LGBTQ stands for “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning.” For some, the Q stands for “Queer.”
Heterosexual, lesbian, gay and bisexual are all sexual orientations. Sexual orientation refers to our inner sense of ourselves and to whom we’re emotionally, romantically, physically and sexually attracted. Heterosexual people are attracted to people of a different gender. For example, there are men who are attracted to women and women who are attracted to men. People who are lesbian or gay are attracted to people of their same gender. This includes men who are attracted to men and women who are attracted to women. People who are bisexual people can feel attracted to people of more than one gender.

The term queer can sometimes apply to someone who is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Some people call themselves queer, but not everyone feels comfortable with that term because it has sometimes been used as an insult against LGBTQ people.

Transgender is different from lesbian, gay and bisexual. Though these terms are often grouped together under LGBTQ, transgender is actually a gender identity, not a sexual orientation. Gender identity is our innermost sense of whether we feel like we’re a guy, a girl or someone else all together. Our feelings about our gender identity often match up with the bodies we have. Someone who has a penis and testicles may close his eyes and think, “Yep, I’m a guy!” and someone who has a vagina and ovaries may close her eyes and think, “Yep, I’m a girl!” But sometimes our feelings and our bodies don’t match. When our feelings about our gender doesn’t match our body, that’s called being transgender.

Because these feelings can be so strong, some transgender people make changes to their appearance or bodies in order to be more consistent with their inner feelings. Everyone has the right to express their inner self to the world, and to be respected for their identity.

Transgender people can be any sexual orientation, just like people who aren’t transgender can be any sexual orientation.

Some people are very sure about their sexual orientation and gender identity. They may know early on in their lives that they are heterosexual, gay, lesbian or bisexual. They may know clearly that they’re a guy, a girl or that their feelings about their gender don’t match their bodies.

Others, though, may feel confused or unsure of how they identify. It can take time to understand sexual orientation and/or gender identity. There’s no rush to label your feelings. Listen to yourself and if it becomes important to you to attach a name to your feelings, you’ll know when the time is right.