Yes
27.4%
No
66.9%
Undecided
5.7%
Total Votes: 2299
Comments:
These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.
Giovanni Sorrentino
As person who knows people of every gender and sexual perfernce just makes things easier to use lgbt. Do we need the q just a givin that we are all QUEER to some folk.
Anonymous
My life as a gay man has very different challenges than that of a bisexual or a transexual person's experience. And I think gay people (men and women) do a disservice to bisexuals and transexuals when we only give one-fourth of our attention to their struggles. Better to be a gay/lesbian person who supports the bi/trans community than to clump us all together.
Anonymous
My life as a gay man has nothing to do with a bisexual person's dilemma or a transexual's experience. And I think gay people (men and women) do a disservice to bisexuals and transexuals when we only give one-fourth of our attention to their struggles.
Randall Friesen
My life as a gay man has nothing to do with a bisexual person's dilemma or a transexual's experience. And I think gay people (men and women) do a disservice to bisexuals and transexuals when we only give one-fourth of our attention to their struggles.
Anonymous
My life as a gay man has nothing to do with a bisexual person's dilemma or a transexual's experience. And I think gay people (men and women) do a disservice to bisexuals and transexuals when we only give one-fourth of our attention to their struggles.
Anonymous
This is a silly question. Plus Queer is the same thing as saying Gay! Gay has been all inclusive, the division started with using "L" for lesbian. Then everyone else started to say that these were discriminatory because they didn't have a letter for the other's [ i'd agree with that]. Why do we have to divide our community? These sound like some secret code that needs to be deciphered. Just use one all inclusive term, otherwise there can be a lot more than just LGBT or GLBTQ, what about SA, S, Bear, Leather, Twink, Chocolate, Straight and the list will continue. It's silly, Gay has included all of these for years.
Mike
I really hate being lumped in with the catch phrase LGBT. I am gay, not "all of the above".
Anonymous
The acronyms are fine when talking about the broader community, but sometimes just gay or lesbian or queer is better.
Sheila
No T.
No Q.
GL or LG suffice in and of themselves.
T is not part of us. They are straight and are simply not a part of the community.
Q comes from a derogatory term used against us. I want no part of it.
Louis of New Orleans
Gay and lesbian is an appropiate phrase. I can't say I am too thrilled with the bisexual part, but can see a reason for it. The trans, though, is completely unnecessary. Their issues are totally different from ours and I am tired of the PC need for their inclusion. TG or TS are not necessarily gay or lesbian and are straight more often than not. They have their issues and we have ours. Do not lump us together!
Louis of New Orleans
Gay and lesbian is an appropiate phrase. I can't say I am too thrilled with the bisexual part, but can see a reason for it. The trans, though, is completely unnecessary. Their issues are totally different from ours and I am tired of the PC need for their inclusion. TG or TS are not necessarily gay or lesbian and are straight more often than not. They have their issues and we have ours. Do not lump us together!
Louis of New Orleans
Gay and lesbian is an appropiate phrase. I can't say I am too thrilled with the bisexual part, but can see a reason for it. The trans, though, is completely unnecessary. Their issues are totally different from ours and I am tired of the PC need for their inclusion. TG or TS are not necessarily gay or lesbian and are straight more often than not. They have their issues and we have ours. Do not lump us together!
Philip Dumas
I'm not some initial. I am a Gay man! That's it. Lopping us altogether like some BLTQG-XYZ sandwich reduces the individual identity and creates some kind of smorgasboard of letters that is suppose to inclusive, but ends up excluding the individual identity. I am a Gay man period not a buffet of letters!
Nathan
It is more inclusive.
Anonymous
We are turning into alphabet soup!
R. I. Crawford
I personally like the term "gay woman" better than lesbian. The initials seem to be a good idea too.
Tunapop in W'loo, Ia.
I think it's obvious by peoples' reactions that 'gay' is all we need to describe all genders and sexualitys in our movement. Advocate, please spend less time on boring issues like this!!!!!!!
Anonymous
NOT NECESSARY
Richard
The words gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender represent the community as a whole... and quite honestly, i don't think that everyone knows what LGBT and GLBTQ means. By using words like gay, etc., we are spreading the message so much more then by masking it behind some 4 or 5 letter acronym.
St. Pete Bound
Since this poll began, I've been conducting my own among my straight friends who incidently have know me, worked with me and listened to me talk about gay issues and have been bombarded by with with hundreds of emails about gay issues. Only one str8 friend could answer "What does GLBT stand for?" And that's because she googled it. Forget GLBTXYZ! Str8s hold the political power and they will not grant freedom to some jumble of initials. Gay includes the entire community and str8s recognize Gay. Recognition will lead to understand and acceptance. Eventually laws will be changed to include the Gay community. Gay is Power!
gordon mcdonald
the more inclusive the better (also I for intersexuality )
small fear - a continuum can tend to promote an ordered devaluation
Chris
I do not think the "T" or "Q"should be included. We have enough PR challenges as it is.
There is nothing wrong with "gay and lesbian". Why abbreviate it unless of course you are ashamed of it?
Anonymous
Who exactly would make the final decision? Not all groups reach out to all people, some that I've been in only added the "T" after we learned more about it and felt we could be welcoming. Meaningless poll, at some point someone will come up with a good catch-all phrase (preferably with a few vowels in it) and maybe it will catch on.
Anonymous
Gay is the best term to use for both male and females who love the same-sex. All these letters are very confusing. What the heck does intersexed mean anyway? What is AA? Is it AL for alternative lifestyle? I don't think my lifestyle is alternative or different or anything out of the ordinary in anyway. Other people do, but I have never thought that of myself in that way. I still go to work, college, have a family, friends, pay taxes and contribute to this country's prosperity. I do not like the terms: queer, fag, dyke or any other term meant to demean us as human beings. Perhaps we should use the term homo sapiens if we want to include everyone in the same category?
Anonymous
Use the word gay for both male and female homosexuals. The word Queer makes me cringe, it is like using the derogatory "N" word for the black population. It is not usually used as a compliment but rather as an insult. As for the Bi community, I think they can also fit in under gay, but is the T for transgender, transexual, or transvestite and are they homosexuals or what? I've never been clear on that term, and I bet I'm not the only one who is clueless. If I am clueless, I bet some of the non-gay people are as well. Please clarify some of these ters, but leave the word gay for us gay women and gay men. Keep is simple!
Gene
Why not just settle for 'human'?
Anonymous
I prefer using the word "gay" to identify all homosexuals regardless of gender. Many of the people I know, both gay men and gay women prefer to simply use the word gay to refer to all of us together.
