Don't know what LGBTTIQQ2S stands for?

You're probably not the only one, says Pride Co-chair Mark Singh, who spoke with CP24.com last week to demystify the lengthy acronym used to describe the festival's target community.

LGBTTIQQ2S, which stands for "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, Intersex, Queer, Questioning, 2 Spirited," has been the accepted term for the last few years.

However, Singh remembers a day not too long ago when the community was simply referred to as "LGBTQ," saying the term has been continually expanding as various segments of the queer community express a desire to be recognized.

"For so long, this community has been oppressed and discriminated against in so many different ways," says Singh, quick to note that he's drawing from his own opinion and not official Pride policy.

"The need to be recognized was a groundswell from oppression and discrimination from all those years... It's pretty incredible that one group that considers itself to be a community has so much diversity."

Over the years, Pride has become more mainstream, with people from all walks of life attending the festival -- including many who don't consider themselves part of the gay community.

Singh believes such continued acceptance may just be what it takes to eventually put the LGBTTIQQ2S acronym to bed in exchange for more simple, blanket terms.

"Words like queer, rainbow and 'pride community' have been popping up more and more in recent years," he says.

"As these sub-communities reach a level of mainstream understanding and acceptance, perhaps the desire to continue with such a cumbersome acronym will come to a close."

A glossary of terms:

Lesbian -- A woman whose sexual orientation is towards women

Gay - To be sexually attracted to people of the same gender

Bisexual - To be sexually attracted to both males and females

Transgender - To have a self-awareness of not being who one appears to be on the outside. "It's a state of mind, and more of an umbrella term used to describe many identities and gender states." says Singh.

Transsexual - A subgroup within transgendered people. "It's more a state of body," says Singh. "Many transsexual people intend to or have already undergone hormonal or physical treatment to bring them closer to the gender with which they identify."

Intersex - Someone who is born with biological characteristics of both male and female genders

Queer - An umbrella term referring to the LGBTTQQ2S community

Questioning - Someone who is unsure or trying to determine their sexual orientation

2-Spririted - A Native term referring to people who fulfill a mixed gender role within their community. Not specifically a state of sexuality.