Aromantic (aro)

A person who experiences little or no romantic attraction. Aromantics might or might not experience sexual attraction. For more.

Asexuality

The total or near total lack of sexual attraction to anyone and/or the lack of desire for sexual contact. Asexuality is not a choice; it shouldn’t be conflated or confused with celibacy, abstinence, or low sex drive. Asexuality is a spectrum, and there’s considerable diversity in the needs and experiences among members of the ace community (e.g., attractions, relationships, disabilities, cultures). It should be noted that while some aces consider “asexual” their sexual orientation, others feel like they have no orientation at all. For more.

Asexual (ace)

A person who experiences little or no sexual attraction (to people of any gender).

Asian American

A term used to describe an American of Asian descent. It’s not an ideal term because it collapses countless identities and cultures into one label and often only refers to the East Asian American experience. For more on the complexity of this label, as well as the larger “Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI)” label, here is a helpful video.

Asian Latinx

Two of America’s fastest-growing ethnic groups are Asian and Latino, and they aren’t mutually exclusive. For centuries, Asian immigrants have settled throughout Latin America. There are Korean communities in Mexico and Argentina; Chinatowns everywhere from Santo Domingo to Lima; and there’s a major Japanese population in Brazil. The immigrants’ descendants carry both Asian and Latin American identities. In the U.S., Asians and Latinos have lived side-by-side in heavily immigrant neighborhoods and have created lives together. See here for more details.

Assigned Female at Birth/Assigned Male at Birth (AFAB/AMAB)

A way of referring to the sex designated to someone at birth. This is preferred language to replace outdated “FTM” or “MTF.”

Asylum Seekers

Those seeking refugee status to secure protection based on their religion, nationality, political affiliation, or particular social or ethnic group membership.

Baby Boomer

"Baby boomer" is a term describing a person born between 1946 and 1964. This generation comprises a substantial portion of the world's population, especially in developed nations. As of 2019, it represents 23.5% of the U.S. population. As the largest generational group in U.S. history (until the millennial generation slightly surpassed them), baby boomers have had — and continue to have — a significant impact on the economy. This often makes them the focus of marketing campaigns and business plans. As of 2021, they’re reaching retirement age and face key challenges, including funding their retirements. See here for more.

Baby Mama/Daddy

These terms have a context-specific meaning within Black culture, but when used by people who aren’t Black, especially in official capacities (like newscasters), the meaning changes. They undermine the seriousness of real relationships and imply a lack of personal responsibility.

Bi Erasure

The discriminatory denial of bisexuality’s existence by ignoring, removing, falsifying, or explaining away evidence of it (e.g., ignoring historical figures’ bisexuality, assuming people in same-gender relationships are both gay). More on the effects of bi erasure here.

Bi Visibility

Ways to increase understanding, awareness, and representation of the bi+ community (e.g., choosing to come out, creating bi+ characters, prioritizing bi+ voices and needs in queer conversations and spaces).

Bi+

An encompassing term for people of all genders whose sexual orientation falls outside concepts of straight and gay. This includes bisexual, pansexual, sexually fluid, queer, and other sexual orientations with the capacity to be sexually, romantically, and/or emotionally attracted to more than one gender (not necessarily at the same time, in the same way, or to the same degree). “Bi+” itself is not typically a label used to describe an individual, but rather, it’s used to capture a community of orientations with related and shared experiences. More on this community here.

Bigender

A term to describe people whose identity encompasses two genders, either simultaneously or varying between the two. For more.

Binder

A item used by some trans men, transmasculine people, or non-binary people for tightly wrapping the chest in order to minimize the appearance of having breasts.

Note: Do not depict characters binding with an Ace bandage, as it is extremely dangerous and can cause long-term harm.

Bindi

Comes from the Sanskrit word “bindu” for point or dot. Worn often in the shape of a dot on the forehead between the brows, it has a rich religious and cultural history and can be seen as a “third eye” warding off bad luck and forging a connection with God. Because of the many languages and dialects spoken throughout India, bindis are known by many names including kumkum, sindoor, teep, tikli, and bottu. Around 3000 BC, the rishi-muni (ancient seers of Hinduism) wrote the Vedas, describing the existence of seven main areas of concentrated energy called the chakras. Chakras run along the center of the body, and the sixth one (called the ajna chakra, the “brow chakra” or “third eye chakra”) occurs exactly where the bindi is placed.

Biological Clock

In relation to birthing people, the biological clock refers to the sense of pressure people feel to have children during their “peak” reproductive years. While it is true that fertility declines after a certain age, it is still possible for many people to get pregnant later in life. When it comes to storytelling, the biological clock is often used as the sole motivator for a woman’s character arc, reducing her only to her desire to have children.

Biphobia

Prejudice or hatred directed at bi+ people, including jokes or comments based on stereotypes that seek to undermine the legitimacy of bi+ identity. Biphobia occurs both within and outside of the LGBTQIA+ community. For more.

Bisexual (bi)

A person of any gender who has the capacity to form enduring sexual, romantic, and/or emotional attractions to people of two or more genders (e.g., women attracted to women, men, and non-binary people; non-binary people attracted to non-binary people and men) with gender influencing the type of attraction they experience. These attractions can manifest in differing ways and to differing degrees over a person’s lifetime (meaning bi people aren’t necessarily attracted to different genders equally).

Note: Some people wrongly claim bisexual means "attracted to men and women" and is therefore transphobic. This is a misrepresentation of bisexuality, which never implies transphobia.

Birthright Citizenship

The right of any U.S.-born person to U.S. citizenship, as established by the 14th Amendment.

Black Muslim

Anthropologist and Sapelo Square founder Su’ad Abdul Khabeer; “…‘Black Islam’ [means] all the different and diverse movements of Black people who engage Islam as a religious and spiritual tradition. So, I’m talking about the Moorish Science Temple, Ahmadiyya Community, The Five Percent Nation of Gods and Earths, Sunni, Shi’a, Nation of Islam, a really broad range.” The Black Muslim community is the largest Muslim community in America. According to a 2017 Pew Research Center survey, this community makes up 20% of the overall Muslim population. For more.