What Does LGBTQIA+ Mean?
Understand Why the Acronym Is Used and What It Stands For
● LGBTQIA+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (or sometimes questioning), intersex, asexual, and others.
●The "plus" (+) represents other sexual identities, including pansexual and Two-Spirit.
●The first four letters of the acronym have been used since the 1990s, but in recent years there has been an increased awareness of the need to be inclusive of other sexual identities to offer better representation.
The acronym is used to represent a diverse range of sexualities and gender-identities, referring to anyone who is transgender and/or same/similar gender attracted.
What Does Each Letter Mean?
• L (Lesbian): A lesbian is a woman/woman-aligned person who is attracted to only people of the same/similar gender.
• G (Gay): Gay is usually a term used to refer to men/men-aligned individuals who are only attracted to people of the same/similar gender. However, lesbians can also be referred to as gay. The use of the term gay became more popular during the 1970s. Today, bisexual and pansexual people sometimes use gay to casually refer to themselves when they talk about their similar gender attraction.
• B (Bisexual): Bisexual indicates an attraction to all genders. The recognition of bisexual individuals is important, since there have been periods when people who identify as bi have been misunderstood as being gay. Bisexuality has included transgender, binary and nonbinary individuals since the release of the "Bisexual Manifesto" in 1990.
• T (Transgender): Transgender is a term that indicates that a person's gender identity is different from the gender associated with the sex they were assigned at birth.
• Q (Queer or Questioning): Though queer may be used by people as a specific identity, it is often considered an umbrella term for anyone who is non-cisgender or heterosexual. But it is also a slur. It should not be placed on all members of the community, and should only be used by cisgender and heterosexual individuals when referring to a person who explicitly identifies with it. Questioning refers to people who may be unsure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
• Intersex: A term to describe individuals who are born with variations of sex characteristics that do not fit with binary definitions of male or female bodies.
• Asexual: Sometimes shorted to "ace," this term refers to someone who has little or no sexual attraction; they may, however, experience romantic attraction.
• + (Plus): The 'plus' is used to signify all of the gender identities and sexual orientations that are not specifically covered by the other five initials. An example is Two-Spirit, a pan-Indigenous American identity.
LGBTQIA+ Acronym Variations
Other acronym variations that are sometimes used include LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer) and LGBTQQIP2SAA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, pansexual, two-spirit (2S), androgynous, and asexual).
History of the LGBTQIA+ Acronym
Where a variety of orientations and identities had previously been referred to as "the gay community" and later "the gay and lesbian community," the acronym eventually evolved as a way to be more inclusive of other identities.
Why has the acronym changed over time? One important thing to remember is that words and meanings are always evolving. Bisexual, as defined by Sigmund Freud, originally meant a person was both a man and a woman. Being both a man and a woman is now referred to as bigender (under the transgender umbrella), and bisexuality is attraction to multiple/all genders.
The original acronym has gained more letters designed to help better represent other identities related to sexual orientation and gender identity.²
Why the “Plus” Matters
While variations such as LGBT or LGBTQ are often used, many advocates argue that the addition of the “plus” is important and should not be overlooked. The purpose of the acronym is to represent the tremendous diversity of people who are same/similar gender attracted and transgender. The addition of the plus is better able to fully capture that diversity.
“Coverage of LGBTQ issues has moved beyond simplistic political dichotomies and toward more fully realized representations, not only of the diversity of the LGBTQ community, but also of LGBTQ people’s lives, their families, and their fundamental inclusion in the fabric of American society,” explains GLAAD, or the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.³
Related Terms to Know
Some other terms that you may see or hear related to the LGBTQIA+ community include:
• Cisgender: This term refers to individuals whose gender identity corresponds to the gender associated with the sex they were assigned at birth.
• Nonbinary: A person whose gender identity is neither exclusively woman or man.
• Gender nonconforming: An individual whose gender identity or expression is outside or beyond the traditional masculine/feminine and woman/man norms.
A person's gender identity is their internal sense of gender, whether that is woman, man, or a nonbinary gender. A person's gender identity does not necessarily correspond to their sex assigned at birth or with their gender expression.
