Basic LGBTQIA+ Terminology Guide

NOTE: This resource covers basic LGBTQIA+ terminology only. For a basic overview of issues faced by the LGBTQIA+ community, see our separate resource: LGBTQIA+ Key Issues Overview.

What does LGBTQIA+ stand for?(1)

LGBTQIA+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual/Agender, and other queer identifying people. Gender is not the same as sexual orientation, but queer issues include both sexuality and gender issues and heteronormativity, homophobic and gender binary exclusion, oppression and discrimination often overlap.    

The Progression of the Abbreviations:

• LGB:  Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual

• LGBT: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender

• LGBTQ: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer

• LGBTQIA: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual

• LGBTQIA+: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Genderqueer, Intersex, Asexual/Agender, and anyone else who identifies as queer in any way!

Why the changes and what do they represent?(1)

All such abbreviations and acronyms are imperfect and lack nuance. It is often impossible to adequate represent everyone in a community in one abbreviation. But here is the journey that gay/queer/LGBTQIA+ terminology has undergone, to become as inclusive as possible (so far!):

Initially, the queer community was often just called the gay community, but this name excluded women and bisexuals; so the slightly more inclusive abbreviation, LGB to represent people who are not straight (attracted to people of a different gender). T for Trans was later added to represent transgender people in the community. This was subject to some debate, as some people said that trans shouldn’t have been included since being trans is a gender, not a sexuality, and some trans people don’t associate with the queer community. However, many trans people do find their home in the queer community and gay rights issues and trans issues overlap significantly. In fact, the one of the most important events of queer rights movement, The Stonewall Uprising of 1969, arose when gay and trans patrons at the Stonewall Inn in New York City fought back against police officers trying to arrest them. Trans people have undoubtedly been central in the queer rights movement. So the T was here to stay!

Meanwhile, the term queer (previously a derogatory) was being reclaimed(2) as a new term to include anyone who identified as a sexuality other than straight or, for some people, a gender other than their assigned gender(3) . As with all abbreviations for groups of people LGBT was not nuanced enough to represent everyone in the community. So queer was added next! But this left out intersex and asexual people, who might be straight and might not identify as a different gender, but who should still be represented by and within the community. The most up to date term at the time of this writing is LGBTQIA+. This term includes some specific, and some broad terminology to include all those who identify as queer in any way, or those who are intersex, asexual or agender but do not identify as queer.  

Sexuality 101: Basic Sexual Orientation Terminology(14) 

• Straight/Heterosexual: attracted to people of the opposite gender only

• Gay/Lesbian: attracted to people of the same gender only

• Bi/Bisexual: attracted to people of at least two genders

• Queer: an umbrella term that can describe people of any sexual orientation or gender. A reclaimed term, previously used in the derogatory, queer usually isn’t used to describe, straight and cis-gendered people, but there are exceptions.

• Pansexual: can be attracted to a person of any gender

• Gray-A / Demisexual: only experiencing sexual attraction after a close connection is formed

• Asexual: little or no sexual attraction. People who are asexual may or may not feel emotional attraction.

Sexuality in Greater Depth: Sexual/Romantic Orientation Spectrums 

Power & Oppression Fundamentals

Just as with racism and other systemic oppressions, LGBTQIA+ people experience oppression and discrimination at the 4 levels of oppression(4):

1. Personal: values, beliefs, feelings

2. Interpersonal: actions, behaviours, language

3. Institutional: rules, policies, practices, & procedures

4. Cultural: beauty, truth, ‘normal,’ right

Within the dynamics of power and oppression, privilege(5) operates on personal, interpersonal, cultural, and institutional levels and gives advantages, favors, and benefits to members of dominant groups at the expense of members of target groups. Privilege is invisible to those who have it and is awarded to those in dominant groups whether they want it or not.

LGBTQIA+ oppression comes in many forms, including homophobia, transphobia, and lesbophobia(6). Heterosexism(7) is the broad term for prejudice towards non-straight people, and heteronormativity(8) is the belief that people fall into distinct and complementary genders (man and woman) with natural roles in life. It asserts that heterosexuality is the superior or only sexual orientation or only norm, and states that sexual and marital relations are most (or only) fitting between people of opposite sexes. there are other more nuanced terms as well. 

Because LGBTQIA+ oppression is systemic, people who are outside the LGBTQIA+ community will hold straight privilege(9), cisgender privilege(10), or both (genderstraight privilege).

