Am I Straight?

In this day and age, there are more terms than ever to help you label your gender identity and sexuality. So many, in fact, that it can be easy to feel out of the loop—that’s why we’re here to help. Read on to find all the answers to some of your most frequently asked questions.

What is the LGBTQ+ acronym short for? There isn’t actually an “official” definition for this acronym since gender identity and sexual identity (and their corresponding labels) are so personal and subjective to each individual. Here’s a closer look at some of the most common terms/labels used by the LGBTQ+ community:

• Lesbian: A woman or non-binary person who experiences attraction toward other women.
• Gay: Any individual who experiences attraction to someone of the same gender identity. Historically, this term was used exclusively for men.
• Bisexual: An individual who’s attracted to the same gender identity and at least one other gender identity (e.g., a man being attracted to other men as well as women).
• Transgender: A person whose gender identity is different than the gender they were assigned at birth.
• Queer: An umbrella term for people whose gender identities don’t fall within the cisgender binary (male or female individuals who identify as the gender they were assigned at birth) or heteronormative paradigm (male/female relationships). Although “queer” was historically used as a slur, the modern LGBTQ+ community has since reclaimed it and widely uses it.
• Questioning: A term used for people who are figuring out what their gender identity and/or sexuality is.
• Asexual: A term used for individuals who experience a lack of sexual attraction. Asexuality exists on a spectrum, and the asexual experience varies depending on the person.
  
  

What does straight mean?
Straight is a word used to describe people who only experience sexual attraction to people of the opposite gender. It means the same thing as “heterosexual,” though you’ve probably heard the term “straight” used more often.

Are straight people members of the LGBTQ+ community?
Not quite, but they can definitely be allies of the community! While the modern world has made strides in acknowledging and accepting members of the queer community, there’s still a long way to go before LGBTQ+ individuals can feel completely safe and welcomed in society. Here are a few ways you can show your support:

• Call out inequality when you see it. If you witness someone saying, posting, or participating in any kind of homophobic or transphobic behavior, call them out and remind them that what they’re saying/doing isn’t okay.
  
• Offer a listening ear to current queer issues. One of the best ways to be an ally is to give queer individuals the time and space to vocalize their experiences and the issues affecting them. Let their voices dominate the conversation rather than your own.
  
• Support queer businesses and charities. By giving your time and money to queer establishments, you’re making an active effort to support members of the LGBTQ+ community.
  
• Give queer voices a platform. If someone in your life seems curious about LGBTQ+ issues, point them toward social media accounts, books, and other works of media managed or published by queer individuals.