2SLGBTQI+ Language & Definitions Guide for Inclusive Workplaces

2SLGBTQI+ Language & Definitions Guide for Inclusive Workplaces is a resource to help people gain a clearer understanding of key words and meanings. It is not inclusive of the full spectrum of terminology related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression, nor do the definitions provided fully express the nuances of each term.

Terms and definitions have been sourced from a course presented by The Canadian Diversity Initiative. Terms are presented in alphabetical order.

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2SLGBTQI+

2SLGBTQI+ stands for: Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, and intersex. The plus sign (+) acknowledges the broader diversity of identities that exist in our communities, including non-binary, pansexual, asexual, and others.

ALLY

In the workplace, an ally is someone who supports and stands up for the rights of coworkers who identify as 2SLGBTQI+. While the term often refers to someone who does not identify as 2SLGBTQI+, anyone can be an ally by supporting others and speaking up when it matters. Allies play a critical role in creating respectful and inclusive workplaces. Their actions help shape a culture where all employees feel safe, supported, and able to contribute fully.

ASEXUAL

Someone who does not experience sexual attraction, or who has little to no interest in sexual activity, may identify as asexual.

ASSIGNED SEX

Assigned sex is the biological classification of a person as male, female, or intersex. It’s usually assigned at birth based on the physical characteristics of the newborn.

BISEXUAL

Someone who's attracted to both people of a different gender and people of their own gender may identify as bisexual.

CISGENDER

Cisgender describes a person whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth. For example, a cisgender woman is someone who was assigned female at birth and identifies as a woman.

CISNORMATIVITY

Cisnormativity is the assumption that being cisgender is the normal or expected way of being, and that other gender identities are less typical or less valid. Cisnormativity and heteronormativity generally go hand-in-hand.

DIVERSITY

Diversity refers to the many ways people differ from one another. This can include characteristics such as race, ethnicity, culture, religion, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. People also differ in how they work and communicate. Personality, work style, and ways of thinking shape how individuals approach their roles and interact with others. A diverse workplace includes people with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

GAY

Someone who's attracted to people of the same gender may identify as gay.

GENDER

Gender is not a synonym for assigned sex. It is more complex. Gender includes the roles, behaviours, expectations, and identities that societies associate with people based on their assigned sex.

GENDER BINARY

In many Western cultures, gender has traditionally been understood through a gender binary. This is a limited view that classifies people as either male or female and sets expectations based on narrow ideas of masculinity and femininity.

GENDER EXPRESSION

Gender expression encompasses the many ways we express our gender, including speech, body language, mannerisms, hairstyle, and clothing. People may express their gender as masculine, feminine, both, neither, or something else.

GENDER FLUID

A person who identifies as gender fluid may identify as male sometimes and as female, or genderless, at other times.

GENDER IDENTITY

Gender identity is a person’s internal and individual sense of gender. Our gender identity begins to develop early in life. It may, or may not, align with what society expects based on assigned sex.

HARASSMENT

Harassment includes unwelcome conduct, comments, or actions that a reasonable person would know are offensive, intimidating, humiliating, or degrading. It may involve a single serious incident or a pattern of behaviour over time. Workplace harassment is prohibited under human rights legislation when based on protected grounds, which include sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. It is also identified as a workplace hazard in Canadian occupational health and safety laws, meaning that employers are legally required to prevent and address it.

HETERONORMATIVITY

Heteronormativity is the assumption that being heterosexual is the normal or expected way of being, and that other sexual orientations are less typical or less valid. Heteronormativity and cisnormativity generally go hand-in-hand.

HETEROSEXISM

Heterosexism refers to the assumption that everyone is heterosexual, and likely cisgender. It is often less overt and may be unintentional or unrecognized by the person or organization responsible. Heterosexism can contribute to institutional or systemic discrimination, and often operates alongside homophobia.

HETEROSEXUAL

Someone who is attracted to people of a different gender may identify as heterosexual, or straight.

INCLUSION

Inclusion is about how people experience an organization based on their interactions with others and how the organizational culture feels to them. In an inclusive workplace, the identities, ideas, and opinions of diverse employees are recognized as valuable; policies, practices, and social interactions are respectful; and each employee has an equal opportunity to participate and thrive.

INTERSEX

Intersex is an umbrella term used to describe people born with genitalia, hormones, internal anatomy, or chromosomes that don’t fit typical definitions of male or female. There are many ways to be intersex. Some traits are noticed at birth, while others may not be identified until later in life. Being intersex is not a medical problem. It’s a normal, natural, healthy way bodies can be.

LESBIAN

Someone who identifies as a woman and is attracted to others who identify as women may use the term lesbian.

NONBINARY

A person whose gender identity falls outside of the gender binary (male/female) may identify as nonbinary, or genderqueer. Someone who identifies as nonbinary may feel like a mix of genders, or like they have no gender at all.

PANSEXUAL

A person who is attracted to a diversity of genders may identify as pansexual.

PERSONAL PRONOUNS

When speaking and writing, we frequently use personal pronouns to take the place of people’s names. Often, we choose gender-specific pronouns, such as she/her or he/him, but there are many third-person pronouns that someone might choose to use, including they/them, zie/hir, xe/xem, and others. Using someone’s correct gender pronouns is one of the simplest ways to demonstrate respect for their identity.

/PHOBIA

The term phobia is used to describe an intense, irrational fear or aversion to something. Homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, and queerphobia, are terms used to describe it when these intense, irrational, and dangerous feelings are directed towards members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities.

QUEER

As an umbrella term, queer can encompass a broad range of identities related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Some individuals also use the term queer to reflect how these aspects of their identity are connected, and to move away from more specific labels related to sexual orientation or gender.

QUESTIONING

Questioning refers to the process of exploring and understanding your feelings about how you experience attraction and/or gender, the language available to describe those feelings, and how this may affect your interactions with others in your social context. A person who is questioning may be exploring or unsure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Some people who are questioning may choose not to use a label, and that choice should be respected.

SEXUAL ORIENTATION

Sexual orientation refers to a person’s pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attraction to other people.

SYSTEMIC DISCRIMINATION

When the policies, practices, and patterns of behaviour in an organization create or maintain disadvantages for certain groups, this is called systemic discrimination.

TRANS/TRANSGENDER

The term transgender, often shortened to trans, refers to someone whose gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth. Trans can be used as an umbrella term that includes a range of gender identities and expressions.

RESPECTFUL WORKPLACE

A respectful workplace is one where employees feel safe, are treated fairly, can be all of who they are, and are able to focus on getting their work done. In a respectful workplace, the daily behaviours between individuals reflect consideration and acceptance of each other, and the policies and practices of the organization support diversity and inclusion.

TWO-SPIRIT

Some Indigenous people who are 2SLGBTQI+ choose to identify as Two-Spirit. Two-Spirit is a culturally specific identity that reflects the interrelatedness of all aspects of identity, including gender, sexuality, culture, community, and spirituality.