Have you ever wondered, “What’s up with the ‘+’ in LGBTQIA? ” It’s not just for aesthetics; it’s an important symbol of openness. The "+" says we see further than just the L, G, B, T, Q, I, and A. It’s about making space for people who don’t fit traditional boxes.
A Bit of History: How We Got Then
Back in the 1960s and ’70s, the gay emancipation movement substantially used the term “gay.” By the 1980s, people began using LGB( Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual) as identities became more visible. In the 1990s, T for Transgender was added. But indeed also, numerous identities weren’t being named, and so “ LGBTQIA ” came into wider use. Learn more about it on stonewall.
Over time, however, naming every identity in the acronym started to get cumbersome. So activists and community leaders espoused the "+," a flexible, inclusive sign that can evolve as language and identities evolve.
What Does That "+" Actually Include?
The "+" isn’t vague; it stands in for numerous identities.
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Non-binary, genderqueer, and genderfluid: people whose gender isn’t just “male” or “female.”
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Pansexual, demisexual, and queerplatonic: exposures that aren’t rigorously gay or straight.
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Two-Spirit: a term from certain Indigenous societies.
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Questioning: for folks exploring their identity.
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Other arising or culturally specific identities.
This shows the "+" is further than just a catch-all. It’s a deliberate acknowledgment that identity is complex and always changing.
Why We Still Need the "+" moment
These figures matter because they show how identity is evolving, and the "+" helps make room for that.
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Growing diversity: According to the Ipsos Pride Survey 2024, about 17 of Gen Z across 26 countries identify as LGBT.
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Further nonbinary visibility: The Trevor Project reports that 26 of LGBTQ youth (ages 13–24) identify as nonbinary.
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Generational shift: Gallup found that 22.7 of Gen Z in the U.S. now identify as LGBTQ, more than earlier times.
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Intersectional and flexible identity: A Pew Research study shows that among LGBTQ grown-ups, numerous lap identities exist; for illustration, 48 identify as “queer.”
Cultural & literal Significance of the "+"
Gender and fornication don’t look the same far and wide. What counts as “gender” or “exposure” varies by culture and history.
Western terms don’t imprison everyone; some communities use their own words( like Two- Spirit). By using "+", nonprofits, schools, and communities can be inclusive without constantly renaming the acronym.
In Short Why the "+" is So important?
It respects all identities, indeed those not extensively named yet.
It supports change, betting that how we understand gender and fornication will probably keep evolving.
It future-proofs the acronym, so new identities can be recognized without rewriting everything.
Why Choose Pride Location?
Pride location brings the meaning of the "+" to life. It’s a real-time video chat platform made for all LGBTQ identities, no matter how you describe yourself.
That’s why people love it. That’s
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You meet real LGBTQ people worldwide through one-on-one video chats.
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Profiles show simple info like name, country, and a photo; nothing more.
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Follow people you liked, and revisit your last exchanges easily.
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Safety tools like block, report, mute, and camera on/off keep you in control.
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Fun features like emojis, masks, and quick swipe skip make chatting easy.
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Very simple login, including Google or email access.
It’s all built on four core values: Community. Support. Safety. Pride in identity.
Conclusion
The "+" in LGBTQIA is more than a symbol; it’s a promise. It says that identity is broad and always growing. It honors people who don’t fit old boxes and reminds us that everyone deserves to feel seen.
And platforms like Pride Location help make that pledge real by giving every LGBTQ person, including everyone in the "+," a place to connect, be themselves, and feel safe.