Exploring the LGBTQIA+ Acronym
In addition to celebrating our 25th year in ministry, the Covenant Network of Presbyterians is proudly partnering with APCE (Association of Partners in Christian Education) to celebrate LGBTQIA+ people and equip you with inclusive liturgies, youth programs and other resources. On June 22, join the APCE Zoom Roundtable for more information about supporting sexual and gender minorities.
As part of partnering with APCE, this post will unpack the meaning behind the LGBTQIA+ acronym. Here’s what each letter means:
The L refers to “lesbian”, or women attracted to other women. The G refers to “gay”, a term for people attracted to the same gender. While this term has historically been used to describe men, it may be used by people of any gender.
The B refers to bisexual people who may be attracted to more than one gender. A man and woman could be happily married yet not call themselves a “heterosexual couple” if one partner is bisexual. Similarly, two women in a devoted marriage may not identify as a ‘lesbian couple’ for similar reasons.
The T refers to transgender, or people whose identity does not correspond with the sex assigned to them at birth. This includes nonbinary people, whose gender falls outside the male/female binary.
The Q can refer to “queer,” a broad umbrella for people who don’t feel attached to other labels. Originally a slur, the word was reclaimed by activists in the decades that followed. Q can also refer to people who are “questioning” or seeking a better understanding of their identity.
The I stands for intersex, or people whose biological traits that do not match with traditional understandings of male or female sex characteristics. Up to 1.7% of the population carries an intersex trait.
The A refers to asexual people who may experience little to no sexual attraction, though this varies by individual. Unlike the choice to practice celibacy, asexuality is an unchosen identity. Asexual people may have spouses or children.
The + creates space for anyone marginalized for their sexuality or gender who doesn’t see themselves in the other letters. For example, some Indigenous people use “two-spirit” to describe those with both masculine and feminine traits.
"draw us to You in this queer space that You, the Nothing and the Everything, the Creator and the Child, the +, inhabit so gracefully.amen."
(From “Gathering Prayer for Pride Month” by Slats Toole, available in our inclusive liturgy resource here.)
CNP works toward a church and society that fully welcomes all people whether they identify as cisgender, heterosexual, LGBTQIA+, or still seeking words to describe their experiences. With a longstanding commitment to education in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Covenant Network of Presbyterians is excited to work with APCE and looks forward to continued partnership supporting all of God’s children.