2SLGBTQIA+

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What does 2SLGBTQIA+ mean?

When it comes to gender and sexual minority groups, understanding the different groups that make up the 2SLGBTQIA+ community is the first step toward promoting inclusivity.

Two Spirit (2S) — A culturally distinct First Nations-specific identity used to acknowledge the fluidity and spectrum of gender identity and expression, such as a person with both masculine and feminine spirits or who may identify as a third gender.

Lesbian (L) — A woman who is attracted to other women.

Gay (G) — Someone who is attracted to people of their own gender. It’s most often used to describe men but can be used to describe women as well.

Bisexual (B) — Someone who is attracted to people of both the same and different genders (i.e. more than one gender). Bisexuality is a continuum of attraction with some bisexual people attracted mostly to their own gender, others mostly to other genders, or equally attracted to all genders.

Transgender (T) — Someone whose gender identity and expression do not align with their sex at birth. It does not necessarily describe a person who transitions from a man to a woman or vice versa. A transgender person may transition to a third gender (i.e. non-binary).

Queer (Q) — An umbrella term that is often used by people who prefer not to put a label on their sexual orientation or gender identity but can be used by anyone who does not conform to cultural norms related to gender and sexuality. Formerly a derogatory term, the word has since been reclaimed and is sometimes used to describe the 2SLGBTQIA+ community as a whole (e.g. queer community).

Intersex (I) — Someone who is born with primary sex characteristics including genitals, gonads, and/or chromosome patterns that do not fit typical notions of male or female bodies.

Asexual (A) — Someone who is not sexually attracted to people of any gender.

BC CRN supports safe communities where all adults are valued, respected and free from abuse and neglect.

Please visit the pages of our LGBTQ2S+ community response networks for more information:

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