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Body Dysmorphia Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), or body dysmorphia, is a mental health condition where a person spends a lot of time worrying about flaws in their appearance. These flaws are often unnoticeable to others. People of any age can have BDD, but it's most common in teenagers and young adults. This is especially present in the Queer community due to the precedent of archetypes which means we are easily comparing our bodies to the bodies of others. See: Archetypes. < Back to Glossary

Safe Space A place or environment in which a person or category of people can feel confident that they will not be exposed to discrimination, criticism, harassment, or any other emotional or physical harm. See: Belonging, Community and Psychological Safety. < Back to Glossary

Peace (Inner peace) Inner peace refers to a state of being mentally and spiritually at peace, with enough knowledge and understanding to keep oneself resilient in the face of stress. See: Grounding, Breathwork, Resilience and Meditation. < Back to Glossary

Healthcare Healthcare is a highly contentious subject when it comes to the experiences of people from under-represented groups. Many face difficulty finding providers who are knowledgeable about their needs, encounter discrimination from insurers or providers, or delay or forego care because of concerns about how they will be treated. In the absence of concrete legislation prohibiting healthcare discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, LGBTQ+ people are often left with little recourse when discrimination occurs. ​ < Back to Glossary

Energy "1. The power required to do tasks, whether it be physical, mental or emotional. Our energy levels vary day to day and certain tasks may be more or less taxing for you than they are for other people. People with disabilities often have to strategise about where they will distribute their energy. (See: Disability & Spoons Theory & Accessibility) 2. The energy or vibe we bring to a situation can often be felt by those around us. Be aware of this and always treat people with the respect and kindness you would like to be treated with." ​ < Back to Glossary

Fat Acceptance A social movement that began in the 1960s and seeks to eliminate the social stigma around fatness. In contrast to the body positivity movement, fat acceptance has more political roots and is concerned with discrimination and medical mistreatment faced by fat people. See: Health at Every Size. < Back to Glossary

Fa'afafine The Fa'afafine are a third gender of the Samoan people. Fa'afafine are generally assigned male at birth but embody a mix of feminine and masculine characteristics and are an integral part of Samoan culture. ​ < Back to Glossary

DEI / DE&I / DEIB Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) is a conceptual and applicable framework that promotes the fair treatment and full participation of all people, especially in the workplace, including populations who have historically been underrepresented or subject to discrimination because of their background, identity, disability, etc. It has emerged as a pillar for business and Human Resources strategies as companies turn their focus to building more inclusive human-centred workplaces that drive sustainable growth and innovation. ​ < Back to Glossary

Pronouns A pronoun is a word that is used instead of a noun (e.g. I, you, he, she, it, this, that, they, them). Pronouns referring to a person can be linked to someone's gender identity. It's important to ask someone their pronouns rather than guessing based on what they look like. Or use gender-neutral ones (they/them). See: Gender Identity, Gender Expression, Gender Attribution and Misgender. < Back to Glossary

Archetype A statement, pattern of behaviour, or model which others then replicate or emulate going forward. The archetype has become recognisable or quintessential as a standard of the type in society over generations of human culture - specifically for the LGBTQIA community, this manifests itself in types of people or crowds in the community - who have similar body types, interests or display similar behaviours. ​ < Back to Glossary

Disparate Impact Refers to practices in employment, housing, and other areas that adversely affect one group of people of a protected characteristic more than another, even though rules applied by employers or landlords are formally neutral. For example, this can disproportionately effect the Queer Community, but even more so those who are are part of multiple marginalised groups. ​ < Back to Glossary

ADHD Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurological disorder that impacts the parts of the brain that help us plan, focus on, and execute tasks. ADHD symptoms vary by sub-type — inattentive, hyperactive, or combined — and are often more difficult to diagnose in girls and adults. ​ < Back to Glossary

Chromosome Mosaic When someone has two or more sets of cells that differ genetically from one another. Intersex people possess chromosomal mosaics. ​ < Back to Glossary

Woke Being conscious of racial discrimination in society and other forms of oppression and injustice. This word originates in AAVE and has begun to be used in a derogatory way by conservatives. ​ < Back to Glossary

Subconscious The part of your mind which you are not fully aware of but which influences your actions, decision making, feelings and emotions. ​ < Back to Glossary

Achievement In the world we live in, especially when it comes to our careers, a lot of our accomplishments are based on achievements. In the LGBTQIA+ Community, we have achieved a lot, as far as civil rights and acceptance in society. When there is always more to do to improve though, it is sometimes easy to forget to reflect on what we have achieved, and where we have come from. The same applies to all of us on an individual basis - we should all make time to look back and truly appreciate what we have done, and what it took to bring us here today. ​ < Back to Glossary

Phalloplasty A genital surgery to construct a penis that some trans men and trans masculine people choose to undergo. ​ < Back to Glossary

Micro-Affirmation A micro-affirmation is a small gesture of inclusion, caring or kindness. They include listening, providing comfort and support, being an ally and explicitly valuing the contributions and presence of all. It is particularly helpful for those with greater power or seniority to “model” affirming behaviour. ​ < Back to Glossary

Transgender Woman A woman who was assigned male at birth. ​ < Back to Glossary

ERG Abbreviation for Employee Resource Group. Typically, an employer-sponsored or recognized affinity group of those who share the interests and concerns common to those of a particular race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or other under-represented groups. ​ < Back to Glossary