LGBTQIAPN+: More than just letters in an acronym!

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June 28th is considered worldwide as International LGBTQIAPN+ Pride Day. To celebrate this date, we have prepared a quick guide with everything you need to know to clear up any doubts you may have about the experience and existence of this group that is so marginalized in our society.

Why is it celebrated on June 28th?
June 28th was the date chosen internationally to celebrate Pride because of the Stonewall Riots . On the same date in 1969, the Stonewall Inn bar in the East Village (New York) was the scene of a conflict between patrons and police. It is important to note that, at the time, homosexuality was criminalized and members of the community were marginalized. The Stonewall bar was a clandestine place that served as a meeting point, recognition and protection for queer people. After many cases of violence and police brutality, that night, the community said “enough!” and decided to fight back. Ten days of conflict and street demonstrations followed, with many injuries, but no deaths.

The following year, this date began to be celebrated, remembering the revolt that had occurred and the message of pride that had been conveyed. In Brazil, the first edition was on June 28, 1997, and was attended by around two thousand people. Currently, the NGO Associação da Parada do Orgulho LGBT de São Paulo (APOLGBT-SP) is responsible for organizing the annual event, which takes place during the month of June and features artistic attractions, workshops and cultural fairs.

In 2023, the São Paulo LGBTQIAPN+ Parade took place on June 11th and had as its theme “Social policies for LGBT+ as a whole and not half”.

What does LGBTQIAPN+ mean? Why is the acronym so long?
Each letter of the acronym represents a group belonging to the community. As they are recognized, letters are added to bring visibility to them within this complex spectrum that represents both gender and sexuality. They are:

L – Lesbians . — Women who are attracted to people of the same gender (female).
G – Gays. — Men who are attracted to people of the same gender (masculine).
B – Bisexuals . — People who are attracted to more than one gender.
T – Transgender . — People who do not identify with the gender they were assigned at birth. Within this group are Transsexual people, who identify with the opposite gender, and Transvestites, people who experience the feminine gender but do not identify themselves exactly as men or women, as expected by society.
Q – Queer . — An umbrella category that encompasses anyone who does not feel cameroon whatsapp number database in any of the groups and “transitions” between genders, often not knowing how to define themselves.
I – Intersexual — People who have biological characteristics of both sexes. Therefore, this category is linked to anatomical and physiological categories, unlike others that refer to gender identity or sexual orientation.
A – Asexual — Umbrella term that encompasses people with a lack of sexual attraction in some way, whether total, partial or conditioned by a certain situation.
P – Pansexuals — People who are attracted to people regardless of gender or sex.
N – Non-binary — People who do not identify with the social gender binary, identifying with genders that deviate from this standard. This includes people whose gender constantly transitions and people who do not identify with any existing gender.
+ – Sign to include groups and variations that may not be present or that do not yet have the necessary visibility. After all, the movement is about adding and not subtracting.
Are Drag Queens/Kings Transgender people?
No. Drag Queens and Drag Kings are people who maximize gender stereotypes for artistic purposes, as a form of performance. Anyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, can be part of these categories.

Gender? Sex? Sexual orientation?
These three terms are very important when it comes to understanding the experiences of LGBTQIAPN+ people. Let's understand:

Gender : Much studied and debated, gender is currently recognized as a social phenomenon. Our experiences, positions, expectations and how society sees us define our gender. Here, people can, in general terms:

feel comfortable with the gender role and identity imposed on them at birth (cisgender);
feel comfortable with those of the opposite gender (transgender);
or don't feel comfortable with any of them (non-binary).
Sex : Sex is biological. Here we are talking about individuals with different types of sex cells, such as eggs and sperm. In this case, they are divided into Male and Female. However, it is important to keep in mind that this is not enough to define a person's gender, which is much more linked to identity and social recognition.

Sexual orientation : refers to each person's sexual attraction. In this case, they can be homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, etc.

Note: Gender and sexual orientation do not come together in the same package . A female transgender person who has a relationship with a cisgender woman is in a homosexual relationship. Just as a male transgender person who has a relationship with a female transgender person is in a heterosexual relationship.