Equity, Diversity and Inclusion E.D.I.

There have been several different acronyms used to describe gender expression and sexual orientation. LGBT was the first term but it was been expanded upon to include and reflect the different parts of the community. There is no consensus on which expanded acronym to use, and so they are all correct. The letters sometime stand for multiple terms. UFV has chosen to use LGBTTQQI2S+ as part of their EDI guiding principles.

2SLGBTQAI+ stands for:

2S (Two Spirit):  Traditionally, Native American two-spirit people were male, female, and sometimes intersexed individuals who combined activities of both men and women with traits unique to their status as two-spirit people. In most tribes, they were considered neither men nor women; they occupied a distinct, alternative gender status.

Lesbian: A woman who is emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to other women.

Gay: A person who is emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to members of the same gender. Most often used by men attracted to other men.

Bisexual: A person emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to more than one sex, gender or gender identity though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way or to the same degree.

Transgender: Someone whose gender identity is different than their assigned gender at birth or Transexual: An older term that originated in the medical and psychological communities. Still preferred by some people who have permanently changed - or seek to change - their bodies through medical interventions, including but not limited to hormones and/or surgeries.

Queer: A term people often use to express a spectrum of identities and orientations that are counter to the mainstream. Queer is often used as a catch-all to include many people, including those who do not identify as exclusively straight and/or folks who have non-binary or gender-expansive identities or Questioning: A term used to describe people who are in the process of exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Asexual: Asexual, is often shortened to "ace", and refers to a complete or partial lack of sexual attraction or lack of interest in sexual activity with others. This is an individual feeling and so asexual people may experience no, little, or conditional sexual attraction.

Intersex: Intersex people are born with a variety of differences in their sex traits and reproductive anatomy.

+: Encompassing the many other sexual orientations, gender identities, and members of the community that aren't reflected above.

Definitions were taken from the Human Rights Campaign and Indian Health Resources