LGBTQIA+

LGBTQIA+ is an acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual/Aromantic/Agender, plus additional subsects. It is an inclusive term used to unite a population of people who have a wide array of gender identities and sexual orientations that differ from heterosexual and cisgender. LGBTQ, LGBTQ+, LGBT, and GLBT are also used for similar meanings. QUILTBAG is an alternative with additional meanings for each letter. Acronyms such as 2SLGBTQ+ or LGBT2SQQIA* additionally highlight indigenous Two-Spirit people.
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==Community==
===L: Lesbian===
The L stands for lesbian. 
===G: Gay===
The G stands for gay. 
===B: Bisexual===
The B stands for bisexual. 
===T: Transgender===
The T stands for transgender. 
===Q: Queer (or Questioning)===
The Q most often means Queer but can also stand for Questioning.
Queer is an identifier for individuals who are not exclusively heterosexual in their sexual orientation, who use it in reference to their gender identity and/or gender expression (as a standalone term or part of another like genderqueer), or who are fluid in their identities, as well as an umbrella term for the entire community. It is also used instead of lesbian, bisexual, or gay by some people who find those terms too limiting or loaded with connotations that do not apply to them. As a reclaimed word, it has been used in fights for LGBTQIA+ rights and liberation as an inclusive and sometimes defiant term. PFLAG and GLAAD are two of the organizations that recommend only using it for people who self-identify as queer because it has varying meanings and is not universally accepted. In addition, the term may be used in preference to other identifiers by members, for a variety of reasons.
Questioning is a term used to describe individuals who are exploring, learning, or experimenting with sexual or romantic orientation, gender expression, and/or gender identity. It is often associated with youth and can describe both the person and the process.
===I: Intersex===
The I stands for intersex. 
===A: Asexual, Aromantic, Agender===
The A stands for multiple things. 
===2S: Two-Spirit===
The 2S stands for Two-Spirit. 
===Plus===
The + stands for all other members of the community.
==Flag==
===Gilbert Baker's designs===
The original pride flag was designed by Gilbert Baker for the 1978 San Francisco Gay Freedom Day celebration. It had eight colors: pink stood for sexuality, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for the sun, green for nature, turquoise for art, indigo for harmony, and violet for spirit.LGBTQ PRIDE: Gilbert Baker, creator of rainbow flag, shares story of strength and prideHow The Pride Rainbow Flag Came To BeGilbert Baker - The Gay Betsy Ross
Due to a lack of fabric when the demand for pride flags soared after the assassination of gay San Francisco City Supervisor Harvey Milk on November 27, 1978, the pink color was removed and in years 1978 and 1979 a seven-stripe version of Baker's flag was used. This started with the Paramount Flag Company using fabric with seven stripes: red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise, blue, and violet; soon afterwards Gilbert Baker himself removed the pink color as well from his flag.Unsung Heroes of the Gay World: Vexillographer Gilbert Baker
In 1979, Baker intended to decorate streetlamps with rainbow banners. To make the process easier, he decided to remove the turquoise color from the flag, so he could have a design with an even number of stripes flanking each lamp pole along the streets. His third and most famous version of the pride flag has six colors and is a widely used pride flag to this day. It has six stripes: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet.
In 2017, Baker created one more version of his rainbow pride flag, shortly before his death. He brought back the pink and turquoise stripes, and added an additional lavender stripe to the top of the flag. The lavender stripe represents diversity.
===Philadelphia Pride Flag===
In 2017, the Philadelphia's Office of LGBT Affairs led by civil rights activist Amber Hikes redesigned the flag to include two new stripes: black and brown. Those stripes were added to include and honor queer people of color. This flag is known as the Philadelphia Pride Flag or Philly Pride Flag.The Philly Pride flag, explained
===Progress Pride flags===
In 2018, Daniel Quasar modified the Philadelphia Pride Flag and included the colors of the transgender pride flag, as well as expanded the meaning of the black stripe to represent those who are living with HIV and AIDS. The arrow-shaped hoist is meant to symbolize a progressive community that continues to evolve and move forward, and those colors are separated from the rest to emphasize what is currently important in the LGBTQIA+ climate and to recognize that those experiences must be put to the forefront by the wider community as we work toward progress. This flag is known as the Progress Pride Flag.What Do the Colors of the New Pride Flag Mean? Learn about meaning of the colors of the Progress Pride FlagPaper Mag: Inclusive Pride Flag Campaign Represents Those With HIV/AIDS and QPOC
However, not all people agree that this pride flag is more inclusive. Some trans individuals and people of color have expressed that they already felt included in the original pride flag, and that this new flag can lead to "othering" within the community.
In 2020, Jason Domino, a sex-worker rights advocate, modified the Progress Pride Flag by adding the red umbrella symbol which is used by sex-workers to include them and honor those LGBTQIA+ rights activists who were also sex workers.This new pride flag aims to be the most inclusive ever
In 2021, Valentino Vecchietti of Intersex Equality Rights UK adapted the Pride Progress flag design to incorporate the intersex flag, creating this Intersex-Inclusive Pride flag 2021.Why I redesigned the Pride Progress flag to include intersex
However, not all individuals within the Intersex community identity as queer. In some cases, they do not use the LGBT+ moniker when referring to themselves, but urge others to "be allies to the LGBTQ, disability, Indigenous, anti-racist, and women’s movements."
==Notes==
==References==
de:LGBT*Community
es:LGBT
pt-br:LGBTQIAPN+
ja:LGBTQ＋