"Gender and Sexual Minorities" or ＂Multiple Genders＂？

 Statement by Ku, Yenlin

Meeting of the Gender Project Group, Research, Development, and Evaluation Commission, Taipei City Government Date: February 10, 2026

To be forwarded to: Taipei City Government Office of Gender Equality and the Executive Yuan Gender Equality Committee

Subject: Recommendation for the Taipei City Government to Clarify the Meaning and Usage of "LGBTQI+"

Page 9 of the Work Report mentions the "Evolution of Hakka Women and LGBTQI+ Issues," using the term LGBTQ+. However, the "Taipei City Government Implementation Plan for Creating a Friendly Environment for Comrades (LGBTI) and Multiple Genders," organized by the Department of Civil Affairs, explicitly states: "The 'Comrades' (LGBTI) and Multiple Genders mentioned in this plan refer to Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgender, and Intersex people." Furthermore, the Mayor used LGBTQI+ during a speech in France, while the Executive Yuan’s 5th CEDAW National Report uses LGBTI, matching the Department of Civil Affairs.

All of these terms are used interchangeably with the Chinese term "多元性別" (Multiple Genders). In other words, "多元性別" currently has diverse English versions, each referring to slightly different groups.

The Core Contradiction

What, then, is the actual substance of 多元性別 or Multiple Genders?

• Mathematical Logic: Mathematically, " Multiple Genders " should inherently include the binary. However, the domestic usage of " Multiple Genders " often excludes binary men and women, which is illogical.
• Inconsistency of Definition: On one hand, the term " Multiple Genders " excludes the vast majority of genders (men and women); on the other hand, it adds sexual orientations—which are categories distinct from gender—specifically minority groups (homosexuals and bisexuals) while excluding the majority (heterosexuals). This makes the definition of " Multiple Genders " highly confusing and not truly inclusive.

Proposal

What is called " Multiple Genders " is not actually a collection of many types of genders. A more accurate description would be a combination of gender minorities and sexual orientation minorities.

If we view LGBTQI+ as a flexible combination where different boundaries are chosen based on different contexts, then "Gender and Sexual Minorities" seems to be a more appropriate term. It is more precise and aligns more closely with the original intent of the English terminology.