LGBTQIA +
A guide in queer language usage
© stock-eye / Getty Images
More and more often it is said: “But what can I say nowadays?”. We think so! A guide through the colorful alphabet salad of the queer language.
Queer language: why is it so complicated?
Yes, we don’t have to gloss over it: it is complex. On the German Facebook page alone, you can choose from 60 different gender identities – from “non-binary” to “genderqueer” to “pangender”. Don’t get us wrong, that’s a good thing. Nevertheless, we admit: One can lose track of things.
But you have to keep one thing in mind. The goal is not to be fluent in “queer” at the end! It is much more important to deal with the topic and look at our language critically. Because: Nobody should and may not be discriminated against with words and expressions. In order to achieve this and to include as many people as possible, queer language has to be precise and just as diverse as what it describes – hence the complexity.
But you know what: Even within the community, for example, some find that you soon lose track of all the letters that romp around in the term “LGBTQIA +”. And that takes the pressure off, doesn’t it? So let’s do it!
Important terms:
LGBTIQA +: The German abbreviation LSBTIQ stands for L.esben, S.gay, B.isexual, Trans *, I.nter * Queers and A.sexual. Sometimes the English acronym “LGBTIQ +” (“Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgender, Intersex & Queers”) is also used in German. The plus “+” is added to include other unnamed identities.
Sexual orientation
Bi + sexuality: Bi + sexual people find people of both, multiple, or all genders attractive.
Homosexuality: Individuals who are attracted to people of the same sex.
Important:
Many lesbian and gay people reject the term “homosexual” because the term was mainly used medically when it was first created.
Better: lesbian woman / person, gay man / person
Queer: An umbrella term for all people who are not cis and / or straight.
Gender identity
Trans: An umbrella term for people who are of a different gender than that assigned to them at birth.
For example:
A trans woman is a woman who was assigned to the male gender at birth due to her biological gender, i.e. genitals and co.
By the way: for many trans people it is important to adjust their gender through surgical interventions or hormone treatments. Still others oppose medical change.
Cis: Is the counterpart to trans, so to speak. Cis expresses that a person identifies with the gender assigned to them at birth based on the genitals.
Non-binary: These are people who identify neither as women nor as men.
The war of the (gender) starlets!
They are ostracized by many, the gender asterisks – but they are very practical. With them you include people who do not want to be gendered. The asterisk should leave room for different identities.
Stumbling blocks
Did you know that there is a difference between coming out and outing?
Coming out: The person himself voluntarily and consciously addresses his or her sexual orientation or gender identity with other people.
Outing: Another person reveals someone’s gender identity or sexual orientation without consent the data subject.
Another stumbling block is having trans people Drag queens to be confused. However, drag is an art form and doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with gender identity.
The personal designation has priority
How someone wants to be called is very individual – and can also deviate from the norm. Ultimately, the best way to drive is to ask the person how they define themselves personally. And that is what you have to respect and accept. An open mind is the best navigator through queer language.
Queer language: a final word
The whole thing is not set in stone. Our language is constantly changing. Old terms are ruled out, but new ones are becoming part of queer language usage. And that’s what makes it so exciting!
Source used: Federal Agency for Civic Education, Queer Lexicon