• Lesbian (L): A woman who is primarily attracted to other women.

• Gay (G): A person, most often a man, who is attracted to people of the same gender. It can also be used as an umbrella term for anyone attracted to their own gender.

• Bisexual (B): A person who is attracted to more than one gender.

• Transgender (T): An umbrella term for people whose gender identity or expression differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.

• Intersex (I): A person born with sex characteristics (such as anatomy, chromosomes, or hormones) that do not fit typical medical definitions of male or female.

• Queer (Q): An umbrella term for individuals who identify outside of traditional cisgender and heterosexual norms. It can also be used by people who are questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity.

• Asexual (A): A person who experiences little to no sexual attraction. This also includes aromantic (no romantic attraction) and agender (no gender) identities.

• Plus (+): This symbol recognises the vast diversity of other gender and sexual identities, such as pansexual (attracted to all genders), non-binary (identifying outside the male/female binary), and Two-Spirit. This also includes straight or cis allies who support the Lgbtiqa+

At the end of the day, LGBTIQA+ is more than just an acronym, it’s about visibility, respect, and inclusivity. As language continues to evolve, so does our understanding of identity, reminding us that everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and celebrated.

Did you know what every letter meant?