Genderstraight privilege refers to the inherent advantage in which cis-gendered (their sex/gender assigned at birth matches their real gender), heterosexual (straight) people are not negatively impacted by LGBTQIA+-based oppression and discrimination. Genderstraight privilege does not imply racial or economic privilege or that an individual’s life has not been difficult, only that their gender identity or sexual orientation is not the source of their difficulties. Another form of LGBTQIA+ based oppression is transmisogyny(11), which occurs when identities of trans and woman intersect and trans women experience both transphobia and misogyny. Another intersectional oppression is transmisogynoir(12), which is experienced by black trans women and other trans women of colour, who experience transphobia, misogyny, and racism.  

An LGBTQIA+ ally(13) is someone who holds genderstraight privilege but who confronts heterosexism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, heterosexual and genderstraight privilege in themselves and others; has a concern for the well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex people; and a belief that heterosexism, homophobia, biphobia and transphobia are social justice issues.

 Key Terms Glossary

Bisexual(14): A person emotionally, physically, and/or sexually attracted to people of at least two different genders. This attraction does not have to be equally split between genders and there may be a preference for one gender over others.

Cis-gendered/Cisgender (Cis)(14): Gender identity matches assigned gender/sex.

Cisgender privilege (Cis privilege)(14): the inherent advantage in which cisgender people are not negatively impacted by the systemic oppression that trans people face. Cis privilege does not imply economic or racial privilege or that an individual’s life has not been difficult, only that their gender identity being in conflict with their body/societal gender norms is not the source of their difficulties.

Coming Out(15): the process by which one accepts one’s own sexuality, gender identity, or status as an intersex person (to “come out” to oneself) and the process by which one shares one’s sexuality, gender identity, or intersex status with others (to “come out” to friends, etc.). This can be a continual, life-long process for homosexual, bisexual, transgendered, and intersex individuals.

Gay(14): 1. Term used in some cultural settings to represent males who are attracted to males in a romantic, erotic and/or emotional sense. Not all men who engage in “homosexual behavior” identify as gay, and as such this label should be used with caution. 2. Term used to refer to the LGBTQIA+ community as a whole, or as an individual identity label for anyone who does not identify as heterosexual.

Gender Binary(16): The idea that there are only two genders (M/man and F/woman) and is based on physical anatomy at birth. Along with this comes the idea that people must strictly adhere to culturally acceptable behavior for men/boys and women/girls. For example men/boys are to exhibit masculine gender presentation, behaviors, and social roles and women/girls are to exhibit feminine gender presentation, behaviors, and social roles.

Gender Identity(17): a person’s innermost concept of self as male, female, a blend of both or neither – how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. One's gender identity can be the same or different from their sex/gender assigned at birth.

Genderstraight privilege(9, 10):  the inherent advantage in which cisgender, straight people are not negatively impacted by the systemic oppression that LGBTQIA+ people face. Genderstraight privilege does not imply economic or racial privilege or that an individual’s life has not been difficult, only that their sexual orientation and/or gender identity is not the source of their difficulties.

Heteronormativity(8):  Heteronormativity is the belief that people fall into distinct and complementary genders (man and woman) with natural roles in life. It asserts that heterosexuality is the only sexual orientation or only norm, and states that sexual and marital relations are most (or only) fitting between people of opposite sexes. Consequently, a "heteronormative" view is one that involves alignment of biological sex, sexuality, gender identity and gender roles. Heteronormativity is often linked to heterosexism and homophobia

Heterosexism(7): Behavior that grants preferential treatment to heterosexual people, reinforces the idea that heterosexuality is somehow better or more “right” than queerness, or ignores/doesn’t address queerness as existing

Homophobia(67):  A fear, discomfort, anger, resentment, hostility, etc. toward lesbian, gay, and/or bisexual people, often expressed as discrimination, harassment and violence against anyone not acting within socio-cultural norms of heterosexuality.

Lesbian(14): Term used to describe female-identified people attracted romantically, erotically, and/or emotionally to other female-identified people. The term lesbian is derived from the name of the Greek island of Lesbos and as such is sometimes considered a Eurocentric category that does not necessarily represent the identities of African-Americans and other non-European ethnic groups. This being said, individual female-identified people from diverse ethnic groups, including African-Americans, embrace the term ‘lesbian’ as an identity label.

Lesbophobia(6): Lesbophobia comprises various forms of negativity toward lesbians as individuals, as couples, or as a social group. Based on the categories of sex, gender, sexual orientation, lesbian identity, and gender expression, this negativity encompasses prejudice, discrimination, and abuse, in addition to attitudes and feelings ranging from disdain to hostility. As such, lesbophobia is sexism against women that intersects with homophobia.

LGBTQIA+(14): A common abbreviation for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Pansexual, Transgender, Genderqueer, Queer, Intersex, Agender, Asexual and other queer-identifying community.

LGBTQIA+ Ally(13): Someone who confronts heterosexism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, heterosexual and genderstraight privilege in themselves and others; has a concern for the well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex people; and a belief that heterosexism, homophobia, biphobia and transphobia are social justice issues.

Oppression(4): any sort of systemic or structural ‘ism’ (racism, sexism, ableism, sizeism etc.); the combination of prejudice and institutional power that creates a system that favours dominant groups.

Privilege(17): operates on personal, interpersonal, cultural, and institutional levels and gives advantages, favors, and benefits to members of dominant groups at the expense of members of target groups. Privilege is invisible to those who have it and is awarded to those in dominant groups whether they want it or not.

Queer(14): a reclaimed word that was formerly used solely as a slur, now an umbrella term which embraces a matrix of sexual orientations, habits and genders. Sometimes used as a sexual orientation label instead of ‘bisexual’ as a way of acknowledging that there are more than two genders to be attracted to, or as a way of stating a non-heterosexual orientation without having to state who they are attracted to. (A sizable percentage of people to whom this term might apply still hold ‘queer’ to be a hateful insult, and its use by genderstraight people is often considered offensive. So caution should be taken concerning its use when one is not a member of the group.)

Sex(18): A medical term designating a certain combination of gonads, chromosomes, external gender organs, secondary sex characteristics and hormonal balances and typically used to categories people into 3 groups- male, female and intersex.

Sex Identity(18): How a person identifies physically: female, male, in between, beyond, or neither.

Sexual Orientation(18): The desire for intimate emotional and/or sexual relationships with people of the same gender/sex, another gender/sex, or multiple genders/sexes.

Straight (heterosexual)(14): a person who is attracted to someone with the other gender (or, literally, biological sex) than they have

Straight Privilege(9):  the inherent advantage in which straight people are not negatively impacted by the systemic oppression that LGBTQIA+ people face. Straight privilege does not imply economic or racial privilege or that an individual’s life has not been difficult, only that their sexual orientation is not the source of their difficulties.

The Stonewall Uprising(1): a series of spontaneous demonstrations by members of the LGBTQIA+ community in response to a police raid that began in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in the Greenwich Village neighbourhood of Manhattan, New York City. Patrons of the Stonewall, other Village lesbian and gay bars, and neighbourhood street people fought back when the police became violent. The riots are widely considered to constitute one of the most important events leading to the gay liberation movement and the twentieth century fight for LGBTQIA+ rights in the United States.

Third Gender: A gender category available for those who not identify with the traditional genders of “man” or “woman,” but identifies with another gender; the societies that recognize three or more genders; For example, Native American two-spirit people, hijira in India, kathoeys in Thailand, and travestis in Brazil.

Trans(14): An abbreviation that is sometimes used to refer to a gender variant person. This use allows a person to state a gender variant identity without having to disclose hormonal or surgical status/intentions. This term is sometimes used to refer to the gender variant community as a whole.

Transgender(14): A person who lives as a member of a gender other than that expected based on anatomical sex. Sexual orientation varies and is not dependent on gender identity.

Transmisogynoir(12): the intersection of transphobia, misogyny and racism. The term originated in relation to the experiences of black trans women, but is also experienced by other trans women of colour. It can be expressed through negative attitudes, expressed through cultural hate, individual and state violence, and discrimination directed toward trans women or colour.

Transmisogyny(11): the intersection of transphobia and misogyny. It can be expressed through negative attitudes, expressed through cultural hate, individual and state violence, and discrimination directed toward trans women and trans and gender non-conforming people on the feminine end of the gender spectrum.

Transphobia(19):  The fear, hatred, or discomfort of transgender people or otherwise gender variant, often expressed as discrimination, harassment and violence.

Ze / Hir(20):Alternate pronouns that are gender neutral and preferred by some gender variant persons. Pronounced /zee/ and /here/ they replace “he”/”she” and “his”/”hers” respectively. Other gender neutral pronouns include They/Them/Their.