What does LGBTQIA+ stand for? The letters stand for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, and asexual, and the plus sign stands for other identities not named in the letters. Together they form an umbrella term for people whose sexual orientation, gender identity or sex characteristics differ from what has been treated as the majority.
The term is used by community groups, schools, health providers, employers and news outlets. Different organizations choose shorter or longer versions, so you may see LGBT, LGBTQ or LGBTQ+ on one sign and LGBTQIA+ on another. They point to the same broad community; the longer forms simply name more groups.
Quick facts
Stands for
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, plusType
Initialism, said letter by letterThe plus sign
Other identities not listed by letterShorter forms
LGB, LGBT, LGBTQ, LGBTQ+Longer forms
LGBTQQIP2SAA, 2SLGBTQIA+Used in
Community groups, schools, health care, workplaces, news
What does LGBTQIA+ stand for, one letter at a time?
Here is a short, plain definition for every part of the term. Individuals may describe their own identity in their own words, so these are general meanings rather than strict rules.
| Letter | Word | General meaning |
|---|---|---|
| L | Lesbian | A woman attracted to women |
| G | Gay | A man attracted to men; also used more broadly for same sex attraction |
| B | Bisexual | Attracted to more than one gender |
| T | Transgender | A person whose gender identity differs from the sex recorded at birth |
| Q | Queer or Questioning | Queer is a broad self label; questioning means still exploring |
| I | Intersex | Born with sex traits that do not fit typical definitions of male or female |
| A | Asexual | Little or no sexual attraction to others; some groups also include aromantic or agender |
| + | Plus | Other identities not spelled out in the letters |
What does the Q stand for in LGBTQ?
The Q has two common readings, and many groups mean both at once:
- Queer: a broad word some people use for their own identity. It was once used mainly as an insult, and many people have since reclaimed it. Others still find it uncomfortable, which is why some organizations avoid it.
- Questioning: someone who is still working out their orientation or identity.
When a group wants to name both, it may write two Qs, as in LGBTQQ.
What does the IA stand for in LGBTQIA?
The I stands for intersex. Intersex describes a range of natural variations in chromosomes, hormones or body traits that do not match the usual medical boxes of male or female. It is about physical sex characteristics, not orientation, and an intersex person can have any gender identity or orientation.
The A most often stands for asexual, meaning little or no sexual attraction. Some groups read it more widely to include aromantic (little or no romantic attraction) and agender (not identifying with a gender). A few people have read the A as "ally," meaning a supporter, but many organizations say the letter is meant for asexual people rather than allies.
On its own, IA has other meanings too, such as the postal code for Iowa, so look at the letters around it.
Short and long versions of the term
The term has grown over time as more groups asked to be named. Here is how the common versions line up:
| Version | What it adds |
|---|---|
| LGB | Lesbian, gay, bisexual |
| LGBT | Transgender |
| LGBTQ or LGBTQ+ | Queer or questioning, plus others |
| LGBTQIA+ | Intersex and asexual |
| 2SLGBTQIA+ | Two-Spirit at the front, a form common in Canada |
| LGBTQQIP2SAA | The fullest version in wide use (see below) |
The LGBTQQIP2SAA full acronym is usually read as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, pansexual, Two-Spirit, asexual and ally, though some lists put androgynous in place of one A. Pansexual means attraction regardless of gender. Two-Spirit is a term used by some Indigenous North American people for a traditional gender or spiritual role in their own cultures.
How the term is used
Usage depends on the speaker and the setting. A health clinic may write LGBTQIA+ on its forms to show which patients it serves. A news story may use LGBTQ for brevity. A workplace group may pick one version and stick with it.
On a school club flyer: "The LGBTQIA+ student group meets Thursdays in Room 12. All students welcome." Here the term names who the group is for, and the line after it says anyone may come.
People also differ on which version they prefer. Some favor the longest forms for being more complete; others prefer shorter ones for being easier to read and say. Some style guides suggest choosing one form and using it the same way throughout a piece of writing. Related terms you may see nearby include DEI and BIPOC.
How to say and write LGBTQIA+
- Say it letter by letter: "L G B T Q I A plus." Spelled out that way, it counts as an initialism; the guide what is an acronym shows how that differs.
- Type it in capitals, leaving out periods and spaces, and the plus sign right after the A.
- Article: "an LGBTQIA+ group," since L is said "el" and starts with a vowel sound.
- Use it as an adjective: "LGBTQIA+ people" or "the LGBTQIA+ community" is more common than using the letters alone as a noun.
You can find more initialisms from news and daily life by visiting our famous acronyms hub, where they are sorted by topic.
Questions people ask
What does the I stand for in LGBTQIA?
The I stands for intersex. It refers to people born with sex characteristics, such as chromosomes or anatomy, that do not fit typical definitions of male or female.
What does the A stand for in LGBTQIA+?
Most groups say the A stands for asexual, and some extend it to aromantic and agender. Ally is a less common reading that many organizations do not use.
What does the plus mean in LGBTQIA+?
The plus sign stands for identities not named by a letter, such as pansexual or nonbinary. It keeps the term open without making it longer.
Is LGBTQ the same as LGBTQIA+?
They refer to the same broad community. LGBTQIA+ names more groups by letter, while LGBTQ is shorter and often used in headlines and everyday speech.
What is the LGBTQ full acronym?
LGBTQ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning. Longer forms add letters, with LGBTQQIP2SAA among the longest in common use.