List of LGBTQ terms

Like all communities, the LGBTQ+ community often uses many words or concepts which may be unfamiliar to others. This page lists all such terms and jargon which pertain to the Rainverse, including a brief overview of each term. As the understanding and meaning of these terms may change drastically over time, we have included links to external pages that provide more in-depth information.

This list describes each term only briefly, and omits many important nuances and considerations. Please visit the linked resources for a more complete understanding.

Acronyms

LGBT is short for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender. The acronym was historically written GLBT. Other common variations include LGBTQ+ and LGBTQIA.

Gender

Gender refers to how one relates to the gender categories within one's societal and cultural context.
Gender Identity refers to the way an individual experiences their identity in relation to social and cultural norms and expectations regarding gender categories.
Male is a gender identity which is part of the gender binary. Man is a term used for adults, and corresponds to the terms "boy" (for children), "male" (adjective), and "masculinity".
Female is a gender identity which is part of the gender binary. Woman is a term used for adults, and corresponds to the terms "girl" (for children and adolescents), "female" (adjective), and "femininity". The Rainverse features several female characters.
Non-Binary (also spelled Nonbinary) refers to genders that do not fall strictly within the category of the binary genders used in Western society.
Binary genders, the antonym of non-binary, refer to the genders male and female. In the Rainverse, the majority of characters we meet have binary genders, including Rain, Chiaki, Gavin, Maria, Rudy, and Fara.
Genderfluid refers to people who feel different genders at different times. Some genderfluid people may have a set rhythm of when their gender changes, while others may have more spontaneous occurrences. In the Rainverse, Ky is genderfluid.
Gender dysphoria, also known in gender contexts simply as "dysphoria", refers to a complex negative feeling or feelings about some aspect of one's experience of gender. Many transgender people do not experience gender dysphoria.
Gender euphoria is the opposite of dysphoria. It refers to positive feelings about one's experience of gender.
Cisgender (also called Cis in casual contexts) refers to a person who is not transgender. In the Rainverse, Gavin, Fara, Maria and Rudy are considered cisgender, while Rain is not.
Transgender (also called Trans in casual contexts) is an umbrella term that usually refers to a person whose sex assigned to them at birth does not well describe or align with their gender identity. The Rainverse features several transgender characters.
Transgender Man, also shortened to Trans Man, is a man who is trans. In the Rainverse, Vincent, Lorcan, Will, Ryan Dixon, and Harley are trans men.
Transgender Woman, also shortened to Trans Woman, is a woman who is trans. In the Rainverse, Rain, Ana, Jessica, Carmen, Nagisa, and Phoebe are trans women.
Transsexual refers to people (usually transgender people) who have undergone or wish to undergo a physical or medical gender transition. The term transsexual was used early on in Rain, but was phased out as the term fell out of favor in the real world.
Intersex refers to people who were born with any variation in sex characteristics that do not fit those of typical male or female bodies.
Gender assigned at birth (also called Assigned gender at birth, often shortened to AGAB) is the way a person's sex was described (or physically assigned, in the case of many intersex conditions) at the time of their birth. In Western culture, most people were either assigned female at birth (AFAB) or assigned male at birth (AMAB).
Transition refers to a person's process to reach their desired gender role and/or physicality. There are as many transition processes as there are transgender people, and may involve as few or as many actual steps or actions as the person desires.
Bigender refers to people who are two genders at once. This may be the binary genders male and female, or it may be a different set of genders.
Agender refers to people who do not have a gender.
Hormone Replacement Therapy refers to the use of medicine to adjust hormone levels. While most commonly used by cis people, it is also commonly used by trans people as part of transition.
Gender Presentation refers to how someone's appearance is classified by society. In the Rainverse, Ruby presents female despite the fact that she is male. A trans person who presents as their assigned gender is sometimes said to be in drab, as Rain was during Chapters 11 and 12.

Sexual attraction

Also known as Sexuality or Sexual orientation. Not to be confused with romantic attraction; some people may have sexual attractions that map onto their romantic attractions, while others may have different sexual and romantic attractions.

