LGBTQIA

LGBTQIA stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual. The I and the A make explicit two groups often left out of shorter acronyms. Intersex describes people born with sex traits, such as chromosomes, hormones, or anatomy, that do not fit typical definitions of male or female. Asexual describes people who experience little or no sexual attraction, and the A is also read at times as agender or aromantic. Universities, health systems, and many advocacy groups favor LGBTQIA for its specificity. It is often written with a plus sign, LGBTQIA+, to signal that the letters do not cover every identity in a diverse community.