how someone sees themselves and wishes to be seen by others; an affiliation to an identity.

In Queer contexts, how one identifies is the the sexual orientation or gender identity that they most associate with, that is, the one they most identify with.

The verb has become commonly associated with transgender and nonbinary individuals; for example, ‘I identify as nonbinary’. But it is also common with sexual orientations, particularly those that are not strictly homosexual or heterosexual, or indeed easily labeled or defined: for example, ‘I identify as Queer, rather than gay or bisexual‘.