What does LGBTQ+ mean? A helpful breakdown of identity terms
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From sexual identities like pansexuality to gender expressions like non-binary, consider this your base-level LGBTQ+ vocab lesson. (And if you're curious about what all of those colors mean on the rainbow Pride flag, study up on these facts about Pride Month. )Most simply, the "LGBTQ+" abbreviation stands for "lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, plus. " But before we get into the nuances of that plus sign, let's take it back to the late 1960s, when activists reclaimed the slur "gay" to describe same-sex love between men.
Per National Geographic, by the 1980s, the word "gay" was being used as an umbrella term "both to refer to men who love men and anyone who expressed same-gender preference or gender divergence. " That changed in the '90s, when cultural and activist bonds between the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities led to a more mainstream adoption of the "LGBT" initialism.
The "Q" initial—meant to signify "queer" (a catch-all to represent anyone who’s non-cisgender and non-heterosexual) or "questioning" (people who are still exploring their sexuality or gender identity)—was added later, but not without controversy.
