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Asexual
A sexual orientation where a person experiences little or no sexual attraction. Asexuality is a spectrum, and asexual people may still experience romantic attraction.
Barrier
Any overt or covert obstacle that prevents a person from fully taking part in all aspects of society. For example, a belief, policy, practice, object or environment that prevents or limits a person’s access to opportunities, benefits, or advantages that are available to other members of society.
Bias
A subjective opinion, predisposition, preference, prejudice, generalization or inclination, formed based on personal characteristics or stereotypes; often operates in implicit or unconscious ways where a person may or may not be aware of their biases.
Bisexual
A person who is emotionally, physically, spiritually and/or sexually attracted to people of more than one gender, though not necessarily at the same time.
Biphobia
Negative attitudes, feelings, or irrational aversion to, fear or hatred of bisexual people and their communities, or of behaviours stereotyped as bisexual, leading to discrimination, harassment or violence against bisexual people.
Bullying
The use of threat, coercion, or force to cause fear, distress or harm to a person.
Coming Out
The ongoing and lifelong process of a person recognizing, accepting and potentially sharing their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression with others.
Cisgender
A term for a person whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth.
Cisnormativity
The assumption that being cisgender is the default or normative standard for human experience, which marginalizes people who are trans, non-binary or otherwise gender diverse.
Cissexism
A system of oppression that considers cis people to be superior to trans people. It is the systemic privileging of cisgender identities and the othering or pathologizing of trans identities.
Colonization
A tool of supremacy used to dispossess, subjugate and extract resources from Indigenous peoples and their lands. It is the process or practice of “extending and maintaining a nation’s political and economic control over another people or area” (Co-operative Housing Federation of B.C.).
Cross-dresser
A term for a person who wears clothing not traditionally associated with their assigned sex or gender, typically used for people assigned male at birth who wear clothing traditionally considered “women’s” clothing. This term has been used pejoratively toward transfeminine people and other AMAB people with feminine expression; in defiance, some transfeminine people and male...
Culture
The sum of many things an individual learns (and may modify or pass on) from being immersed in a particular context – the shared (or perceived to be shared) ideas, beliefs, values, behavioural norms, knowledge, customs and traditions of a group of people who share some historical, geographic, religious, racial, linguistic, ethnic or social context.
Cultural Competence
A person’s ability to interact effectively with people of different cultures. Cultural competence has four components: (a) Awareness of one’s own cultural worldview; (b) Attitude towards cultural differences; (c) Knowledge of different cultural practices and worldviews; and (d) Cross- cultural skills. Developing cultural competence results in an ability to better understand, communicate with, and effectively...
Disability
Under the medical model, this term refers to a limitation or loss of physiological abilities, whether apparent or not. These can be physical, cognitive, learning, and visual disabilities. Under the social model, disability is identified as a disadvantage or a restriction of activity caused by systemic barriers, negative attitudes and exclusion by society.
Discrimination
Any form of unequal treatment based on a ground protected by human rights legislation, that results in disadvantage, whether imposing extra burdens or denying benefits. Discrimination can be intentional or unintentional; and it may occur at an individual or systemic level. It may include direct actions or more subtle aspects of rules, practices and procedures...
Dominant Group
A group that is considered more powerful and privileged in a particular society or context.
Drag Performer/King/Queen
Performers who use clothing, makeup and persona to present and often exaggerate gendered expression for entertainment. Drag is a performance art and is separate from a performer’s day-to-day gender identity or sexual orientation.
Duty to Accommodate
The legal obligation that employers, organizations, service providers and public institutions have under human rights legislation to ensure fair and equal access to services in a way that respects the dignity of every person, if to do so does not create undue hardship. The principle of dignity strives to maximize integration and promote full participation...
Equality
The practice of ensuring equal treatment to all people, without consideration of individual and group diversities.
Equity
The practice of ensuring fair, inclusive and respectful treatment of all people, with consideration of individual and group diversities. Access to services, supports and opportunities and attaining economic, political and social fairness cannot be achieved by treating individuals in exactly the same way. Equity honours and accommodates the specific needs of individuals/ groups.
Ethnicity
A socially defined category or membership of people who may share a nationality, heritage, language, culture and/or religion.
Gay
A person who experiences physical, romantic, spiritual, emotional or sexual attraction to people of their own or a similar gender. The word can refer to men or women, although many women prefer the term “lesbian.” While “gay” is sometimes used as an umbrella term, “queer” or “2SLGBTQ+” are often considered more inclusive.
Gender
A social construct related to the norms, behaviours, roles and identities associated with being a man, woman or another gender. It is distinct from sex assigned at birth and exists on a spectrum.