LGBTQIA+

We support all LGBTQIA+ young people and have really good links with other services in York. Whether you are LGBTQIA+ and struggling with your mental health, questioning your sexuality or gender identity, or the parent/carer of an LGBTQIA+ young person, we are here to support you. Here you’ll find some information on gender and sexuality.

So where do we start? Firstly we need to separate what gender and sexuality are. So here goes…

Queer

This is an umbrella term for all things LGBTQIA+. It was originally a derogatory term, but has been reclaimed by the Queer community. Some older LGBTQIA+ people don’t like this word, or won’t use it, as it used to be negative, but many young people use this word to describe themselves and the community.

Here at York Mind, we often use the word Queer when we talk, instead of saying “LGBTQIA+” – as this is the word our young people and they other people we work with prefer. However, we’re always attentive to people’s individual preferences.

Lesbian

Women who have sexual or romantic attraction to women may describe themselves as lesbian.

Gay

People who are attracted to other people of the same gender as them often describe themselves as gay. This has been traditionally used to describe gay men, but many people use the word gay when they are LGBTQIA+.

Non-binary/enby/nb

Umbrella term for gender identity that doesn’t fit within the male/female gender binary

Transgender/trans

Usually, a person whose gender identity doesn’t match the sex they were assigned at birth. For example, a trans man was assigned female at birth, and trans woman was assigned male at birth.

Preferred pronouns

How someone wants to be referred to, such as calling them he, she, or they when you talk about them.

Deadname

A birth name someone has rejected.

Asexual/Aromantic

Asexual people don’t experience sexual attraction, but they may still choose to have sex. Aromantic describes a person who doesn’t experience romantic attraction to other people.

Intersex

When someone has both female and male biological features, like genitals, chromosomes, and sex hormones.

Gender dysphoria/feeling dysphoric

Used to describe when a person experiences discomfort or distress because there is a mismatch between their sex assigned at birth and their gender identity, or they way they are perceived by society/their peers.

Cisgender/Cis

Cisgender refers to someone whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth.

Passing

Some trans people want to express themselves in a way which means they pass for a cis man or woman. We do this by using things society sees as masculine or feminine, like certain clothes and ways of behaving. This can be key to someone’s gender expression.

Ally

Someone who is supporting of Queer rights and people but is not themselves.

More info