03/06/2025
The acronym LGBTQIA+ is an evolving term designed to be inclusive of a wide range of s*xualities and gender identities. The "LGB" and "TQIA+" components refer to distinct, though often intersecting, aspects of identity:
LGB (Le***an, Gay, Bis*xual)
This part of the acronym primarily refers to s*xual orientation, which describes who a person is romantically, emotionally, or s*xually attracted to.
L - Le***an: Refers to women who are primarily attracted to other women.
G - Gay: Refers to people who are primarily attracted to the same gender; often used to describe men attracted to men.
B - Bis*xual: Refers to individuals who are attracted to both men and women.
TQIA+ (Transgender, Q***r/Questioning, Inters*x, As*xual, and Plus)
This part of the acronym encompasses gender identity (one's internal sense of self), gender expression, biological s*x variations, and a broader spectrum of s*xual attractions or lack thereof.
T - Transgender: An umbrella term for individuals whose gender identity differs from the s*x they were assigned at birth.
Q - Q***r: An umbrella term used by some to describe s*xual orientations or gender identities that are not exclusively heteros*xual and/or cisgender.
Q - Questioning: Refers to individuals who are exploring their s*xual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression and may not yet have a fixed label.
I - Inters*x: Refers to individuals born with variations in s*x characteristics (e.g., chromosomes, go**ds, hormones, or ge****ls) that do not fit typical binary definitions of male or female.
A - As*xual: Refers to individuals who experience little to no s*xual attraction to others. This can also include subcategories like demis*xual (s*xual attraction only after forming a strong emotional bond).
+ (Plus sign): This signifies other identities within the diverse community that are not explicitly covered by the preceding letters. This can include, but is not limited to, pans*xual, agender, genderfluid, polyamorous, two-spirit (a term used by some Indigenous North Americans), and allies (people who support the LGBTQIA+ community but do not identify as part of it).
