“I” stands for intersex: a term used to describe a person who is born with differences in their sex traits or reproductive anatomy that don’t fit typical definitions of female or male. Let’s discuss what these additional letters mean. LGBTQIA+ has become a prevalent acronym adopted by the community. History has shown that LGBT continues to be an evolving abbreviation as the world gains a better understanding of people’s sexual orientation, identity, gender, and expression. How has LGBT changed to LGBTQIA+ over the years? Questioning is a term used to describe a person who is exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity. “Q” can also stand for Questioning: When “Q” comes at the end of LGBTQ, it can also mean questioning. In a 2018 Human Rights Campaign (HRC) survey, over 12% of LGBTQ youth identified as non-binary, and 9% identified as genderqueer or gender non-conforming. Gender non-conforming describes a person who does not abide by traditional or cultural expectations - in regards to appearance or behavior - of their gender. Genderqueer describes a person who does not follow static categories of gender, embracing a fluidity of gender identity and, oftentimes, sexual orientations. Gender fluid describes a person whose gender identity or expression changes over time. Non-binary describes a person whose gender identity falls outside of strictly male or strictly female. It’s an umbrella term that includes people who have non-binary or gender-fluid identities. “Q” stands for Queer: an adjective used by some people whose sexual orientation is not exclusively heterosexual or straight. Why was ‘LGBT’ incomplete?Īlthough the LGBT acronym was much more inclusive than terms used in the past, it still left out people who don’t identify with being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Transgender should be used as an adjective - not as a noun or a verb. “T” stands for transgender: a term for a person whose gender identity or expression is different than their sex assigned at birth. “B” stands for bisexual: a person who is physically, emotionally, or romantically attracted to people within more than one sex, gender, or gender identity “G” stands for gay: a person who is physically, emotionally, or romantically attracted to people within the same gender “L” stands for lesbian: a woman who is physically, emotionally, or romantically attracted to other women Let’s review the meaning behind these original letters. In the 1980s, the LGBT acronym gained popularity and was adopted by many activist organizations by the 1990s.
Political movements such as the Stonewall Riots brought attention throughout the United States and around the world regarding the injustice experienced within this community - it was a pivotal time for the “gay rights movement.”Īs these movements progressed, people recognized that the term “gay” didn’t encompass all sexual orientations and gender identities. The year 1969 is often seen as a turning point in American history in shifting attitudes and politics regarding sexuality. However, these years also proved to be a monumental time for advancements within the LGBTQIA+ community. During the 1950s and 1960s, people in this group were often referred to as the “gay community.” The original initialism: LGBTīefore the origin of “LGBT,” the language used to describe this community was actually quite limiting. Read on to discover the history behind this colorful acronym. It’s important to note that gender identity is not determined by one’s sex assigned at birth and that sex and gender are not the same.Īs the world becomes more inclusive of people’s sexual orientation and gender identity, the letters within this acronym have similarly evolved. Gender identity describes a person’s internal sense of being female, male, or someone outside of that gender binary. Sexual orientation refers to a person’s physical, emotional, and romantic attraction to another person - such as being straight, gay, lesbian, or bisexual. The LGBTQIA+ acronym is used to describe either a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.