A Note On Acronyms
LGBTQ
Many acronyms are used, but the most recognizable and common is LGBTQ. While this acronym is useful and has important historical roots, it has been criticized for not being inclusive of all marginalized identities. A more inclusive version of that acronym is LGBTTTPQQAI+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, Two-Spirit, Pansexual, Queer, Questioning, Asexual, Aromantic, Ally, Intersex, etc....); however, this acronym can make conversations about this topic cumbersome. The Alberta Teachers’ Association uses Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) to be inclusive of all identities and ways of being. You will find this acronym throughout ATA materials. Materials adapted from outside sources may still use the LGBTQ acronyms or variations thereof.
Outside of this resource, you may encounter other acronyms such as MOGAI (Marginalized Orientations, Gender Identities and Intersex) or QUILTBAG (Queer/Questioning, Undecided, Intersex, Lesbian, Trans (Transgender/Transsexual), Bisexual, Asexual, and/or Gay).
POC
“POC,” which stands for “people of color,” is a general umbrella term that collectively refers to all people of color — anyone who isn’t white. But because the term is so broad, it tends to lose some of its power, particularly when used to discuss the specific, separate struggles faced by people of color with different ethnic backgrounds. Similarly, “BIPOC,” which stands for “Black, Indigenous, and People of Color,” is person-first language. It enables a shift away from terms like “marginalized” and “minority.” These terms might remain factually correct, but they lack a sense of humanity, since there’s no clear indication they refer to people. As such, they’re generic, inadequate descriptors that also carry a suggestion of inferiority and of being “less than” the group that’s not in the minority.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of what “BIPOC” stands for:
Black
“Black” generally describes a person of African or Caribbean descent. Many people in the United States consider the term “African American” the more polite and correct choice, but this isn’t always accurate; some Black people may not be American, while others may not trace their ancestry to Africa. Some may prefer to identify themselves by the country their family came from — Kenyan American or Jamaican American, for example.
Indigenous
“Indigenous” (in North America) describes the native inhabitants of North America. Indigenous is a broad term encompassing all tribes of the original residents of the continent. It is important to find out what group of people you are referring to and use their chosen naming convention.
People of Color
“People of Color,” as noted above, is a blanket term to refer people who aren’t white. It is important to recognize that this term that has been criticized as being too broad as it groups together many different people to create one group of ‘other.’ Although the following list is not exhaustive, “People of Color” can include people who are:
Many acronyms are used, but the most recognizable and common is LGBTQ. While this acronym is useful and has important historical roots, it has been criticized for not being inclusive of all marginalized identities. A more inclusive version of that acronym is LGBTTTPQQAI+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, Two-Spirit, Pansexual, Queer, Questioning, Asexual, Aromantic, Ally, Intersex, etc....); however, this acronym can make conversations about this topic cumbersome. The Alberta Teachers’ Association uses Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) to be inclusive of all identities and ways of being. You will find this acronym throughout ATA materials. Materials adapted from outside sources may still use the LGBTQ acronyms or variations thereof.
Outside of this resource, you may encounter other acronyms such as MOGAI (Marginalized Orientations, Gender Identities and Intersex) or QUILTBAG (Queer/Questioning, Undecided, Intersex, Lesbian, Trans (Transgender/Transsexual), Bisexual, Asexual, and/or Gay).
POC
“POC,” which stands for “people of color,” is a general umbrella term that collectively refers to all people of color — anyone who isn’t white. But because the term is so broad, it tends to lose some of its power, particularly when used to discuss the specific, separate struggles faced by people of color with different ethnic backgrounds. Similarly, “BIPOC,” which stands for “Black, Indigenous, and People of Color,” is person-first language. It enables a shift away from terms like “marginalized” and “minority.” These terms might remain factually correct, but they lack a sense of humanity, since there’s no clear indication they refer to people. As such, they’re generic, inadequate descriptors that also carry a suggestion of inferiority and of being “less than” the group that’s not in the minority.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of what “BIPOC” stands for:
Black
“Black” generally describes a person of African or Caribbean descent. Many people in the United States consider the term “African American” the more polite and correct choice, but this isn’t always accurate; some Black people may not be American, while others may not trace their ancestry to Africa. Some may prefer to identify themselves by the country their family came from — Kenyan American or Jamaican American, for example.
Indigenous
“Indigenous” (in North America) describes the native inhabitants of North America. Indigenous is a broad term encompassing all tribes of the original residents of the continent. It is important to find out what group of people you are referring to and use their chosen naming convention.
People of Color
“People of Color,” as noted above, is a blanket term to refer people who aren’t white. It is important to recognize that this term that has been criticized as being too broad as it groups together many different people to create one group of ‘other.’ Although the following list is not exhaustive, “People of Color” can include people who are:
- Black or African American
- East Asian
- South East Asian
- South Asian
- Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander
