Trans talk: the complete guide to transgender lingo

When you're new to a lifestyle, it's easy to get lost in the jargon. We've compiled a comprehensive glossary of transgender and transvestite terms so you can navigate our community, chat rooms, forums, and personal ads with confidence.

Key terms explained

Bisexual / Bi-Curious

Bisexual: Individuals attracted to both their own and other genders. Attraction is not always equal or fixed. Bi-Curious: Traditionally heterosexual people interested in experimenting with same-sex experiences.

Butch / Soft Butch

Butch lesbians tend towards masculine habits and appearance. Soft butches (also called chapstick lesbians) exhibit some masculine traits without fully fitting the stereotype — presenting as androgynous.

Drag Kings and Drag Queens

Drag kings are female-bodied performers who portray male stereotypes as performance art. Drag queens are men who dress in a female gender role, typically exaggerating feminine characteristics for entertainment. Both are considered true artists in LGBTQ+ culture.

Shemale

A male-to-female transgender person who retains male genitalia while having a female appearance. Widely used in adult entertainment; also described as ladyboy, tranny, or MTF transgender.

Transgender

An umbrella term for people whose gender identity doesn't match the sex assigned at birth. Includes transsexuals, transvestites, crossdressers, non-binary people, and more.

Transsexual

A person who identifies with a gender different from the one assigned at birth. Some undergo surgery (MTF or FTM); others do not. Both are valid.

Lipstick Lesbian / Tomboy / Bear Community

Lipstick Lesbian: A typically feminine woman attracted to other feminine women. Tomboy: An adult woman who dresses and behaves in a traditionally masculine way — not necessarily lesbian. Bear Community: A gay subculture celebrating masculine, typically larger-built gay men.

Use these terms in our chat rooms, forums, and blogs — you'll quickly feel at home in the community.