I, as well as, many of my friends do not care for the term lesbian at all.
Anonymous
I think the word Gay should refer to the entire homosexual community which would also include Bi's. MUCH more simpler.
Anonymous
if you want to be inclusive, why not include straights? Moreover, nobody is a LGBT person. I am gay. Not lesbian, not bi, not trans. GAY. And trans are not bi or gay or lesbian.
We're gay Americans. And until and unless we act with a radical dignity we will never win.
Anonymous
if you want to be inclusive, why not include straights? Moreover, nobody is a LGBT person. I am gay. Not lesbian, not bi, not trans. GAY. And trans are not bi or gay or lesbian.
We're gay Americans. And until and unless we act with a radical dignity we will never win.
Ronnie Touvell
Absolutely not! I am a GAY man; not a lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. Nothing against those groups, but I feel it's important for gay men to be GAY MEN. After all, lesbians are GAY women. America knows what the word "gay" means by now I would hope. In fact, when I read the Advocate, in my mind when I see LGBT I'm actually thinking "gay."
Let the other groups have there own terms, but I am GAY!
Jacko
I use GLBT and phrases of that nature when referring to that community as a whole at times, but I don't think that the terms lesbian and gay should be thrown out with the bath water. There is enough room for varying terms.
Anonymous
NO! I do not want to be identified with the bisexuals and the transgenders. Let them start their own fucking movement, for all I care. If they don't like being lumped together with us gays and lesbians, goodbye and good riddance. They don't have the same issues and concerns as us anyway.
Anonymous
I'm gay. I neither ni nor a lesbian nor trans . . .
So to lump them all together in one acronym is just plain wrong.
Anonymous
There is plenty of need for and room for all of the terms.
Paul D. Liehr
I am a man attracted to other men and am comfortable in my own male skin . Although I have no malice toward these people , I resent being categorized with the gender dyphoric and gender unsure .
Anonymous
Being a masculine gay male, I don't consider myself to be a part of any group descriptor of "Bi, Transgendered, Queer, Intersexed, or Undecided".
Anonymous
It's like politically correcting who we are. I refuse to be known as a LGBT American. I'm gay. Period.
Rodney Moore
"Gay" has been the best world used to describe our community. We added the word "lesbian" to the titles of our movements and organisations to include gay women despite the fact that the word lesbian is exclusive to gay women. However the word "gay" has been used inclusively to include gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people. The word "queer" which to many gays is likened to "nigger" isn't appropriate. As far as I am concerned the gay movement shouldn't get caught up in over expanding our movement and worrying about naming ourselves GLBT, LGBT, GLBTQ or whatever. Our movement is what it is, a gay movement. The gay movement has always had lesbians, gay men, transgendered and bisexuals in the movement, we are all covered under the word "gay". Alot of people who "don't like labels" seem so apt on making up new ones. They want to be so non-conforming to a "label" that they go an invent a new label for themselves to conform to.
Linda
No, because they are not synonymous. GLBTQ includes gay men, lesbians, and others. As Ms. DeGeneres's comment highlights, however, it does appear that "gay" has, to a certain extent, replaced the phrase "gay and lesbian." Just look at the phrase "gay marriage." The opponents of marriage equality are definitely not saying that they oppose same-sex unions for men but think that it's just dandy for lesbian couples to wed!
Bryan
I think that we need to keep the acronym and the term "gay and lesbian". While GLBT/GLBTQ or whatever acronym people are most comfortable with are good for describing the community as a whole, they're not good for individual people. I'm gay, and damn proud of it, and I"m part of the GLBT community. Besides, by using this acronym, we reflect the idea that everyone fits under the umbrella somewhere. I"ve even seen it expanded to GLBTQIA (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersexed, and Allies). GLBT doesn't have to stand for everything, but it has to stand for something, a community of people who support each other and stand up in the face of adversity and shout, "I"m here, I'm queer, and get the fuck used to it because we're not going away!"
Anonymous
Us B and T people matter too.
Kevin L. Downer
It is time we recognize that our community is diverse. Reducing our community to gay and lesbian denies the diverse sexual identies adn orientatons that exist and perpetuates the same ignorance that we find prevelant in the rest of society.
Anonymous
add a letter for straight and people may start to get that it's really just people
Anonymous
I'm not lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or transsexual...there's no reason for me to use anything but "gay" or "homo" to describe myself...
Paul
it doesn't work. The average person has come to know what gay stands for. I think to retool oursselves in this manner is much like the Blacks and the confuseion ove the term colored, Black or African American.
We are Gay so leave thing's alone.
Paul
it doesn't work. The average person has come to know what gay stands for. I think to retool oursselves in this manner is much like the Blacks and the confuseion ove the term colored, Black or African American.
We are Gay so leave thing's alone.
Dakar Noir
I think abbreviations are just what they are, and should in no way be used to describe human sexuality.
Think about the confusion LGBT or GLBTQ may bring to the big and little minds around us. How do we help our kids growing up to use those acronyms everyday when refering to someone's sexuality? How do we simplify the confusion and bewilderment some of our "bigshots" politicians and ministers of the gospel who act as if our sexuality is complex as Einstein's theory of relativity?
My advise is let's leave it simple and basic. for both ours and society sake. The abbreviations are cool for our community to use when discussing issues, but for us to have the larger society using the shortcut will be overbearing. I must point out that I too find it overbearing when trying to place what exactly each letter stand for. I'm gay and love to be called by that word. Acronymys are not my cup of tea.
Anonymous
LGBT with or without the Q separates us, rather than uniying us. If we need to give up Gay and Lesbian and aren't comfortable with Queer, how about a new all-encompassing title, like fabulous!
Anonymous
LGBT with or without the Q separates us, rather than uniying us. If we need to give up Gay and Lesbian and aren't comfortable with Queer, how about a new all-encompassing title, like fabulous!
raj
I voted no. The abbreviations are too confusing, particularly to those who are not LGBT, GLBT, GLBTQ, or LGBTQSS (Same-sex Supportive), etc. I typically just use "gay" (three letters, lower case), and, if I want to get more specific, I'll use "gay men," "lesbian," etc.
Anonymous
The comments on this are crazy... if the gay community wants to include the trans movement, then let's include nambla and beastiality! It's all the same.
Anonymous
No, the inclusion of transgenders hurts our cause and sets us back decades.
Anonymous
While technically more accurate and inclusive, it's not recognizable enough and would likely lessen any marketing/lobbying impacts.
