The “I” in LGBTQIA stands for intersex.

Intersex is an umbrella term for people who are born with sex traits (like chromosomes, hormones, or reproductive anatomy) that don’t fit typical medical definitions of “male” or “female.” This can show up in many different ways—for example, in chromosome patterns, hormone levels, or the way genitals or internal organs develop.

A couple of key points for quick context:

  • Intersex is about biological sex traits, not about sexual orientation (who you’re attracted to).
  • Intersex is also not the same as being transgender; being trans is about your gender identity not matching the sex you were assigned at birth, while intersex is about how your body’s sex characteristics develop.
  • Intersex people can be straight, gay, bi, queer, etc., and can identify as men, women, nonbinary, or otherwise—just like anyone else.

So when you see LGBTQIA+, you can read it as: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (or questioning), intersex , asexual/aromantic/agender (often under the A), plus many other identities under the “+”.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.