Some lesser-known groups that may be included in LGBT acronym

TORONTO – In the community it’s meant to represent, it’s known as the ever-expanding alphabet — the LGBT acronym.

These days the evolving term is likely to include far more than just four letters to represent lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.

Add in emerging communities for transsexual, intersex, queer, questioning, two-spirit, allies and asexual people and you have an alphabet soup that’s near indecipherable, even for those for whom it’s meant.

Here’s a look at some of the lesser-known groups that sometimes make their way into the nickname:

— “I” for Intersex: The Intersex Society of North America uses this general term to describe a person born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t fit typical definitions of female or male. Someone might be born appearing to be female on the outside, but having mostly male-typical anatomy on the inside. Or they may be born with some cells boasting XX chromosomes and some of them XY.

— “Q” for Queer: Some people prefer this umbrella term in referring to the entire community because it doesn’t specify gender or sexuality. It can be used as a political term as well, to signify a particular point of view, but it’s not for everyone. Originally meaning “strange,” it was commonly used in a pejorative manner but has more recently been reclaimed by some people.

— “Q” for Questioning: Much like it sounds, this marker can be used by someone in the process of discovering their own sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression.

— “T” or “2S” for Two-Spirit: An umbrella term used by some First Nations people to describe their sexual, gender and/or spiritual identity. Because it embraces the notion that people can have both female and male spirits it challenges the conventional view that people are either exclusively male or female.

— “A” for Allies: The media watchdog Glaad defines a straight ally as someone who is supportive of an LGBT person, or someone who personally advocates for equality. They’re considered some of the most powerful voices in the movement for helping others understand the importance of fairness and acceptance.