LGBT, LGBTIQA+, LGBTSBIQ+… Why All the Different Versions of the Acronym?
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There are many different acronyms used to collectively refer to communities who are sexuality and/or gender diverse, and people with innate variations of sex characteristics (often called intersex).
These acronyms have evolved and expanded over time with the aim of being more inclusive of people who had historically been excluded from the acronym, and in response to emerging language.
Acronyms are useful not just as a linguistic tool, but also as an expression of solidarity amongst people who face overlapping kinds of oppression, often because their experiences and identities get conflated by those who are ignorant about their differences. However, it is a double-edged sword – solidarity can help us fight against this conflation and oppression but can also unintentionally cause people to conflate our experiences even more.
This is why it’s important to be intentional about using acronyms, and mindful of which communities you’re actually referring to. For example, if using a variation of the acronym that includes ‘I’ for intersex, ensure that you have meaningfully engaged with, and accurately represent, people with innate variations of sex characteristics in your organisation, program, or research, such as through consultation with Intersex Peer Support Australia (IPSA) and Intersex Human Rights Australia (IHRA).
On IHRA’s Intersex for Allies page, the organisation explains, “Some of us are LGBT, but many of us are not. We have the same range of identities as non-intersex people. Many of us are heterosexual and many of us are not. Most of us identify with sex assigned at birth and some of us do not. Some intersex people who have rejected the sex assigned to them at birth may identify as transgender or gender diverse, while others may see themselves as correcting a mistake made by doctors without their consent when they were children. Intersex is often mistakenly associated with gender and non-binary gender identities. Anyone can have a non-binary gender identity whether or not they are intersex... We encourage respect for our diversity as a population, including respect for our sex assignments, sexual orientations and gender identities. LGBT and LGBTI are not synonyms, and we encourage the deliberate use of specific terms appropriate to each situation."
Similarly, if using a variation of the acronym that includes ‘SB’ for Aboriginal Sistergirls and Brotherboys, your organisation, program, or research should engage in meaningful consultation and representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. You can learn more about gender diverse First Nations people here.
To put it simply, there is no ‘perfect’ acronym - there’s never a perfect way to summarise such heterogenous experiences and demographics, but some variations may be more appropriate than others in certain contexts. Stakeholders representing the communities you wish to capture with an acronym (or any other terminology) should always be consulted regarding current best practice, and it’s important to remember that acronyms are used for groups rather than specific individuals.
Here are some of the acronyms used across this site by different organisations, advocacy groups, and resources:
LGBTIQA+ Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, queer, asexual, and more.
GLBTIQ Gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, intersex, and queer.
LGBTIQAP+ Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, queer, asexual, pansexual, and more.
LGBQTIA+SB Lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, trans, intersex, asexual, Sistergirl, Brotherboy, and more.