LGBT, LGBT+, LGBTQ, LGBTQIA+, LGBTQQIAAP2S....
Why are there so many letters, and where does it stop? 

In this lecture, I explain the reason more and more letters are being added to the alphabet, and why we might never have a 'completed' acronym.

However (and this goes for the full course), I can not speak for the full LGBT+ community. Nobody can. This course is an attempt to provide you with as broad a picture as is possible in just 60 minutes. Therefore, in each section of the course I will be providing  additional articles to provide you with alternative perspectives.

For this section on bisexuality, have a look at the external resources I added to this lecture: to offer you a broader perspective, have a look at the article called The Queer Acronym Alphabet – Limiting In Its Inclusiveness?. It shows that, even within the LGBT+ community, opinions are divided on the question 'where does it end?'.

Although most people will know what the L and the G stand for in LGBT, we'll start with the basics.

I'll offer you a bit more background information where the terms come from, which terms are ok to use, and which are not (and why not).

Have a look at the New York Times article included to read a bit more on why the word Gay is preferred over the word Homosexual.

What does it mean to be bisexual?

Is someone also considered bisexual if they're mostly attracted to people from the opposite sex, but have some interest in members from the same sex?

Is it easier to be bisexual than to be 'fully' gay or lesbian? 

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Check out the additional article that talks about how it is not easy for bisexual people to be 'believed', and about why it might be harder for men in specific to come out as bisexual (article: 'do men get a harder time for being bisexual?)

Extract: 

There's also a double standard at play, says Barker: “Bisexual women tend to be sexualised, with bisexuality regarded as something that women do for the pleasure of men, as in mainstream porn. Bisexual men tend to be disbelieved entirely,” they tell me. “In both cases it is assumed that bisexual people are really into men and not women. So bisexual women are often assumed to be in it to titillate men, whereas bisexual men are assumed to be gay men who are not brave enough to come out as gay. It's often assumed that both will end up with men eventually.

Before going to the lecture about Transgender, it's important to discuss the difference between sexuality and gender.

2 different concepts that exist apart from each other; they do not influence each other necessarily.

Within the LGBT+ community however, members of both different groups are present. This brings up confusion so it is important to know the difference.

Longest video of this online course, because transgender people are still one of the more misunderstood and underrepresented groups within the LGBT community, so there is a lot to learn.

In this section I speak about what it means to be transgender, about what it means to be transitioning, about how transgender people are still being marginalized in many ways, but also about how to properly address a trans person as this can make an immense (positive) difference in a trans person's life.

I've included quite some resources that you can check out after you've watched this lecture. I think these resources are all valuable if you're interested in learning more. But, if you can only pick one for some reason, please watch the video by John Oliver as I think it brings home the point very clearly.

The word 'Queer' is a complicated one, not in the least because of its sensitive history.

The term is however being reappropriated by (part of) the LGBT+ community nowadays.

I'll take you through the history of the word, why the community now wants to regain control over the word, what exactly it means when someone says 'I'm queer', and I'll tell you whether it's ok for you to use the word.

Questioning - a term that is less known outside of the LGBT+ community. What does it mean to be 'questioning'?

'Intersex' is where we run into problems with our so-called 'binary society'.
I'll tell you all about what it means to be Intersex, how and when (not) to use the term, and give you a bit of background on why human rights institutions are now calling for an end to unnecessary 'normalizing' medical procedures.

What is asexual, and what is aromantic? How does a person decide whether they are asexual and/or aromantic?

Being Pansexual is often confused with being Bisexual? What is Pan? What's the difference with being Bi?

Western civilization is really one of the few in the world that still clings to the binary: male OR female, gay OR straight.

Many other cultures include a so-called 'third gender' - they always have. An example are the two-spirit people of the Native Americans and there are many other examples in other (ancient) societies.

Some people feel they don’t neatly fit into the categories of man or woman, or male or female.

This is where the term 'non-binary' comes in (amongst other terms). I'll tell you about the different things this can mean for people, about the daily challenges non-binary people may face, and how you can ensure you address a non-binary person properly and respectfully.

What are the differences between gender identity, gender attraction, a person's sex and a person's sexual orientation? I'll share an easy trick that'll help you remember. We'll dive deeper into each of these concepts and also talk about how you can see concepts such as gender expression evolving today (from women in skirts, to guys in skinny jeans, to men in full make-up).