Like dyke, the term was originally an epithet, but has been adopted by many gay men. In the early years of the Gay Liberation movement, some activists suggested it's derivative was from fagot, kindling used during the Inquisition when heretics, homosexuals and others, were burned at the stake. Others look to fag, the younger boys in British boy' schools used to do menial tasks for the upperclassmen. (RS) Also used as a put-down for a gay male. "Hey, you fag!" "He's such a faggot."

Family

A member of the homosexual community; implies that you gain support from the clusters of gay people around you. Also considered an extension of the nuclear family. Usage: "Oh, hes family, for sure!"

Femme

A lesbian or gay man who acts or dresses effeminately. A male who has female mannerisms, characteristics, or behavior. A female can also be considered femme if she has overly feminim characteristics or mannerisms. Opposite of butch.

Friend of Dorothy or sister of Dorothy

A code word for a gay person, originating from The Wizard of Oz. (RS)

FTM

Acronym for a Female-to-Male transexual person.

Gay

Homosexual. In the 17th century the term was expanded from its earlier meaning of cheerful to refer to men with a reputation for being playboys (gay Lothario first appeared in 1703). By the early 1800s, it was further expanded to refer to women with a reputation for sexual promiscuity. The term was first self-applied in the early 20th cent. By the 1970s, it was a standard, non-slang synonym for homosexual. (RS) Top of Page

Gay-bashing

To verbally or physically attack a person because they are homosexual; other forms are verbal put-downs and epithets such as "fag", "dyke", "lez", "homo", "thats so gay" for extreme derision about something bad.

Gaydar

Gay radar, the sense by which queers identify other queers. (RS)

Heterosexism

the belief that heterosexuality is superior to homosexuality or bisexuality, or the tendency to assume that everyone is heterosexual. (RS) Top of Page

Heterosexual

Attracted to the opposite sex. Considered the opposite of homosexual, it was used in the late 19th century to identify people attracted to both sexes; what we call today, bisexual. (RS)

Homophobia

Irrational fear of gay people and homosexuality. Coined by George Weinberg in Society and the Healthy Homosexual. (RS) Feelings that homosexuality is not normal, or that homosexuals are bad people, heterosexuals are "normal"

Homosexual

Attracted physically to the same sex. Coined in 1869 by Karl Maria Kertbeny. First appears in U.S. medical journals in the 1890s, and in general usage by the 1920s. (RS)

In the life

being out as queer and living in the queer community. (RS) Top of Page

Kinsey Six

A person who is completely homosexual, as opposed to one with some bisexual inclinations. Sex researcher Alfred Kinsey developed a scale from 0 to 6 to indicate a subject's sexual orientation. A person with no homosexual feelings was ranked a zero. Someone exclusively homosexual was a 6. (RS)

Lambda

The Greek letter which transliterates as L. To the Greeks, it was a symbol of justice and equality, taking its shape from the scales of justice. It was adopted as a gay pride/gay rights symbol by the Mattachine Society in the 1970s, and is an international symbol of gay pride. Mattachine adopted it because of the symbolism of Justice and because they had been told that the army of one of the Greek city-states used to paint the lambda on their shields, and members of Greek armies, because of the male-only environment they lived in, frequently took male lovers. (RS) Top of Page

Lesbian

A gay woman. The ancient Greek poet, Sappho lived on the island of Lesbos. As Sappho became known for her poems celebrating love between women, the term changed from "one who lives on Lesbos" to "a woman like Sappho and her followers." a homosexual woman. The word derives from the Greek island of Lesbos, where the poetess Sappho ran a school for young women, and often wrote erotic poetry about love between women. She is considered by many lesbians to have been a lesbian, although she was married and had children. (RS)

Lez(zie)

A put-down for a lesbian. "Look at that lezzie."

Lipstick lesbian

1) A lesbian who behaves in a very feminine manner, not so much because she is a femme, but to distance herself from dykedom. These types tend to not even like the word "lesbian" and be very closeted. They tend to run ads that say things like, "Feminine-acting woman seeks feminine-acting woman for romance. No drugs, smokers, or butches." They are also considered irritating by dykes. 2) Synonym for High Femme. (RS)

Mahayana

Also called Great Vehicle or Bodhisattva Vehicle. It is a school of Buddhism prevalent in China, Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Tibet and other places in the Far East. Mahayana is described as seeking Buddhahood and transforming beings, thus self-benefiting for the benefits of the others. Top of Page

Maricón

The Spanish equivalent for faggot. (RS)

Mariposa

Spanish for butterfly, has also come to refer to a male homosexual. (RS)

Mary

A gay man, usually used in sentences like, "Get over yourself, Mary!" (RS)

MTF

Acronym for a Male-to-Female transexual person.

