What is LGBTQIA+?
LGBTQIA+ is an acronym that stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual/Agender, and more. These terms can refer to a person’s sexual orientation, romantic orientation, and/or gender identity. In a move towards inclusivity, the older, shorter, acronym — LGBT — has been expanded. The language used to talk about LGBTQIA+ people is constantly evolving, new words are often created and old ones fall from prominent or accepted usage as people try to more accurately describe their diverse identities and experiences.
National Coming Out Day honors the experience of sharing your gender or sexual identity for the first time with another person. While one may ultimately have countless “coming out” conversations in their lifetime, the first time someone shares this part of themselves with another person is often life-changing.