#theliteralchallenge

[davidrobertscotland]

LGBTQQIAAP: A Choose Your Own Adventure Story

I am currently taking part in ‘Like the Prose��, a challenge run by The Literal Challenge where you are provided with a writing brief every day for 30 days and are required to submit a piece of writing within 36 hours of receiving that brief. 

One of the most recent briefs was to write a ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ story - you know like the Goosebump books? 

As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, one of the questions I am most commonly asked is what each letter of the acronym stands for and the definition of each term. With that in mind I decided to fashion a CYOA story that covered as many of the members of the community as possible. 

I’ve already had some lovely feedback and think it could be a good resource so I am posting it here to get feedback from other members of the community. Any tweaks or suggestions for improvements would be greatly appreciated. Also if any of the language used is outdated or incorrect please do let me know. The story follows below: 

1. Would you like to explore your gender or your sexuality? If you would like to explore your gender please go to number two. If you would like to explore your sexuality go to number three.

2. Sorry to get personal so early but to carry on with this gender study we have to know whether you have male or female biological features. If you have male biological features go to number four. If you have female biological features go to number five. If you have both male and female biological features go to number 6.

3. In order to establish your sexuality, first we need to know your gender. If you identify as male go to number 17. If you identify as female go to number 18. If you identify as both genders, a third gender, three genders, many or all genders or you move between genders go to number 19.

4. You have male biological features. But how do you identify? If you identify as male go to number 7. If you identify as female go to number 8. If you identify as both genders, a third gender,  three genders, many or all genders, no gender or you move between genders go to number 9.

5. You have female biological features. But how do you identify? If you identify as female go to number 12. If you identify as male go to number 13. If you identify as both genders, a third gender,  three genders, many or all genders, no gender or you move between genders go to number 14.

6. Because you have both male and female biological features, you are Intersex. As a member of the LGBTQQIAAP community, you may also choose to identify as Queer.

7. You have male biological features and identify as male. If you were born with male biological features go to number 10. If you created your male biological features with the assistance of hormones and/or surgery please go to number 11.

8. Because you have male biological features and identify as female, you are a Transgender Woman. If you desire to permanently transition to the female gender you may also choose to identify as a Transexual Woman. As a member of the LGBTQQIAAP community you may also choose to identify as Queer.

9. Because you have male biological features but identify as either both genders (bigender), a third gender (third gender), three genders (trigender), many or all genders (pangender), no gender (agender) or you move between genders (genderfluid), you are Non-binary or Genderqueer. As a member of the LGBTQQIAAP community you may also choose to identify as Queer.

10. Because you were born with male biological features and identify as male, you are a Cisgender Man.

11. Because you have male biological features which you created with the assistance of hormones and/or surgery and you identify as male, you are a Transgender Man. You may also choose to identify as a Transexual Man. As a member of the LGBTQQIAAP community you may also choose to identify as Queer.

12. You have female biological features and identify as female. If you were born with female biological features go to number 15. If you created your female biological features with the assistance of hormones and/or surgery please go to number 16.

13. Because you have female biological features and identify as male, you are a Transgender Man. If you desire to permanently transition to the male gender you may also choose to identify as a Transexual Man. As a member of the LGBTQQIAAP community you may also choose to identify as Queer.

14. Because you have female biological features but identify as either both genders (bigender), a third gender (third gender), three genders (trigender), many or all genders (pangender), no gender (agender) or you move between genders (genderfluid), you are Non-binary or Genderqueer. As a member of the LGBTQQIAAP community you may also choose to identify as Queer.

15. Because you were born with female biological features and identify as female, you are a Cisgender Woman.

16. Because you have female biological features which you created with the assistance of hormones and/or surgery and you identify as female, you are a Transgender Woman. You may also choose to identify as a Transexual Woman. As a member of the LGBTQQIAAP community you may also choose to identify as Queer.

17. You identify as male. If you are attracted to men go to number 20. If you are attracted to women go to number 21. If you are attracted to both men and women go to number 22. If you are attracted to people with gender not a factor being considered go to number 23. If you aren’t sure which gender you are attracted to go to number 24. If you are not sexually attracted to others go to number 25.

18. You identify as female. If you are attracted to women go to number 26. If you are attracted to men go to number 27. If you are attracted to both men and women go to number 22. If you are attracted to people with gender not a factor being considered go to number 23. If you aren’t sure which gender you are attracted to go to number 28. If you are not sexually attracted to others go to number 25.

19. Because you identify as both genders, a third gender, three genders, many or all genders or you move between genders (Non-binary/Genderqueer) you may simply choose to identify your sexuality as Queer. If you are attracted to both men and women you may be happy to identify as Bisexual. If you are attracted to others with gender not a factor being considered you may be happy to identify as Pansexual. If at times you identify as a woman and are attracted to women you may be happy to identify as Lesbian. If at times you identify as a man and are attracted to men you may be happy to identify as Gay. If you aren’t sure which gender you are attracted to you may be happy to identify as Questioning. If you are not sexually attracted to anyone you may be happy to identify as Asexual.

20. Because you identify as male and are attracted to men, you are Gay. As a member of the LGBTQQIAAP community you may also choose to identify as Queer.

21. Because you identify as male and are attracted to women, you are Straight. Sorry about that. Don’t worry, you can still be an Ally by supporting the LGBTQIAAP community.

22. Because you are attracted to both men and women, you are Bisexual. As a member of the LGBTQQIAAP community you may also choose to identify as Queer.

23. Because you are attracted to people with gender not a factor being considered, you are Pansexual. As a member of the LGBTQQIAAP community you may also choose to identify as Queer.

24. Because you identify as male and aren’t sure which gender you are attracted to, you are Questioning. As a member of the LGBTQQIAAP community you may also choose to identify as Queer. You may at a later date choose to identify as Gay, Bisexual, Pansexual or Asexual.

25. Because you are not sexually attracted to others, you are Asexual. You may still fall in love with someone, be in a relationship with someone or be attracted by someone but you have no need to act this out sexually. As a member of the LGBTQQIAAP community you may also choose to identify as Queer.

26. Because you identify as female and are attracted to women, you are Lesbian. As a member of the LGBTQQIAAP community you may also choose to identify as Queer.

27. Because you identify as female and are attracted to men, you are Straight. Sorry about that. Don’t worry, you can still be an Ally by supporting the LGBTQIAAP community.

28. Because you identify as female and aren’t sure which gender you are attracted to, you are Questioning. As a member of the LGBTQQIAAP community you may also choose to identify as Queer. You may at a later date choose to identify as Lesbian, Bisexual, Pansexual or Asexual.