What Even is LGBTQ+?
Written by Caitlyn Skelhorn
@caitlynskelhorn
Thumbnail and Header Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash
LGBTQ+ is an acronym that encompasses all different sexualities and gender identities; it stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. The plus stands for and more because there are more identities and letters than we can say at any given time. Let’s start with some vocabulary: the language used in this article is inclusive and explanatory and was developed by LGBTQ+ people for LGBTQ+ people. Using a vocabulary system designed by the people it describes allows us to be respectful while discussing sexuality and gender identity. This article introduces what the LGBTQ+ community is for the first article in the SMU Journal’s LGBTQ+ column. The language we use shows how we feel about the subject it describes; we prove that we are welcoming and accepting by learning inclusive vocabulary. When we don’t put effort into learning the LGBTQ+ terminology, we show that we are not part of a safe environment for someone to be themselves.
Sexuality or Sexual orientation is how we describe our sexual feelings and attraction towards other people. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and asexual are examples of sexual orientations. Gender identity is how we experience our gender; it is personal and not always visible. Gender identity does not always reflect our sex, which describes our genitalia. Transgender people are people whose gender identity is different from their sex; this includes transgender people and gender-non-conforming people. When we are born, we are assigned a gender identity based on our genitalia. For example, we presume that babies with penises are boys and that babies with vaginas are girls. However, people do not always identify with the gender they were given. Therefore, assigned female/male at birth (AFAB or AMAB for short) is used when discussing the person’s presumed gender at birth, based on their genitalia. Some transgender people decide to have surgery so their genitalia matches their gender identity. Gender Affirming Surgery is a surgery that makes a person’s sexual characteristics reflect their gender identity (this was referred to as sexual reassignment surgery in the past).
Sexuality and gender identity are complicated and can be expressed and felt in many different ways. Most people identify as cisgender and heterosexual. Cisgender people identify with the gender they were assigned at birth. Heterosexual people are attracted to people of the opposite gender; men are attracted to women, and women are attracted to men. Unfortunately, this is what we, as a society, consider to be the default identity. Even though cisgender and heterosexual are most common, many people identify with different sexualities or gender identities. For example, another common sexuality is homosexuality. People who identify as homosexual are attracted to people of the same gender, including gay and lesbian people. In this case, men who are only attracted to men are gay, and women who are only attracted to women are lesbians.
Both heterosexual and homosexual identities describe people attracted to one gender, whether it be their own or another. Still, not everyone is attracted to only one gender. For example, bisexual, pansexual, and polysexual people are attracted to multiple genders, and asexual people don’t feel sexual attraction towards any gender. A person’s sexual orientation and gender identity are separate - someone could be transgender and gay, transgender and straight, nonbinary and bisexual, and more!
As with sexual orientation, there are many gender identities. Transgender is an umbrella term and its own identity. Because there are more than just two gender identities, transgender people are not necessarily the opposite gender they were assigned at birth, but rather a different one that they were assigned at birth. A common gender identity included in the transgender umbrella is nonbinary. Nonbinary people feel that the gender binary doesn’t accurately describe how they feel about their gender. Other gender identities include genderfluid, a person who feels their gender differently throughout their life, agender, a person who feels they don’t have a gender, and Two-spirit. Two-spirit is a complex Indigenous gender identity included in the LGBTQ+ community.
A critical part involved in respecting someone’s gender identity requires using their name and pronouns of choice. One way to do so is to greet new people with gender-neutral pronouns such as the singular they/them and taking the time to learn a person’s pronouns of choice. If a person has changed their name to reflect their gender identity, we must address them by their chosen name and pronouns. Their previous name is referred to as their dead name and is no longer used. If you know a person’s dead name, you shouldn’t tell people that don’t already know it. Dead names are private and often cause a transgender person to feel dysphoria. Dysphoria is a feeling of discomfort surrounding whether one’s body reflects their gender identity. A person’s level of dysphoria can range from mild to severe; severe gender dysphoria can lead to depression and self-harm.
Another crucial way to respect LGBTQ+ people includes knowing whether they are fully out or only out to you. Coming out is a personal process, whether you’re revealing your sexuality, gender identity, or both. Some people decide to come out in steps. When someone comes out in stages, they usually tell close friends about their identity first and wait to tell others. Unfortunately, many people and places don’t accept LGBTQ+ people for who they are, which leads some LGBTQ+ people to hide their identities. If a person is outed before they are ready, it may be detrimental to their health. If someone comes out to you, you should always ask if you can talk to other people about it too.
The acronym LGBTQ+ describes a tight-knit but varied community of people who express themselves in many different ways. By learning about different identities, we not only learn to respect others, but we may learn about ourselves as well. There is no wrong way to identify, and there is nothing wrong with deciding an identity isn’t suitable for you. Sexuality and gender are fluid, and we are free to choose whichever label best represents us.
Note: Not all sexual orientations and gender identities are included in this article. Any identity is still valid even if it has not been mentioned in this article. This article is meant to introduce what LGBTQ+ means and is not an exhaustive list of identities.