LGBTQ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning. The Globe and Mail uses this term to refer broadly to the communities of people whose sexual and/or gender identities fall outside of the historical norms set by people who are heterosexual and cisgender (i.e. whose gender identity is compatible with the one they were assigned at birth.)
As the recognition of a multiplicity of identities has evolved, some have questioned whether LGBTQ is a broad enough term. While this term is useful to refer to a spectrum of identities and activist movements, it is not meant to suggest that LGBTQ people represent just one community. People who may fall under this term have vastly different experiences, concerns, and exposure to inequalities. This term would never be used to identify a single person, but rather to discuss broader issues, organizations and movements connected to the communities that fall under this banner.