The ABCs of LGBTQIA+: As the initials evolve, members seek acceptance

LGBTQIA+. It doesn't matter if one cannot memorize the meaning of all these letters; what has more bearing to the members of this community are respect and acceptance.

A report by Joseph Morong on GMA's 24 Oras, discussed the meaning behind the letters.

Dr. Nathalie Verceles, director of the University of the Philippines-Center for Women and Gender Studies said L stands for lesbian, or women attracted to fellow women.

G is for gay or men attracted to men. B is for bisexual, who are men or women attracted to both sex.

Verceles added: "Transman, assigned at birth ay female pero ang kanyang gender identity ay man; transwoman, ang kanilang ari ay panlalaki pero ang kanilang gender identity ay babae."

"Queer, pakiramdam nila ay babae sila at lalake.  Intersex ay gender fluid.  Asexual ay walang physical or sexual or emotional attraction kahit kanino," Verceles said.

Those in the plus, plus category have many identities.

LGBTQIA+ personalities

Several personalities have come out in the open and declared they belong to the LGBTQIA+ such as Rustom Padilla, who is now BB gandanghari; businessman and race car enthusiast Ian King, partner of host Joey Mead, who is Angelina Mead King; Charice Pempengco, who is now Jake Zyrus.

Former child star Aiza Seguerra is now Ice Seguerra.

"Hello everyone, I'm Ice Seguerra, I'm a trangender man. Please don't call me ma'am, miss, especially madam. Masakit sa puso. You can call me sir, or just -- ice," he said in an earlier interview.

The House of Representatives had its first transwoman member in the person of Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman.

Former Starstruck Season 4 avenger Jesi Corcuera is now a transman.

"'Yung community namin lumalawak pero 'yung kaalaman ng tao, mas kabaliktaran, hindi lumalawak pang-unawa nila," Corcuera said.

Initials keep growing

Ateneo De Manila University professor Jayeel Cornelio said, "Unawain natin ang lawak ng gender identity at expression ... ang tunay na pag-asenso ng isang lipunan ay 'di lamang sa larangan ng yaman nito. Ang pag-asenso ng lipunan ay nakasalalay din sa kung paano natin matatanggap ang mga taong akala natin, hindi katanggap-tanggap."

Transwoman Francine Garcia said she knew she was not a man as young as three years old.  But she said she felt she did not belong to either of the classic labels girl, boy, gay or lesbian.

"At that time, bakla. But then again, in a way, ginagamit sya ng mga tao para maka-discriminate ng people who are like us," Garcia said, who now calls herself as a transwoman.

Garcia is proud of her identity and what she has achieved, such as the 2013 Super Sireyna crown, a contest of noontime show Eat Bulaga.

"Sa amin sa LGBT community, gusto lang naming na ma-classify kami according to ourselves. I think hindi naman siya masyadong nakaka-affect, in a way na nakakagulo ng isipan ng mga tao," she added.

"Look at how I'm living, how I present myself, papaano ko makita everyday, pero may mga tao talaga na isi-'sir' pa rin talaga ako? Ang tanong ko na lang sa kanila, 'sir?' talaga? Seryoso ka sa, sir?" Garcia said.  —LDF, GMA News