Gordon
Historically, for centuries, "gay" in fact referred to male amative relationships, and was employed much earlier than the Nineteenth Century referent: "homosexual." Lesbians are not historically connected to being "gay" per se. Such female relationships were considered aberrations of the natural order since ancient times, which then solely approved of and encouraged male relationships.
Anonymous
people keep saying that as gay and lesbian people are so different from trans and bisexual people I find that not to be true. first of all opression is opression, so we as gays and lesbians have that common thread with bisexuals and transgender/transsexualls. in addition bisexuals can find themselves in same sex relationships, therefore can have some of the same issues as a gay or lesbian person. in addition, someone who is trans deviates from societies idea of sex and gender, as a pretty masculine lesbian I would say that i too deviate from societies gender roles, just not to the same degree, therefore don't some people share that too?
I prefer queer, but I would rather use LGBTQ then leave soeone out with gay and lesbian. in addition, I think you will find that more of the general public knows what that acronym stands for then people realize.
Anonymous
and by the way, bi and transgendered people don't make up 28% of the queer community -- this means there are a lot of allies who have figured things out.
Anonymous
of course the way we describe ourselves should include everyone. 2/3 of the people who read the advocate are very uneducated.
Anonymous
it is more inclusive, which some people may not like. I have a few trans. friends, so I prefer it.
Anonymous
Of course not. I am gay, I am a lesbian, I am a person. I am certainly not an abbreviation and should not use one to describe any aspect of my life and community.
Yvonne Neis
When talking about gay and lesbian people it would be standard to say that, but now events like pride encompass everyone so it is only appropriate to say LGBTQQIA.
John H. Embry
We need less replacement and more strengthening. Separating Lesbian from Gay was divisive. Now along comes "Queer" which is an 'in' thing, meaningless to anyone other than to bigots. Even more important, "straight" rather than "non-gay", like "queer" denotes "crooked" or "counterfeit."
Are we all masochists?
Including a bunch of initials brings in minorities within a minority. How queer do you want to be?
Anonymous
I can't keep up with all of the abbreviations...just last week our company was asked to start including "i" to the end of LGBTQ.
Help!
Riley
While it seems like a bit of alphabet soup, I much prefer “GLBTQ” because it’s inclusive whereas “gay and lesbian” doesn’t allow for such fluidity. There are many of us in the community who identify as queer, bi, or trans who are working actively on issues that are believed to be “gay and lesbian”. I’d rather leave the divisiveness to those external foes that would seek to demonize difference rather than personally practicing it in my community.
Riley
While it seems like a bit of alphabet soup, I much prefer “GLBTQ” because it’s inclusive whereas “gay and lesbian” doesn’t allow for such fluidity. There are many of us in the community who identify as queer, bi, or trans who are working actively on issues that are believed to be “gay and lesbian”. I’d rather leave the divisiveness to those external foes that would seek to demonize difference rather than personally practicing it in my community.
Thaddaeus Morelock
I think it all depends on the context, for instance, when I cam out to my family, I didn't say, "Mom, Dad I am LGBT." I said, "Mom, Dad I am gay." But I do think when we are talking about communities and such that the abbvreviations are good, but I also like the word "queer." I find that it is a very inclusive word, for anyone, espically those who do not want to define themselves in a hegemonic way.
Nicole Perez
I am deeply disturbed at the incredible ignorance that seems to plague many gay and lesbian communities. Comments such as "what have those trans and bi people ever done for us" are incredibly insulting and misguided. If these people had done thier homework, they would know that it was those very trans and gender-variant people (and queers of color) that kicked off the infamous Stonewall Rebellion which is hailed as the beginning of our modern gay rights movement. Have some respect people- this type of hypocrisy is appauling. Shame on you!
LGBTQ communities get enough heat and oppression from the mainstream and religious right, we do not need to be treating each other with such blatant disrespect (especially at a time like this). While of course there are many differences between us, it is vital that we such embrace difference and that we stand in solidarity with one another. We need to keep in mind that one person's oppression is everyone's oppression and that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
"He who allows oppression shares the crime."
I look forward to the final results of this survey.
Anonymous
As a gay man I have mixed feelings about being lumped into the same catagory as lesbians, bi-sexuals and transgendered people. I support their rights and their right to live their lives as they see fit but I do not necessarily feel a connection with them in many ways.
Becky Corran
Inclusivity is critical to our success in any progressive movement toward equality.
Charles S
Lets Just all be QUEERS its simple and that makes the message and the fight for equality easier to spread and move forward. I am Gay but I would describe myself as a Queer or member of the Queer Community as well. Ditcht the letters.
Mitch
Let's just keep it less confusing
for everyone, including ourselves.
If you keeping adding a letter for
every different type of orientation
you could end up with a lot letters.
Even if you are Bi or transgendered
you are still basically Gay or Lesbian, if not you probably feel you
are straight.
Anonymous
"GLBT" and "LGBT" each have four syllables.
"Gay and lesbian" has five syllables.
The abbreviation is more concise AND more inclusive. We should strive to include bi and trans people in our language.
Anonymous
"GLBT" and "LGBT" each have four syllables.
"Gay and lesbian" has five syllables.
The abbreviation is more concise AND more inclusive. We should strive to nclude bi and trans people in our language.
Anonymous
As a bisexual woman, I do feel excluded by the phrase "gay and lesbian". Bisexual people may become involved in same-sex relationships, and will face the same legal and social discrimination as gay people in same-sex relationships. The queer community should be more inclusive of bisexual and transgendered people!
Anonymous
What does this matter? In the medical field (in which I work), we abbreviate everything. I'm used to it. It's part of society. It makes no difference to me and to be quite honest, I didn't even know this was an issue.
Anonymous
The abbreviations include bi and trans people.
Ms. Andy Berkowitz
Although I do use the abbreviation of "LGBT" in conversions, I am not quite sure if it is necessary to "officially" replace the words gay and lesbian. I feel that everyone I talk to is aware of what I am saying, and whatever someone's orientation in our family might be, I think G & L encompasses our entire community. If any change in our description should be made, it just should be something simple, i.e.: "queers." Every person under our rainbow umbrella would be represented by the word queer, and it makes our speech much simpler.
Anonymous
Yes and No, we should include everyone in our community, so use the most inclusive one
Anonymous
Bisexual and trans people are still queer.
Scot Tanner
Gay and Lesbian refer to describing a person, where as GLBT refers to describing a community. I am gay and I am also a part of the GLBT community.
ktphelps
we should just be considered the RAINBOW COMMUNITY - from there groups can break it down anyway they feel.
we all want the same thing, to be ourselves; to love and be loved and not to be discriminated against. respect within our community for those different from ourselves is extremely important. together , we should be able to achieve rights and non-discrimination for all.
