What Does LGBTQ Mean?
Are you still wondering what LGBTQ+ means?
That’s okay!
LGBTQ+ is an acronym for the community of people who do not identify with a cisgender and/or heterosexual identity.
Understanding each label in LGBTQ+ is important for inclusion of everyone, no matter who they are.
Let’s break down exactly what each letter in the famous queer acronym means.
L is for Lesbian
A lesbian is a woman who is sexually/romantically attracted to another woman.
Fun Fact: The L was moved to the front after the HIV/AIDS epidemic, when lesbians were not afraid to take care of men who were dying from AIDS. This was back at a time where people believed AIDS was transmitted through touch.
And remember — Non-binary individuals who love sapphically are also included in the Lesbian community!
G is for Gay
The G in LGBTQ+ most commonly refers to Gay men.
However, Gay is also used an umbrella term largely for those who experience attraction to the same gender and in association with many other LGBTQ communities. Same sex relationships have been included in recorded history since 2400 BCE.
Fun Fact: Gay Bob was the first openly gay doll on toy shelves, released in 1977.
B is for Bisexual
A Bisexual person is someone who experiences romantic/sexual attraction to more than one gender.
For example, a man who is attracted to both men and women is Bisexual!
Every person who is Bisexual is different in their preferences, some may feel equally attracted to each gender while others have their attraction fluctuate over time.
Fun Fact: Brenda Howard, better known as The Mother of Pride — is Bisexual!
T is for Transgender ⚧️
A Transgender person has a gender identity that differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.
For example, A Transgender man is a man who was assigned female at birth, a Transgender woman is a woman who was assigned male at birth.
There are also people who are Nonbinary or Genderqueer that identify outside of the social construct of gender who also are under the Transgender umbrella.
Fun Fact: Dr. James Barry was a brilliant British Military surgeon in the 1800’s who championed health, hygiene, and revolutionized medical work on Crural hernias. Barry is a man who was assigned female at birth who lived exclusively as male until his death in 1865.
Q is for Queer
Queer is the umbrella term for all LGBTQ individuals and is used to describe actions, ideologies, and people who challenge traditional gender norms.
The queer identity is largely used to express someone’s belonging in the LGBTQ+ community without attaching themselves to a specific label.
(Not so) Fun Fact: Yes. Queer was a slur back in the 19th and 20th century, however the LGBTQ+ community chose to reclaim the term post Stonewall, and was popularized by groups such as NYC Activist group Queer Nation, with chants such as “We’re here! We’re Queer! Get used to it!”
If you see a + sign added…
The + sign ensures all other alternate identities they could not label in the acronym are included.
The LGBTQ+ community stands for all people falling outside of the heterosexual and/or cisgender identities.
Fun Fact: There are hundreds of different genders and sexual orientations across the world! For example, Genderqueer, Two-Spirit, Asexual, Intersex, Bigender, Pansexual, and so many other identities are included whenever the + is added.
Every letter and every person under the acronym LGBTQ+ matters, and the acronym LGBTQ+ is a testament to the collective of the ever-evolving Queer community.
Katterhaus is on a mission to educate about LGBTQ+ topics and perspectives for all.
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