LGBTIQA+ BSL Glossary
You will see various signs on this website that the LGBTQ+ community is currently using. We would like to reassure you and acknowledge that there may be more out there. We are not saying that the signs you see here are the signs that you should be using; we are just using a couple of examples. Remember, it is important to adapt to different signs depending on who you are with. This is particularly important for interpreters and translators.
Some of the signs belongs to LGBTQ+.
We are going to continue this project with you all involved as you like, we hope to get funding to do this important research.
What does LGBTIQA+ mean?
LGBTIQA+ is used universally and stands for lesbian; gay; bisexual; transgender; intersex; questioning/queer; asexual, and plus.
What does Ally mean?
A (typically) straight and/or cis person who supports members of the LGBTQ+ community.
What's the Sign for Ally?
What's the Sign for Attraction?
What does Attraction mean?
The definition to be added.
What does Asexual mean?
A person who experiences no sexual feelings or desires and does not experience sexual attraction towards anyone.
What's the Sign for Asexual?
What's the Sign for bicurious?
What does bicurious mean?
Is unsure or curious about their attraction to both sexes.
What does bisexual mean?
People who have sexual attraction to both males and females.
What's the Sign for bisexual?
What's the Sign for cisgender?
What does cisgender mean?
A person who identifies with the gender they were assigned at birth. For example, a person identifying as female and was assigned female at birth is cisgender.
What does curious/wondering mean?
Unsure of their sexuality or gender.
What's the Sign for curious/
wondering?
We don’t have signs to add just yet! If you know of a sign we can add here, please contact us via the Contact Us page!
What's the Sign for Gay?
What does gay mean?
Males who are sexually attracted to males.
What's the sign for Gender?
What does Gender mean?
Definition to be added
What does Homosexual mean?
A man or woman who are attracted to the same sex.
What's the Sign for Homosexual?
What's the Sign for intersex?
What does intersex mean?
When a person has two genitals. For some intersex people, their penis is more dominant, and for some, their vagina is more dominant
We don’t have information to add just yet! If you know of a sign we can add here, please contact us via the Contact Us page!
What does Lesbian mean?
Females who are sexually attracted to females.
What's the Sign for Lesbian?
What's the Sign for Monogamy?
What does Monogamy mean?
Definition to be added
What does non-binary mean?
We don’t have information to add just yet! If you know of a sign we can add here, please contact us via the Contact Us page!
What's the Sign for non-binary?
What's the Sign for Open Relationship?
What does Open Relationship mean?
Definition to be added
Explanation for the sign Pansexual
What's the sign for Pansexual?
What's the Sign for queer?
What does queer mean?
Not wanting to conform to heteronormativity. So rather than labelling yourself specifically as gay or lesbian, you can say you’re queer. It’s more about your political identity than sexual or gender identity.
What does questioning mean?
Unsure of your sexual identity or sexual attraction.
What's the Sign for questioning?
What's the Sign for straight / heterosexual?
What does straight / heterosexual mean?
A male or female who is only attracted to the opposite sex.
What does Sexuality mean?
Definition to be added
What's the sign for Sexuality?
What's the sign for Sexually Fluid?
What does Sexually Fluid mean?
Definition to be added
What does Throuple mean?
Definition to be added
What's the Sign for Throuple?
What's the Sign for transgender?
What does transgender mean?
Someone who has changed their gender to another.
What does Transition mean?
Either will or are in the process of changing gender.
What's the Sign for Transition?
We don’t have signs to add just yet! If you know of a sign we can add here, please contact us via the Contact Us page!
What's the Sign for Transman?
What does transman mean?
A man who transitioned from female to male.
What does transwoman mean?
A woman who transitioned from male to female.
What's the Sign for transwoman?
Hold on, we aren't finished yet!
We know there are more LGBTIQA+ terms out there, so we are always accepting new submissions (be it a sign for a term already on this page, or a new term to be added!)
If you want to contribute or discuss anything with us, please contact us!
Deaf Rainbow UK says thank you to:
Jeff Brattan-Wilson; Adam Schembri; Kate Rowley; Daryl Jackson; Tammy Broskom, who were on our BSL Advisory group members of Deaf Rainbow UK.
And our volunteers James Clarke, Aaron Wise, and Tyron Woolfe.
As well as all of our wonderful models who, on average, did more than 10 clips each to and fro! Aayasta Gurung; Kevin John; Francesca Ohomoya; Tammy Broskom; Della Pedley; Jackie; David Ellington; Calum Medlock; Dani Sive; Jessica Reynolds.