What is SOGIE?

SOGIE stands for Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression. It is used to refer generally to people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. SOGIE is a newer acronym to refer to the community and individuals who are also referred to under LGBT, LGBTQ+, and other variations of that acronym. The Chamber is joining other entities like Alberta Health Services, the Government of Canada, the European Union, the United Nations, and others in progressively adopting the SOGIE acronym. Some entities use SOGIE in conjunction with LGBTQ+ acronym variations and may also use the acronym variation SOGI (which has the same meaning as SOGIE).

How do I use SOGIE?

SOGIE is used in exactly the same way as LGBTQ+ acronym variants, for example: SOGIE people, SOGIE community, SOGIE rights, SOGIE issues, and SOGIE organizations. 

If interpreted literally, SOGIE could be confusing to some, like saying, “They are a Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression person.” Though, it would be equally confusing to say, “They are a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Plus person.” 

The Chamber recommends using SOGIE as a term to refer to groups of people or entities and then describing an individual based on how they wish to be described. For instance, someone could say, “I am biromantic, asexual, and part of the SOGIE community.”

Why is the Chamber using SOGIE instead of LGBTQ+?

The Chamber values collaboration, empowerment, inclusivity, and integrity. After research and internal discussions, and through applying its values, the Chamber’s Board of Directors decided to start using SOGIE for several reasons. 

From Gay, to Gay & Lesbian, to LGB, to LGBT and beyond, the LGBTQ+ acronym has been subject to continuous evolution and expansion. There are many communities and identities represented within the LGBTQ+ acronym, with each one progressively getting its own letter for inclusivity. As the acronym becomes larger, however, it becomes less usable in both print and speech. Deciding where to stop if using a shorter acronym is problematic because shortening the acronym is inherently exclusionary. The Chamber, for instance, used to be called the Alberta LGBT* Chamber of Commerce and updated its name for inclusivity. A similar concern arises with the ordering of the letters, since an order may create a hierarchy of importance. Though, the acronym order can also be used for intentional emphasis. Some organizations in Canada, for example, have put “2S” at the beginning of the acronym for increased prominence of two-spirit individuals in the name of Reconciliation and intersectionality.

Additionally, LGBT and LGBTQ are well-recognized among the public at large, but longer variations may not be. The Chamber needs to be able to communicate and represent itself effectively both within the SOGIE community and with the public at large to achieve its mission and advocate for its members.

SOGIE is much less recognizable than LGBTQ+ at this time, though it is slowly gaining in prominence. There are other acronyms, such as GSD (Gender and Sexually Diverse), which are similarly not well-recognized but are not seeing similar growth in usage. The Chamber and other entities see SOGIE as entirely inclusive at this time, and it will therefore not need to expand in the future. SOGIE is both short and pronounceable, making it fit for print and speech. SOGIE is not subject to concerns about order and inclusion in the way LGBTQ+ is.

Does SOGIE erase individual identities?

The very thing that makes SOGIE inclusive is also what makes it subject to criticism. A major benefit of LGBTQ+ acronym variants is the power of saying the names of individual identities out loud and reading them without coded metaphor covering them up. As the activists in ACT UP have always said when combating HIV and AIDS, “Silence = Death”. Similarly, unapologetic openness can mean life, freedom, and acceptance. Visibility is widely regarded as key to the advancements in rights for many members of the SOGIE community over the past three decades in many parts of the world. However, SOGIE does not have the benefit of directly stating individual identities, which may feel to some like erasure.

From the Chamber’s perspective, usage of SOGIE does not erase identities at all—it merely states them in a different way. The literal meaning of the acronym makes clear to the reader what it refers to: Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression. Many communities are implied by those words, and their names can be freely used as desired. This is not coded language but instead more generalized language. This is as opposed to many LGBTQ+ acronym variants, which must omit many identities to save space or use another symbol to imply the existence of more communities and identities.

Are Straight Allies included in SOGIE? If so, does this change SOGIE’s meaning?

Yes, Allies are included. From the Chamber’s perspective, this does not dilute or change SOGIE’s meaning or value. A purpose of creating the Ally category was to include cisgendered, gender conforming, hetrosexual people who wanted to help all parts of the SOGIE community advance to full equality in society. Ally is included in the full LGBTQ+ acronym. Just as the inclusion of Allies in LGBTQ+ does not dilute or change its meaning, neither does their inclusion in SOGIE. Arguably, putting hetrosexuality and cisgender on spectra of sexualities, gender identies, and gender expressions equal to all others under SOGIE achieves the same shifts in focus and thought that LGBTQ+ acronym variants achieve.