It is also important to understand that gender is not the same as sex. Sex is biological, while gender is influenced by social, cultural, and environmental factors.⁴
The LGBTQIA+ acronym serves an important purpose—not only is it designed to be more inclusive, but it also represents the self-identities of people who are transgender and/or similar gender attracted.
Inclusivity
The use of the acronym is intended to be an all-encompassing way to recognize different gender identities and sexual orientations. The addition of other identities to the LGBT acronym also plays an important role in recognizing and connecting them to a larger community.
It also means that these individuals are able to gain greater recognition by society as a whole. Rather than being erased, ignored, or denied, acknowledgment can help foster greater visibility of marginalized identities.
Visibility
Visibility can also help create a greater sense of self-affirmation of a person's identity. Research has found that offering inclusive and affirmative environments is important for LGBTQ+ youth.⁵
Research also suggests that despite safety concerns, being visible as a member of the LGBTQ+ community can be an important way to feel a sense of pride in individual identity.6 Affirming self-identity can help people feel greater self-esteem, self-worth, and boost overall mental well-being. This can be particularly important since representation has long been lacking in mainstream media.
The good news is that there have been improvements made in recent years to change this. A recent GLAAD report suggests that the representation of LGBTQ characters and relationships on television is higher than ever previously seen on TV.⁷ This includes greater diversity and visibility of non-binary identities, although the report notes that BIPOC characters are still underrepresented.
Research and statistics suggest that LGBTQ+ youth have an increased risk of a range of mental health and social issues, often due to or exacerbated by isolation, marginalization, and discrimination based on their orientation or identity.⁶ Fostering inclusivity and acceptance may be one way to help combat some of these issues.
How to Be an Ally to and Within the LGBTQIA+ Community
The acronym LGBTQIA+ has become more popular and accepted. Terms such as queer are sometimes used as well, but not all members of the community are comfortable with it as it is still a slur.
When to Use It
So how do you know when to use the term LGBTQIA+?
The purpose of the term is to be inclusive of all same-gender attracted and trans people.
Use a specific term if you are talking about issues that may be specific to a particular orientation or identity.
Be specific when talking about individuals. LGBTQIA+ is also an adjective for the community as a whole, not for a single person. For example, you wouldn’t say “Ali is LGBTQIA+”—you’d say “Ali is gay.”
While LGBTQ+ on its own is the most commonly used and probably widely recognized, LGBTQIA+ is more inclusive to the larger community. Even more inclusive variations exist, such as LGBTQI2S (which represents lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, intersex, and Two-Spirit). Indigenous people created the term Two-Spirit to separate themselves from Western descriptions of gender and sexual identities, and some feel it is disrespectful to attach Two-Spirit to the acronym because of that.
Regardless of what terms people choose to use, what matters is that people have choice in self-identification and that others acknowledge that identity. If someone tells you how they identify, focus on honoring their individual identity.
If you are interested in learning more about what terms and phrases should be avoided, GLAAD, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, has a reference page that offers helpful information on LGBTQ terms as well as information on terms that are specific to the transgender community.
Impact of the LGBTQIA+ Acronym
LGBT and related acronyms have become widely used in recent years. It has also played a role in raising the visibility of marginalized groups, including transgender individuals.
Research suggests that while attitudes have shifted towards greater acceptance, LGBTQ+ people still face considerable homophobia and discrimination. Harassment, bullying, and workplace discrimination are not uncommon.⁸
One advantage of utilizing a unified terminology is the ability to engage in political advocacy. Social solidarity can be used to improve visibility, combat discrimination, and advance causes including anti-discrimination and equality laws.
Unifying terms like LGBTQIA+ can help people feel connected to a larger group of people with shared experiences. But the term can sometimes seem to imply that there is a single, homogenous group when there are actually many individual communities made up of diverse individuals. These communities have some things in common, but each identity has its own unique experiences and needs.
Challenges
While the goal of this initialism is to raise visibility and boost inclusivity, not everyone agrees about what term or variation to use. The community has been referred to by many words over the years, including many that were intended to be hurtful. So it’s not unusual that the self-descriptors that people use can vary, particularly when it comes to issues related to self-expression, sexuality, and identity.
LGBT is still prevalent in use and may be preferred by some who feel that the four-letter acronym is a simpler way to represent a wide range of identities.
