LGBTIQA+ Language & Symbols
Understanding Identity, Expression & Community
The language of the LGBTI community is constantly evolving. Communities and sub-cultures are still being defined, and thus the language and labels associated with the LGBTI community also changes.
LGB: Sexual Orientation
Who you are attracted to romantically and/or physically
🌹 Lesbian
A woman whose primary emotional and physical attraction is towards other women. Another phrase is "women who have sex with women"
🌈 Gay
A term generally used to describe men whose primary emotional and physical attraction is towards other men. This term is also used by women as a generic term for homosexual.
💜 Bisexual
A term to describe someone whose primary emotional and physical attraction is for people, regardless of gender.
T: Gender Identity
Understanding a different gender identity from the one you were born into
🏳️⚧️ Transgender
An umbrella term for people whose sense of gender is outside of the traditional idea of male or female. It can also be used to define someone who has gender dysphoria, a condition where their biological form does not match with their internal sense of gender.
⚧️ Cisgender
A term used to refer to people whose gender identity and behavior is considered appropriate for one's sex. This is your traditional "male" and "female".
🌟 Genderqueer
A term used by people who possess identities which fall outside of the widely accepted gender binary (i.e. "men" and "women").
I: Intersex
Understanding physical difference
🔬 Intersex
A person who is born with physical differences that can include a variance in reproductive organs (anatomy), hormones and/or sex chromosomes (DNA) that are not exclusively male or female. Many forms of intersex exist; it is a spectrum or umbrella term, rather than a single category.
QA+: Additional Identities
These are not always added to the acronym
✨ Queer
An umbrella term sometimes used by LGBTIQ people to refer to the entire LGBT community. It is also used as an alternative word that some people use to "queer" the idea of labels and categories. Note: This word can be considered offensive to some people, depending on their generation and background.
❓ Questioning
For some, the process of exploring and discovering one's own sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
🖤 Asexual
A term to describe someone who is generally not emotionally or physically attracted to any people. Asexuality is not the same as celibacy.
➕ Plus (+)
"Plus everything else" - acknowledging the many other identities and orientations within our diverse community.
Additional Terms
💖 Pansexual
A term used to describe someone who is attracted to all people regardless of their sexual identity, gender identity or intersex status. Similar to bisexual but includes all the other gender options.
💙 Ally
Typically any non-LGBTI person who supports and stands up for the rights of LGBTI people, though LGBTI people can be allies to each other as well.
💕 Heterosexual/Straight
A generic term to describe people whose primary emotional and physical attraction is towards people of the opposite sex as themselves.
Creating Inclusive Dialogue
Best Practices:
- Use correct name and pronoun consistently
- Never assume someone's sexual orientation or gender identity
- If you are unsure how to address someone, ask in a sensitive and respectful manner
- If you are really unsure, use gender-neutral pronouns and let the other person lead the way
- Employ best practice by using terms your client has conveyed to you
- If you don't know – ask – there is no such thing as a stupid question
Language Evolution
The LGBTIQA+++ acronym is growing, and this will continue to occur as smaller minorities are labeled and acknowledged publicly. Even within generations there is a shift in language and people's comfort levels with using it.
As one of the fastest evolving cultures, the language used to describe the LGBTI community is also evolving fast. Each group and sub-culture within communities has its own language. Listen to the person you are talking to and take your language cues from them.
