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Jun 14, 2019 · The Q can stand for “questioning” -- as in still exploring one’s sexuality -- or “queer,” or sometimes both. Queer: Once considered a demeaning slur for being gay, “queer” is being...
- What Does The ‘Q’ in LGBTQ Stand for?
- What Do The Other Letters in LGBTQ Stand for?
- The Bottom Line
The “Q” in LGBTQ stands for two terms, queer and questioning. Here’s a brief breakdown of what these two words represent and why they are significant to the community.
The LGBT or LGBTQ or LGBTQ+ or LGBTQIA+ acronym is not without its critics, who claim that the alphabet soup can be confusing to outsiders. More letters (and a plus sign) are added to include the vast spectrum of identities and sexualities that exist outside of heterosexuality. Still, having an ever-changing acronym can be confusing, which is why s...
The “Q” in LGBTQ stands for “queer”, which is an umbrella term for anyone who is anything but straight. Once used as a slur, the term queer has now been reclaimed as an identifier and a source of pride for the LGBTQ community. It also stands for “questioning”, making room for those who are still unsure of their gender identity or sexual orientation...
Nov 21, 2022 · The Q in LGBTQ stands for queer or questioning. Here's what that means and why the community has reclaimed it since its original derogatory meaning.
- Ashley Moor
- L: Lesbian. Today, the term "lesbian" is used to describe "female-identified people attracted romantically, erotically, and/or emotionally to other female-identified people," explains the University of Illinois, Springfield's Gender and Sexuality Services.
- G: Gay. Before the latter half of the 19th century, the word "gay" simply referred to someone who was "carefree," "cheerful," or "bright and showy," according to The Oxford Dictionary of Difficult Words.
- B: Bisexual. A bisexual person is typically defined as someone who is attracted to people of their gender and other genders—although even experts within the LGBTQIA+ community offer a range of definitions.
- T: Transgender. The word "transgender" is an umbrella term used for "people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from what is typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth," according to GLAAD.
- L: Lesbian. As National Geographic reported, the term “lesbianism” or “lesbian” is the oldest label out of the LGBTQ+ acronym. This is because of the Greek poet, Sappho, and her “sapphic” poetry.
- G: Gay. The term “homosexual” came right before the modern use of the term “lesbian.” Austro-Hungarian journalist Karoly Maria Kertbeny coined the term in 1869 along with “heterosexual.”
- B: Bisexual. Kertbeny, who coined “homosexual” and “heterosexual” also introduced the label “bisexual” into the greater conversation. However, in 1859, the term “bisexuality” was thought to refer to a person with both male and female physical characteristics (which is what we would now call intersex—more on that later).
- T: Transgender. In the beginning, there have been a lot of terms and names for transgender individuals that are outdated or offensive today. The label “transgender” wasn’t really used until 1965, according to National Geographic.
Oct 19, 2022 · “Q” stands for Queer: an adjective used by some people whose sexual orientation is not exclusively heterosexual or straight. It’s an umbrella term that includes people who have non-binary or gender-fluid identities. Non-binary describes a person whose gender identity falls outside of strictly male or strictly female.
May 6, 2021 · Q: Queer (or Questioning) You may also see the acronym written as LGBTQIA. The I and A stand for: I: Intersex. A: Asexual.