Anonymous
I think equal rights for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered are very important, but even more important is that we include everyone. Yes, we need to ban together for equality, but in order to get rights for everyone, we need to include everyone.
galen
no, in this day and age there are too many abbreviations. Sometimes an abbreviation is used just because someone is ashamed or afraid to say the whole word or group of words. It's just too easy to cop out with an abbreviation.
We need to be able to say all the words, and be proud to use them.
Anonymous
no, in this day and age there are too many abbreviations. Sometimes an abbreviation is used just because someone is ashamed or afraid to say the whole word or group of words. It's just too easy to cop out with an abbreviation.
We need to be able to say all the words, and be proud to use them.
LESTER LASA
IAM A GAY MAN I HAVE LESBIAN FRIENDS WHY TRY TO MAKE IT A CODE IAM PROUD AND IF OTHERS AREN'T LET THEM USE IT AMONG THEMSELVES LESTER LASA MIAMI FLORIDIA
Anonymous
Too complicated and abstract for general public.
Anonymous
Actually, "gay" should mean both "lesbians " and "catamites" :)
Buddy
I don't like being referred to as a letter ... or as part of a string of letters.
Anonymous
LGBT and all the other acronyms are used mainly for activism, lobbying and political purposes in addition being used as a label in news reports to identifying the gay & lesbian community to the world. But when we speak, we say "is he gay" or "is she lesbian" . It just doen't natually flow out " is he/she LGBT ? " And what is questioning anyways ? Are we bisexual and just afraid to use that term which has become somewhat of a negative to gays ?
Anonymous
It's more inclusive.
Will
There's an understandable urge toward *explicit* inclusion -- much like today's frequent use of 'he or she' rather than the pronoun 'he' in its generic sense, long understood in modern English grammar to encompass both men and women unless context required otherwise.
But this process often leads to extreme clumsiness of expression, as with 'GLBTQ' and other examples.
I think the term 'gay' should be understood generally to denote *all* people of supposedly 'nonstandard' sexual orientation unless there's a clear contextual need to discuss specific distinguishing characteristics among them.
Richard Hopper
When I was growing up, 1930s, 40s, 50s, queer was a derogatory term. When gay replaced queer, many thought of it as a positive term. Don't get rid of it.
Trent
The biphobia and transphobia espoused on this poll alone is frankly enough of a reason.
Adam A Karu
WHY? IF YOU CAN WRITE D.C. or NY..
Anonymous
Of course not. Ridiculous.
Anonymous
Don't be silly.
Queer is a good alternative, gender neutral, umbrella term.
Scot Spitzner
LGBT and GLBT are stupid. It's awkward and can't be used in a sounbite. it's a form of self marginalization that effectively make gays seem obscure and supercilious.
Anonymous
The problem is that everyone wants to become a part of the acronym so eventually you have a GLBTQIAA...XYZ that goes on forever.
Steven Pope
We have UNITY in the phrase GAY---take it from us and we as a community are all divided once again; consequently, isn't this what opposing heterosexuals want from us--our diviseness? Why allow them to win? I'm GAY and equally as proud of the word as I am the sexuality is describes!
Steven Smith
As much as the community wishes to be inclusive, Gay and Lesbian are quite distinct from Bisexual and Transgender. I'm not advocating discrimination, but I'm not a big fan of unwarranted grouping either.
Steven Smith
As much as the community wishes to be inclusive, Gay and Lesbian are quite distinct from Bisexual and Transgender. I'm not advocating discrimination, but I'm not a big fan of unwarranted grouping either.
Steve J.
No non-gay person knows or cares what LGBT or GLBTQ might mean. The use of such obtruse abbreviations are immediately interpreted as leftwing political correctness run amuck.
Anonymous
No, it includes transgenders... people who are not gay or lesbian and should not benefit from our fight and funds.
David La Fontaine
Annoying but yes.
Dan Billingsley
Being a young activist, I tend to prefer LGBT or even "queer," but gay and lesbian still encompasses so much that it is useful today. I don't know if it's a huge issue, but as a journalist, it's becoming a sticky point -- especially in articles when referring to our community.
Jack
I know that "gay" and "lesbian" is still not politically correct, but it is a lot better than a tongue twister like LGBT, or GLBTQ. I hate saying GLBTQ, and I hate reading it. Unless someone else has a better idea, I say we use "gay" and "lesbian".
John
The old saying that the problem with labels, is that you are grouped with a lot of others with whom you have little in common, does apply here. First & foremost, I'm a gay male & politically I identify with other gay males. My sexual orientation is towards members of the same sex, therefore I also can relate to our lesbian sisters.
I wish all the transgenders/transvestites well in their search for equality, but I cannot relate to their issues. I think that we gay men & lesbian women would be strategically better positioned to assist other minority groups, once we have achieved acceptance for ourselves.
Charles Etheridge
Since GLBT is seeing so much use lately, we might as well go that route, even though it is a bit awkward when using it verbally. I don't see that one is more prejudicial than the other, and I wouldn't be offended by the useof either.
Stephanie Cox
Including my bi and trans brothers and sisters is as important to me as including my gay male counterparts. No matter how we ourselves attempt to exclude those not exactly like us, the fundamentalist right views us as one large group of deviants, so we may as well use it to our advantage. Those who believe that excluding transfolk will buy them credibility in the straight world would benefit from reading up on the herstory of straight, white feminists who learned from those mistakes already.
Anonymous
Abbreviations like LGBT and GLBTQ are vague and confusing to the average person. However, they are less assuming than phrases like Gay and Lesbian. What's in a name--term? Everything. How we want to be seen by others directly relates to the language we use.
Anonymous
Generally, I have always thought that people that answere "undecided" in a internet or telephone poll needed to get a life. However, this question is one I really think is irrelevant.
Kathy
I use LGBT and gay/lesbian interchangeably depending on my audience. If I'm with a group of lesbians, I'm more specific, but if I'm addressing a group of mixed folk, I try to be more inclusive by using LGBT. I don't agree that it should be an either or thing. Each word is useful in its rightful context.
I also use LGBT as a code word when I am trying to communicate with my partner or my gay friends in a hetero setting. Most straight people have no clue what LGBT stands for or means, so it's good way to stay undercover:), especially if you find yourself in a potentially hostile setting (e.g. in a shopping mall or restaurant in rural parts of the country).
One Gay Community
Gay does not mean exclusively male. There are gay men and gay women and gay men that have sex with men and women and gay women that have sex with both men and women. Lesbian excludes all men; there may be gay men who act like lesbians but there are no males lesbians. Bisexual exludes those who do not have sex with both sexes. Homosexual sounds so clinical and seems to exclude the bi crowd. Gay seems to be the most inclusive term of all.
Gay/Queer/Faggot
During my early teens, I had sex with five other boys. In high school & through college, I had sex exclusively with females. Then I was fortunate to meet the first of many adult gay men. Does having had sex with both male and female make me bi. In the only opinion that counts, MINE, I AM GAY. Call me gay, call me queer, call me faggot, I'm cool. Don't ever call me bi. Bisexuals are too damn touchy, complaining about being misunderstood, excluded. If they'd lighten up, maybe someone would take them seriously.
Sean Drumm
I think the constant "labelling" and then "re-labelling" is one of the things that weaken the gay and Lesbian (or LGBT) community. No one wants to be a part of an acronym. I think that with such an array of "labels" (and yes, i think "queer" for sake of not wanting to be labelled is also a label) potential allies who don't know the lingo can be put off and feel that they are on shakey ground. To someone who doesn't understand the acronyms GLBTQ doesn't sound all that different from NAMBLA.
Anonymous
Not unless you know how to say it in conversation. How would one pronounce "LGBT" without spelling it out? "Ligibit"?
Billy N SF
I think we (individuals and organizations) should use whatever is comfortable for them and their context. Discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity is not happening because we as a community have alphabet soup for a name, we are discriminated against because of who and how we love as well as for not conforming to socialtal gender norms. For those who have difficulty with the transgender community just know that sexism/genderism is THE WEAPON of homophobia. We can't be free until all of us are free--uncomfortable as that may make some. Welcome to the struggle.
Anonymous
As a 34 woman married to a lesbian, I feel more comfortable with the abbreviation LGBT. I have identified as bi-sexual since age 18, in sexual nature and christian lifestyles.
Anonymous
I'm kind of split on this one. Because it makes Gay's and Lesbians sound better as a word. But at the same time it also kind of makes it look like that being gay and lesbian isn't hard and that anyone can do it.
Alisha
For the simple fact that a lot of L&G dealt with the opposite sex in a relationship before they came out as Gay or Lesbian. Why not include Bi or Trans to the fight for equality. We are here and many of us hide within the G&L community. I know I did for a while until I saw the prejudice that Gays and Lesbians alike have towards Trans and Bi's. Isn't it ironic how L&G can be so judgemental towards us when we are in the same place they were 10 years ago. Lets be serious the torment that we all get as LGBT, we should come together instead of being bias. This makes me look at L&G just as a straight person, ignorant. To me a lot of Gays and Lesbians are just as bad now that they went through the fight. They now forget what they went through and jugde us just how they were judged, and it really wasn't that long ago.
Elad
Well...
Given the fact that "Gay and Lesbian" includes only gays and lesbians, I see no other option...
Elad,
Bisexual activist,
Israel.
Keith
To comment on the postings I've seen thus far...
It seems there are a variety of rifts here, all valid but not all sound. First there is the dichotmy of marginalization. People, on one hand, hate to be marginalized. "Who would want to be singled out from the pack as something different? Let's use the word queer," these people say.
On the other hand, people adore being marginalized. "I'm different. I go against the norm. Let me be called gay, lesbian or polka-dotted."
This is a tough issue because it's not an "us vs. them" thing. It's not that there is one side that wants to be included and one side that wants to be marganilized. We all have conflicting feelings. We all want to be accepted, but we all want to be unique.
So maybe the best way to solve this problem is to let anyone call themselves whatever they wish and allow them to move freely from one term to the next on a whim without stigmatization. Today I'm gay, tomorrow I'm queer. Personal choice.
Anonymous
Sure - just figure out how to pronounce it!
Anonymous
I only say yes because I loathe the terms gay and lesbian. It's just as devisive as black and white. I'm not an advocate of the belief that sexuality is fluid for everyone, but I do believe that there is too much baggage that comes along with words like gay, lesbian and straight. Categories are for Jeopardy, not for people.
Straights, gays, bisexuals, transgendered...we're all human, and we're all queer.
Michele B Kaufman
LGBT is preferred because it encompasses the entire movement... not just gay and lesbian but it include bisexual and transgendered people too.
Chris
The acronyms are ridiculous. How can our communities gain greater respect and tolerance when we self-identify as something akin to a luncheon sandwich. The very definition of "diverse" is something not easily grouped.... let's find a few easy words to refer to that diversity. Not some crazy jumble of letters that will start to look like nonsense with each "group" that insists it be included seperately.
Chris
The acronyms are ridiculous. How can our communities gain greater respect and tolerance when we self-identify as something akin to a luncheon sandwich. The very definition of "diverse" is something not easily grouped.... let's find a few easy words to refer to that diversity. Not some crazy jumble of letters that will start to look like nonsense with each "group" that insists it be included seperately.
BiParadise.com
the phrase "gay and lesbian" is non-inclusive... if either gender homosexuals would both relate to the term "gay" then that would suffice, a lesbian needs not be called a lesbian for someone to know she is a woman. She is a "gay" woman, just as a gay man is a gay man. Though, BiSexuals and Trans may not fall so neatly under the umbrella statement "gay", so, since "QUEER" is being elevated to an exceptable level... and since it means "Different from the normal", I say that Queer becomes the new all encompassing word and all embrace it! Even the Moral Majority would love that they could with a good conscience continue saying Queer. It is win/win/win in my oppinion.
Brent
Only if you're talking about our community at large. If you're referring to gays, use "gay". If you're referring to lesbians, use "lesbian". It's a no-brainer.
Anonymous
I think the abbreviations are confusing. We need one word to include all orientations. The best I can think of from all the current choices is "queer" or "gay". Or, even better, just have society be open enough that each person picks the word they like to identify themselves... and for organizations / advocacy that covers all these groups, say something like "all people, regardless of sexual identity".
Chelle
If we want diversity and inclusion, we must start with ourselves and embrace every part of us.
Suzanne
In response to those peoples negative comments about using the abbreviation, I guess being gay or lesbian doesn't stop you from being stupid.
Anonymous
I am a bisexual man and one thing that gays and lesbians HAVE to agree with me on is that we ALL enjoy same sex sexual activities. I read a comment which said bi people don't support gay and lesbians. That person must live under a rock. Look at the bi people in gay pride parades. I have never harbored any ill will towards gays and lesbians because it would make me a hypocrite. I know I'm not the only bisexual who thinks that way.
