A basic guide to where all of the letters of the Pride alphabet come from, and some of the most important people in LGBTQIA+ history!

Queer History 101

Morgan Moakler Jessiman

Happy Pride Month! What is Pride, you may ask? Pride Month, which internationally begins June 1st, celebrates anything, everything and anyone who falls under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella. This long acronym stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual/Aromantic. Don’t worry! We’ll dive deeper into what all of these terms mean in this article.

Pride Month is such a significant month for so many. It is a time to celebrate, enjoy, and most importantly, remember the people of LGBTQIA+ community who have paved the way for us. Pride Month began to celebrate the Stonewall Riots, a riot that took place over five days in the fight for queer people to have the same rights as everyone else. So who were the people fighting for?

First and foremost, we have the lesbian community! According to The Trevor Project, a non-profit organization for Queer people, a lesbian can be defined by “Lesbian is a noun that describes women who are predominantly attracted to other women.” (The Trevor Project) Some famous lesbians you might know are US soccer star and co-captain Megan Rapinoe, singer Hayley Kiyoko, and comedian, writer and actor Lily Tomlin.

The word lesbian comes from “Lesbos”, an island in Greece which was home to Sappho, a Greek poet who explored themes of women’s lives. Eshna Benegal from Fifty Two says that “Very little of Sapphos writing remains, but the little that does explores themes of women’s lives, rituals and relations. In her writing she talks of her love for women and their beauty.” Pretty cool hey?

Next up, we have the Gay community! Gay describes a per­son who is attract­ed to some­one of the same gen­der. The term can be used by men, women or indi­vid­u­als who iden­ti­fy as non­bi­na­ry. You could say “My uncle is gay!” or “My friends are gay!” and not need to describe gender at any time.

The origins of the word actually come from France. In English, the word’s primary meaning was “joyful”, “carefree”, “bright and showy.” Because the Gay Pride Flag is a huge rainbow, I think we’re still holding true to the original definition. Some famous gay people you might recognize are ‘Stranger Things’ actor Noah Schnapp, rapper and country star Lil Nas X, and singer Kehlani.

What's up with B? B in the LGBTQIA+ stands for Bisexual. The definition of bisexual is someone who is attracted to both men and women, or to more than one sex or gender. This is probably the most straightforward definition. Bi means two! And if you identify as bisexual, you have two genders, sexes or identities that you’re attracted to.

Some famous bisexual people you might recognize are singer Dove Cameron, comedian and actor Rebel Wilson, and actor Kit Connors.

Up next, we have the word Transgender. This word is derived from from trans- (prefix meaning ‘extending across, through, or over’) and gender. Transgender is a term used to describe people whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. According to GLAAD, “Gender identity

is a person’s internal, personal sense of being a man or a woman (or boy or girl.) For transgender people, the sex they were assigned at birth and their own internal gender identity do not match.” (

). I like to explain what being transgender means by using a sweater analogy.

Imagine the day you were born you were given a sweater. From the beginning, the sweater doesn’t fit, it’s not the right color, and maybe it’s even itchy! Then one day, you find a sweater that feels comfortable, its your favourite color and it looks great on you! Now why wouldn’t you want to wear the new sweater? Now if you switch the word ‘sweater’ with the word ‘gender’, it might be a little easier to understand trans people.

Some famous trans people you might know are actor Laverne Cox, punk rock musician Laura Jane Grace, and actor and writer Elliot Page.

So now we get into a bit of a trickier term. The word Queer! Queer can mean a whole lot of different things, but in the context of Pride, it usually means anything other than the norm. Queer can be used instead of any other term, or can be added onto an identity. Steven “Z” Patton says that “the word describes those who exist outside of what society mandates.” (Them)

Some queer celebrities are singer Miley Cyrus, actress and talk show host Drew Barrymore, and musician Billy Joe Armstrong.

Let's talk I! Intersex is a term that refers to people with a combination of male and female biological traits. This is usually because of a different kind of genetic makeup, which means there several different intersex variations! Some famous intersex people are model Hanne Gaby Odiele, activist and writer Pidgeon Pagonis, and filmmaker River Gallo. 1 in 100 people are born with bodies that differ from standard male or female, so that makes intersex people pretty special!

In this Pride alphabet, the A comes last! Aromantics are people who don’t have romantic attraction. In saying that, people who are aromantic can still have intense, loving feelings, they’re just not romantic in nature. Aromantic people can still love their friends, family, children, pets, and their partners! Some famous aromantic people you might recognize are writer, director and actor Michaela Coel, writer Alice Oseman, and actor Janeane Garofalo.

And now…for the big finale! What could the + at the end of this arconym mean? Well, put simply, the plus is everything else, and everything inbetween! Having the plus sign at the end of this acronym leaves room for anyone who is questioning, or anyone who doesn’t fall into these categories. Keeping things open means that everyone has a chance to feel included.

So now that we know what all of these words mean, lets talk about some of the people that have made being loud and proud possible! For a bonus thought experiment, try and think of some other historical figures that have made Pride possible.

Jackie Shane was an American soul and rhythm and blues singer, who was most prominent in the local music scene of Toronto. She was also one of the first Black, transgender woman to break into the soul and R&B scene. While originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Jackie Shane found a home in Toronto and played sold out shows almost every night!

To learn more about Jackie Shane, check out this resource!

Jackie Shane is a pioneer in the music industry. Registered male at birth, she performed and lived as a 

Keith Haring was an American artist apart of the legendary New York art scene in the 1980’s. A lot of his work focused on LGBTQIA+ rights, and other crisis’ happening in the 1980’s. Keith Harings work is colorful, vibrant and shares a story. To learn more about Keith Haring, and to try some of his artwork, check out these resources!

Keith Haring Inspired Art Challenge and Collage Activity Pack

Who doesn't love a fun art creative challenge, especially while learning about various artists? Get involved with 

Keith Haring is an artist known for his colourful cartoons which became his signature images. He used bold lines 

Audre Lorde was a prominent Black lesbian writer, poet, activist, mother and cancer survivor. Her writing and personal life focused on fighting injustices such as classism, homophobia, racism and more. Audre Lorde dedicated her life to speaking out, and fighting for what was right. For more on Audre Lorde and her work, check out this resource!

Audre Lorde is a poet and activist who qualified as a librarian and worked in New York City libraries. She hosted 

Harvey Milk was an American politician, and the first openly gay man to be elected into office in the state of California. He was passionate about human and civil rights, and made the world a better place with the dedication he had to his work. Learn more about Harvey Milk with these resources!

This KS2 PowerPoint looks at the life and work of Harvey Milk, a politician in San Francisco and the first openly 

This great Harvey Milk Mind Map would be the perfect research activity for a social studies lesson. This could 

Marsha P. Johnson is touted as the woman who began Pride. She was an American gay liberation activist and self-identified drag queen. Known as an outspoken advocate for gay rights, Johnson was one of the prominent figures in the Stonewall uprising of 1969. Have a look at this resource, which shows Marsha P. Johnson’s view on Pride and rights for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Marsha P. Johnson Inspirational Quote Poster

Use our eye-catching and influential Marsha P Johnson Quote Poster to teach your kids about the life and legacy of 

This Pride season, do your best to educate yourself more! On Twinkl, theres so many different Pride resources for you to work on, read about, and become more educated on. Happy Pride everyone!

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