100+ Gay Slang and LGBTQ+ Terms, Definitions, and Identities [2024]

“You better werk that mug” is a sentence you might sometimes hear or read in the Queer community; but what does it mean? Many people in the community use slang language to talk about someone’s appearance, who they are as a person, how they might act, how they identify within the community, or how they perform if they’re doing Drag or anything outstanding like. You might have heard certain terms in popular TV shows or movies, or you might have heard some of these terms in person at the bars or reading them online.

In this article, we will break down different terms commonly heard in the Queer community, and what they mean… let’s begin!

• Werk – Werk is a term that’s commonly used in the Drag community. This term is typically used when someone is doing a fantastic job performing, has a lavish costume, and/or beautiful make-up. Werk is used similarly to someone saying Fierce, or amazing.
• Trade – Trade is a term most commonly used by Drag entertainers, and Gays. Trade is code for someone very attractive, someone who you may be interested in hooking up with.
• KiKi – This term is most commonly used in the Drag scene, and means to “hang out”, to get together with friends with starting that particular usage around the 80’s and 90’s, however, this term has been used since as early as the 1930’s. Originally, Kiki was a term used to identify a man who was comfortable switching from active and passive during gay sex. Around the 40’s and 50’s though, Kiki was used to describe a Lesbian who was comfortable switching from presenting “Fem” or “Butch”. 
• KaiKai – Opposite of KiKi, we have KaiKai. This term is most commonly used in the Drag community, and means for two Drag performers to hook up. Instead of one Drag entertainer saying they had sex with another Drag entertainer, one might say they both “KaiKai’d”
• Vogue – Not just a Madonna song, although Madonna was inspired by the Queer community to write her hit song, this term was actually used in the Harlem, New York ballroom scene of the 1960’s – 1980’s by the Black and Latinx communities. The ballroom scene consisted of Drag competitions/Pageants, and Vogue battles. Vogueing is a dance style that consists of sharp angels, and poses to mimic fashion models from the famous Vogue magazine in a dance-like way. There are 3 different forms of Vogue. One consists of movements like Duck-Walking, Shablamming, Death Drops, High Kicks, and Splits which is called Vogue Fem, influenced by the dance styles of Ballet, and Jazz showcases more trained dance movements in a more feminine way. There is New Way, which can be thought of similar to Miming. The dancer makes exaggerated movements with “clicks” from contorting their limbs, and doing hand/wrist illusions; you have to have good flexibility to do New Wave Voguing. Lastly, there is the original Old Way, which consists of being more symmetric, precise, clean-cut, and having grace. The Old Way was influenced not only by how fashion models posed, but also by Egyptian Hieroglyphics in the way people were posed. The Old Way mainly focused on hand/arm movements, this style was used in a more competitive way, where the person performing against someone else would “pin” the opponent to a corner and perform with their body in a way that prevented the other person from performing themselves.
• Bar Queen – Bar Queen is a term typically used in the Drag community. Bar Queen is a term that describes a Drag entertainer who only performs in bars.
• Busted – Busted is a term typically used in the Drag community. Busted is used to describe an entertainers make-up as bad, or rough.
• Dusted – Dusted is a term typically used in the Drag community; Dusted was more commonly used in the 1980’s and 1990’s to describe an entertainer’s make-up as good, or polished. Nowadays, entertainers might say someone’s makeup is “Beat”, or “Painted” which is the new generation’s way of saying the same thing.
• Fish/Fishy – Typically said in the Drag community, Fish is a term used by Drag Queens to say they’re feeling, or looking like a woman. Fish was originally used as a reference to the smell a woman’s genitalia might have, but because that part of a woman’s body signifies she’s a woman, Drag Queens adapted the word to describe how feminine they look/feel. This term is a bit 50/50 in its usage, because some people are not comfortable using this term for its original meaning. This could be compared to the same context as using the words “Clean” or “Dirty” when talking about someone’s HIV status.
• Gagged – Gagged is a term originally used in the Drag community, but has migrated its usage across all of the Queer community. Gagged is a term that’s used the same way you might say you were “Shocked”, “Surprised”, or “Wow’d”
• Painted/Mug – Mug is used to describe someone’s face. Typically used amongst Drag entertainers, Mug is used in the same way you might use Mug in Mug Shot or Headshot. Painted, being a term used to describe how good someone’s makeup is. Painted is used in the same context as a painter painting on a canvas.
