This article examines the relationship between language and sexual identity, using data collected from in-depth interviews with cisgender women who are in relationships with female-to-male transgender men. The data illustrate that many of the women have complex relationships with the labels that they use to describe their own sexual identity currently and in their past. When referring to their own sexual identities, cisgender women partners of trans men (a) are flexible with specific terms they use in order to respond to varying social contexts, (b) use specific terms to signify cultural belonging to or difference from different communities, and (c) use language as a suggestive action to others to question heteronormative assumptions. Further, this research highlights the importance of considering time in sexuality research, including the timing of the partnerships, and collecting data that reflect the individuals’ histories to analyze the connection between sexual identity and the use of language.

本文使用从与女性跨性别男性关系密切的顺性别女性的深度访谈中收集的数据，考察了语言与性认同之间的关系。数据表明，许多妇女与她们用来描述当前和过去的性身份的标签有着复杂的关系。在提及自己的性别认同时，跨性别男人的顺性女性伴侣（a）灵活使用特定的用语，以回应不同的社会背景；（b）使用特定的用语来表示文化归属于不同社区或与其他社区不同， （c）使用语言作为对其他人的质疑性行为，以质疑异规范的假设。此外，这项研究强调了在性研究中考虑时间的重要性，