LGBTQ Slang

[The NPC]

So, a number of folks here are active in their LGBTQ communities.

I was wondering in your communities what is the non pejorative slang for people who are not LGBTQ?

I ask because I am writing a script and I am looking to this for some inspiration.

[Scythia]

Straight people.

Boring, but what I most often hear them called.

The only slang I've heard is semi-pejorative: Breeders.

[TOZ]

Which is pretty inaccurate, but that's slang for ya.

[Kobold Catgirl]

I've heard "cishet" as a sort of pseudo-slang (it's more of an abbreviation).

[The NPC]

Kobold Cleaver wrote:

I've heard "cishet" as a sort of pseudo-slang (it's more of an abbreviation).

That's how a lot of slang and clipped language starts out. So that makes sense. Hmm..

[The NPC]

Every community, no matter what it is a community of, has its own social morays, turns of phrase, etc. So, whether it is needed or not, slang will eventually arise.

"Slang will Rise" coming this Fall to a theater near you.

[Todd Stewart]

Hetero or cis, if we're talking about sexuality or gender identity.

While cishet exists as a single slang term, around 90% of the time I see it being used, it's being used as a really ugly pejorative.

[The NPC]

Todd Stewart wrote:

Hetero or cis, if we're talking about sexuality or gender identity.

While cishet exists as a single slang term, around 90% of the time I see it being used, it's being used as a really ugly pejorative.

Well it does bare a resemblance to the four letter word for excrement. Although scat also starts with an S, ends with a T, and is four letters.

But that is good to know. Thanks Tod.

[Ashiel]

I mean I doubt "muggle" is a term born of respect in the wizarding community.

[AlgaeNymph]

I'm personally fond of the term QUILTBAG.

I know it's technically the opposite of a slang for straights, but I figured this would be the ideal thread to bring it up.

[Kobold Catgirl]

Todd Stewart wrote:

Hetero or cis, if we're talking about sexuality or gender identity.

While cishet exists as a single slang term, around 90% of the time I see it being used, it's being used as a really ugly pejorative.

Really? I've never seen it used as anything other than matter-of-fact.

[Scythia]

I've never seen "cishet" used in person, only online.

[Crystal Frasier]

For the heterosexual crowd, I've mostly only ever seen them referred to as "heteroes," "straights," "straight folk," ect. Once in a while I've seen them jokingly refereed to as "the squares," as in "freaking the squares" to describe when straight people give you the look when they see you holding hands or kissing your partner in public. I don't think I've seen anyone actually refer to straight people as "breeders" in ten or fifteen years.

I don't think I've seen much slang for non-transgender folk beyond "cis" (at least not used within the trans community; anti-trans movements have a lot of slang for non-transgender people).

I've never seen "cishet"/"cis-het" used as a pejorative/slur, but it does tend to get used a lot by exasperated people worn out from abuse, harassment, or silencing, in the same sort of tone a black person exhausted from arguing about racial issues will sometimes go "ugh, white people..."

[mechaPoet]

The NPC wrote:

I was wondering in your communities what is the non pejorative slang for people who are not LGBTQ?

There is no universally non pejorative term, because there is always someone who gets mad or upset when their privilege is pointed out.

[Liz Courts]

Removed some posts and their replies. This is a touchy topic, and I will remind everyone to be respectful, and that what is a slur or not varies depending on the country of origin. The posts removed contained words that are considered a pejorative and/or a slur in the US, and I would remind everybody involved to reread the Community Guidelines.

[Evan Tarlton]

Seconding/Thirding/So-Oning "Straights" or "Cishet" as non-pejorative terms. They can be used in exasperation, but most of the time they are purely descriptive.

[Fergie]

Crystal Frasier wrote:

...

I've never seen "cishet"/"cis-het" used as a pejorative/slur, but it does tend to get used a lot by exasperated people worn out from abuse, harassment, or silencing, in the same sort of tone a black person exhausted from arguing about racial issues will sometimes go "ugh, white people..."

