Affirming Spaces: An inclusive environment that actively supports, values, and respects LGBTQ+ individuals and identities. This space fosters a culture where queer individuals feel safe, recognized, and celebrated in the fullness of their identities. In a Jewish context, it integrates LGBTQ+ voices in ritual, learning, and community life, embracing values of dignity and belonging. It seeks to dismantle biases and fosters a space where individuals can live as their authentic selves.

Gender Nonconforming or Gender Non-binary: A way of identifying and/or expressing oneself outside the binary gender categories of male/masculine and female/feminine. 

Difference between sexual orientation and gender identity: Sexual orientation describes human sexuality, from gay and lesbian to bisexual and heterosexual orientations. A person’s gender identity is fundamentally different from and not related to their sexual orientation. A person identifying as trans does not predict or reveal anything about their sexual orientation. A trans person may identify as gay, lesbian, queer, straight, or bisexual – their sexual orientation varies just as much as people who do not identify as trans.

Intersectionality: The complex, cumulative way in which the effects of multiple forms of discrimination (such as racism, sexism, and classism) combine, overlap, or intersect, and their multiple effects on the same individuals or groups. Also refers to the view that overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination and inequality can more effectively be addressed together.

LGBTQ+:  an acronym that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual. The “+” represents all the other identities that are not in the acronym, including but not limited to pansexual, agender, non-binary, gender fluid.

2SLGBTQIA+ : an acronym used by the Canadian Government that stands for: Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and the + is the inclusive sign for people who identify as part of sexual and gender diverse communities

Neurodiversity: When neurological differences are recognized and respected as are any other kind of human differences or variations. These differences can include Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Dyscalculia, Autistic Spectrum, and Tourette Syndrome.

Queer: An umbrella term used by people who wish to describe themselves as neither heterosexual nor cisgender.