The LGBTQIA+ community is a community of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual and other identities which make up a diverse group of individuals with varying sexual orientations and gender identities. The community can often be identified with a variety of acronyms, such as LGBT, LGBTQ+, LGBTQIA+, GLBT, etc. While there is not necessarily a right or wrong acronym to use, for the purposes of our project, we included the most inclusive form of the acronym to encompass the greatest variety of individuals and their identities. However, understanding this community and the reasoning behind variations in identities is necessary to understanding the necessity of the Montevallo community to write a comprehensive and inclusive non-discrimination ordinance. In the follow paragraphs, we include information regarding the community and how best to approach understanding the LGBTQIA+ community, how language is a fundamental piece of LGBTQIA+ identities, and descriptions of different sexual orientations and gender identities to introduce the reader to the community as if they had never heard of the LGBTQIA+ community before.
The following definitions are derived from definitions provided by the University of California, San Francisco’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center comprehensive guide to terminology and general definitions. You can visit the website for a more comprehensive guide and educational tools here.
Sexual orientation can be defined as the emotional, romantic, and sexual attractions that an individual has. Examples of sexual orientations include gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, and asexual (to name a few). Sexual orientation is only a component of many LGBTQIA+ identities.
Gender expression or gender identity is how an individual presents themselves through mannerisms, dress, or behaviors which society deems as either “masculine” or “feminine”. Gender identification is distinct from sex, which is assigned to an individual at birth based upon biological sex (genitalia).
Under these two umbrella terms exists more specific identities, such as Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual and other identities.
Individuals who identify as Lesbians (a sexual orientation) are women who are attracted to individuals of the same gender. Individuals who identify as Transgender women can also identify as Lesbians, and individuals who identify as Non-binary or Genderqueer can also identify as Lesbians.
Individuals who identify as Gay (a sexual orientation) are individuals who are attracted to individuals of the same gender. While it is common for cisgender men to identify as Gay, it is not a term which is exclusive to cisgender men. The term ‘Gay’ is often used broadly as a term for same gender attraction. Individuals who identify as Transgender men can also identify as gay.
Individuals who identify as Bisexual (a sexual orientation) are individuals who are attracted to a person of any gender, regardless of identification. There is controversy regarding whether or not Bisexuality encompasses attraction to individuals with differing gender orientations. For further specificity, Pansexuality (a sexual orientation)is classified as an individual who is attracted to people regardless of their gender or biological sex. For more information on the differences between bisexuality and pansexuality, visit this website.
Individuals who identify as Transgender (a variety of gender identities) are individuals who fall into a number of categories. A Transgender identifying individual may feel as though they do not fit within the commonly accepted gender binary (male/female), may not identify with any specific gender (agender/non-binary), or do not identify with the gender identity which is congruent to the sex they were assigned at birth. For example, some individuals are assigned male sex at birth, but later identify as female by gender. The term ‘trans’ is typically used as a shorthand or slang for transgender individuals. More information explaining transgender identity and the experiences of transgender identifying individuals can be found here.
Individuals who identify as Queer (can be classified as either sexual orientation or gender identity, or both) can fall under any of the previous identities, or multiple identities. The word Queer still holds a negative connotation to some, but is becoming more broadly accepted as a reclamation following previous gay rights movements. This term can also be used as an umbrella term, to better encompass the entirety of the LGBTQIA+ community as “the queer community”.
Individuals who identify as Intersex (a gender identity) are individuals who, from birth and without medical intervention or assistance, develop primary or secondary sex characteristics which do not follow narrow societal conventions of male or female binary identities. Previously referred to as hermaphrodites, this word is now considered a slur by the majority of intersex people. Intersex identities are more common than the general society accounts for, and this is often due to ‘corrective’ surgeries (often referred to as genital mutilations) after birth which render the individual one identity or another (female or male) decided by parents or doctors. For more in-depth information about individuals who are Intersex or who identify as Intersex, visit this website.
Individuals who identify as Asexual (a sexual orientation) are individuals who do not feel sexual attraction to any person, regardless of sex or gender. However, Asexual individuals are not necessarily practicing celibacy, as celibacy is the purposeful abstention from sexual activities. The term ‘aces’ is often used as shorthand for an individual who identifies as Asexual. For more information on Asexuality, visit this link.
Of course there are many, many more identities not directly outlined in this quick reference guide. Facing a variety of unknown identities can be an uneasy or uncomfortable situation for some people, and we hope that some of the information we have provided will assist readers in understanding how diverse and multifaceted the LGBTQIA+ community is. As evidenced by the variety of terms used by LGBTQIA+ individuals to categorize their identities, language is an incredibly important concept when discussing the rights and controversies surrounding the LGBTQIA+ community.
The University of California, Davis has incredibly comprehensive guides which explain the reasoning behind why certain words or use of words can be harmful to individuals and their respective communities. They also provide a comprehensive guide for individuals interested in allyship, or the support of the LGBTQIA+ community through actions and words. For the LGBTQIA Ally Tips, visit this link. For ‘Words that Hurt’, a comprehensive guide to use of language, visit this link.