Technolandy

Day 104 (of 2024/25) helping you with #pride #queer #lgbtq2ia+ understanding

Lots of learnings that can still be shared as we approach the day designed to raise awareness of the importance to end bullying of trans/lgbtq2ia+ communities. Not just about friendship or broad anti-bullying… much more specific when you wear a #pinkshirt 

And our language matters too! Too often the reference becomes like the middle of the alphabet – a blog rather than separately defined letters. And the letters can mean even more as well..

For example – the “A” can mean a couple categories – Asexual is most common… some liken it to being an Ally but there’s also Aromantic and Agender as well. Also for some, the term ‘ally’ is a bit contentious…  a key idea is that being an “ally” is not something you are, it is something you DO (emphasizing that requires action and is not an inherent quality). 

Words are fun – in a discussion I learned that: if you are saying something about “queer X” you can also break that into specifically gender vs sexual diversity as well. This is a great time of year to expand understanding that gender is not sexual identity… and if this identity ought not be important – why do so many get triggered if they are identified wrong (or freak out about pronouns)? To repeat Shakespeare methinks thou (might) protest too much…why else might some be making such a big deal over the identity of others… jealousy? 

But the terms have continued to evolve, and while not a comprehensive list – for that check out sites like: https://whatsonqueerbc.com/woq-bc-stories/what-does-the-acronym-mean

And of course many in canada are starting with 2S as part of reconciliation:

2S – Two Spirit – broad capture of the traditional concepts from many indigenous cultures – to indicate a person whose gender/spiritual identity and/or sexual orientation comprises both male and female spirits.

L – Lesbian – refers to women who are emotional, romantically, or sexually attracted to other women

G – Gay – primarily refers to men who are emotional, romantically, or sexually attracted to other men BUT can also be an inclusive term for the entire 2SLGBTQIA+ community

Gender Fluid – someone whose experience of gender fluctuates; can be based on time or circumstance

Genderqueer – not just a great book! Refers to people whose gender identity and expression is neither male nor female and falls outside of the male/female binary. 

B – Bisexual – describes individuals who are emotionally, romantically, or sexually attracted to either men or women

Bigender – someone with two different gender identities – may exist simultaneously or as a shifting experience

Biromantic – individuals who are romantically attracted to others and may form relationships with at least two genders

T – Transgender – describes those whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.

Q – okay, some multiple shares:

Queer – an inclusive term for diverse sexual orientations and gender identities outside of heterosexual and cisgender norms ; cis = gender identity matches their sex assigned at birth.

Questioning – individuals who are exploring and questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity

I – Intersex – people born with a physical or genetic characteristic that does not fit typical (legacy) definitions of male or female

Indigi/equeer – refers to the indigenous queer community as a specific individual identity for those whose communities do not hold to Two(2) Spirit identities.

P – Pansexual – individuals emotionally, romantically, or sexually attracted to people regardless of their gender identity or biological sex

– Panromantic – romantically attracted to people regardless of gender identity or biological sex

– Pangender – someone whose gender identity encompasses many shades of gender

A – again, some multiple shares

Asexual – people who experience little to no sexual attraction to others

Aromantic – people who do not experience romantic attraction to othersa

Agender – person who does not have a sense of neither either male nor female nor some combination of male and female; identity is genderless or neutral

Alloraomantic – someone who experiences romantic attraction but not sexual attraction to others.

Allosexual – someone who experiences sexual attraction but not romantic attraction to others

Androgyne – someone whose gender identity is outside the gender binary

Ally – people who are doing things to help support and advocate for the 2SLGBTQIPA+ community(ies) even if they do not personally identify as LGBTQ2IPA+. 

+ to acknowledge we are aware that these are not the only words and descriptions

Just making sure that the communities know that this school environment knows you, sees you, and includes you!