Unpacking Identity

There are many similar, but slightly different acronyms for the 2SLGBTQI+ community. For instance, you have the LGBTQIA, LGBTQIA2S+,and the 2SLGBTQI+. In this post, we will be using the acronym 2SLGBTQI+ as it is the one used by the Canadian government.

In this post, we will be explaining various identities within the 2SLGBTQI+ as well as a brief history of pride.

Definitions:

• Aromantic: Someone who lacks interest in romantic relationships or attractions.
• Asexual: Someone who lacks sexual attraction or interest in sexual expression.
• Bisexual/biromantic: Someone who is sexually or romantically attracted to two or more genders.
• Gay: Someone who is sexually or romantically attracted to people of the same gender identity or same sex. Sex refers to the biology the person was born as whereas gender identity refers to the feeling of being a woman, man, both, or neither; it may or may not be associated with sex. The term gay, usually refers to men, but has been adopted by all gender identities.
• Gender Fluid: Someone whose identity varies overtime. Can feel one day as a woman, a man, or nonbinary.
• Intersex: Someone who has various biological sex differences. Intersex people have variations such as internal reproductive organs, sex characteristics like chromosomes, genitalia, and/or secondary sex characteristics such as breasts or muscle mass.
• Lesbian: Someone who identifies as a woman, who is sexually and romantically attracted to only women.
• Nonbinary: Someone whose gender identity does not align with being a man or woman. Also, often called genderqueer.
• Pansexual: Someone whose choice of romantic partner is not determined or limited by the other person’s gender expression, gender identity, or the person’s sex.
• Queer: Historically, this was a derogatory term. However, the 2SLGBTQI+ have reclaimed the word as a positive way to describe themselves. It is a word that describes the many gender and sexual identities that may not be covered by the acronym.
• Questioning: Someone who is unsure about their sexuality and/or their gender identity. This can be a long lasting identity or a short term identity.
• Transgender: A person whose identity differs from their sex they were born as.
• Two-Spirited: This is a culturally specific identity used by some Indigenous peoples to describe their gender identity’sexual oritentation that comprises both male and females (2024).

Brief History of Pride

The 2SLGBTQI movement began in the early 1900s with small organizations such as the Society for Human Rights. After World War Two groups like the Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis became more prominent. They used newsletters and protests to fight against discrimination. A large turning point came in June 1969 with the Stonewall Riots which occurred in New York CIty. On June 28, 1969, a police raid on the Stonewall Inn in New York City sparked unexpected resistance from patrons and locals. As tensions escalated, six days of protests and clashes with police followed. A year after the Stonewall riots, activists commemorate the event by marching the streets of New York City (A&E Television Networks, 2025).

References

• A&E Television Networks. (2025, February 27). Pride month 2dates. History.com. https://www.history.com/articles/pride-month
• Government of Canada. (2024, September 17). 2SLGBTQI+ terminology – Glossary and common acronyms. Canada.ca. 024: Origins, parades & https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/free-to-be-me/2slgbtqi-plus-glossary.html