Also, it bothers me when gays or lesbians claim we don't exist. Maybe a few, very few, are gay but don't want to admit it. I think I can speak for all bi people when I say we ARE bisexual because women and men both turn us on sexually. A gay man who commented here said being bi is a choice we made. Any gay or lesbian who says that is a hypocrite. People who are trying to ban gay marriage, which bi people support, say it is a choice. A straight man gets it up for a woman but can't for a man. A gay man gets it up for a man but can't for a woman. A man who gets it up for a man or a woman is turned on by both and is bisexual. None of the three of us chose to be the way we are. To exclude bisexuals is hypocracy, we support you, why can't you support us.
Finally, as Ben Franklin said "We must all hang together, for most assuredly we shall all hang seperately."
bisexual BTLG activist
I think that the results of this poll, currently overwhelmingly against the recognition of bi and transfolk in the community, reflect a failure on the part of the Advocate and other gay media to adequately represent B, T and other gender and sexual variant people's activism and identity. Based on many of the comments here, most people are not aware of what it means to be trans (trans people are not straight, they can still have partners of same or other genders) or that trans people and bis were and are very active in the BTLG movement. Better reporting and discourse by the Advocate and others would help its readers be more aware and fair and stop saying all this sexist biphobic and transphobic crap.
Kent H.
I'm not saying exclude anyone. I just think we can all be included in one simple word! Like 'gay' for instance.
Kent H.
What a bunch of crap! To me, gay or queer is all inclusive. I can't stand the way the community fights over terminology, or whether the G goes before the L or the B. The alphabet thing is just too much. How do you work it into a conversation? "My friend the BLTGTQI said the other day...". It's ridiculous. Let's find more important stuff to worry about, like AIDS, the war, the economy, etc.
Ant
Yes, obviously, if you actually care about sexual and gender diversity, as I do. Why respond to being excluded from mainstream society by turning around and excluding others?
sarah
god i feel so marginalized by monosexual homos. language is so important. they would take bisexuals much more seriously if we made little changes in things like language.
what would be totally kick ass would be to make it fuckin TBLGQ. get the gay men to the back. i'm sorry, but the patriarchy in the queer community feels like such a betrayal.
Anonymous
The words: queer, dyke, fag, etc, are slur words. The only people who use them are bigots and gay people who have no self esteem and have anger issues. Dignity is the word here. The editor of this magazine is one of the champions of the word "queer". Where did this loser come from? And why do gay Americans have to put up with him insulting us?
Anonymous
The words: queer, dyke, fag, etc, are slur words. The only people who use them are bigots and gay people who have no self esteem and have anger issues. Dignity is the word here. The editor of this magazine is one of the champions of the word "queer". Where did this loser come from? And why do gay Americans have to put up with him insulting us?
Anonymous
Can't we just use something short, sweet and all inclusive, like "queer"?
Anonymous
Those abbreviations can be confusing, especially to those outside of the gay community. If one is writing/speaking of a transgender issue, just say it.
Damon Moss
Call us whatever you want, but we as a community should retain the right to call ourselves whatever we want to be called. I refer to myself as Gay, but hate being called Queer. I don't have a problem with someone else identifying with that word, but it's just not me. Personally, I don't like LGBT because I find it difficult to say in conversation or type in an email, but that's my preference, which is exactly the point.
Jamie
When we're talking about the "community" as a whole, using LGBTQ makes sense. If your organization is only gay and lesbian (and don't assume that the bisexuals are "really" gay, please!) then sure, go ahead and use "gay and lesbian." But be aware that by using that terminology, you're going to make a certain segment of the queer community feel like they are not invited. If you're trying to make us feel welcome, that's not going to do it.
On the other hand, if your group really *is* unwelcoming of those who are bi or trans, then please DON'T add our letters. This also applies to organizations that put "I" at the end of the acronym -- if you don't know anything about intersex issues and can offer nothing to help intersex people, it's a meaningless gesture.
Finally, I want to add that "LGBT" is NOT an identity label that replaces gay/lesbian. No one is contesting your right to call yourself gay or lesbian. We're just saying there are many of us in this community (and have been since the first gay organizations were started) who are not and do not wish to have our identities erased either.
Amy
I don't see how acknowledging that bi and trans people exist is detrimental to gays and lesbians. It's not like pride is a "zero-sum game". Or for that matter, discrimination. I do think "Minorities of Sexual Orientation" sounds more sympathetic than a string of letters(although considering that in cultures where bisexuality is accepted it skyrockets so much it might actually be the "silent majority", but that's another debate).
Megan M.
Oppression on the basis of sexual orientation, sexual identity, or gender identity is inter-connected and hurtful to all.
By only recognising the 'gay and lesbian' community, numerous individuals (such as bisexual, transgendered, queer, and intersex folks) are further oppressed. For example, some straight people often label bisexual, trans, queer, and intersex folks as being 'gay and lesbian', hence not recognising their actual identity.
The LGBTQI community can (and should) thrive on its inclusive nature. This inclusivity should reach across race and class lines as well.
Inclusivity is not really about people's emotions and well-being, although such topics are important. Inclusivity, and the term 'LGBTQI', is about defying patriarchy and heterosexist oppression.
Thanks for your time.
Boss
Using a 4- or 5-syallable word to replace "gay" is way way overkill.
Randall Perry
I don't want to be known by an acronym, especially one that gets longer seemingly with each passing week. The other day I saw "LBGTTQQ2I?" (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/transexual, queer/queer-positive, two-spirited, intersexed, questioning). There are times when inclusion gets in the way of clarity. Gay is fine by me. So is queer.
Kent
I find it harder to read and process. It's much easier to hear the one word and identify it in my brain than it is the acronym. It's the same reason that lawmakers come up with short, memorable names for their laws. Think about what the acronym was for the death tax before it became known as the death tax and then tell me it's not easier to process with the name. I realize that it may not be politically correct to use anything other than LGBT but I find that political correctness is more devisive than being politically incorrect. It may hurt some people a little more but in the long run it puts everyone on the same level and isn't that what we spend so much time fighting for?
Michael Vazzano
Although there should be something to replace gay and lesbian that describes all of us, I am not too crazy about using abbreviations like LGBT and GLBTQ. One word uniting everyone would work for me. Now, what would that word be?
Anonymous
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals are all impacted negatively by heterocentric norms around sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. All for one and one for all I say...we are stronger together.
