One of the biggest challenges in engaging with supporters of Pride is the fact there are so many constantly changing terms. I’ve added a list of definitions for common terms, but here are some thoughts on some of the broader terms I use consistently across this site.

The term Pride now represents anything related to a non-heteronormative view of gender. In plain language, that means anyone who does not agree with the belief that people are either male or female and that biological sex should determine sexual identity and norms.

Many of the references I use to refer to homosexuals. Technically a homosexual is someone attracted to the same sex, meaning a man attracted to a man, or a woman to a woman. (See Common Definitions)

However, in today’s debate, many supporters of the LGBTQ+ cause do not consider themselves to have a fixed “sex”, as that implies male and female. (You’ll notice that “H” is not included in LGTBQ+.).

However, homosexual is the “clinical” term that has the longest history of use. As a result, it has come to represent the issues related to those who do not accept the traditional or biblical view that humanity has two sexes, male and female and that normal sexual intercourse is heterosexual, not homosexual.

I am using the sources as I have found them, which means most of them talk more about homosexuality. This means we must do a bit more work to apply the principles they teach to the other gender identities.

The most prominent topic of debate is now transgenderism, which can be defined as:

“An umbrella term for the state or condition of identifying or expressing a gender identity that does not match a person’s physical/genetic sex. Transgender is independent of sexual orientation, and those who self-identify as transgender may consider themselves to be heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, polysexual, or asexual.” (The Gospel Coalition)

These changing terms are challenging to keep up with.  But the common factor to all of these is identity.

These are all identities that individuals claim for themselves. They claim these identities to try and explain their experiences and find others having the same experiences.

This is a powerful need that all of us feel. And we all have identities that serve the same function in our lives, as these individuals hope a gender identity will do for them.

We must learn to listen for the questions of identity in the person claiming a gender identity. In doing so, we may be able to find reason to identify with that common need.

That can be a starting point for a conversation about where we find our identity and why that is ultimately meaningful for us.