Others may feel left out from the standard four initials, which is why the addition of Q, I, A, and “Plus” can be helpful.
This doesn’t mean that terminology won’t continue to evolve and shift, particularly as people work to achieve greater representation and acceptance of transgender people .
The goal of using more inclusive terms like LGBTQIA+ is to improve visibility, recognition, and acceptance. It is important to remember that LGBTQIA+ people continue to face discrimination. Transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals, in particular, are frequently the target of social and economic marginalization as well as harassment and violence.⁹
Terms and definitions are always evolving. When it comes to something as personal as sexuality and gender identity, these terms and definitions can mean different things to different people. While working to understanding and use terms such as LGBTQIA+ can help increase the visibility of people who have faced marginalization and discrimination, it is important to remember that the most important labels or definitions are the ones that people give to themselves.
LGBTQIA+ 是什么意思？
了解使用首字母缩略词的原因及其含义
● LGBTQIA+ 代表女同性恋、男同性恋、双性恋、跨性别者、酷儿（或有时是疑惑者）、双性人、无性恋等。
●“加号”（+）代表其他性取向，包括泛性恋和双灵性。
● 该首字母缩略词的前四个字母自 1990 年代开始使用，但近年来，人们越来越意识到需要包容其他性取向以提供更好的代表性。
该首字母缩略词用于表示各种性取向和性别认同，指任何跨性别者和/或被同性/相似性别吸引的人。
每个字母代表什么？
• L（女同性恋）：女同性恋者是女性/女性倾向的人，只被同性/相似性别的人吸引。
• G（同性恋）：同性恋通常是指只对同性/相似性别的人感兴趣的男性/男性倾向者。然而，女同性恋也可以被称为同性恋。同性恋一词的使用在 20 世纪 70 年代变得更加流行。如今，双性恋和泛性恋者在谈论他们相似的性别吸引力时，有时会使用同性恋来随意地指代自己。
• B（双性恋）：双性恋表示对所有性别都有吸引力。对双性恋者的认可很重要，因为曾经有一段时间，自认为是双性恋的人被误解为同性恋。自 1990 年《双性恋宣言》发布以来，双性恋包括跨性别者、二元性别者和非二元性别者。
• T（跨性别者）：跨性别者是一个术语，表示一个人的性别认同与他们出生时被指定的性别相关的性别不同。
• Q（酷儿或疑问）：尽管人们可能将酷儿用作特定身份，但它通常被认为是非顺性别者或异性恋者的总称。但它也是一种侮辱。它不应该用在社区的所有成员身上，只应由顺性别者和异性恋者在指代明确认同它的人时使用。疑问是指可能不确定自己的性取向和/或性别认同的人。
• 双性人：一个术语，用来描述生来就具有性别特征变化、不符合男性或女性身体二元定义的个体。
• 无性恋：有时简称为“ace”，该术语指的是性吸引力很小或没有性吸引力的人；但他们可能会感受到浪漫的吸引力。
• +（加号）：使用“加号”表示其他五个首字母未明确涵盖的所有性别认同和性取向。一个例子是双灵，一种泛土著美国身份。
LGBTQIA+ 缩写变体
有时使用的其他缩写变体包括 LGBTIQ（女同性恋、男同性恋、双性恋、跨性别者、双性人和酷儿）和 LGBTQQIP2SAA（女同性恋、男同性恋、双性恋、跨性别者、酷儿、疑惑者、双性人、泛性恋、双灵 (2S)、雌雄同体和无性恋）。
LGBTQIA+ 缩写的历史
