From Intersex to Bekimon: 7 LGBT terms explained

by Chiara Quiocho / June 26, 2019

It can be a little confusing, we know. That’s why we came up with this guide.

You’ve probably seen the rainbows all over social media, which could only mean one thing: it’s Pride Month! In this article, we’re putting the spotlight on some important terms and abbreviations that you might have questions about. 

But before we can explain LGBT terms to you, you need to understand what sex and gender mean. Sex is the biological difference between males and females, such as reproductive parts, hormone levels and chromosomes. Gender refers to a role defined by society, or the way a person identifies themselves. For example, playing with dolls and liking the color pink isn’t something that’s dictated by not having a Y Chromosome; it’s something that society says girls should do, but it’s not a hard-and-fast rule.

1. LGBT

This term has become a part of day-to-day language. It essentially stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender. In the spirit of inclusivity, this abbreviation is sometimes lengthened to LGBTQIA+. Queer was initially used as a slur against the LGBT community, but has been reclaimed and has become an umbrella term for anyone who doesn’t confirm to sex and gender norms. The I is for Intersex (more on that below). The A, on the other hand, stands for asexual which we’ll get to in a bit. The + refers to other gender identities that aren’t in the abbreviation.

2. Asexual

Asexual, or ace for short, means people who simply don’t feel any sexual attraction towards anyone. Ace people aren’t just celibate, as celibacy requires a conscious choice to not have sex. Ace people just don’t feel sexual desire or sexual attraction. Ace people can still want to be in relationships. Aro-ace, short for aromantic-asexual, refers to someone who isn’t interested in either a sexual relationship nor a romantic one. 

3. Trans 

Being transgender means having a gender identity that’s different from the sex you were born with.

Transgender people have been called “transvestite,” which is incorrect. Transvestites refer to crossdressers or drag queens. Some drag queens are trans, but not all drag queens are trans women. 

Trans people express their gender identity through a lot of different ways, from the manner in which they dress to the way they act, or hormone replacement or medical procedures. Regardless of how they present themselves, a trans woman is still a woman, so the correct pronouns for a trans woman would be she/her. The same goes for a trans man. 

4. Cis

Meanwhile, the term “cis” or cisgender refers to anyone who identifies with the sex that they were born with. Cishet is a popular term used on platforms like Twitter and Tumblr to refer to people who are neither trans nor homosexual or bisexual.

Before the Spaniards arrived, Filipinos actually recognized a third gender, called bayoguin or binabae (which would become the root word of bakla). Many babaylan in pre-colonial Philippines were actually men who would dress, act and even get married as women. A lot of countries like Thailand and India also recognize more than two genders.

5. Nonbinary

This term is a little less known to most people. Binary refers to society recognizing two genders: male and female. Non-binary people consider themselves neither male nor female, and don’t want to be constrained by gender. Most nonbinary people prefer the pronouns they/them, and don’t like not being referred to as she or he. The popular Showtime Wallstreet-thriller Billions includes a nonbinary character played by Asia Kate Dillon, a nonbinary actor themselves. 

6. Intersex

Intersex refers to people who are born with either genitals, chromosomes or hormones that aren’t typical for their sex, such as having both a vagina and a penis. This can be caused by medical conditions such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), wherein a pregnant mother produces too much male hormones, unusual chromosomes or other atypical genetic conditions. 

Intersex people “do not fit the typical definitions for male or female bodies” (according to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights). 

A lot of intersex people used to be put under gender assignment surgery without their consent. Luckily, in recent years, this practice is becoming less common with organizations like the Council of Europe, the United Nations Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the World Health Organization starting to fight the discrimination against intersex people.

7. Bekimon

According to a study by The UNDP and USAID, the 1960s is arguably when LGBT culture truly emerged in the Philippines, also marking the birth of “swardspeak”, or Filipino gay lingo. Swardspeak uses Tagalog, English, Spanish, Japanese and pop culture terms (such as celebrities or brands). 
By 2010, a massively popular subculture emerged called jejemon. Jejemons were often defined by hip-hop-inspired fashion, caps that were placed on top of heads rather than worn, and texts tHaT wErE wRitTeN lIKe ThIs. In the wake of jejemon’s popularity, swardspeak became known as bekimon or beki. A lot of the everyday slang we hear, such as charot or jowa, originated as bekimon words.