I'm white, and I say "ugh, white people..." all the time. I always thought it was universal.

Just a reminder that slang is often going to be very regional or even local. What might sound normal in the Bronx, could sound weird in Staten Island, and those are just parts of NYC that are like a mile from each other.

[thejeff]

mechaPoet wrote:

The NPC wrote:

I was wondering in your communities what is the non pejorative slang for people who are not LGBTQ?

There is no universally non pejorative term, because there is always someone who gets mad or upset when their privilege is pointed out.

And on the flip side, any term with the proper tone or context can be pejorative.

In fact, that's how a lot of terms become pejorative in the first place: They get used sufficiently commonly in an insulting fashion to pick up connotations.

It's pretty much impossible to have a non-insulting term for a sufficiently despised minority because any term will be mostly used as a pejorative because that's how people talk about them. The history of terms for black people in the US is a good example.

[Kobold Catgirl]

Fergie wrote:

Crystal Frasier wrote:

...

I've never seen "cishet"/"cis-het" used as a pejorative/slur, but it does tend to get used a lot by exasperated people worn out from abuse, harassment, or silencing, in the same sort of tone a black person exhausted from arguing about racial issues will sometimes go "ugh, white people..."

I'm white, and I say "ugh, white people..." all the time. I always thought it was universal.

Yeah, but when a nonwhite person says it, it's used as evidence by a certain crowd that "reverse racism is just as big a problem". :P

[Lamontius]

just do your best to not be dumb and insulting about my stuff
and I will do my best to not be dumb and insulting about your stuff

[Caineach]

I would say about half the time I see cishet used it is pejorative, and about 80%-90% of the time someone who hears it thinks it is.

[The Minis Maniac]

Out for for over 10 years and all I hear is people refer to heterosexual folks as "straight". I think I heard the term "breeders" once as part of a joke. And thats about it. Mostly we don't refer to heterosexual folks in divisive terms anymore. Really to me people are people.

[Kobold Catgirl]

Of course, there's a group of people who find "cisgender" itself pejorative, so you have to keep in mind that a lot of "pejorative" is just "something I just assumed was default suddenly having a name".

[Grolick]

So, I think terms for non-LGBTQ people used sometimes depends on context as well. While I generally use the term "straight" other terms such as "breeders" come to mind. "hetero" also is a fairly frequently used term, and sometimes I use the overbroad term "non-gay" (as it's just easier for me to shorten LGBTQ into that).

[Kobold Catgirl]

I've spoken to some people who're uncomfortable with the term "straight", for the understandable reason that it implies "crooked" being the counterpart. No term, aside from the awkward and scientific "heterosexual", is perfect.

[Duncan7291]

Breeders to me comes across as offensive. Im a straight/heterosexual man but I do not have any kids....so what would you call me? A failed Breeder?

[Kobold Catgirl]

Literally nobody here has advocated using breeders as a common term, and only two people have even said they've ever heard it being used. At all.

Aside from the more slangy terms like "breeders" and "the one that got Ash in trouble", I have yet to see these new words you guys are protesting really do any harm. The worst harm the new terms have done is forcing us to learn some new words—which we have to do anyways every time somebody things of a new definition for the word "ironic".

[Grolick]

Duncan7291 wrote:

Breeders to me comes across as offensive. Im a straight/heterosexual man but I do not have any kids....so what would you call me? A failed Breeder?

Well, I did say context is sometimes involved in the terms people choose. And mood. No, you aren't a failed breeder. :) In this day and age, I see couples not having kids because htey don't want them. But they do have the option (usually. I realize not all heterosexual couples are able to have children due to medical reasons).

[Duncan7291]

Kobold Cleaver wrote:

Literally nobody here has advocated using breeders as a common term, and only two people have even said they've ever heard it being used.

The original request was for "non pejorative slang." Im just stating the point that I think Breeders doesn't fall within that category.

[Kobold Catgirl]

And again, nobody has exactly advocated its use. In fact, the first mention of it:

Scythia wrote:

The only slang I've heard is semi-pejorative: Breeders.