Anonymous
we need to include everyone in our community
Anonymous
While I have no desire to de-value those persons who are gay and lesbian, as a bi male, I'm tired of being a second class citizen. Changing terminology may not eliminate some of the rude and intolerant comments I've heard over the years, but it may be a place to start.
Luigi Ferrer, President BiNet USA
Gay & Lesbian should not be used as shorthand for the LGBT community. This is offensive and insulting to and perpetuates the oppression of the thousands of bi & trans members of our community.
Anonymous
Well - I suppose if you're only referring to gay and lesbian people, then don't replace the phrase "gay and lesbian" - but if the question is not about phrasing as much as it is about our self-identification as a community, then yes already! While sexual orientation and gender identity are different things, they are both about a more complex and inclusive way of thinking about gender and sexuality. When I'm discriminated against because I'm a lesbian, it's not just because I am sexually attracted to women. It's also because as a woman, I'm supposed to conform to my "traditional" gender role, which includes exclusively lusting after men. There's no room for biphobia and transphobia in a world where all of our human rights are respected. As queer/LGBT people, I would think we would carry the banner for debunking the myth that we all have to fit into either/or categories. Our flag is a rainbow, not a checkerboard.
EjV
I am voting YES because we need more inclusion in queer communities and politics. I do not believe that LGBT should completely replace the labels it includes, as no term that can aid a person who is fighting heterosexist assumption with self-identification should be invalid. However, I must also say that, looking for resources as a bisexual, and consistently finding titles and language that do not include who I am, and also exclude members of the gender queer communitie(s), I feel that the more we use this acronym, the better off we are - until people figure out that inclusion is the only way to ever alter our societies normative and prejudicial standards. There is enough hatred and division already.
Anonymous
Identity issues are complicated. Yet, what all members of various sexual and gender identities need to recognize is that there is a correlation of discrimination based on both gender and sexual identity. Individuals who self-identify as gay or lesbian are discriminated against BECAUSE of their biological sex/gender...because society assumes that an M should be with an F. Not M/M or F/F....so the discrimination is not solely based on sexuality but also their gender. It is maddening to see other G/L individuals discriminate against B or T individuals. Each of us needs to educate ourselves first so we can educate others. Inclusiveness is imperative, and there's strength in numbers. Why not show a collective front??
Anonymous
Why do we need more labels? If you're a male and you have sex with men, you're gay. If you're a female and you have sex with females, you're lesbian. Those two terms pretty much sum it up. (I've never actually met a "REAL bisexual" ... only gay guys who didnt' want to use the word "gay" or else had sex with a female once, ten years ago, when they were a teenager, and STILL claim that experience as justification for why they're not actually gay!) Whatever...you're gay, and it's cool. You can relax now.
I would hate to be lumped into some GLBTQ category since I don't relate to Bisexuals, Transgendered, or "Questioning" people. I'm not bisexual, transgendered, or "questioning" (what a TOTAL copout that one is!) I'm a man who has sex with men...That means I'm gay. It's short, simple, and everyone can understand it.
Cindy
Use of the phrase gay and lesbian effectively excludes many members of the non-straight population, including bisexual and transgender people as well as gays and lesbians who simply prefer other labels (queer, dyke, boi, etc.)
Nymor
There are more sexualities in heaven and earth than are dreamt of by the phrase "gay and lesbian." I don't care if you don't like bisexuals or transsexuals or homosexuals or anykindofsexuals, they still exist, and they need to be included.
Wayne Hill
I belong to a group that, when it was formed, tried to avoid the Alphabet Soup system by just using "Queer"...and all hell broke loose. There were anough individuals who were old enough to remember that as the "N-word" of the Gay Community, so we had to yield to the alphabet after all.
Eric
I really appreciate the fact that acronyms like "LGBT" or "GLBTQQI" try to be as inclusive as possible, but I think that a series of letters dilutes what we're all about. Words have a greater sense of meaning than a random list of capital letters. I would actually prefer "sexual minorities" over non-inclusive terms like "gay or lesbian" or riskier words like "queer," which is still too baggage-laden in many places to effectively communicate who we are.
Anonymous
Let's be more inclusive, please.
David McKinnon
I believe there is still enough general confusion with the public at large so that specific wording such as 'gay" or "lesbian is not only needed, it is justified. I believe that at this time, use of the words remains a sign of being Out And Proud.
Clint Wiater, Green Bay Wi
The phrase "gay and lesbian" is too exclusive. Bisexuals, transgendered and those who call themselves queer, are all a part of our community.
Clint Wiater, Green Bay Wi
The phrase "gay and lesbian" is too exclusive. Bisexuals, transgendered and those who call themselves queer, are all a part of our community.
Clint Wiater, Green Bay Wi
The phrase "gay and lesbian" is too exclusive. Bisexuals, transgendered and those who call themselves queer, are all a part of our community.
Anonymous
I think gay and lesbian should be replaced as should LGBT and/or GLBTQ with queer. Why? Queer encompasses everyone who is non hetero.
Nathan
yes, the abbreviation GLBTQ shows all the orenitations thet the scoicty descriminated agenst ans it is more diverce, of u just say "gay and lesbian" then you are picking just 2 groups of people. as GLBTQ has all the groups in 'gay' communities. witch just doesn't have gays it has gays, lesbian, bisexual, transgends (mtf and ftm) and even people who dont know who they are (Questioning). besically that im saying is that GLBTQ is more diverse and we should NOT discriminate.
Anonymous
Please don't slap a letter on me, the right wing loves it--similar to the same way symbols were slapped on people entering death camps. Don't make me want to run from being a proud lesbian by making me cover it up with jumbled letters. I am NOT those letters.
TacomaJade
I am bisexual and very active politically on behalf of the LGBTQ community. I do battle for our community. I participate in letter writing campaigns, monetary protests, and also vote for equality for our entire LGBTQ community. I also put my money where my mouth is and use the local Alternative Yellow pages for the gay community when I hire services. I am sad to read comments that wish to exclude me from the community, that declare I choose my orientation, that I am not working for equal rights, or that I do nothing for the community. I don't exclude any segment of our LGBTQ population. Please do not exclude me from a community I am proud to belong to and support. I'm queer!I'm here! And I work for and support all LGBTQ people!
Meg
I just have to say that I am extremely disappointed that anyone is having a vote on this. Although I am bi, I automatically take to heart anything said about "gay and lesbian" *or* GLBT. It doesn't matter what the phrase is, it matters what's being said before and after that counts.
