It is probably best to start with the LGBTIQA+ acronym. Why are more and more letters appearing in it? As we wrote recently, human sexuality is multidimensional and virtually impossible to encapsulate in a tight definition. Currently the acronym LGBT is not sufficient to describe all its non-heteronormative nuances.

LGBTIQA+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning, asexual. Even in this long definition, the '+' sign at the end can perhaps be considered the most crucial. Contrary to the silly statements we are all sometimes exposed to, LGBTIQA+ is about people, not ideology. Concepts around gender identity and sexuality are evolving. Nor is there a top-down body validating their correctness and finality.

The evolution of the emancipation of non-heteronormative people is also reflected in the flags they use as their symbols. Currently one of the most inclusive is considered to be the "Progress Flag", which, in addition to the already traditional rainbow, also contains triangles symbolising other minorities. Individual minorities also have their own individual flags.

More and more non-heteronormative people are turning to the broadest term "queer" which groups all those who do not fit into the hetero- and cis- "standard". Cisgender is identifying with the female or male sex we were assigned at birth. Heterosexuality is when cisgender people feel sexually and romantically attracted exclusively to cisgender members of the opposite sex.

The word "queer" has been "adopted" from those trying to offend identity minorities in a similar way that the "n-word" has been adopted by English-speaking black people. Therefore, not all members of the LGBTIQA+ community feel ok with using the term queer for both self-description and external descriptions.

Not all cultures describe gender as binary as "Western" cultures, where it had feudal and religious roots. Among Native North Americans, there have been terms describing other variants of gender identity for centuries, which have recently been brought together in the term "two-spirit" to refer to people who do not identify as heterosexual or cisgender.

The term "two-spirit" can describe transgender, non-binary, as well as bi-, pan-, and omnisexual people. Transgender people are those who do not identify with the gender assigned to them at birth. They most often feel a strong identification with the opposite female or male gender and have a need to correct their body and cultural gender towards them.

Non-binary people, on the other hand, are those who do not identify as either female or male. They may use non-binary pronouns or masculine and feminine pronouns, as well as having a preference towards feminine or masculine. How do you make sense of this? The best way is to ask in a polite way.

Nonbinarity is the non-identification with neither male nor female gender in the cultural view of sex (gender). Intersex, on the other hand, involves being outside the female and male "norm" in terms of the anatomical structure of the genitalia. The Polish language is not helpful in terms of clarity in this regard. In English, "gender" (social/cultural sex) and "sex" (biological sex) are two different conceptual terms.

The third range of our identity is romantic-sexual preference. Bisexual people feel attracted to both men and women. Omnisexuality is about being open to relationships with members of more than two cultural or biological sexes. Pansexual people identify as somewhat "gender-blind"; it is not a factor which influences their choice of a partner.

Asexual people feel no sexual attraction to either sex. Sexual activity is not attractive to them. This does not mean that they do not fall in love and form successful relationships. People who do not feel an inner desire to be in a relationship are members of the aromantic minority.