LGBT – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender. Here are five important truths about sexual labels that everyone should know. See below for a more detailed definition of each term, from GLAAD’s LGBTQ Media Reference Guide . Press J to jump to the feed. Some people, called battle axe bis or band aid bis, think that being pan is Biphobic and bisexual erasure. As long as you follow your heart and stay true to yourself when choosing a sexual label (or choosing to not adopt one), you can never label yourself a liar. Because, again, there are plenty of other people who do find genuine use and comfort in these more specific "micro" labels, and that's worth respecting. One could even argue that labels are more important now than ever because of the role social media often plays in political or social campaigns. These findings support the idea that sexual labels are only as empowering as they are self-determined. To find out the benefits and drawbacks of sexual labels, ENTITY reached out to LGBTQ advocate Rebecca Vipond-Brink and Dr. Ritch Savin-Wlliams, retired Cornell director of the Sex and Gender Lab and author of books like “Becoming Who I Am: Young Men on Being Gay.”. I think of it this way: A rectangle is a square, but a square is not a rectangle (bi =/= pan, but pan = bi). Yet, labels can also become boxes to limit their sexuality. The letter "Q" is sometimes added to the end of the acronym LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender); the "Q" can refer to either queer or questioning. LGBTQIA+ – A common abbreviation for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Pansexual, Transgender, Genderqueer, Queer, Intersex, Agender, Asexual and other queer-identifying community. Coming out once? It is clear from the number of LGBT advocacy organizations around the world that the fixing of particular labels of identity – like lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender – can be useful for establishing global networks and mobilizing people to claim their rights. They've also contributed a lot to a hyperfocus on labeling that can be detrimental to mental health, Good stuff - They can be useful in getting a very tight fit identity that only has a very specific meaning, that way you're expressing yourself as exactly one thing without wiggle room. So, whether or not it is useful is context dependent. Coming out twice and probably being judged for “getting it wrong” the first time? Well, first of all, sexual labels “are always changing both in words and meaning,” says Dr. Savin-Williams. There is never a definitive definition for a word that has highly individualized meaning, but as the term pansexual has become popular, themes have emerged LGBT: From a clinical perspective acknowledging the acronym tells your client that you recognize a spectrum of sexual expression, and more importantly, that you recognize the unique needs, concerns and issues specific to those identities. What do I mean? Changes also occurred in surveyed men, though only around 3 percent of them per age group. After all, it’s pretty hard to advocate for a group of people if those people don’t have an umbrella term or name that united them! It’s not just the terms that are changing, either. the square still exists, but it has a wide definition that just fits more shapes in. For instance, last week, two trending Twitter hashtags were #BlackGaySlay and, in Saudia Arabia, a hashtag that translates to “I love gays and I’m not one of them.” Could gay men and women – along with allies – advocate for LGBT rights without using the word “gay”? An umbrella term which embraces a matrix of sexual orientations and habits of the not-exclusively- heterosexual-and-monogamous majority. LGBT is still a popular term used to discuss gender and sexual minorities, but all GSRM are welcome beyond lesbian, gay, bisexual, … People forge a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender identity first to themselves and then may reveal it to others. They're not bad. Bisexual – This term refers to someone who is sexually and/or emotionally attracted to more than one gender. Micro labels are simply more specific labels for gender and sexuality that broader labels don’t quite accurately describe. READ MORE: Why I Can’t Label My Sexual Orientation, For these people, labels are not only a means of self-expression but also an instrument for self-advocacy and empowerment. Queer – 1. The Guild uses the Term LGBT as … Summer Watson’s New EP “Unveiled” is a Ray of Hope During Dark Times, How to Overcome Female Stereotypes in the Workplace, 4 Motivational Poems You Need to Get out of Bed, 5 Nina Simone Civil Rights Songs You Need to Hear, How Spirituality Can Help Sexual Assault Survivors Heal, Sara Ramirez Opens Up About Her Sexuality During Inspirational Address, Want to Study Sex? Even though we’re in 2017, violence against “out” members of the LBGTQ community “is a reality that’s still very present for more queer Americans than I think people – especially white, urban, young queer people – realize,” says Vipond-Brink.