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Closeted / 'In the closet' A somewhat dated term used to describe a person who is not heterosexual, or not cisgender, who is choosing not to disclose their sexuality or gender identity to those around them. It is important to acknowledge that it is an individual's right to choose who they disclose personal information to, or how they choose to disclose it. ​ < Back to Glossary

Capacity Our mental health, physical health and our stress levels are never at a constant - therefore our capacity isn't either. Whether we think about capacity in the context of our personal or professional lives, it is important to be open and honest with those around us, and listen to our bodies and our minds when they need to rest. See: Burnout. < Back to Glossary

Abuse Abuse is the improper usage or treatment of a person, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, assault, violation, rape, unjust practices, crimes, or other types of aggression. Historically marginalised groups are disproportionately impacted by the effects of abuse. ​ < Back to Glossary

Food / Diet What we choose to eat and how we consume food are integral parts of self-care. We know that eating a healthy diet can have a huge impact on our wellbeing, but when we really enjoy food, we can also vastly improve our state of mind. Eating with others close to us is also a central part of human nature and culture. Conversations over a meal can be transformative. ​ < Back to Glossary

Neopronoun Some non-binary people do not identify with existing standard pronouns in the English language. Neopronouns are a category of neologistic English third-person personal pronouns. Ze/zir and Xe/Xir are the two most common sets of neopronouns. ​ < Back to Glossary

Learning Learning and education impart more than just knowledge and skills. They also transmit the values, attitudes, and behaviours we have decided to share. They are what we use to make our societies better for ourselves, those around us, and those who come after us. Through education we can promote understanding, acceptance and friendship among groups and communities. ​ < Back to Glossary

Social Barriers Primarily used to describe the barriers Disabled people face - in education, employment and wider society, including inaccessible environments, prejudice and discrimination, communication barriers and financial barriers. This does not mean to say that those from other marginalised groups cannot face social barriers, for example, if they feel ostracised from groups because of their differences, or because they lack common interests. ​ < Back to Glossary

Kinsey Scale The Kinsey scale, also called the Heterosexual–Homosexual Rating Scale, is used in research to describe a person's sexual orientation based on one’s experience or response at a given time. The scale typically ranges from 0, meaning exclusively heterosexual, to a 6, meaning exclusively homosexual. ​ < Back to Glossary

Inner Child Refers to the childlike part of our unconscious mind. Many trace the concept of an inner child back to psychiatrist Carl Jung. Essentially, our inner child is the forgiving, free-spirited part of us that still feels and experiences life as a child. Whether you realise it or not your relationship with your inner child can have a huge impact on your life. In fact, everything from your mental health, physical wellbeing, achievements, relationships with others and even ability to feel joy can all be affected by this younger you. This younger self (or selves) can have a big impact on how you see the world. In the words of John Bradshaw, author of Home Coming, ‘Our childhood becomes the filter through which all new experiences must pass.' See: Trauma. < Back to Glossary

Queer Temporality Queer Temporality (also known as 'Queer Time Theory') refers to the school of thought which determines Queer lives are not 'chrononormative.' This means the lives of Queer people do not develop in the same way that non-Queer lives do, as milestones in life as perceived by heteronormative society don't necessarily apply to us - i.e. getting married or having children. Queer Temporality is additionally relevant to transgender people accessing medical transition, as Hormone Replacement Therapy can induce a second puberty at any stage of life. Therefore, our perception of success as LGBTQIA+ people can be warped, or more difficult to understand. As a result, thought leaders in Queer Temporality call for "reconsideration of how marriage, children, generativity, and inheritance define and confine cultural expectations of maturation, responsibility, happiness, and future." (See: Success) < Back to Glossary

Non-profit A non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or non-profit institution, is a legal entity organised and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in contrast with an entity that operates as a business aiming to generate a profit for its owners or stake-holders. A non-profit is subject to the non-distribution constraint: any revenues that exceed expenses must be committed to the organization's purpose, not taken by private parties. An array of organisations are non-profit, including some political organizations, schools, business associations, churches, social clubs, and consumer cooperatives. ​ < Back to Glossary

Meditation The term meditation refers to a family of self-regulation and reflective practices that focus on training attention and awareness to foster general mental well-being and development and/or specific capacities such as calm, clarity, and concentration. ​ < Back to Glossary

Biphobia Biphobia is aversion toward bisexuality and bisexual people as individuals. It is a form of discrimination against those in the bisexual community. It can take the form of denial that bisexuality is a genuine sexual orientation, or of negative stereotypes about people who are bisexual. ​ < Back to Glossary

Doom Scrolling Doomscrolling or doomsurfing is the act of spending an excessive amount of time reading large quantities of negative news online. A 2019 NAS study found that doomscrolling can be linked to a decline in mental and physical health. Doomscrolling can also be linked to compulsive behaviour. This is especially poignant for Queer People, considering the current political climate, and discrimination that we are subject to. Mental Wellbeing, Social Media, Self-Awareness and Self-Care < Back to Glossary

Employment Gap The percentage difference in employment statistics between communities, as well as within those communities, which examine how intersectionality can have a real-world effect on opportunity due to societal prejudice - i.e. in the UK, unemployment gap of disabled people v non-disabled people is almost 40%. ​ < Back to Glossary

Neutrois Someone who identifies with a neutral or no gender identity. This is similar or may overlap with people who identify as agender. See: Agender, Non-Binary < Back to Glossary

Ego ​ ​ < Back to Glossary

Safety The need for safety was acknowledged as a basic human need by Abraham Maslow in his 'Hierarchy of Needs'. Safety needs represent the second tier in Maslow's hierarchy and these needs include the security of body, of employment, of resources, of morality of family, and of health. People want to experience order, predictability and control in their lives. These needs can be fulfilled by the family and society (e.g. police, schools, business and medical care). Without a sense of physical safety – both individually and more broadly as a community – we are unable to focus on other factors that support our wellbeing. ​ < Back to Glossary

Ball Culture The Ballroom Scene is an African-American and Latino underground LGBTQ+ subculture that originated in New York City. Beginning in the late 20th century, Black and Latino drag queens began to organize their own pageants in opposition to racism experienced in established drag queen pageant circuits. ​ < Back to Glossary

Change-maker Change-makers are people who fundamentally want to transform the status-quo. They are an integral part of the LGBTQIA+ activism community and the civil rights that queer people have today wouldn't exist without them. Thanks to people like Marsha P. Johnson during the Stonewall Riots, change was sparked in western society which has formed the foundation of those who are trying to make change today. (See Civil Rights) ​ < Back to Glossary