Lgbtqia2s+ definitions
LGBTQIA Resource Center Glossary
GLOSSARY
The terms and definitions below are always evolving, changing and often indicate different things to different people. They are provided below as a starting point for discussion and understanding. This Glossary has been collectively built and created by the staff members of the LGBTQIA Resource Center since the early s.
These are not universal definitions. This glossary is provided to help give others a more thorough but not entirely comprehensive understanding of the significance of these terms. You may even consider asking someone what they mean when they use a term, especially when they use it to narrate their identity. Ultimately it is most important that each individual define themselves for themselves and therefore also define a legal title for themselves.
“If I didn't specify 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
LGBTQIA2S+: What Does It All Mean?
As we celebrate Celebration in , we would be remiss to overlook the historical context in which we celebrate and provide allyship to LGBTQIA2S+ communities and those who identify as LGBTQIA2S+.
June 28, was a pivotal aim in history for LGBTQIA2S+ in North America. In advance in the morning police raided the Stonewall Inn - a safe haven for members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community (notably homeless gay youth) in Manhattan. This raid escalated with patrons of Stonewall clashing with the police and six days of demonstrations. A similar event in Canada, the Toronto Bathhouse Raids, occurred February 5, in four bath houses in downtown Toronto leading to the arrest of over men (many of those arrested were found to be innocent). Public outcry over the treatment of LGBTQIA2S+ community members versus their counterparts in secret clubs and heterosexual bath houses was prominent in demonstrations, participants describing police brutality and violation of civil liberties as steady and discriminatory. In July the Civil Marriage Act was given
Glossary of Terms: LGBTQ
Definitions were drafted in collaboration with other U.S.-based LGBTQ society organizations and leaders. See acknowledgements section.
Additional terms and definitions about gender identity and gender expression, transgender people, and nonbinary people are available in the Transgender Glossary.
Are we missing a term or is a definition outdated? Email press@
*NOTE: Inquire people what terms they use to describe their sexual orientation, gender individuality and gender utterance 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 lesbian, same-sex attracted, bisexual, transgender, and queer. The Q generally stands for queer when LGBTQ organizations, leaders, and media use the acronym. In settings offering support 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 thi
Chances are you’ve probably seen LGBTQ+, LGBTQIA+ or LGBTQIA2S before, but do you know what each of these letters mean? While it’s important to message that this is not an exhaustive list of all the identities and orientations in the society, here’s a quick breakdown of the ones included in this acronym and their respective flags!
L for Lesbian: A woman or female-identified person who experiences sexual, romantic, or heartfelt attraction to people of the same or similar gender. However, it’s crucial to note that not all lesbians are female-identified; some define their individuality as more nonmale or femme than female or feminine.
G for Gay: A term that describes people who experience sexual, intimate, or emotional attraction to people of the equal or similar gender.
B for Bisexual: A sexual orientation that describes people who experience sexual, romantic, or emotional attractions to people of more than one gender.
T for Transgender: Trans is a gender culture that does not correspond with the gender assigned at birth.
Q for Queer: Queer is an umbrella term t