以前，各种性取向和身份被称为“同性恋社区”，后来被称为“男女同性恋社区”，但这个缩写词最终演变为一种更包容其他身份的方式。
为什么这个缩写词会随着时间的推移而改变？要记住的一件重要事情是，词语和含义总是在不断发展。西格蒙德·弗洛伊德定义的双性恋最初是指一个人既是男人又是女人。 现在，既是男性又是女性的人被称为双性人（在跨性别者的范畴内），而双性恋则是指对多种/所有性别的吸引力。
最初的首字母缩略词增加了更多字母，旨在帮助更好地代表与性取向和性别认同相关的其他身份。²
为什么“加号”很重要
虽然经常使用 LGBT 或 LGBTQ 等变体，但许多倡导者认为添加“加号”很重要，不应忽视。首字母缩略词的目的是代表具有相同/相似性别吸引力和跨性别者的多样性。添加加号可以更好地充分捕捉这种多样性。
“对 LGBTQ 问题的报道已经超越了简单的政治二分法，转向更充分的代表，不仅是 LGBTQ 社区的多样性，还有 LGBTQ 人的生活、他们的家庭以及他们在美国社会结构中的基本包容性，”GLAAD（同性恋和女同性恋反诽谤联盟）解释道。³
相关术语
您可能看到或听到与 LGBTQIA+ 社区相关的其他一些术语包括：
• 顺性别：此术语指性别认同与出生时指定的性别相对应的个人。
• 非二元性别：性别认同既不是完全的女性也不是男性的人。
• 性别不一致：性别认同或表达超出传统男性/女性和女性/男性规范的个人。
一个人的性别认同是他们内在的性别意识，无论是女性、男性还是非二元性别。一个人的性别认同不一定与出生时指定的性别或性别表达相对应。
同样重要的是要理解性别与性别不同。 性别是生物性的，而性别则受社会、文化和环境因素的影响。⁴
LGBTQIA+ 缩写具有重要意义——它不仅旨在更具包容性，而且还代表了变性人和/或有相似性别倾向的人的自我认同。
包容性
使用缩写词旨在成为一种全面识别不同性别认同和性取向的方式。在 LGBT 缩写词中添加其他身份也在识别和将他们与更大的社区联系起来方面发挥着重要作用。
这也意味着这些人能够得到整个社会的更多认可。承认可以帮助提高边缘化身份的可见度，而不是被抹去、忽略或否认。
可见性
可见性还可以帮助增强一个人对自我身份的肯定感。研究发现，为 LGBTQ+ 青年提供包容和肯定的环境非常重要。⁵
研究还表明，尽管存在安全问题，但作为 LGBTQ+ 社区的一员，可见性是感受到个人身份自豪感的重要方式。6 肯定自我身份可以帮助人们感受到更大的自尊、自我价值，并提高整体心理健康。这一点尤其重要，因为主流媒体长期以来一直缺乏代表性。
好消息是，近年来已经取得了一些进步来改变这种情况。GLAAD 最近的一份报告表明，电视上 LGBTQ 角色和关系的代表性比以往任何时候都要高。⁷ 这包括非二元身份的多样性和可见性，尽管报告指出，BIPOC 角色的代表性仍然不足。
研究和统计数据表明，LGBTQ+ 青年面临一系列心理健康和社会问题的风险增加，这通常是由于或加剧了基于其性取向或身份的孤立、边缘化和歧视。⁶ 培养包容性和接受度可能是帮助解决其中一些问题的方法之一。
如何成为 LGBTQIA+ 社区的盟友和内部成员
LGBTQIA+ 这个首字母缩略词越来越流行和被接受。有时也会使用诸如酷儿之类的术语，但并非所有社区成员都对此感到满意，因为它仍然是一种诽谤。
何时使用它
那么，你如何知道何时使用 LGBTQIA+ 一词？
该术语的目的是包容所有同性吸引和跨性别者。
如果您谈论的问题可能特定于特定的性取向或身份，请使用特定的术语。
谈论个人时要具体。LGBTQIA+ 也是整个社区的形容词，而不是单个人的形容词。 例如，你不会说“阿里是 LGBTQIA+”——你会说“阿里是同性恋”。
虽然 LGBTQ+ 本身是最常用的，也可能被广泛认可，但 LGBTQIA+ 对更大的社区更具包容性。甚至存在更具包容性的变体，例如 LGBTQI2S（代表女同性恋、男同性恋、双性恋、跨性别者、疑惑者、酷儿、双性人和双灵）。土著人创造了双灵这个词来将自己与西方对性别和性身份的描述区分开来，有些人因此认为将双灵与首字母缩略词联系起来是不尊重的。
无论人们选择使用什么术语，重要的是人们可以选择自我认同，并且其他人承认这种身份。如果有人告诉你他们如何认同，请专注于尊重他们的个人身份。
如果您有兴趣了解更多应避免使用的术语和短语，同性恋反诽谤联盟 (GLAAD) 有一个参考页面，其中提供了有关 LGBTQ 术语的有用信息以及特定于跨性别社区的术语信息。
LGBTQIA+ 首字母缩略词的影响
近年来，LGBT 和相关首字母缩略词已被广泛使用。它还在提高边缘群体（包括跨性别者）的知名度方面发挥了作用。
研究表明，虽然态度已转向更大的接受度，但 LGBTQ+ 人群仍然面临相当大的恐同和歧视。骚扰、欺凌和工作场所歧视并不少见。⁸
使用统一术语的一个优势是能够参与政治倡导。社会团结可用于提高知名度、打击歧视和推进事业，包括反歧视和平等法。