• Sickening – Used in the same context as “Gagged”, Sickening is a term typically used in the Drag community to say someone did a good job… “Your dance number was sickening!” translates to “Your dance number was great!”.
• Reading – Reading is a term that comes from the 1980’s and 1990’s ballroom scene. This term is used to point out someone’s flaw, but exaggerate it to get a good laugh; you’re making a joke about someone, but you’re not being harshly serious.
• Shading – In relation to “Reading”, Shading was a term that started in the same time frame as Reading, but is used to genuinely insult someone. You’re pointing out someone’s flaw to purposely offend them.
• Toot & Boot – Tooting and Booting are terms to describe someone’s appearance… Be it their makeup, hair, jewelry, or clothes. Toot is used as approval, you like someone’s look. Boot is used as disapproval, you do not like someone’s look.
• Shoot – Similar to Toot and Boot, to “Shoot” someone, is meaning you’re in love with their look. You think it’s the best look they’ve worn or they look better than everyone else in the room.
• Tuck – Tuck is a term typically used in the Drag community by Drag Queens, and is used to describe “hiding” or “pushing back” male genitalia, so their frontal area is smooth/flat, similar to a woman’s frontal appearance. Queens will “pull back” their male genitalia and use duck tape or something similar to keep everything pulled back.
•  Tea – “What’s the Tea, sis?” you might here amongst Queer peers. Tea is a term that’s used to describe gossip or drama. You’re talking about something that’s happened. Gossip or drama is considered “a hot topic”, similar to how Tea is typically hot, so speaking to someone about something you heard, read, or saw is considered “Tea”.
• Padam Padam – Yes, the famous Kylie Minogue song. Padam Padam was released on May 18th as the lead single off of Kylie’s upcoming album Tension which is set to be released this upcoming September, but what does Padam Padam actually mean? In a recent interview with BBC News, Kylie mentioned that the song title was inspired by Edith Piaf’s 1951 song of the same name. Though Edith’s song is about heartbreak, Padam in Kylie’s song describes the sound your heart makes when beating. The song, in general, is about sex, so she’s referencing the fast rate at your heartbeats “in the moment”. In addition, Padam Padam is becoming a gay anthem this pride season, in an Instagram interview, one person commented that Padam for the gays means to have a good time.
• Cheesecake – Cheesecake is a term mentioned in the 1990 queer documentary Paris is Burning, and means for someone not only to have a nice body, but to also be sexy. “A lot of people can have a body, but are not sexy” – Avis Pendavis. You’re “delicious”.
• Serving Realness – Is a term that has been used since the 80’s, and means to full embody a character or personality. You might have watched episodes of RuPaul’s Drag Race, where runway categories like “Country Realness” was being used. You are fully embodying the look and characteristic of an idea or person to be as authentic as possible.
• Serving – In conjunction with “Serving Realness”, Serving is a term used in the Drag community, as well as the Harlem ballroom scene to “give”. When you’re embodying a look or a performance, you’re “giving” what needs to be given to your audience or judges.
• Garage Doors – Garage Doors is a term used in the Drag community, it’s used to describe when a performer only has one single shade of eyeshadow on their eyelids. A lot of performers are into cut creases and smokey eyes, but Garage Doors is when you have one single color on your eyelids, when you blink, your eyelids look like garage doors opening and closing.
• Eleganza Extravaganza – This term is most popular in the Drag community, but has been used since the 1980’s Harlem ballroom scene for category performances and is used to describe an event of a group of people looking glamorous and beautiful. In terms if RuPaul’s Drag Race, think of the contestant’s final runway where they’re in their “best drag”.
• Category – “Category is… ” has been used since the 1980’s Harlem ballroom scene, and is used to describe a runway or performance type. Serving “Butch” or “Fem” is a category, everyone has to have a look or a performance that fits into a particular subject.
• Walk Into the Room Purse First – This phrase isn’t a true definition in itself, but more so a viral saying. Bob The Drag Queen, who won season 8 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, participated in a design challenge, and she made a purse for her look, she later went on to write a song inspired by that purse. Gays use this phrase as a way to mean walking into a room having “confidence”.
• Ball – A “Ball” is a term used during the 1980’s Harlem ballroom scene, as well as on RuPaul’s Drag Race, and describes a design challenge showcasing multiple looks to judges. An example from RuPaul’s Drag Race, would be season 12’s ball challenge where contestants had to have 3 looks with the theme of “balls”. One look had to be sports themed, another was basketball wives theme, and their third look had to be made themselves with various types of balls.
• Clock – “Clocking” is a term used in the Drag community to call out someone who is unpolished. If a performer’s wig lace is lifted, you can obviously tell it’s a wig because that hairline is now distorted, so you’re “clocking” an imperfection. If a performer’s makeup looks bad, let’s say they’re a Drag Queen and their five o’clock shadow is showing, you can clearly tell that’s a man because their foundation/concealer isn’t right, so you’re “clocking” their a man because their make-up isn’t polished enough for the illusion.
• Come Through – This term is used in both the general Queer community and Drag community and is used to mean you did great in a look or performance. Basically, you’re saying “Nice work”
• Edges – “Edges”, also called baby hairs, are the little/short hairs that are in the front of a wig hairline or front of a natural hairline. Many women style their baby hair so they go along with their overall hairstyle, drag queens will style their wigs baby hair to blend their wig hairline.
• Shantay/Sashay – Used in both the 1980’s Harlem ballroom scene, and on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Shantay means to “stay put” or “don’t leave”, while Sashay means to “leave” or “go away”.
• Death Drop – Death Dropping is a dance move that has been around since the Harlem ballroom scene of the 80’s. It’s popular to see in Drag shows, ballroom performances, and in Vogueing. Death Dropping consists of falling on your back to the floor, with your arms extended out, one leg extended out, and another leg bent backwards; you final pose on the floor looks like the stereotypical “dead body” pose.
• Shablam – Despite looking almost exact, a Shablam is similar to a Death Drop, but the difference is adding in a high kick as your jumping into your drop.
• Tongue Pop – Tongue Popping is very popular in the Queer community. It’s the “pop” sound your tongue makes as you slide your tongue off the roof of your mouth.
• Cunt – Similar to “Fish” another name for giving beauty and glamour is Cunt.
• Sissy that Walk – Made popular off of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Sissy that Walk is the act of strutting in a very feminine way; the more feminine your walk is, the sissier you are.
• Are You a Friend of Dorothy? – This phrase can be dated about to the time of WW2! At that time, being homosexual was illegal, so for code, a gay man who suspected another man was gay would ask “Are you a friend of Dorthy?” If that other man said yes, he was saying he was gay. Dorothy is of course in reference to Dorothy of The Wizard of Oz. Judy Garland was a major LGBT supporter who had many gay friends. Many gay men were a fan of Judy’s performance as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, so at some point, gay men decided to use her character in code.
• Good Judy – In relation to “Are You a Friend of Dorothy?”, Judy refers to, of course, THE Judy Garland. Judy to reiterate was a major LGBT supporter with many gay friends, so the term “Good Judy” is used to describe someone who is a close friend/best friend; “They’re my good Judy”.
• Hays Code – From around the 1930’s – 1960’s Hollywood was extremely homophobic. Your entire career as an actor would be ruined if anyone knew you were gay. Hays Code was a Motion Picture Production Code with a set of rules film productions had to follow in order to not be shut down. Productions could be banned from their projects if they showed homosexuality, nudity, certain crimes, diseases, or any disrespect to religion. Because of a handful of homosexual celebrity scandals, Hays Code was created to work around these strict rules productions had to follow, almost like a loophole to still be allowed to show their projects.
• Faggot – Today we know Faggot as having a negative narrative towards the Queer community, but did you know that meaning was not established until as early as 1913? Before the 1900’s, Faggot originally had no ties to homosexual men. In fact, The first iteration of the word come from the French at around the year 1216 according to Wordorigins.org. At that time, Faggot was used to describe a bundle of sticks that you burned. Moving into the 1500’s, Faggot’s definition was altered to describe being burned at the stake, then being used to describe women around the 18th century. In Europe, Faggot has also meant in talking about cigarettes. We can now see how dumb homophobes sound when they use Faggot in a negative way.
• Baby Queen – A Baby Queen is described as a person who’s just starting to do Drag, they’re new to the scene and most likely purchase cloths for Drag from thrift stores.
• Clack – Clack is the sound made when you open a handheld fan quickly; these fans are called Clacking fans, or Thwoorping fans. These are typically used at Drag shows, Pride events, and Gay clubs.
• Bussy – Bussy is used to describe a Bottoms rear end. It’s the gay version of “Pussy”.
• Girl – Hey Gurl! You might hear many Gay/Bi men and Drag entertainers call each other Girl or “Gurl”, but did you know there’s actual history to Girl? Back when being Queer was illegal, men and women would change pronouns so they could safely talk about homosexual relationships in public. This can be seen as early as the 1920’s in Black/Queer Blue’s music during the Harlem Renaissance and in the 1940’s when the military looked for anything homosexual related, men would change pronouns in their letters to their loved ones so they wouldn’t be kicked out. These days, men calling each other “Girl” is used to bond and embrace their feminine side.
• Slay/Slaying – To Slay, mean you “killed it” or that you did great. Whether it’s with a look, or a performance. This term is generally used in the Drag community.
• House – A House is a term that started during the 1980’s Harlem ballroom scene. A House is typically a “family” of entertainers. They might actually live together, or just compete on the same team during ballroom showcases; they are apart of your chosen family.
• Mothers/Fathers – In the context of “Houses”, a House is typically ran by an experienced ballroom entertainer or Drag performer. They are in charge of the house and all the members associated. House Mothers and Fathers can either genuinely take care of you living in their home, or be more like a mentor/guide for you Drag or ballroom career.
• Slag – British slang, made popular off of RuPauls Drag Race UK Series 1, meaning a person with many sexual partners. The U.S. version would be “Hoe”.
• PreP – Prep is a daily medication that is popular to take within the Queer community. This pill comes in two versions – Discovy and Truvada. This one-a-day pill is 99% effective at preventing the spread and contraction of HIV. HIV is common within the Queer community, so many Queer men take this pill to protect themselves. This medication does not prevent you from catching STDs.
• Party and Play – Party and Play is a term you can sometimes hear within the Queer community. If someone asks you to “Party and Play?” They’re asking you to do heavy drugs with them and engage in sex.
• Wig – Typically used in the Drag community, Wing means that someone did something so good they “went bald” like they were blown away. If you hear someone say “You made my Wig fall off!” depending on the situation, that is a compliment.
• Gold Star – Used with both Gay/Bi men and Lesbian women, Gold Star means someone who has never had a sexual experience with the opposite sex, they have only had sexual relations with partners of the same sex.
• U-Haul – This term is typically said in the Lesbian community, it is a term that describes women that move into a relationship “too fast”. The running joke, is lesbians pack up a “U-Haul” and move in with each other after only a couple of dates.
• Celesbian – This term is typically said in the Lesbian community, Celesbian means a famous lesbian. Could be a famous actor, singer, or anyone who’s a celebrity, and a Lesbian.
• Pillow Princess – This term is used in both the Gay and Lesbian communities, the term Pillow Princess means someone who enjoys being receptive during sex, and never has the desire to be the giver.
• Lipstick Lesbian – A Lipstick lesbian, is a woman who is very feminine and girly, they are the opposite of a “Butch” Lesbian.
• Soft Butch – A Lesbian who has mainly masculine traits, but sometimes shows femininity. Other nicknames are Tomboy and Chapstick.
• High Fem – A Lesbian who is mainly feminine, they are never masculine. Also known as a Lipstick Lesbian
• Soft Fem – A Lesbian who has mainly feminine traits, but sometimes show some masculine traits.
• Stone Butch – A Stone Butch is a woman who is extremely masculine, a Stone Butch might or might not identify as being Transgender.
• Chapstick Lesbian – As mentioned earlier, a Chapstick Lesbian is a Lesbian who is mainly masculine, they may show some feminine traits, but are usually always masculine presenting.
• CisHet – A CisHet is someone who is both Cisgender, meaning they identify with the gender they were born into, and are Heterosexual, meaning they are attracted to the opposite sex.
• Baby Dyke – A Baby Dyke is a Lesbian who recently came out of the closet and is new to the Lesbian community.
• Baby Gay – A Baby Gay is a Gay man who has recently come out of the closet and is new to the Homosexual community.
• Dykon – A Dykon is a woman, they do not really have to be Lesbian, they can be Heterosexual, but they are seen as an “Icon” in the Lesbian community.
• Bed Death – This is a term typically used in the Lesbian community, and means a Lesbian relationship that will eventually lead to a sexless life.
• Stud – Stud is a term that describes a woman who is the dominant one during sex, typically is said about women of color.
• 100-Footer – Typically used by Lesbians, this is a term to describe a woman who is such a Lesbian, they can be spotted “100 feet away”.
• Cliterference – The lesbian version of “Cock Blocking” someone who gets in the way of flirting, or you having sex with another Lesbian.
• Cock Blocking – The Gay version of “Cliterference” someone who gets in the way of flirting, or you having sex with another Gay/Bi man.
• Dopplebanger – This is a term that can be used in both the Homosexual community, and the Lesbian community, but this term is used to describe a person who is attracted to people who look just like them or close to how they look.
• Dyke – Similar to “Faggot” this is a term that has in the past been used with a negative tone, but in recent years has been used as a word of pride in the Lesbian community, a “Dyke” is another name for a Lesbian woman.
• FtM – FtM is a term used to describe someone who is transitioning from identifying from Female, to Male. They are in the process of surgeries to make their full transition.
• MtF – MtF is a term used to describe someone who is transitioning from identifying from Male, to Female. They are in the process of surgeries to make their full transition.
• Masc4Masc – This term is typically used in the Homosexual community, Masc4Masc means for a masculine presenting man to be sexually and romantically attracted to another masculine presenting man.
• Ally – An “Ally” is someone who is apart of the Heterosexual community, who fully supports the Queer community and believes everyone deserve all human rights.
• Straight – Straight is a term used to describe someone who is Heterosexual. Originally, Straight was used as Gay slang for someone who stoped participating in homosexual tendencies and started only indulging in heterosexual tendencies, like heterosexual sex or relationships. This term was used with sarcasm, to play off of the phrase “Straight, but Narrow”. which is a biblical term – Gospel According to Matthew, chapter 7, verses 13-14.
• Purr – Purr is a term used in both the Gay community and the Drag community, it is a term that describes “feeling yourself” if that be feeling yourself as in with how attractive you look, or literally, in the sense of being “in the mood” – like a cat in heat.
• Bi-Phobia – Bi-Phobia is a term that is used to describe someone who is against Bisexuality.
• Trans-Phobia – Trans-Phobia is a term is is used to describe someone who is against anyone identifying as Transgender.
• Homophobia – Homophobia is a term that is used to describe someone who is against Gay and Lesbian people.
• Out – Being “Out” is short for being ” Out of the Closet” which means you are openly non-straight.
• Out of the Closet – Just like saying “Out”, Out of the Closet means you are bringing forth a secret. Bringing a lightness through the dark. You are not keeping a secret anymore that you are not Heterosexual.
• Outing – To “Out” someone is to tell everyone that they are not straight before they are ready to admit that to anyone themselves. “Outing” someone is seen as rude and is not taken lightly because it is disrespectful.
• In Face – Someone who is in Drag makeup.
• Out of Face – Someone who has taken off their Drag makeup.
• Hir – Hir is a term that is used to describe someone without referencing any specific gender. You can use Hir to describe someone who is a “Her” or a “Him”.
• Heterosexual Privilege – This is a term that is used to describe the rights and respect and social standard that a Heterosexual person automatically has, that the Queer community does not have.
• Gender Expression – This is a term that is used in the Queer community used to describe someone who expresses their gender in any way they want. They can be Queer, or Heterosexual, it is a universal term.
• Gate Keepers – This term is used in the Queer community and is used to describe doctors, therapists, and really anyone who can block or stop the continuation of someone transition gender identities.
• Son/Daughter – These terms are used in the Drag community. a Drag “Son” is typically a new Drag King who is “learning the ropes” from a more experienced Drag King, they would be their Drag Father. Same with Drag Queens, a Drag Daughter is a new Drag Queen who is “leaning the ropes” from a more experienced Drag Queen, they would be their Drag Mother.
• Fruity – Fruity is a term that is used to describe Homosexual men. Fruity means that Gay/Bi men are “colorful” like fruit.
• Kitty Girl – Kitty Girl is a phrase that has been made popular because of the hit television show RuPauls Drag Race. Kitty Girl means a very feminine boy, or in the case of RuPauls Drag Race, a Drag Queen. It is similar to calling each other “Girl”, but with a more feminine meaning with the phrase. You will typically here this phrase at Drag Shows.
• Nurse – Made viral because of Willam from season four of RuPauls Drag Race. Nurse is a fairly new term that is used to describe someone who “helps” people, in the case of the Queer community, it is used for someone who helps Drag Queens get ready for shows with doing they makeup, hair, or helping Queens get into their costumes.

