English Learning: LGBTQ+ Vocabulary

Dialogue

Alice: Hey Bob, come check out this show! It’s so good. There’s a character who just came out.

Bob: Hi Alice! What’s it about? More of your space alien dramas?

Alice: (laughs) No, silly! “Came out” means they told people they are gay.

Bob: Oh, like happy! “I am so gay today!”

Alice: Well, yes, but also a word for men who love men. And sometimes women who love women too. Like, this character is a woman who loves women, so she’s a lesbian.

Bob: Lesbian! Got it. What if someone loves both men AND women?

Alice: Good question! That’s bisexual. Like “bi” means two, as in “bicycle” has two wheels!

Bob: Ah, so “bisexual” loves two genders. Smart!

Alice: Exactly! And then there are transgender people.

Bob: Transgender? Is that like… changing trains?

Alice: (giggles) No, not trains! It means their gender identity is different from the sex they were assigned at birth.

Bob: Wow, that’s a lot to learn! So, a person might use “they/them” pronouns?

Alice: Yes, exactly! If someone doesn’t feel like “he” or “she” fits, they might use “they/them.” It’s important to respect that.

Bob: So, if my friend Alex says “my pronouns are they/them,” I say “They are coming to the party”?

Alice: Perfect! You’re getting good at this, Bob! You’re being a great ally.

Bob: Ally? Is that a type of cookie?

Alice: (chuckles) No, an ally is someone who supports the LGBTQ+ community. You’re doing great!

Bob: Oh! I want to be an ally! And maybe eat a cookie.

Current Situation

The LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, and others) community is a diverse group of people. Understanding and respecting LGBTQ+ vocabulary is becoming increasingly important in many parts of the world. More people are openly sharing their identities, and laws are changing to protect their rights. While progress is being made, challenges like discrimination still exist. Learning these terms helps us to be more inclusive and supportive of everyone.

Key Phrases

• Come out: To publicly state one’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

  Example: “My cousin decided to come out to our family last year.”

• Gay: (Adjective) A man who is attracted to other men. Also sometimes used for women who are attracted to other women, or as a general term for LGBTQ+ people. (Historically, also means “happy” but this use is less common in modern LGBTQ+ context).

  Example: “He is a gay man and a wonderful artist.”

• Lesbian: (Noun/Adjective) A woman who is attracted to other women.

  Example: “She shared a beautiful story about being a lesbian woman.”

• Bisexual: (Adjective) A person who is attracted to both men and women.

  Example: “Many people don’t know that she is bisexual, but she’s proud of it.”

• Transgender: (Adjective) A person whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. (Often shortened to “trans”).

  Example: “My friend Sarah is a transgender woman.”

• Pronouns: (Noun) Words like he/him, she/her, they/them used to refer to a person. Using the correct pronouns shows respect.

  Example: “My pronouns are he/him. What are yours?”

• Ally: (Noun) A person who supports a marginalized group (e.g., the LGBTQ+ community) even if they are not part of that group themselves.

  Example: “Being a true ally means speaking up against injustice.”

• LGBTQ+: An acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, and others. It represents a broad community.

  Example: “Pride Month celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and its history.”

Grammar Points

1. The verb “to be” (is, am, are) for descriptions and identities

We use the verb “to be” to talk about who or what someone/something is, often for identities, characteristics, or current states.

• I am: “I am an ally.”
• You are: “You are getting good.”
• He/She/It is: “He is gay.” “She is a lesbian.” “It is a sweet story.”
• They are: “They are transgender.” (When referring to multiple people, or to a single person using “they/them” pronouns).

2. Present Simple Tense

The Present Simple is used for facts, habits, and general truths. It’s often used when talking about someone’s identity or how something is defined.

• Facts/Definitions: “It means they told people…” “A bicycle has two wheels.” “An ally supports the community.”
• Habits/Regular actions: (Less prominent in this dialogue, but good to know) “She watches this show every week.”

3. Using “They/Them” as a Singular Pronoun

Traditionally, “they/them” is plural. However, it is increasingly used as a singular pronoun for two main reasons:

• When the gender is unknown or not specified: “Someone left their bag. I hope they come back for it.”
• To respect a person’s gender identity: If someone identifies as non-binary (not exclusively male or female) or prefers “they/them” pronouns, we use them.

  Example: “My friend Alex uses they/them pronouns. They are coming to the party.”

4. Adjectives for Identity

Words like gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender are often used as adjectives to describe a person’s identity.

• “He is a gay man.” (Gay describes “man”)
• “She is a lesbian.” (Lesbian can be a noun or an adjective here, describing “she”)
• “They are bisexual.” (Bisexual describes “they”)
• “He is a transgender person.” (Transgender describes “person”)

Practice Exercises