Lgbtq acronym meaning

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 gal 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 genderfluid people identify as gender non-conforming, 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 al

Glossary of Terms: LGBTQ

Definitions were drafted in collaboration with other U.S.-based LGBTQ collective organizations and leaders. Look acknowledgements section.

Additional terms and definitions about gender identity and gender utterance, transgender people, and nonbinary people are available in the Transgender Glossary. 

Are we missing a term or is a definition outdated? Email press@

*NOTE:  Ask people what terms they employ 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 woman loving woman, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. The Q generally stands for queer when LGBTQ organizations, leaders, and media use the acronym. In settings offering back 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

LGBTQ: What does the acronym mean, and how did it come about?

The LGBTQ acronym itself means Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transgender and Gay. In groups of emerging, adults, the “Q” can sometimes mean questioning. And in some instances, a plus is added to comprise additional people.

If you’re on the younger side, you probably only know of the LGBTQ collective by this or a similar acronym. If you’re a bit older you may remember a different version, or even when it was simply called the ‘gay rights’ movement.

“There’s been a lot of evolution in the way that our communities are described and part of it is because there’s been quite an evolution in society,” said Luca Maurer, Ithaca College’s executive director of Pupil Equity Inclusion & Belonging.

So where did the acronym as we know it as today appear from?

Maurer says the terms themselves came about as a way for people to claim their own identity at a time when LGBTQ people were in some cases still being referred to by medical terms that wrongly suggested mental illness.

“I remember being on a campus in a college trainee organ

Glossary of Terms

Many Americans refrain from talking about sexual orientation and gender identity or expression because it feels taboo, or because they’re afraid of saying the wrong thing. 

This glossary was written to help deliver people the words and meanings to help make conversations easier and more comfortable. LGBTQ+ people use a variety of terms to identify themselves, not all of which are included in this glossary. Always listen for and respect a person’s self identified terminology.

Ally | A phrase used to describe someone who is actively supportive of Homosexual people. It encompasses straight and cisgender allies, as well as those within the LGBTQ+ people who support each other (e.g., a lesbian who is an ally to the bisexual community).

Asexual | Often called “ace” for short, asexual refers to a complete or partial lack of sexual attraction or lack of interest in sexual activity with others. Asexuality exists on a spectrum, and asexual people may experience no, little or conditional sexual attraction.

Biphobia | The dread and hatred of, or discomfort with