LGBTQ+ Part 2...I Apologize For the Leaving Out the “IA”. I Should Have Used LGBTQIA+. Please Forgive Me.

Here is the link to prove I did not make this up: https://abbreviations.yourdictionary.com/what-does-lgbtqia-stand-for-full-acronym-explained.html

 LGBTQIA+ is an inclusive term that includes people of all genders and sexualities, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, intersex, asexual, pansexual, and allies. While each letter in LGBTQIA+ stands for a specific group of people, the term encompasses the entire spectrum of gender fluidity and sexual identities.

What Does LGB Mean?

The letters LGB stand for lesbian, gay and bisexual. These terms mean:

• lesbian - term for women sexually and romantically oriented toward other women
• gay - any person attracted to the same gender
• bisexual - those who are sexually and romantically attracted both to men and women

What Does the T in LGBTQIA+ Mean?

The T in LGBTQIA+ can have several different meanings but typically deals with gender identity. Some words have fallen out of favor or their meanings are slightly different depending on the person.

• trans - an inclusive term for anyone whose gender identity does not match their sex assigned at birth
• transsexual - can mean someone transitioning from one sex to another using surgery or medical treatments; not in common usage
• transgender - term for someone who identifies as a different gender than what was assigned on their birth certificate

What Does QIA Mean?

QIA stands for questioning or queer, intersex and asexual. These terms mean:

• questioning - when a person is exploring their sexuality, gender identity and gender expression
• queer - an inclusive term or as a unique celebration of not molding to social norms
• intersex - used for individuals who don’t fit into specific gender norms of woman or man; can also be used for those with reproductive anatomy that isn’t biologically typical
• asexual - uses for those who don’t feel sexual attraction to either sex or that don’t feel romantic attraction in the typical way

The + in LGBTQIA+

The plus sign at the end of LGBTQIA+ can include members of other communities, including allies — people who support and rally the LGBTQIA+ cause even though they don’t identify within the community itself. Other identities included in the LGBTQIA+ are:

• agender - refers to those who do not identify as any gender at all
• demisexual - describes someone who requires an emotional bond to form a sexual attraction
• genderfluid - describes one's gender identity as self-expression and not static
• graysexual - refers to the “gray area” between asexuality and sexuality
• non-binary/genderqueer - a term used for those who do not conform to binary gender identities
• pansexual/omnisexual - a term for individuals with desire for all genders and sexes
• polyamorous - a term for those open to multiple consensual romantic or sexual relationships at one time
• sapiosexual - describes a person who is attracted to intelligence, regardless of a person’s gender identity
• two-spirit - a term used by Native Americans to describe a third gender (sometimes included as 2S in the main acronym as LGBTQIA2S+)

(This is Fella: Looks like I left out more than the "IA" in the first blog. Now we see there is the above LGBTQIA2S+. Don't worry. I'm not going to do a Part 3.)

Other Terms in the LGBTQ Community

In today’s society, people are challenging social norms associated with relationships, sexuality and gender identity. These people may not be gay, so other terms to describe them were created or popularized.

• ace - short for asexual
• bi - short for bisexual or bicurious
• cis - shortened version of cisgender (a person who identifies as the gender they were assigned at birth)
• closeted - state of being totally private about one's sexual orientation or gender identity
• coming out - the act of sharing one's sexual orientation or gender identity with loved ones
• deadnaming - calling someone by a name they no longer use 
• fluid - term that describes one's sexual identity or gender identity as not set or binary
• gray-a - short for graysexual
• pan - shortened version of pansexual
• per - gender-neutral pronoun for those who do not identify as male or female (short for person)
• poly - short for polyamory or polyamorous

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Did this Blog Posting help you to understand more that the first one helped you understand? I sure hope it did but I doubt it did.

Would I kid u?

Smartfella

Lagniappe: The not yet late John McEnroe is visiting with me today. I bet you can guess what he said. Yes, you guessed it, he said “They can’t be serious!”