What is LGBTQQIAAPPO2S?

[Updated 22 October ’22 to add GSRM]

If we mention LGBT, you could visualize rainbow flags waving on the news or a movement. However, you might not have heard of LGBTQQIAAPPO2S before. There are many more identities to represent sexual minorities beyond Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (including Transsexuals).

LGBTQQIAAPPO2S represents Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Ally, Asexual, Pansexual, Polyamory, Omnisexual, and Two-Spirit. Each of these identities after the letters LGBT is explained below.

• Queer: Queer is a broad term connecting sexual minorities who are neither cisgender nor heterosexuals. These individuals uphold a strong belief that “diversity needs to be respected.”
• Questioning: Those who are yet to decide what their gender identity is. Some individuals also choose not to label themselves intentionally.
• Intersex: Intersex is a condition in which biological sex is defined to be in between men and women, or inconsistent with either traditional definition.
• Ally: Allies support sexual minorities, including LGBTQQIAAPPO2S.
• Asexual: Asexuals are able to experience romantic emotions even though they do not have sexual desire. Like many sexual identities, asexuality also comes in a spectrum and should not be confused with abstinence or celibacy. This term is beginning to find traction in Japan as more people learn about asexuality.
• Pansexual: Pansexuals have sexual desire and romantic feelings regardless of their gender or sexuality. This means they may feel attraction towards others, but gender or sexuality does not matter in their case. Sometimes the term “gender-blind” is used to this unique aspect, refering to a situation when people do not mind the gender of their lovers.
• Polyamorous: Polyamorous individuals have several relationships based on consent. They seek multiple relationships, and their partners understand and give consent for them to practice polyamory. There are different types of polyamory, like polyfidelity or hierarchical polyamory, but they are about fostering emotional connections based on consent.
• Omnisexual: Omnisexuals have both sexual desire and romantic feelings for any gender. It is easy to confuse between omnisexuality and pansexuality. Omnisexuality is different from pansexuality in that omnisexuals are not gender-blind (they acknowledge their partner’s gender) while pansexuals are (gender is not a deciding factor).
• Two-spirit: Two-spirit individuals have both a masculine and a feminine spirit as their identities. This has roots in Native American societies, whose definition varies depending on the nation. Two-spirit is also a relatively new term referring to relationships with people and nature and not necessarily related to biology or gender, so the definition may change as the world continues to understand the term.

The term LGBTQQIAAPPO2S came to evolve so because of our growing realization that humankind goes beyond the traditional binary categorization. Variations have been adopted in pride parades like Canada’s, and they all celebrate the beauty of that diversity. We should learn about this diversity so as to promote SOGI to help others discover their identities and change intolerant views of sexual minorities.

What about other letters like K?

At the moment, there are deliberations about other identities, such as LGBTQIIAAPPKS2+ where K is for “Kink.” Some believe that it belongs to queerness, many think that fetishes do not belong in the alphabet soup. K has not yet been accepted has one of the identities. The constant deliberation it is a good reflection of human civilization’s discourse in understanding and creating future societies.

What about GSRM?

GSRM stands for Gender, Sexual and Romantic Minorities. While the term “GSRM” does not enjoy the wide exposure that “LGBT” or “LGBTQ” enjoy, it is more encompassing of humanity’s range of gender and sexual identities (rather than just lengthening our favorite acronym for diversity). It also differs Sexual and Romantic categories, thus helping to further discussions for awareness between the two.