WHY DOES LGBTQ ACRONYM KEEP GETTING LONGER?

Reading time: 6 min

You may have noticed that LGBTQ is no longer just that - LGBTQ. It’s not just LGBTQ+ either, which many people felt was perfectly satisfactory. Instead, it has now become LGBTQIA+, at least in many countries. In other places, you’re likely to see other acronyms, like 2SLGBTQIA+, which is common in Canada. Or perhaps you’re familiar with LGBTQQIP2SAA.

For a lot of people, the acronyms feel a little overwhelming, and natural defensiveness arises when we get told that we’re using the wrong one. A lot of people feel like the fairly standardized LGBTQ+ is enough: it covers the basic groups and then adds the + symbol for anyone who hasn’t been included. Sufficient, right?

Except that, unfortunately, it’s not! While it might feel like a hassle to put in the extra letters that are now a standard part of the acronym, taking the time to do so is crucial if you truly want to be an ally. The fact is, erasure is so common in this world that we need to make an extra effort to ensure that all the groups are seen, heard, and accounted for, even if that sometimes feels unwieldy. We’ve got to set aside any frustration at being told to learn yet another acronym and remember that this is an evolving world and we’re constantly getting better at being inclusive, but we can only do that if we’re willing to change as ideas and understandings improve.

So, why the IA+, and indeed, why the other acronyms?

Why we should add IA+

First, if you’re someone who thinks that the Q standing for “queer” just about covers everyone in this community, you’re not alone, but you’re out of line with current thinking. There are strong arguments for adding both the I and the A.

First of all, the I is an acknowledgment of intersex individuals. The reason it’s considered valuable to offer a separate category for these people is that intersexuality isn’t about sexual preference or any mental thought patterns. Those who are intersex are physically born different. Including them only via the traditional letters fails to acknowledge the physical nature of being born intersex, and can cause these folks to feel alienated or otherwise ignored by the community.

And when we recognize that around 1.7% of people have some variation of sexual development, it’s immediately clear why this matters so much.

The A is important for similar reasons. It usually refers to aromantic, asexual, and agender people. Although it can be harder to get hard data for this group, it’s thought that around 1% of Americans are aromantic.

Again, this category of people is separated from the others because almost all of the other letters refer to sexual attraction, and the A refers specifically to the lack of sexual attraction. By being inclusive of this letter, we can give a nod to those who don’t want to be defined by other people’s sexual feelings, and create a space for them to exist separately, while still recognizing them as part of the community. They specifically aren’t lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer, so forcing them to align themselves with one of those letters to exist is alienating and erasing.

The value of including these two letters is to let two more distinctive groups feel heard, seen, and supported, without lumping them together with letters that don’t fit their feelings or physicality. It’s key to realize how empowering it can be to be recognized like this.

Organizations that are just getting into the diversity space might feel overwhelmed by all the letters - but really, adding the additional IA makes minimal difference to any material actions, and a massive difference to the groups who are being acknowledged.

What about 2S?

2S is one you’re most likely to see in Canada, but it holds value for the rest of the world too! 2S refers to two-spirit, which is an Indigenous term that refers to people who identify as having both a masculine and feminine spirit.

The value here is twofold. Firstly, it is an acknowledgment of Indigenous traditions and beliefs. Taking this term and giving it international recognition goes some way to fighting the erasure that many Indigenous people experience, where their ideas, cultures, and traditions are ignored.

It’s crucial to note that in Indigenous tribes, two-spirit people were among the most respected people in communities. They often served as caregivers, ceremonial leaders, and community healers. Their value was recognized and celebrated in a way that many other cultures failed to provide to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. By using the term created by Indigenous people, we don’t just offer recognition to a frequently erased and marginalized group, but we adopt their approach. We can take on the same celebratory language and respect that was shown - which is a rare opportunity in a world where individuals have all too frequently been treated without respect.

2S isn’t enormously common in the rest of the world, but we have an opportunity to spread it and adopt it, and at the same time, recognize that these Indigenous tribes often had a far more forward-thinking approach to non-conforming individuals than those in supposedly civilized Western and Eastern societies achieved!

Isn’t it getting too long?

A common complaint about the addition of letters is that the acronym becomes unwieldy, hard to pronounce, and potentially confusing for newcomers in the space. However, the benefits to be gained from adding letters are huge. They demonstrate that the 2SLGBTQIA+ space is a space that celebrates and includes all. More importantly, it’s a space that is willing to give attention to difference and diversity, rather than attempting to lump everybody together and make them fit a mold.

For those who truly want to be allies to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, the most important quality is listening. It’s clear that these additional letters make people feel valued and seen, and that’s more than worth the extra effort it takes to say and write those few extra characters. In short, it’s not up to any individual to dictate what those letters should include: it’s up to those who make up this space, and that means that 2SLGBTQIA+ is probably going to spread, and may even grow.

Indeed, we can even see beauty in the way this acronym has expanded over the years, creating an ever-more-inclusive dynamic. As individuals across the world gain recognition and visibility, it’s not surprising that we need to make shifts to welcome them and build a space where they feel that they fit. We should therefore be celebrating that effort, recognizing that while it may take more work, diversity makes us stronger and richer. We’re all for adding letters until everyone feels like they have a breathing space in the 2SLGBTQIA+ world!

And for those wondering about the extra “Q” appearing in some acronyms now... it stands for “questioning.” Recognizing that sexuality and gender identity are complex, sometimes fluid notions, “questioning” allows anyone who is unsure to feel at home and welcome in this space. It reduces gatekeeping and creates a sense of welcome that might otherwise be absent for anyone who’s curious.

Time to get hands-on!

It’s time to test yourself and your friends. How many of you can correctly list what the acronym 2SLGBTQIA+ stands for, and which letters do you find you’re most likely to forget? As a fun extra, how many of these letters do you think represent people in your friendship group - and if there are conspicuous absences, does that mean you need to diversify a bit?