Author: Eric Peterson

As if gender and sexuality weren’t complicated enough, the issues around them become even more complex when you consider all the diverse communities that have aligned themselves in what is often called the “alphabet soup” of the queer community. What was once called simply “gays and lesbians” morphed into “GLB” (for gay, lesbian, and bisexual) and soon after became “LGBT” (to include transgender people). The letters, along with the new identities they signify, just keep coming. Often, when I’m discussing gender and sexuality with a friendly audience, I’ll rattle off the acronym “2SLGBTQQIAA+” just to get a response … and will then proceed to break down the whole thing.