Nelly

Similar to femme. Top of Page

Number

A trick, or casual sex partner. (RS)

Open and Accepting

In the context of an organized group, such as a church congregation: practice within the group is available for all, there is a written non-discrimination policy or doctrine that specifies gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender members are fully embraced as honored members of the congregation and are not discriminated against because of their sexuality.

Out of the closet

A phrase describing a person who no longer attempts to hide being gay, a person who lives life as a known homosexual and has no shame about that fact.

Pansy

An effeminate gay man. Usually derogatory, it has been used since the 1920s. (RS) Top of Page

Pink Triangle

The symbol gay men were made to wear in the Nazi concentration camps. It became a symbol of gay pride, and was first used to remind some homophobic Jews that homosexuals were in the concentration camps, too. (RS)

Queen

Effeminate gay man, from the 16th century, quean, a disparaging word for an unpleasant or promiscuous woman. (RS) A gay male who has dignity while being nelly. "Screaming Queen" is a queen with far less dignity and composure. "Raging Queen" is similar but with an added level of cynicism and ascorbic personality. Top of Page

Queer

A noun used to describe a homosexual without resorting to a definitive label. Instead of describing oneself as bisexual male, a more general term would be to use queer.

Queer Nation

An activist organization, very loosely organized. Founded by Michaelangelo Signorile, Queer Nation tends to attract young liberal radicals, and tends to chant things like "We're Here, We're Queer, Get Used To It!" (RS)

Questioning

Used in the context of sexual orientation, someone who is challenging inner beliefs and feelings toward homosexuality, dealing with their own homophobia

Roshi

The name given to a Zen master of a monastery, one who gives Zen instruction to pupil-monks. A Zen guide. Top of Page

Sangha

From the Pali for order or assembly.

Sapphistry

Lesbian love, derived from Sappho. (RS)

Significant Other (SO)

From the 1970s; a partner in a serious relationship. (RS)

Size Queen

A gay man who is especially interested in well endowed partners. (RS)

Sodomy

Sexual acts deemed unnatural by religious and legal precedents. (RS)

Stonewall

The Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in the late 1960s on Christopher Street, Greenwich Village, New York, which was raided by police on the night of June 28th, 1969. The queers in the bar (mostly butches, femmes, leathermen, leatherdykes, and drag queens) fought back, trapping police inside, breaking windows, and setting fire to the bar. Rioting continued for five days.
These riots are generally considered to be the birth of the gay pride movement, although there were groups before that, such as the Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis. (RS)

Sugar daddy

An older man who provides for a younger sex partner. (RS)

Transgender

A person who feels that they are a member of the opposite sex, that they have been trapped in their body all of their lives; this person may simply alter their image at times to appear as a member of the opposite sex or they may live their life as a member of the opposite sex. Some individuals use hormones to take on aspects of the opposite sex, i.e., men take female hormones to help develop breasts, women take male hormones to help grow facial and body hair. Some individuals undergo surgery to permanently alter their genitals to appear as members of the opposite sex. Top of Page

Transgender(ed) or TG

1) Anyone who crosses gender boundaries, including, but not limited to, transsexuals and transvestites. 2) A person who lives mostly or completely in the gender not associated with their birth sex, but who does not identify as a transsexual. (RS)

Transsexuality

Identification with and a desire to be the opposite sex.

Transvestite

A person who dresses in the clothing of the opposite sex for pleasure or fun complete with makeup, hair, mannerisms; this does not mean that the transvestite is homosexual. See also "drag"

Transvestitism

Dressing in clothing of the opposite gender.

Troll

To cruise. Also used by young gay men to describe older, undesirable men. (RS)

TS

A transsexual, now called transgender. (RS)

Zazen

Sitting meditation; a type of Zen discipline. Japanese for quiet meditation in the Zen Buddhist practice. Top of Page

Zen Buddhism

The Japanese form of Buddhism from the Mahayana school originally practiced in China and brought to Japan in the 7^th century by Bodhidharma. One of the main schools of Japanese Buddhism, original Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese ideograph Ch'an, derived from Sanskrit dhyana.

Zendo

An established, physical, consecrated structure that is a meeting place for a group of Zen Buddhists for meditation (see zazen), dharma talks, and other group gatherings necessary for the development of a Zen Buddhist sangha; meditation hall; building in which monks live and practice zazen; zen monastery or school.