Thread by @COREIMpodcast

1/ Today is day 2 of our #pride series focusing on #lgbtq+ health, and we’re going to spend today reviewing some important terms. #MedTwitter

2/ Let’s start with what we will affectionately call the alphabet soup. “LGBT” is likely familiar to many, but what people say after the T varies from person to person both in form and meaning.

3/ Terms one might see after LGBT include:
❤️Q: queer, and/or questioning (one’s sexuality, gender identity, etc.)
🧡I: intersex
💚A: asexual, agender and/or ally
💙+: meant to include any and all other identities not already included in the previous letters.

4/ An important note: some folks prefer to use the adjective “queer” to encompass the LGBTQ+ community. For example, they might identity as a queer-competent physician or a #queer ally.

5/ Other important terms:

🏳️‍🌈Sex: biological anatomy and secondary sex characteristics; assigned at birth and may be distinct from one’s gender identity.

🏳️‍🌈Gender identity: how one perceives one’s gender. Could be male, female, neither or none. Need not relate to one’s sex.

6/ 🏳️‍🌈Gender expression: external ways one exhibits gender (e.g., clothing, behavior, etc.).

🏳️‍🌈Sexuality: describes attraction to others. Is separate from sex and gender!

7/ 🏳️‍🌈Bisexual: describes someone who is attracted to men and women.

🏳️‍🌈Pansexual: describes someone who is attracted to people with any gender expression, including non-binary folks.

8/ 🏳️‍🌈Aromantic/Aro: one who has no romantic attraction to others (may have sexual attraction).

🏳️‍🌈Asexual/Ace: one who has no sexual attraction to others (may have romantic attraction).

9/ 🏳️‍🌈Demiromantic: experiencing minimal romantic attraction until sexually connected to their partner.

🏳️‍🌈Demisexual: experiencing minimal sexual attraction until emotionally connected to their partner.

10/ That’s all for today! Here’s a summary graphic by the inimitable @gabmayer for your review.

We’ll have more tomorrow. Keep sending in your questions, and happy #pride!