We understand with so many buzz words, definitions, and vocabulary floating around, it can be hard to dissect what sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, biological sex all means.
Here you will find key information about LGBTQIA+, Curtin’s support services and where to find additional LGBTQIA+support, community, and resources.
What is LGBTQIA+?
LGBTQIA+ is an acronym that describes the community of individuals who have diverse sexual orientation, sex and/or gender identity. It stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual/Aromantic.
LGBTQIA+ is a shortened version of the full acronym that encompasses many identities, including Questioning (Q), Pansexual (P), Non-Binary (NB), Brotherboy (BB), Sistergirl (SG), and many more. All these terms are represented in the shortened version by the plus sign.
The LGBTQIA+ acronym has changed over time and will continue to evolve as our understanding of different sexual orientations and gender identities expands.
Sexual orientation is an umbrella term that includes someone’s sexual identity (how they think of their sexuality and what terms they identify with), attraction (who they are romantically or sexually interested in) and sexual behaviour.
Someone may describe their sexual orientation as lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual, or something else.
Gender identity is about how a person feels; for example, whether they feel they are a man, woman or non-binary person. Someone’s gender identity can be different to their biological sex.
Gender expression is how someone outwardly expresses their gender, for example:
Masculine: qualities or appearance we usually associate with men.
Feminine: qualities or appearance we usually associate with women.
Androgynous: qualities or appearance that combine masculine and feminine characteristics into an ambiguous form.
A person’s sex is based on biological characteristics like their chromosomes, hormones and reproductive organs. It is usually assigned at birth as either male, female or intersex, but a person’s sex can change over the course of their life and may differ from their sex recorded at birth.
Queer is sometimes used as an umbrella term for people who are not heterosexual or cisgender. It has historically been used negatively to describe those with same sex desires, but began to be reclaimed by activists in the 1980s and is now used by many in the LGBTQIA+ community.
It is important to note that some people still dislike this term, because of its history.
Gender is about social characteristics of a person. It refers to the identities, expressions and behaviours of an individual as a man, woman or gender diverse person.
Gender diverse is an umbrella term that includes all the different ways gender can be experienced and perceived. It can include people questioning their gender and people who identify as trans or transgender, genderqueer, non-binary, gender non-conforming and more.
Genders that sit outside of the man/woman binary are often called non-binary. A person might identify solely as non-binary, or they might relate to non-binary as an umbrella term and consider themselves genderfluid, genderqueer, trans masculine, trans feminine, agender, bigender, or something else.
Support at Curtin
Learn more about how Curtin welcomes, respects, and values all students’ regardless of your sexual orientation, gender identity, biological sex, or gender expression on our LGBTQIA+ webpage.
LGBTQIA+ resources, peer support and referral for people wanting to talk about a range of issues including sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings, or relationships.
Confidential Helpline and web chat (3pm to midnight, everyday).
A social support and advocacy group for people who identify as Jewish or who have a Jewish heritage and are part of, or allies of, the LGBTQIA+ community.