A Gay Zoo!

In the Gay world, you might hear in conversation Gays saying someone is a “Bear” or “Bottom”, maybe even a Twink”, it seems in terms of body type or preferences, the Gay world has an entire zoo! Here is a list describing different body types, preferences, and tribes of the Queer community you might hear about.

• Bear – A man who is a “Bear” is someone with a very hairy body, but also is someone who’s body is large in either muscle or body fat; they typically give off a more “masculine” appearance.
• Cub – A Cub is similar as a Bear in terms of body hair, though a Cub’s body type is more of a chubby shape rather than being large.
• Wolf – A Wolf is a man who is typically older in age, some body hair, but has more of a muscle/fit body.
• Pup – A man who is a Pup is similar to a Wolf, though younger in age with some body hair.
• Otter – Otters are men who have some body hair, but they tend to have more of a lean/slim build body type.
• Twink – a Twink, typically a younger man, is someone who has a smooth body type, and is very slender/skinny.
• Twunk – A Twink can be described as a man who has no body hair (smooth) like a Twink, but with a more lean/fit build.
• Jock – Jocks are men who are very physically fit, they have lots of muscles and can be called “Gym Rats”.
• Show Queen – A Show Queen is a feminine-appearing man who typically does Drag; another name for Drag Queen.
• Bull – Similar to Jocks and Bears, a Bull is typically an older man who has more of a “bodybuilder” type physique.
• Masc Presenting – A “Masc Presenting” man, is a man who looks like a straight man. They have a lower voice, facial hair, and they don’t wear any trendy clothes.
• Fem Presenting – A “Fem Presenting” man, is a man who might wear make-up in their every day look, wear more tighter cloths/crop tops, and have a higher pitch voice.
• Dom-Top – Someone who is the “giver” in Gay sex, and is typically aggressive/assertive.
• Top – Someone who is the “giver” in Gay sex, but is not aggressive.
• Verse – Someone who can be both the “giver” and “receiver” in Gay sex, also known as “Power-Verse”. Verse men can also be Verse, but lean towards Topping or Bottoming more.
• Bottom – Someone who is the “receiver” in Gay sex, who is not assertive.
• Power-Bottom – Someone who is the “receiver” in Gay sex, but likes to be in charge/assertive.
• Side – Someone who will not engage in Anal sex, but will engage in other sexual acts.
• Kinkster – Someone who enjoys Gay sex, but prefers to explore Kinks with their sexual partners. Kinks are forms of pleasure that don’t have to be specially sexual; examples include Foot Fetish, Choking, Leather, etc…
• Pup – Someone who enjoys wearing a puppy mask, sometimes a harness, and sometimes also wearing a dog tail. A Pup is someone who enjoys role-playing as a puppy, they typically will have a master who owns them.
• Piggy – A Piggy, is someone who enjoys being filthy during Gay sex, and enjoys almost anything during Gay sex. They might enjoy bodily fluids, they might enjoy being open to any Kinks, Fisting, toy usage as well; they like anything and everything sexually related.
• Panda – Someone who is a “Panda” is typically identified as an older man, their body build can be muscled or husky, hairy, and are of Asian heritage.
• Dom/Master – Someone who is the “alpha” in a relationship. They’re dominant/assertive and take control, they “own” their Slave.
• Sub/Slave – Someone is the “Omega” in a relationship. They’re submissive/passive, and serve their Master.
• Poppers – Poppers is basically a chemical that you sniff from a bottle and get a euphoric feeling. Poppers are used to rush blood through your body. Bottoms typically use Poppers before engaging in Anal sex to help relax themselves.
• Drag King – A Drag entertainer, typically a female, who over exaggerates the male appearance and performs as a “man”.
• Drag Queen – A Drag entertainer, typically a male, who over exaggerates the female appearance and performs as a “woman”.
• Drag Monster – A Drag entertainer, male or female, who performs as a spooky/scary version of a Drag Queen or King. They can also appear as a creature/alien/monster.
• Androgynous/Alternative Drag Entertainer – A Drag entertainer, male or female, who gender bends/blends masculinity and femininity.
• Daddy – A man, typically older, can be hairy, and/or muscled. They typically date or have sex with a younger man (of legal age).

