What Do The Letters in LGBTQIA+ Stand For?
The “LGBTQIA+” meaning of the letters represents different facets of our community. Each one stands for a gender or sexual identity, with the “+” at the end standing in for the many gender identities that aren’t included in this version of the acronym.
Understanding the differences between these communities, like recognizing pride flags, might feel confusing at first. Don’t worry if you aren’t sure which community you identify with most closely–or if you aren’t sure about the differences between them YET.
When it comes to how to be an ally, know that good faith questions and exploration of the differences within LGBTQIA+ – meaning you genuinely want to learn and understand – are always welcome!
L: LESBIAN
Lesbians are women who are attracted to other women. Some lesbians do prefer being called “gay,” since “gay” can be an umbrella term for anyone attracted to the same sex. The lesbian community has always been at the forefront of LGBTQIA+ rights.
And they even helped spearhead feminist movements in the 1970s.
Lesbian is one of the oldest terms in the acronym LGBTQIA+, meaning this term predates the 20th century.
It originates from an ancient Greek writer Sappho of Lesbos, a woman who wrote passionately about the beauty of women and her attraction to them. The term “lesbian” first appeared in the 1800s to describe a woman who loved women, just as Sappho did.
G: GAY
Gay can be used as an umbrella term to refer to anyone who is attracted to a person of the same gender.
Most frequently, though, “gay” refers to men who are attracted to other men. The gay community first embraced this term in the late 1960s. Before this, “gay” was a slur used to harm and degrade men in this community.
The community embraced the word “gay” over words like “homophile” and “homosexual”, because it was a word that didn’t refer explicitly to sexual activity. The gay community has always been about love, so we chose a word that could hold all the love, not just sexual attraction.
B: BISEXUAL
Bisexual people are attracted to both men and women.
Bisexual people were one of the earliest additions to the acronym we use today. The LGBTQIA+ meaning has grown, but we continue to honor the history of those who came before us, including the bisexual people who marched at the first gay rights marches.
Bisexuality can sometimes be misjudged as a “pit stop” on the way to being gay, but it isn’t. While sexual identities can and do change over time, bisexuality is its own identity, not just a path to coming out as gay. Bisexual people sometimes have sexual histories that include both genders, sometimes just one, and sometimes neither.
No matter what it looks like for you, your bisexuality is valid!
T: TRANSGENDER
The term “transgender” was first coined in the 1960s, and refers to anyone whose gender identity does not match the gender they were assigned at birth. This can include transwomen (women who were assigned male at birth), transmen (men who were assigned female at birth), and nonbinary people (who may have been assigned male or female at birth).
The word “transgender” was advocated for by activists like Virginia Prince. They argued for it to replace “transexual,” since sex and gender are different concepts.
Transgender people can make a number of gender-affirming choices. This might include the way you dress, getting prescribed hormone therapy, and/or gender-affirming surgeries. Many trans people also change their gender pronouns to align with their identity.
Just like with bisexuality, being gay, and being a lesbian, there’s no “right” or “wrong” way to be trans. You are just as valid as anyone else, no matter how you choose to express your identity as a trans person.
Q: QUEER/QUESTIONING
The “Q” in LGBTQIA+ meaning can change, depending on who’s speaking and when you see this term appear.
Now, the “Q” most commonly refers to “Queer,” another reclaimed word. Similarly to “gay”, “queer” is an umbrella term that can refer to just about anyone in the community.
Many people prefer the term “queer” because it feels all-encompassing. Being queer isn’t about your gender or sexual identity, it’s about both. Queerness is sometimes seen in political movements because it’s about operating outside the norms.
“Q” can also refer to “questioning” – this means someone who is still exploring their gender or sexual identity. You are part of the community, even if you aren’t sure what to define yourself as just yet.
I: INTERSEX
Intersex individuals are born with both male and female chromosomes and/or sex characteristics. Intersex individuals are not trans, but their identities are often erased and shamed – much like other members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Not all intersex people identify with LGBTQIA+, meaning they may not feel that this community addresses their needs or feelings.
A: ASEXUAL
Asexual – sometimes shortened to “ace” – people don’t feel sexual attraction at all.
Asexual people can still feel romantic attraction, which means they might date, have long-term partners, or even get married. They also might choose to engage in a variety of sexual activities, or only have sex under certain circumstances.
Asexuality is on a spectrum, like all gender or sexual identities within the umbrella of LGBTQIA+. Meaning, again, that there’s no “right way” to be ace. Asexuality is about your relationship to sex and sexuality, and it can be fluid or static, just like any other gender or sexual experience
+ PLUS
Last, there’s a plus sign at the end of the LGBTQIA+ acronym, meaning anyone who is not listed in the acronym but still identifies as part of the community. These can include:
There are many more gender and sexual identities in the LGBTQIA+ community, since our understanding of ourselves and others is always changing and evolving.
Ready to Share the Pride and Be an Ally?
Being an ally isn’t about knowing all the LGBTQIA+ meanings, acronyms, important dates, and definitions. It’s about listening to and understanding the people in your life and standing up for them. Being an ally means allowing the people in your life to be fully themselves, without fear of judgment, harassment, or danger.
And there’s no way to know someone’s gender or sexual identity by just looking at them, so ask!
You can use gender-neutral pronouns until you know for sure what they’re comfortable with. You can also share your pride or allyship by wearing pride flag pins, stickers, or patches to let everyone know you’re a safe, welcoming space for the LGBTQIA+ community.
And remember that gender and sexual identity don’t exist in a vacuum.
If you want to show added support and raise awareness for the LGBTQIA+ community, you can actively participate in special days like the International Transgender Day of Visibility, Harvey Milk Day, IDAHOBIT, Gay Pride Month, and many other days set aside to spread love and awareness.
Get involved in creating safety and freedom for your community by volunteering for governmental movements or donating to gay rights activism organizations that are run by members of the community.