LGBTQIA+
LGBTQAI+ is an acronym that represents Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual, with the "+" including other sexual orientations and gender identities not explicitly listed.
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Why Does the L in LGBT Go First?​
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At the beginning of the gay rights movement, there was little attention drawn to the issues faced by lesbian, trans*, and other queer identities who were not gay men. Hence, the acronym for the community was GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender). During the ’60s and ’70s while the gay rights movement was growing, pockets of sexism existed, further marginalizing lesbians. In the following decades, new feminist ideas sprouted and began the change of moving the L to the front of the acronym.
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The place of lesbians during the AIDS epidemic also inspired the acronym change. While many gay men were suffering from HIV/AIDS, the lesbian community was largely unaffected. At this time, lesbians began helping gay men with medical care and played a massive role in activism surrounding the gay community and AIDS. Solidarity between the two groups emerged and feminism grew in both lesbians and gay men. With this newfound solidarity and support for feminism in the community, the push for the L to come first in the acronym went over well.
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While the lesbian community remains a vital part of LGBTQ+ identities, representation still lacks. Their spot as the first letter in LGBT was definitely earned, and hopefully more awareness toward the contributions of lesbians both inside and outside of the overall LGBTQ+ community continues to grow.
Terms
(researched/found on google)
Slang Terms Related to Gay Men:
Bear: A larger, hairier, and more masculine-presenting gay man.
Twink: A young, slim, and usually hairless gay man.
Twunk: A muscular and younger gay man, often combining the characteristics of a twink and a hunk.
Otter: A gay man with a slim build and moderate body hair.
Wolf: A gay man with a muscular, hairy body, often between an otter and a bear.
Daddy: A term for an older, more mature gay man.
Trade: A straight-acting or masculine-presenting gay man.
Top: A person who prefers to be the dominant partner during sex.
Bottom: A person who prefers to be the receptive partner during sex.
Versatile: A person who enjoys both top and bottom roles during sex.
Queen: A term for a flamboyant gay man.
Fag Hag/Fruit Fly: A woman who is a close friend of gay men.
Friend of Dorothy: A term for a gay man.
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Slang Terms Related to Lesbian Women:
Sapphic/WLW: These terms encompass attraction and relationships between women, regardless of sexual orientation or whether they identify as lesbian.
Lipstick Lesbian: This term is often used to describe a lesbian who presents with feminine gender expression, and it can be used either positively or negatively.
Butch: This term is used to describe a lesbian with a more masculine gender expression.
Queer: While originally a slur, "queer" has been reclaimed and is now used as an umbrella term for sexual and gender minorities.
Slang Terms Related to Drag:
Drag Queen: A performer, often male, who dresses in feminine attire and makeup for performance, often in an exaggerated or stylized way.
Drag King: A performer who dresses in masculine attire and makeup for performance.
Drag Performer: An umbrella term for anyone who engages in drag performance, encompassing both drag queens and drag kings.
Gender Expression: The way a person outwardly presents their gender, which can include clothing, behavior, and other forms of presentation.
Important Considerations:
Drag is not inherently tied to gender identity: A cisgender man can be a drag queen, and a cisgender woman can be a drag king, without necessarily being transgender.
Drag can be a form of gender expression: Drag performance can be a way for individuals to explore and express their gender in a creative and playful way.
Drag and transgender experiences are distinct: While some transgender people may express their gender through drag, it is important to recognize that drag is a performance art, while transgender identity is a deeply personal and internal experience.
Slang Terms Related to Gender Expression:
Gender Expression: The way a person outwardly presents their gender, which can include clothing, behavior, and other forms of presentation.
Gender Non-Conforming (GNC): A person whose gender expression differs from societal expectations of masculinity or femininity.
Transgender: An umbrella term for people whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.
Gender Identity: A person's internal sense of being male, female, both, neither, or somewhere along the gender spectrum.
Cisgender: A person whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth.
Important Considerations:
Drag is not inherently tied to gender identity: A cisgender man can be a drag queen, and a cisgender woman can be a drag king, without necessarily being transgender.