Do You Know the Alphabet?

ABC, it’s easy as 123, Do Re Mi! Yes, the famous Gay Alphabet. You might be familiar with LGBT, you might know LGBTQ, you might even know LGBTQIAP2+! Whatever you might know, the Queer community is growing and growing as time goes on with different identities being acknowledged. Many people might not know the extensive history of our Queer acronym, but did you know, according to an article by Ms Magazine, the word Gay has been around since about the 13th century! That’s right, only at that time, Gay was used to describe feeling Happy. Flash forward to about the 1940’s and 1950’s, the word Gay started becoming associated with homosexual men.

Not until the 1960’s was when our famous acronym started development. The original acronym believe it or not, was actually only GLB. This started because many people who identified as Lesbian, and Bisexual did not feel that the umbrella term Gay was inclusive enough. The “T” in LGBT did not appear until around the 1990’s. Including people who were Transgender sparked a debate in the Queer community at that time, because many felt the acronym should only identify people based off of sexuality, not identity. Clearly that debate didn’t last and Transgender was added. The Transgender community has been one of the main groups of activists within the Queer community. For example, if it wasn’t Marsha P. Johnson, and Sylvia Rivera, the Stonewall Riots would not have gotten as much national attention as it did. Though no one has proved for sure who threw the first brick, it was our Black Trans sisters who pushed the community to get news outlets talking about Stonewall.

Originally, the “L” in LGBT was not at the front of our acronym, G was. Our letters switched around the time of the 1980’s AIDS epidemic. This was because while many Gay and Bisexual men were suffering from AIDS, it was our Lesbian counter parts who were continuing to march and protest for Gay rights, and were the ones who were helping take care of victims of the disease. The “L” was moved to the front of the acronym to honor Lesbians for all that they did during this time.

Alas, we’ve reached LGBT… But wait! Flash forward to the 1990’s, the term “Queer” resurrected popularity. Queer overall means someone who’s questioning, or someone who is not straight. This term was a bit controversial, because the original term Queer was used as an insult, but many members of the community were reclaiming the term with pride, similar to the 2020’s with “Fag” being reclaimed. GLAAD decided to officially add Q to our acronym around 2016. At this point, other identities were becoming mainstream with Asexual, Pansexual, Intersexual, and others, so a “+” was then added to start the ball rolling with including other sexualities and identities. Lets break down our community according to an article from Yahoo! Life.

• Lesbian – A woman who is attracted to other women sexually, and romantically.
• Gay – A man who is attracted to other men sexually, and romantically.
• Bisexual – Someone who is attracted to more than one gender. Sometimes there is a preference to one over the other, with sexual attraction being more of a focus.
• Transgender – A person who identifies to the opposite gender they were assigned to from birth. They transition from that gender, to another.
• Queer – Someone who believes they are not heterosexual.
• Asexual – Someone who does not experience sexual attraction, or sexual desire.
• Agender – Someone who identifies with a gender, they are genderless.
• Aromantic – Someone who does not experience romantic attraction.
• Bigender – Someone who identifies with two or more genders.
• Cisgender – Someone who identifies with the gender they were born with.
• Demi-Sexual – Someone who only feels sexual attraction after developing emotional attraction to another person.
• Gender Fluid – Someone who’s gender identity fluctuates over time.
• Gender Queer – Someone who’s identity falls out of the Male and Female gender stereotype.
• Gray-Sexual – Someone who at some points experiences sexual attraction which falls between being sexual and Asexual.
• Intersex – Someone who was born with reproductive anatomy, or chromosome DNA that is not categorized as Male or Female.
• Two-Spirit – This is someone who is Indigenous, who has identified as being both Male and Female in quality.
• Non-Binary – Someone who does not identify as Male or Female, and/or identifies they blend with both Male and Female.
• Pan-Gender – Someone who identifies with multiple genders.
• Pansexual – Someone who is attracted to all people.
• Poly-sexual – Someone who is attracted to multiple genders.

Summary of Speaking Queer

Speaking Queer is almost an entire language in itself! Some definitions have been around for decades, while other definitions are fairly recent in the Queer community; you might have heard some of these terms from popular TV shows like RuPauls Drag Race, or Pose; some you might have heard from popular movies like Paris is Burning, or To Wong Foo Thanks For Everything Julie Newmar. In this article we talked about a handful of terms you might hear in person, hear from TV shows and films, or read online. Stay tuned for updates on more terms and slang within the Queer community to learn their definitions and their origins!