ALPHABET OF PRIDE: LGBTQQIA
L is for LESBIAN
Any self-identified woman who is emotionally,
physically, and/or sexually attracted to women
and calls herself a lesbian is one.
G is for GAY
Any self-identified man who is emotionally,
physically, and/or sexually attracted to men and
calls himself calls himself a gay man is one. Some
women also identify as gay, preferring the term
to lesbian.
B is for BISEXUAL
Anyone who is attracted to men and women and
identifies as such is bisexual or bi.
T is for TRANSGENDER
Anyone whose gender identity (sense of
themselves as a man, a woman, or something
else), gender expression or behavior is different
from what is traditionally associated with their
biological sex and who identifies as transgender.
This umbrella term includes people who have
altered or want to alter their bodies and/or selfpresentation
to match their gender (also called
transsexuals), and people who do not want
to change their bodies but who nonetheless
transgress gender boundaries in some way (for
example: drag queens and drag kings, crossdressers,
etc.) Remember: A person who is
transgender can be of any sexual orientation.
Q is for QUEER
While the word “queer” continues to be used by
some people as an insult, others have reclaimed
it as a way to unapologetically identify with an
alternative sexuality, identity and politics.
Q is also for QUESTIONING
Questioning is very common when it comes to
issues as complex as sexuality and gender. It is
okay not to know what you think or where you
fit. Just remember: you are not alone and there
are many resources to help you.
I is for INTERSEX
Anyone born with sexual traits (chromosomes,
anatomy, hormones) not considered “standard”
for either males or females is intersex. Intersex
people can be of any sexual orientation and may
or may not also identify as transgender, though
you will find that the “I” is often subsumed in the
“T” as in the frequently-used “LGBT.”
A is for ALLY
Anyone who does not identify as a member of
a particular minority group but advocates for
equality, integration and understanding of that
group is an ally.