A quick guide to acronyms used to refer to the Queer Community

By Elio Wilder (they/them)

Content Warning: brief mentions of police brutality and discrimination during the AIDS crisis

What do the acronyms mean?
All the acronyms previously listed (and the countless others like them) are generally used to refer collectively to people who are not cisgender and heterosexual. Each letter represents different identities within the community.

A short history
The terms Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender all rose from different origins and initially were separate communities. Liberation movements beginning in the 1960s gradually lead to alliances between the communities as they campaigned for mutual goals in response to issues such as police brutality, censorship, and discrimination through the AIDS crisis. In the late 80s, the acronym ‘LGBT’ came into usage, representing formal recognition of the union of the communities.

The rise of the internet during the 2000s-2010s allowed for increasing discussion about the breadth and nuances of sexuality and gender- which the original 4 letter acronym did not explicitly encapsulate. Many variations have been created in response.

Other letters you may see include:
Q - Queer, broadly not heterosexual/cisgender. Questioning, those unsure of their gender and/or sexuality.
I -Intersex, those with variation in primary and/or secondary sex characteristics; anatomy that is not classified as wholly male or wholly female.
A - Asexual, those who experience little to no sexual attraction. Aromantic, those who experience little to no romantic attraction. Agender, those who experience little to no feeling of gender.
P - Pansexual, those whose experience of attraction is not on the basis of gender, the potential to be attracted to any gender without a preference.
2 or 2S - Two-Spirit, a transgender and non-binary identity label specific to Native American people.
S - Sistergirl, Indigenous Australians assigned male at birth who are transgender may use this label.
B - Brotherboy, Indigenous Australians assigned female at birth who are transgender may use this label.
+ - all other queer and trans identities not specifically referenced in the acronym.

Why are there so many different acronyms?
Specific letters are included for a variety of reasons such as:
Length - sometimes shorter is preferable. Sub-labels may be omitted in place of umbrella term (e.g. pansexual is included under the bisexual umbrella, non-binary identities are included under the transgender umbrella). The ‘+’ can be used to keep a shorted label inclusive.
Clarity - it may be necessary to specifically reference every single letter that is relevant in the context. For example, the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner uses ‘LGBTI’ as their human rights focus is on the 5 umbrella groups represented by the acronym.
Location - gender identities that are specific to certain cultural groups will only be referenced where relevant.

Australian Organisation, Mental Health Out West, uses LGBTQIA+SB

Emphasis - a less recognised identity may be included in the acronym for emphasis
Bias - though most variations do not represent political differences, a minority group with bias against a particular subset of the queer and trans community may exclude letters

Why does the order change?
There is no standardised order. It changes based on regional variances and personal preference. Adhering to a commonly used order is preferable for intelligibility.

Which is correct?
There is no official ‘correct’ acronym. Context should be considered to ensure the selection is inclusive and accurate.

Most common
LGBTQIA+, generally considered to be the full acronym. It includes all the major umbrella terms and the ‘+’.
LGBTQ+, commonly used shortened version.
In scientific and legislative contexts, SGM (Sexuality and Gender Minorities) may be more appropriate.

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References
https://theforeword.org/832/editorials/the-l-in-lgbt-and-why-order-matters/
https://medium.com/queer-history-for-the-people/a-brief-history-of-the-lgbtq-initialism-e89db1cf06e3
https://www.liveabout.com/what-is-the-origin-of-the-word-lesbian-2171260#:~:text=It%20came%20into%20popular%20use,back%20to%20the%20poet%20Sappho.
https://junkee.com/brotherboy-sistergirl-decolonise-gender/262222