What does LGBTI mean?
LGBTI stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and intersex. It is an umbrella term for different identities and experiences related to sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
Homosexual
The word "homosexual" comes from the Greek gay (ὁμός) meaning "same" and the Latin sex which means 'sex'. A homosexual person is emotionally and/or sexually attracted to people of the same sex. In Sweden, homosexuality was decriminalized in 1944, but it wasn't until 1979 that it was removed as a medical diagnosis.
Bisexual
Bisexuality means that a person can be attracted to more than one sex. The prefix bi- means 'two', but bisexuals can be attracted to multiple genders. Bisexuals have often been invisible in history, but movements for bi-visibility have emerged, especially since the 1990s.
Trans
Trans is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or gender expression does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. Trans means 'exceed' in Latin.
Transgender people can be binary, i.e. identify as male or female, but can also be non-binary. Non-binary people identify outside or beyond the traditional division between male and female. This may mean that they see themselves as both, neither, or that their gender identity changes over time. Some non-binary people use gender-neutral pronouns such as them or de/them.
In Sweden, transgender rights have been strengthened over time. In 1972, Sweden became the first country in the world to allow legal gender reassignment, but sterilization was required until 2013. Today, there is an ongoing debate on how legal gender should be regulated and recognized for non-binary people, as Sweden does not yet offer a third legal gender.
Queer
Queer means 'deviant' and was previously used as a term of abuse, but has been reclaimed as an identity and a political concept. The term queer is difficult to describe in short, but it can mean that a person questions norms around gender and sexuality, or that they do not identify with traditional categories. Queer theory became part of academic studies in the 1990s and has influenced both activism and culture.
Intersex
Intersex is a medical and social term for people born with biological sex characteristics (genitalia, chromosomes, hormones) that do not fit into the norms of male or female. In the past, surgical procedures were often performed on intersex children, but this is increasingly questioned by both researchers and activists.
LGBTI people have a long history of oppression and resistance, but also of community, pride and struggle for rights. Sweden was one of the first countries in the world to introduce laws to protect the rights of LGBTI people, and the work for inclusion continues.
