Chances are, you’ve seen variations on an acronym that starts with “LGBT” — like LGBTQ, LGBTQ with a plus sign, LGBTQIA, and so on. 

But what exactly does it stand for, and why have so many new letters been added in recent years?

This blog post will briefly cover the history of the LGBT acronym, as well as some context to help allies decide what acronym to use in everyday conversation.

What does LGBT stand for, and where did it come from?

From the 1960s to about the early 1990s, the term “gay” was the popular catchall term used to describe anyone whose sexual orientation or gender identity did not fit societal norms. 

In the 90s, “LGBT” and “LGBT community” became more popular. In short, LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. 

A Quick Vocab Breakdown

Lesbian typically describes women who are attracted to other women, but it can also include attraction to gender identities like non-binary or genderfluid people. So, lesbian can also describe someone who simply isn’t attracted to men.

Gay typically describes men who are attracted to other men, but it’s also sometimes still used to describe anyone whose sexual and/or romantic attraction isn’t straight.

Bisexual describes someone who is attracted to multiple genders rather than just one.

Transgender describes someone whose gender does not match what was assumed at birth. This includes non-binary people, who do not identify as exclusively men or women, but may identify as both or neither.

Like other movements for civil rights, activism on behalf of LGBT equality has happened in waves. 

The term “LGBT community” largely reflects the activism of the 90s and onward, which sought to challenge binary thinking like gay versus straight, feminine versus masculine, man versus woman, and so on.

LGBT emerged amongst activists to also reflect the community’s diversity and, in particular, to honor the ways in which lesbian activists cared for gay and bisexual men during the AIDS crisis (hence “L” being at the front of the acronym) and to more intentionally highlight transgender people as a distinct category.

What is LGBTQ? Why add the Q?

As activists of the 90s and onward embraced greater fluidity around sexuality, gender, and expression, the “Q” was added to make space for individuals who were still questioning or had experiences that were less easy to define, using the word queer as a more expansive term.

This has not been without pushback, however. “Queer” was initially a slur for LGBT people, weaponized with derogatory and harmful intent.

Some older LGBT individuals still have a strong preference for not using the word “queer” to describe their experience, while others find it empowering to take a word that was once intended to hurt and reclaim it.

In more contemporary usage, queer is also sometimes used to distinguish between LGBT people who see their identity as challenging the status quo and informing their politics (like participating in protests and community organizing), versus people who happen to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender but do not assign significant political meaning to it, beyond the desire to live their lives as they see fit.

So, you may encounter someone who uses “queer” not only to describe an identity, but also their level of political engagement (i.e. “he’s gay but not queer”).

What is LGBTQIA?

The additions of the letter “I” and “A” describe intersex and asexual people, respectively.

Intersex describes someone whose sexual anatomy and/or genetics doesn’t fit the typical definitions of female or male.

Asexual (or “ace”) is a spectrum that describes individuals who experience little to no sexual attraction to others.

These two letters were added in an effort to be inclusive, but it’s worth noting that not all individuals who are asexual or intersex feel connected to the broader LGBTQ community, which is why some people and organizations may not include “IA” in the acronym.

So what does 2SLGBTQIA or LGBTQIA2 mean?

You may sometimes see “2S” or “2” in the acronym to acknowledge Two-Spirit people. 

Two-Spirit is understood as a gender role within Native society, specific to Turtle Island (North America). 

2S is an umbrella term for Native peoples who experience their gender and/or sexuality through a non-Western lens. It was introduced in the 90s to bridge Native traditions with the contemporary LGBTQ movement, and reclaim a history that was largely suppressed due to the genocide of Native peoples by European colonizers.

Two-spirit is widely understood as a third gender that holds a very sacred status, as one embodies two spirits within — one male, one female. But exactly how Two-Spirit translates for each person will depend upon their specific tribal relationships and spiritual traditions, and not all Indigenous societies recognize such a role.

Two-Spirit is not a term that is used by non-Native peoples.

Why have I seen a + (plus sign)?

The plus sign is an effort to acknowledge how expansive the community is, and how many more terms have been created or have yet to be discovered as folks explore their gender, sexuality, and expression alongside an ever-evolving society.

It’s also in place to acknowledge folks — like intersex, asexual, and Two-Spirit people — who may not collectively feel connected to the broader LGBTQ community in the West, but certainly may choose to be included individually.

Why do I sometimes see “LGB without the T”?

There is a minority movement of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people who have chosen to disassociate themselves from transgender people. 

This movement sees itself as rejecting “gender ideology” — they do not believe that transgender people are real and deserving of recognition and equal rights. Instead, they see transgender people as a liability to progress for modern lesbian, gay, and bisexual people.

It’s important to note that the majority of LGB people do not view transgender people this way and find the phrase “LGB without the T” to be offensive. 

Many understand this view to be ahistorical, as civil rights for LGB people have always been interwoven with transgender activism, and events like the Stonewall Uprising were led by transgender activists (of significance, largely transgender women of color).

So what acronym is best for everyday use?

The truth is, there is no “correct” acronym. Instead, there is a complex and continued history around which letters to include and what those additions signify.

The most widely used acronym at this time is LGBTQ, as the “Q” here is doing a lot of heavy lifting. It’s essentially including anyone who “queers” gender, sexuality, or expression, and identifies as part of the community.

You may also notice that journalists use LGBTQ most often as well, typically following the GLAAD Media Reference Guide.

In everyday spoken conversation, it’s perfectly acceptable to use LGBTQ or LGBTQ+ as a concise umbrella term.

Variations like LGBTQIA+, 2SLGBTQIA+, and so on are great to signal inclusion and intention. At OutNebraska, we tend to opt for these longer versions to ensure that the communities we serve know that they are thought of and included.

But remember, allyship is a verb. So your actions and how you show up for the community are far more impactful than how many letters you include in the acronym.