像 LGBTQIA+ 这样的统一术语可以帮助人们与拥有共同经历的更大群体建立联系。 但这个术语有时似乎暗示着存在一个单一的、同质的群体，而实际上存在许多由不同个体组成的个体社区。这些社区有一些共同点，但每个身份都有自己独特的经历和需求。
挑战
虽然这个首字母缩写词的目标是提高知名度和包容性，但并不是每个人都同意使用什么术语或变体。多年来，这个社区被许多词语所提及，包括许多旨在伤害人的词语。因此，人们使用的自我描述词会有所不同，这并不罕见，特别是在涉及自我表达、性和身份问题时。
LGBT 仍然被广泛使用，有些人可能更喜欢这个四个字母的首字母缩写词，因为他们认为这个四个字母的缩写词是一种更简单的方法来代表广泛的身份。
其他人可能会觉得被排除在标准的四个首字母之外，这就是为什么添加 Q、I、A 和“Plus”会有所帮助。
这并不意味着术语不会继续发展和变化，特别是当人们努力争取跨性别者的更多代表性和接受度时。
使用 LGBTQIA+ 等更具包容性的术语的目的是提高知名度、认可度和接受度。重要的是要记住，LGBTQIA+ 人群继续面临歧视。尤其是跨性别者和性别不合规范者，经常成为社会和经济边缘化以及骚扰和暴力的目标。⁹
术语和定义总是在不断发展。当涉及到像性取向和性别认同这样私人的事情时，这些术语和定义对不同的人来说可能意味着不同的东西。虽然努力理解和使用 LGBTQIA+ 等术语可以帮助提高面临边缘化和歧视的人的知名度，但重要的是要记住，最重要的标签或定义是人们给自己的标签或定义。
LGBTQIA+
Power Couples of Hollywood:
Reneé Rapp and Towa Bird (lesbians)
Ben Platt and Noah Galvin ( gays )
Dylan Meyer and Kristin Stewart (lesbians)
RuPaul and Georges LeBar ( gays )
Raven-Symoné and Miranda Pearman-Maday (lesbians)
Jordan C. Brown and Colton Underwood ( gays )
Augustus Prew and Jeffery Self ( gays )
Paula Pell and Janine Brito (lesbians)
Simon Doonan and Jonathan Adler (gays )
Mario Cantone and Jerry Dixon (gays)
Jonathan Bennett and Jaymes Vaughan (gays)
Sophia Bush and Ashlyn Harris (lesbians)
Niecy Nash and Jessica Betts (lesbians)
Colman Domingo and Raul Domingo (gays)
Jodie Foster and Alexandra Hedison (lesbians)
Niecy Nash and Jessica Betts (lesbians)
Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka (gays)
Thomas Dekker and Jesse Haddock (gays)
Samira Wiley and Lauren Morelli (lesbians)
Dan Bucatinsky and Don Roos (gays)
John DeLuca and Rob Marshall (gays)
Lee Daniels and Jahil Fisher (gays)
Victor Garber and Rainer Andreesen (gays)
Nico Tortorella and Bethany C. Meyers (gays)
Samira Wiley and Lauren Morelli (lesbians)
Beanie Feldstein and Bonnie-Chance Roberts (lesbians)
Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor (lesbians)
Jodi Balfour and Abbi Jacobson (lesbians)
Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynn (lesbians)
Wanda Sykes and Alex Sykes (lesbians)lesbians)
Kal Penn and Josh (gays)
Matt Bomer and Simon Halls (gays)
Lance Bass and Michael Turchin (gays)
Cynthia Nixon and (lesbians)
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