This is not an exhaustive list, see "Romantic and sexual orientation" on the Nonbinary Wiki for a more extensive one.

Homosexual refers to people who are sexually attracted to people of the same gender.
Gay may be either a synonym of homosexual, or it may refer to non-heterosexual people. Some lesbians may refer to themselves as gay.
Lesbian refers to people identifying with womanhood who are sexually attracted to other people who also identify with womanhood. Some lesbians may refer to themselves as gay.
Heterosexual refers to people who are sexually attracted to the other people of another gender.
Straight is a synonym of heterosexual.
Bisexual, as currently defined in the Rainverse, refers to people who are sexually attracted to two or more genders. Its outside definition, especially in regards to non-binary genders, is unclear.
Pansexual refers to people who are sexually attracted to all genders.
Omnisexual refers to people who are sexually attracted to all genders, but might have a preference for some genders over others.
Asexual (also called Ace in casual contexts) refers to people who do not feel sexual attraction.
Demisexual refers to people who do not feel sexual attraction until they are deeply emotionally connected with someone. Sometimes called Demi in casual contexts.
Allosexual refers to people who feel sexual attraction.

Romantic attraction

Not to be confused with sexual attraction; some people may have romantic attractions that map onto their sexual attractions, while others may have different sexual and romantic attractions.

This is not an exhaustive list, see "Romantic and sexual orientation" on the Nonbinary Wiki for a more extensive one.

Homoromantic refers to people who are romantically attracted to people of the same or similar gender.
Heteroromantic refers to people who are romantically attracted to people of another gender.
Panromantic refers to people who are romantically attracted to all genders.
Demiromantic refers to people who do not feel romantic attraction until they are deeply emotionally connected with someone.
Aromantic (also called Aro in casual contexts) refers to people who do not feel romantic attraction.
Polyamorous (also called Poly) is an orientation that encompasses people who might want to be in a relationship with more than one person at once. In the Rainverse, Blair, Isaac, Shelby, Carlos, and Ky are poly.

Slang

Beard refers to a significant other who a person retains in order to appear heterosexual.
Deadname refers to the name a trans person was assigned at birth but does not want associated with them.
Drab refers to transgender people presenting as their assigned gender at birth rather than their actual gender; this is usually used for trans women presenting as men.
Fag hag refers to a woman who associates mainly with gay and bisexual men. In Rain, Rudy offered to be Rain's "fag hag" after they broke up.
Passing in gender contexts refers to a person's relative ability to appear as a desired gender based on how they present themselves. This term has fallen out of favor in some circles because there is no clear guide or measure for when a person "passes" as one gender or another.
Queer usually refers to the LGBT+ community as a whole. It may also refer to a subset of the community which prefers not to label the way in which their gender or sexuality differs from Western societal norms.
FtM stands for Female-to-Male, an old term for a trans man.
MtF stands for Male-to-Female, an old term for a trans woman.

Other

Crossdressing is the act of wearing clothes that are expected of a gender that is not one's own.
Drag refers to exaggerated or performative cross-dressing. In the Rainverse, Isaac does drag performances and Jessica enjoys watching drag.
Homophobia describes a range of negative attitudes and behavior toward homosexuality or LGBT people generally. People who exhibit homophobia are sometimes called homophobes. Several homophobes are featured as antagonists in the Rainverse, including Norman, Father Quenton, and Todd.
Therian are creatures who identify with nonhuman species.
Gatekeeper refers to a medical doctor or other person who holds power who attempts to prevent to delay trans people from transitioning unless the gatekeeper believes they are "real" trans people. In the Rainverse, Rain's previous therapist before Vincent was a gatekeeper, while Vincent is notably *not* a gatekeeper.
Coming out refers to a person revealing they are queer. People who have come out are sometimes said to be "out" or "open."
Clocking refers to recognizing that a trans person is trans when they don't want you to know. In Rain, Debbie clocks Rain.
Misgendering refers to the act of using the wrong pronouns or gendered language to refer to someone.