The following glossary is intended as a point of reference for straight (heterosexual) readers who may be confused about some of the terms used in the articles in this issue. It is important to remember that the appropriate way of talking about oppressed groups of people changes over time in various contexts. Name changes reflect changes in the gay and lesbian community, within which there is no consensus about how some of these terms should be applied. The important thing is to be aware of how these terms are used and to make informed decisions about which terms you are selecting. Some terms are appropriate only within the gay and lesbian community, and straight people should be aware of this. It's important, though, not to become paralyzed around talking about these issues because you aren't sure which term is the most "correct."

This list was compiled from a variety of sources, especially drawing from the fact sheet produced by the Friends Project in Seattle, Washington, edited by Maggi Rohde: www.msu.edu/~alliance/gayfaq.htm

1. Ally: Any person or institution who understands how doing anti-homophobic work benefits them and their people, and then goes ahead and does that work. Being an ally is more active than being a friend.

2. Bisexuality: Sexual attraction to and/or behavior with both sexes.

3. Coming out: The act of defining oneself as gay or lesbian. There are significant moments and incidents of "coming out" -- to family, religious community, neighbors, colleagues. Coming out also represents the daily, ongoing need to not be made invisible in a heterosexist society.

4. Dyke: Many lesbians self-identify as dyke. This is not a word all lesbians feel comfortable with. It is still a loaded term that is used in a derogatory way by homophobic people.

5. Fluid: A term suggesting that sexuality and gender are social constructs and that it is natural to feel a certain "fluidity" in sexual attraction and identity. Fluid refers to accepting the continuum of sexual orientation from gay to straight with every nuance in between.

6. Gay: Traditionally, the term gay has referred to men. It has come to include lesbians, bisexuals, transgender, transexuals, etc. The word came from the Gay Liberation movement.

7. GLBT: A shortcut for including gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender people.

8. Heterosexism: Believing heterosexual lifestyle is superior to other lifestyles; promoting heterosexual lifestyle.

9. Heterosexuality: Sexual attraction to and/or behavior with the other sex.

10. Homophobia: The fear, intolerance, mistreatment, and oppression of homosexuality, bisexuality, lesbian women, gay men. It is often used to express the mistreatment and oppression of gay people by individuals and/or institutions.

11. Homosexuality: Sexual attraction and/or behavior with the same sex. sexuality, lesbian women, gay men. It often used to express the mistreatment and oppression of gay people by individuals and/or institutions.

12. Lesbian: Gay woman. Most lesbians prefer the term lesbian because it gives gay women an identity independent from men. There is a growing diversity of lesbian lifestyle and culture. Many lesbians self-identify as dykes.

13. Outed: (As in, "They 'outed' her at the meeting.") When someone tells other people that another person is gay.

14. Partner: A term used to describe a sweetie, loved one, wife/husband, comrade-in-life, within the gay community. It is also a term straight people consciously use for their lovers/spouses as an act against hetereosexism.

15. Queer: A term, loved by some gay people, hated by others, that reflects inclusion of gay, straight, transexual, transgender, bisexual, and questioning people. Outside of the gay/lesbian community, queer is a derogatory term used by homophobic people.

16. Questioning: Being open to defining one's sexual orientation.

17. Sexual Orientation: Sexual orientation is the term people use to define what gender they are sexually attracted to. A person who has a sexual attraction to members of the opposite gender is called heterosexual (or straight), while someone who has a sexual attraction to members of the same gender is a homosexual person. Sexual orientation is a continuum, not a set of absolutely different categories. It is not known what determines a person's sexual orientation.

18. Transgender: This has become a catchword for transvestites, transexuals, female and male impersonators, drag queens, those without a specific gender label.

19. Transsexual: Changing to another gender: surgically, chemically, and/or aesthetically.

Teaching Ideas

• Hand out words on index cards to students. See how they would define the terms, then discuss definitions.
  
• For the term "homophobia": Have students list examples of homophobia, from name calling to violence against gays and lesbians.
  
• For the term "heterosexism:" To expand upon this term, ask students to list ways people "tell" them they are straight, even without explicitly saying it. (Naming their partners as "husband" or "wife," for example.)

Stefanie Mattfeld teaches writing at Springfield College and mentors ESOL teachers-in-training at Simmons College. She has taught ESOL in adult basic education programs for several years. She can be reached at: steftoni2@yahoo.com   Deborah Schwartz teaches at the Boston Secure Treatment Unit of the Judge Connolly Baker Youth Center in Roslindale. She's not yet out to her students (but give her six months!). She can be reached at 617-288-9100, x219.