Meaning oflgbtq
Pride Month What do LGBTQ and LGBTQIA+ mean?
LGBTQ+ people have always existed, even if the language seems new. Conversations around sexual orientation and gender are nuanced -- and the "alphabet," if you will, is expanding.
"L" stands for Lesbian: A lady emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to other women.
"G" stands for Gay: Used to describe men attracted to the same sex OR anyone attracted to the same or similar genders.
"B" stands for Bisexual: People attracted to more than one gender.
"T" stands for Transgender: Those whose gender identity and/or expression differs from cultural expectations. Being transgender does not imply any specific sexual orientation. Some genderqueer people identify as transgender, while others do not.
"Q" has two meanings. First, queer, a catch-all to include those who undertake not identify as exclusively straight and/or folks who have non-binary or gender-fluid identities. Queer was once used as a slur but has been reclaimed by some in the community. "Q" can also stand for those, questioning their identity.
In addition to LGBTQ, some also insert the letters,
LGBT
LGBT or GLBT is an abbreviation for lesbian, lgbtq+, bisexual and transgender. Homosexual is used to narrate persons, specifically men, who are romantically or sexually attracted to persons of the same sex. Female homosexual is a preferred phrase for women who are romantically or sexually attracted to women. Bi-sexual refers to persons who are romantically or sexually attracted to persons of any sex or gender individuality. Sometimes bisexual is used interchangeably with pansexual. Transgender is an umbrella term for those whose gender persona or expression is unlike from their sex assigned at birth. Being transgender does not require one to undergo surgeries or produce changes in physical appearance.
LGBT has been seen as a positive symbol of inclusion. To enhance such inclusion and create a sense of acceptance for a greater community, more and more people are now using the legal title LGBTQ, with Q standing for queer or questioning. Once used as a disparaging term against LGBT people, queer now refers to people who are not exclusively heterosexual. This term can be used by anyone within the LGBTQ community.
[Last reviewed in August of by the Wex Definitions Team]
Wex
Glossary of Terms: LGBTQ
Definitions were drafted in collaboration with other U.S.-based LGBTQ group organizations and leaders. Look acknowledgements section.
Additional terms and definitions about gender identity and gender verbalization, transgender people, and nonbinary people are available in the Transgender Glossary.
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*NOTE: Ask people what terms they exploit to describe their sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression before assigning them a label. Outside of acronyms, these terms should only be capitalized when used at the beginning of a sentence.
LGBTQ
Acronym for female homosexual, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. The Q generally stands for queer when LGBTQ organizations, leaders, and media use the acronym. In settings offering assist for youth, it can also stand for questioning. LGBT and LGBTQ+ are also used, with the + added in recognition of all non-straight, non-cisgender identities. (See Transgender Glossary ) Both are acceptable, as are other versions of this acronym. The term &#;gay community&#; should be avoided, as it does not accurately demonstrate the div
From LGBT to LGBTQIA+: The Evolving Recognition of Identity
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 19,
October is LGBT History Month. Or, as some might speak, LGBTQ History Month. Or even LGBTQIA+ History Month.
The terms for the people of people that encompasses people who are womxn loving womxn, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender non-conforming, intersex, and asexual are as broad as that community itself: As society’s understanding, recognition, and inclusion of diverse sexual identities and gender expressions has grown, so has its acronym.
Here’s a look at how that evolution has happened—and why it’s all but certain the designation will continue to change.
How lesbianism got its name
Out of all the letters in the acronym LGBTQ, the L was the first to come into existence. For centuries, the word had been related with the works of Sappho, an ancient Greek woman from the island of Lesbos who wrote poems about same-gender passion.
The oldest use of the term to describe same-gender love has been traced back to the 17th century. But its new use emerged in the s, when it was used in an English-language medical dictionary and a variety of books on psychology and sexuality. Over time, it grew in popularity and was adopted
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