MLM

Stands for “man-loving man” or “men-loving men.” This term has become a unifying label for a man who is attracted to and/or has emotional, romantic, and sexual partnerships with other men (e.g., gay, bi, pansexual, same-gender-loving men). Often stylized as “mlm.”

Model Minority

Refers to the idea that some underrepresented groups in the U.S., especially Asian Americans, are perceived to have certain “positive” traits (e.g., industrious, politically undisruptive, intelligent, inoffensive, successful). This myth erases differences among individuals, while also driving a racial wedge between Asians and other underrepresented groups in the U.S.

Mohammed, Prophet

Mohammed was a prophet and messenger of God, not an intercessor of God. Muslims honor Mohammed only by following his teachings (not by praying to him). There are various acceptable spellings of the Prophet’s name (i.e. Muhammed).

Money Bail

Also known as cash bail or bail bond; an amount of money determined by prosecutors and judges that must be paid so a suspect can be released from pre-trial detention.

Muslim Ban

The deadly San Bernadino, CA, shooting in December 2015 led to Trump’s Muslim Ban. Between 2017 and 2018, the number of permanent visas given every month to Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen nationals fell by 72%. In June 2018, the Supreme Court upheld an amended version of Trump’s ban. Immigrants and many travelers from Iran, Libya, Somalia, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen are still banned. President Biden rescinded the ban in 2021, but its effects still remain.

Muslim/Islam

A Muslim adheres to the religion, Islam, as a Christian adheres to Christianity. Islam means “the submission to the Oneness of God” and a Muslim who practices and a person who is “culturally” Muslim generally adhere to the same belief. Muslims worship and only pray to God; not to the Prophet Mohammed. Note that the “s” in both is a soft “s” as opposed to a “z,” i.e., MUS-luhm and ISS-luhm.

Muxe

A “third gender” and Zapotec ethnic identity on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mexico. Muxe (pronounced mu-shay) includes a spectrum of people who were assigned male at birth but don’t inhabit traditionally masculine gender norms. They have been recognized, celebrated, and played an important part in their community since pre-colonization times.

Note: When living in another country or visiting other states that don't have the same cultural genders, people with this identity may code-switch and call themselves trans women, gay men, or non-binary in order for their identity to be legible to others. For more.

MVPFAFF

An acronym to describe gender-diverse Pasifika identities: māhū (Hawai’i and Tahiti), vaka sa lewa lewa (Fiji), palopa (Papua New Guinea), fa’afafine (Samoa), akava’ine (Rarotonga), fakaleiti (Tonga), and fakafifine (Niue). The abbreviation is gaining prominence and is used to signify the existence of different Pacific cultures. Other terms include fakaleitī, fa'afatama, and rae-rae. Note: When living in another country or visiting other states that don't have the same cultural genders, people with these identities may code-switch and call themselves trans or non-binary in order for their gender to be legible to others.

National Guard

Part of the U.S. Reserve Component, comprising soldiers and airmen from each state and the territories of D.C., Guam (Saipan included), Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands. All are also U.S. organized militia members. Most have full-time jobs while serving part-time, and all can be activated by their states’ governors and mobilized to support federal response to humanitarian and disaster relief efforts.

Native Hawaiians

The indigenous people of the Hawaiian islands (called Kānaka Maoli). Throughout history, Native Hawaiians have had their sovereignty and culture dominated and challenged by the U.S. and other Asian and European colonizers. “Native Hawaiians” does not refer to everyone who lives on or who is born in Hawai’i.

Neglect

The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) – U.S. federal legislation – groups “child abuse and neglect” together, describing them as “any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caregiver that results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse, or exploitation, or an act or failure to act that presents an imminent risk of serious harm.” However, neither CAPTA nor the federal government have defined “neglect” on its own. This ambiguity has created varying state definitions, and it has perpetuated disproportionate enforcement of BIPOC parents and guardians by child welfare agencies. Depending on the state, neglect may include excessive school absences, inadequate care (e.g., medical, psychological), and unmet basic needs (e.g., poor hygiene). Neglect is the most common form of maltreatment reported in U.S. child welfare investigations, and it’s often directly related to poverty (e.g., parents unable to afford childcare while working multiple low-wage jobs/long hours; children playing unsupervised outside of an urban residence). For more.

Neopronouns

A category of singular third-person pronouns created to be specifically gender-neutral (e.g., xe/xem, ze/zir, fae/faer). Neopronouns can be used by anyone but are most commonly used by non-binary and gender non-conforming people. For more.

Neurodiversity

Variations in the brain regarding sociability, learning, attention, mood, and other mental functions in a non-pathological sense. Developmental and psychiatric disabilities often fall under this umbrella.

Niqab

A face veil worn by some Muslim women that leaves the eyes uncovered.

Non-Binary Lesbian

A non-binary person who is predominantly attracted to women and femme non-binary people. For more.

Non-Binary

Both an umbrella term and a specific, individual identity for people whose gender identity and/or gender expression doesn’t fit within the man/woman gender binary. Most but not all non-binary people use gender neutral pronouns. Also referred to as “enby” (a phonetic pronunciation of “n-b,” short for “non-binary”). For a variety of perspectives on what it means to be non-binary, see here.

Nubians

Indigenous Black tribe in Northern Sudan and Southern Egypt.

Oceania

A region made up of thousands of islands across the Central and South Pacific Ocean. While the exact geography isn’t agreed upon, it usually includes the subregions of Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia, and Australasia (made up of Australia, and sometimes New Zealand and the islands of New Guinea). While Australia is part of Oceania, it’s not generally considered a Pacific Island nation (though this is debated).

Omnisexual (omni)

A person who experiences sexual, romantic, and/or emotional attraction toward people of any gender in which gender plays a part in the attraction. Omnisexual is distinguished from pansexual, which describes attraction to all genders regardless of a partner’s gender. For more.

Open Adoption

The modern standard for adoption in which adoptive parents hold all rights but exchange some identifying information (e.g., names, medical history) with families of origin and have the option of contact (e.g., visitation, phone calls).