Definition of lgbtqia plus
What Is the &#;I&#; in LGBTQIA+?
June is National Queer Pride Month. Somewhat recently, the Pride acronym has adopted more letters. Many sources now point to to the LGBTQIA+ community, which stands for lesbian, gay, attracted to both genders, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual. While some of those words are often discussed, others may need some further explanation. We turned to Laurel A. Beck, PhD, Senior Instructor in CU Denver’s Department of Integrative Biology to explain the “I” in LGBTQIA+.
First things first. One aspect that makes all the letters in LGBTQ+ difficult for some people to understand is the difference between sex and gender. Comedian and social justice activist Sam Killermann, who previously presented a comedy show called “It’s Pronounced Metrosexual” at college campuses nationwide, now creates edugraphics to elucidate the complexities of sex and gender. As his Genderbread Person illustrates, sex relates to a person’s anatomy, while gender refers to a person’s self-identified feeling of being male, female, or a combination.
Beck, who researches endocrinology, re
People are often confused by the terms lesbian, same-sex attracted, bisexual, transgender, queer and the related acronym LGBTQIA+. The following definitions will help you to comprehend these terms.
LGBTQIA+: The first four letters of this standard abbreviation are “Lesbian, lgbtq+, bisexual and transgender.” The letter Q can endure for “questioning” -- as in still exploring one’s sexuality -- or “queer,” or sometimes both. The I,A and + were added on later to stand for Intersex, Ally or Asexual, and the PLUS sign for everyone else that wasn't included in the first letters.
Lesbian: A woman whose enduring physical, romantic and/or emotional attraction is to some other women. Some lesbians may prefer to identify as gay (adj.) or as gay women. Avoid spotting lesbians as “homosexuals,” a derogatory term (see Repulsive Terms to Avoid).
Gay: The adjective used to describe people whose enduring physical, lovey-dovey and/or emotional attractions are to people of the same sex (e.g., gay man, gay people). I
What does LGBTQIA mean?
LGBTQIA is an inclusive term that describes a range of sexual orientations and gender identities. The acronym stands for:
- Lesbian: Lesbians feel idealistic and sexual attraction toward other women.
- Gay: An individual who feels romantic and sexual attraction toward individuals of the same gender. It is often applied to men who are attracted to men but can also be used as an umbrella term for people who are attracted to those of the same gender.
- Bisexual: An individual who feels romantic and sexual attraction toward individuals of the same and diverse genders.
- Transgender: An umbrella term used to describe a range of gender identities that are diverse from traditional binary definitions. Trans people&#;s expression of gender differs from their biological sex.
- Queer: An identity term used by the LGBTQIA community. It is used by those who are outside of the heterosexual norm. The word is meant to create a greater sense of inclusivity and belonging.
- Intersex: Intersex people have sex characteristics that carry out not fal
LGBTQIA Resource Center Glossary
GLOSSARY
The terms and definitions below are always evolving, switching and often mean other things to different people. They are provided below as a starting gesture for discussion and sympathetic. This Glossary has been collectively built and created by the staff members of the LGBTQIA Resource Center since the preliminary s.
These are not universal definitions. This glossary is provided to help offer others a more thorough but not entirely comprehensive understanding of the significance of these terms. You may even consider asking someone what they denote when they use a term, especially when they use it to portray their identity. Ultimately it is most important that each individual define themselves for themselves and therefore also define a designation for themselves.
“If I didn't define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people's fantasies for me and eaten alive.” -Audre Lorde
This glossary contains terms, such as ableism and disability, that may not be considered directly related to identities of sexuality or gender. T