Current Events > I feel like I rarely see people say just "LGBT" anymore

(+) Yeah! (+)

Most people seem to have shifted to using LGBTQIA+ or at the very least LGBTQ. I'm curious why that is. Saying LGBT isn't offensive or anything, is it?

Not particularly, the expanded acronym is for inclusion more than anything else.

Like adding I includes Intersex populations, which make up roughly 0.7% of the US population (almost identical to the percentage of natural redheads, just to add a sense of scale).

I'd at least toss the + at the end if you use the four-letter (to indicate the lesser known gender identities/sexualities), but as long as you aren't going full "LGB Without the T" I wouldn't call it outright suspicious or anything.

I usually just see LGBTQ or LGBTQ+.

But yeah, it's basically just to include everyone. I haven't seen people making a big deal over just using LGBT or anything though.

I really wanted to respond with that Simpson's clip were grandpa pulls out a GLAD membership card and nobody says anything, but I couldn't find it.

I don't think anyone in their right mind would actually be offended "LGBT" as long as they're not hating on the other letters in the same breath.

I say "LGBT+" because I'm lazy, not because I hate queer people (I don't).

The only time I'd call someone out is if they used LGB. That one is actively malicious.

Who isn't covered by "cis" and "queer"?

masterbarf posted...

Who isn't covered by "cis" and "queer"?

People who identify more strongly with their preferred and precise terminology over the umbrella term?

Most communities I interact with stick to "LGBT" or "LGBTQ/+" in regular speech or texts unless there's a specific context where omitting the I, A, et al. would be immediately exclusive or objectionable, with stuff like documents, etc. Otherwise, we tend to just be specific about who we're talking about or addressing rather than using blanket terms constantly.

masterbarf posted...

Who isn't covered by "cis" and "queer"?

A lot of people do not like or want to use the term queer to describe themselves. Many people consider themselves to be just trans or gay or ace or whatever and reject the additional label, association, or baggage of "queer".

MabinogiFan posted...

Most people seem to have shifted to using LGBTQIA+ or at the very least LGBTQ. I'm curious why that is.

It's just to try and include other historically connected marginalised people in solidarity under umbrella and extend protections where possible. Depending on the context, it can be poor form to start lopping off letters or even outright bigoted (like the LGB dweebs), but using the umbrella "LGBT", specifically, is fine 99% of the time.

i've always been confused as to why the Q is included in the whole acronym, isn't it just the umbrella term? Or is there another meaning

mehmeh1 posted...

i've always been confused as to why the Q is included in the whole acronym, isn't it just the umbrella term? Or is there another meaning

Queer/Questioning, but I think Q was added to the acronym before it became as widely considered an umbrella term.

Not at all certain about that timeframe , though, so take this with several grains of salt.

mehmeh1 posted...

i've always been confused as to why the Q is included in the whole acronym, isn't it just the umbrella term? Or is there another meaning

It was originally added as sort of a deliberately vague, "everybody else" letter to encompass a wide variety of people, but it's also developed into distinct cultures, lifestyles, identities, etc. as part of being reclaimed from being a slur.

OneSpookyGirl posted...

A lot of people do not like or want to use the term queer to describe themselves. Many people consider themselves to be just trans or gay or ace or whatever and reject the additional label, association, or baggage of "queer".

On the flip side, I've had conversations with people who only identify as one label but still use/prefer "queer" for one reason or another.

Not that I'm trying to disagree with you. Just that it seems like we're in that linguistic crossroads where a word's meaning (and the positive/negative connotations of that meaning) are in a fluid state and society hasn't settled on one outcome yet (if ever)

ZMythos posted...

On the flip side, I've had conversations with people who only identify as one label but still use/prefer "queer" for one reason or another.

Not that I'm trying to disagree with you. Just that it seems like we're in that linguistic crossroads where a word's meaning (and the positive/negative connotations of that meaning) are in a fluid state and society hasn't settled on one outcome yet (if ever)

If we take The Safe Zone Project's version:

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/c/cc2302de.jpg

I also mention both sorts of the people you two brought up whenever I use this training.

One of our co-founders is a trans woman who identifies firstly as queer and then as trans, whereas another identifies as a trans woman solely and doesn't use the term "queer" at all.

It's a super personal thing, each person has their own stance, so generally just go case-by-case and when someone tells you their identity, take their word for it.

I like that graphic. I feel like that blurb at the bottom is way too useful to be so small and gray lol

ZMythos posted...

I like that graphic. I feel like that blurb at the bottom is way too useful to be so small and gray lol

It works better in print or on the slides, but yeah, SZP made some peculiar design choices in this.

I'm sure I'm dead wrong because I'm the wrong person to be speaking about this subject, but I was always under the impression queer meant "kinda gay but not quite bi", but it does seem to be a bit of a dated term I've noticed.

RasterGraphic posted...

I'm sure I'm dead wrong because I'm the wrong person to be speaking about this subject, but I was always under the impression queer meant "kinda gay but not quite bi", but it does seem to be a bit of a dated term I've noticed.

You'd be basically right about fifteen or twenty years ago.

There has been concerted effort to reclaim "queer" as a term of affirmation, and a lot of people believe it has been successful. Others still don't care for it, and that's fine.

But queer originally meant the whole "weird" definition in regards to sexuality/identity and was basically just bandied around as a pejorative, no solid definition that I'm aware of outside of just being an insult.

It was a catch-all slur, so reclaiming it made it pretty catch-all for affirmation as well, though again, some disagree.

This is another area where I'm not super confident in my knowledge, I'm more of a "modern practice" focused guy than "historical etymology," so I could be off-base and others may know more.

Gladius is among the most knowledgeable people on this board with whom I'm familiar, she may be better suited but I don't want to put her on the spot.

RasterGraphic posted...

I really wanted to respond with that Simpson's clip were grandpa pulls out a GLAD membership card and nobody says anything, but I couldn't find it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtYfILyjyJ8