Sex: The scientific community views sex as different from gender. Some still believe it’s a homophobic slur, so it’s always best to ask or wait for the person whom you’re speaking with to use it. Queer: Once considered a demeaning slur for being gay, “queer” is being reclaimed by some as a self-affirming umbrella term, especially among those who consider other labels restrictive. LGBTQ: The first four letters of this standard abbreviation are fairly straightforward: “Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.” The Q can stand for “questioning” - as in still exploring one’s sexuality - or “queer,” or sometimes both.
