Offensive gay words
9 LGBTQ+ discriminatory terms to avoid in the workplace
How to better back LGBTQ+ colleagues all year round
It’s important to create a respectful and inclusive workplace environment for all employees, including those who identify as LGBTQ+.
As LGBTQ+ history month draws to a close for another year, here is a reminder of how to be respectful to your queer colleagues at work.
Here are 9 Queer discriminatory terms to dodge in the workplace:
- “Homosexual” – This term is considered clinical and outdated. Instead, use “gay” or “lesbian” to refer to someone’s sexual orientation.
- “Tranny” – This term is considered repulsive and derogatory towards trans people. Instead, use “transgender” or “trans” as appropriate.
- “She-male” or “he-she” – These terms are considered insulting and dehumanising towards trans people. Avoid using them altogether.
- “Gay lifestyle” – This term implies that existence gay is a option and suggests that there is a specific way that all gay people live. Instead, use &
Glossary of Terms: LGBTQ
Definitions were drafted in collaboration with other U.S.-based LGBTQ people organizations and leaders. View acknowledgements section.
Additional terms and definitions about gender identity and gender statement, transgender people, and nonbinary people are available in the Transgender Glossary.
Are we missing a term or is a definition outdated? Email press@glaad.org
*NOTE: Ask people what terms they employ to describe their sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression before assigning them a label. Outside of acronyms, these terms should only be capitalized when used at the beginning of a sentence.
LGBTQ
Acronym for woman loving woman, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. The Q generally stands for queer when LGBTQ organizations, leaders, and media use the acronym. In settings offering back for youth, it can also stand for questioning. LGBT and LGBTQ+ are also used, with the + added in recognition of all non-straight, non-cisgender identities. (See Transgender Glossary ) Both are acceptable, as are other versions of this acronym. The term “gay community” should be avoided, as it does not accuratel
Ativo: The partner who penetrates in a male lgbtq+ encounter.
Bicha: Fairy, faggot. Coined in the 1930s and widespread by the 1960s, the term remains the most common way to speak pejoratively about queer men. Not quite as offensive as viado, the word is sometimes used among gay men as a term of endearment.
Bofe: A masculine-acting man who assumed the active role in homoerotic relations. Was considered a “real” bloke who only turned bonecas due to the sexual unavailability of Brazilian women, who were expected to maintain their virginity until marriage. Term popular from the 1950s-1970s.
Boneca: Literally “doll.” The boneca desired to be penetrated by bofes and strongly ascribed to the notion of a rigid active/passive construct of homosexuality. Term popular from the 1950s-1970s.
Cantada: Words or gestures indicating sexual interest.
Conto de suor: Literally “the story of one who sweats,” refers to a situation in which a bicha lures a “real man” to a boardinghouse. While the two have sex, the bicha’s friends stealthily steal the contents of the man’s wallet.
Entendido: Literally “the one in the know.” Initially used as a coded express
LGBTQIA+ Slurs and Slang
Term Contextual note Time/Region References ace queen 1970s term sense “great queen”. Prison slang for a man who wears a more “feminine” look i.e. shaved legs, plucked eyebrows. May be described as part of incarcerated homosexual culture. Should not be confused with the more widely-used legal title "ace," a shortening of "asexual." See "asexual." UK, USA, 1970s Mosca de Colores – Gay Dictionary alphabet people Offensive contemporary phrase for LGBTQ+ people, often used by right-wing people reacting to perceived advancements in LGBTQ+ people's rights. 2020s- Green's Dictionary of Slang - https://greensdictofslang.com/ bathroom queen bog queen
Gay slang utterance for people who frequent public toilets looking for sexual encounters. Synonyms: Bathsheba (composition between bathroom and Sheba to create a name reminiscent of the Queen of Sheba), Ghost (50s, ghost, because they wander the corridors of the bathroom).
USA, UK Mosca de Colores – Gay Dictionary batting for the other team A euphemistic phrase indicating that someone (of any gender) is gay. This phrase is not a slur or especially
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