Because our understanding of sexuality keeps expanding, so do the definitions. Sexuality isn’t just a spectrum between gay and straight. There’s an entire world, a whole rainbow if you will, of sexuality types along that spectrum up to and including asexuality. The abbreviation LGBTQIA keeps expanding, which is why many people abbreviate it to LGBTQ+. It stands for the following:
Lesbian — a woman who is romantically and sexually attracted to other women,Gay — a person who is romantically and sexually attracted to the same gender (any gender can use this designation),Bisexual — often shortened to “bi”, a person who is romantically and sexually attracted to more than one gender,Transgender—often shortened to “trans”, a person whose gender identity is different from what they were assigned at birth (not a sexual orientation designation; transgender individuals can identify as any sexuality including straight),Queer—a term that can encompass any sexual identity other than straight (any gender can use this designation),Intersex—a person who is born with more than one sex trait or reproductive anatomy,Asexual—often shortened to “aces”, a person who has little or no sexual attraction to others,+- This symbol is an umbrella term that can include pansexual, demisexual, or questioning individuals,Pansexual- often shortened to “pan”, a person who is attracted to anyone but does not recognize gender,Demisexual- often shortened to “demi”, a person who only feels sexual attraction to people they’ve bonded with,Recently, the plus expanded to include omnisexuals....