John T. Anderson
Only if we use something truly inclusive like G-L-B-Pre-OpT-Post-OpT-Q-QS-TS-PAM-DL-Bst-C-SA. Surely we wouldn't want to seem to exclude the (QS) Questioning, or the (TS) or Try-sexuals who will try anything, or the (PAM) polyamorous, or the (DL) for those on the down low, or the, heaven forbid, (Bst) for those who like animals, or the (C) who are somehow queer but prefer to remain celibate, or the (SA) for solo artists... god forbid I've forgotten anyone. Isn't it time we put aside our fragile and monumental egos and stop carrying political correctness to the point of stupidity and start coming together as ONE community. It is time we take the sting of shame out of our lives and out of what we call ourselves. If we call ourselves Faggots or Queers or whatever, say it (scream it) proudly. Take a lesson from our enemies; UNITY WORKS.
Jonathan
I don't feel we should replace gay or lesbian with acronyms because they describe the group as a whole and not my preference specifically. I think they work great when talking about the whole family but they shouldn't replace anything.
Anonymous
it is unfair to all communities to just lump individuals into an acronym. the rights and prejudices facing gays and lesbians are also very different from those that bisexual and transgender students may face and putting them all together in a tidy little package will not change this ... we need to acknowledge them as the individuals they are
Amy A.
Bisexual & transgender people are part of the struggle and despite what others think we DO stand up for gay & lesbian rights as well as our own. For every bi or trans person who isn't active in the fight for GLBTQ rights I'd be willing to bet there's an equal amount of gays and lesbians who aren't politically active. Stereotyping people based on identity or orientation doesn't help anyone. I am a married, monogymous bisexual woman who stands up for the rights of all people, especially GLBTQ rights. Will you return the favor or will you stereotype me as a promiscuous, indecisive, not politically active bisexual?
alzee
I hate all this ELITIST PC CRAP!!!!
Anonymous
It is unimaginable to me that people think these are different battles! IT IS THE SAME BATTLE AGAINST THE SAME PEOPLE! Have you all for gotten Pastor Martin Niemoller's Holocaust quote? If so here is a reminder:
"In Germany they first came for the Communists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a protestant. Then they came for me-and by that time, no one was left to speak up."
For those that feel being trans or bisexual has no link to the gay and lesbian fight, who is going to speak up for you if you wont speak up for others?
Steve
The words gay and lesbian have grown to almost stereotype people into a nitch or a label. I have always felt that the word gay has a negative meaning or action associated with it. Most straight people think that the word gay is always about sex. Our community needs to move away from the only sex label to a more neutral word.
Anonymous
I am so tired of hearing responses that begin " I am a bi-sexual woman"! CHOOSE. You certainly have the ability to live in both worlds where I cannot. Your sexuality, by virtue of the phrase "I am Bi-Sexual" screams Preference, not Orientation. You are only discriminated against because you are continually up in the air with your sexual preference. If I heard, "I am a Gay man" or "I am a Lesbian", then I could understand the frustration with bigotry from the straight world, bi-sexuals on the other hand seem to have their cake and are eating it too!
Carlos Michael
Gay is good. It denotes "happiness" If we cannot be happy with who we are; Americans with a twist of lemon -- then maybe we should just stay in the closet and be the olive at the bottom of the glass. I love being a bottom, but I prefer hanging at the top. Gay works for me!
Peter Rivendell
Personally, although I am committed to issues such as LGBT rights, I do not want to be lumped into some amorphous group identity of people with 'other' sexualities.
I`m gay, and have as little in common with lesbians, bisexuals and the transgendered as I have in common
Avocado
Yes although I'm really not that bothered. Us bisexuals are shunned so much by the gay and straight communities, I feel we should concentrate on our own movement rather than trying to be involved in movements which will still leave us open to prejedice.
Anonymous
People who identify as gay or lesbian are only a part of our community and a label such as "gay and lesbian" allows us to forget that they also belong. However, "LGBT" and "GLBTQ" are still not inclusive enough. How about "GLBTIQQTS" - Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersexed, Queer, Questioning, Two-Spirited? Or, maybe it's time for us to devise one umbrella term for all of us. The fact is that we're all on the outside looking in.
Andrea
One does not replace the other. They refer to different things. Gay and lesbian means gay and lesbian. Gay and lesbian doesn't include bisexuals (like myself), trans people, intersex people, genderqueers and many other groups that simply aren't gay or lesbian, but who share community space with gays and lesbians and whose concerns overlap with those of gays and lesbians. If we're only talking about people who are actually gay and lesbian, of course let's not add in a bunch of extra letters. If, on the other hand, we are talking about a wider spectrum of people, then let's use the appropriate words for all of them, and abbreviate them to BLGTQ or whatever else is accurate in a given context. And let's do it without tokenism or other empty attempts at political correctness. The letters don't mean much if they aren't backed up with inclusiveness in practice. But as for usage - it's really just a question of accuracy.
Anonymous
As a bisexual male I think that it is only fair and proper to add bisexuals into the mix. I can't think of a more inclusive way of doing that than referring to the community as GLBT.
LGP
We of all people, as people of minority sexualities, should understand the pain of being discriminated against and left out. Lets not not limit our own acceptance as we try to move the world to let go of its limits of acceptance.
Anonymous
LGBTQISFUCKEDUP.
Anonymous
Seriously, who cares? we know who we are.....
Anonymous
Seriously, who cares? we know who we are.....
Anonymous
NO - we can't even decide if it's GLBT or LGBT or GLBTQ or LGBTQ, so how can we expect everyone to get it straight (no pun intended).
I guess I'm from the old school that thought that Gay covered it all - until the sepratists decided it didn't.....
Josh
These have different uses in different places of speech.
Kevin Olomon
I would type more than ten words if this mattered.
anne
limiting the spectrum of sexuality and gender identity to "gay and lesbian" is terribly exclusionary, and promotes the same sort of hate that permeates our society against lgbtq individuals.
Anonymous
I think that we need to stick together as a community. By separating within the community, I think we are doing more harm than good. Yes, there is a difference between being gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender...but I think we need to focus on what unites us... living a life that is not the "standard," sexually, and the set of challenges that go along with that.
RAINBOW_PARACHUTE
Oh another thing, about the issue of being gay, les, trans, bi, whatever you may be...that's all due to science. I strongly believe that *genetics, environmental influences & biology* play major roles in making up our given *orientation*. Here are my hypotheses...
(1) the more children your parents have, the more likely 1 of the kids will turn gay/les/bi/trans...etc. (excellent example, me! Im the middle child of 5 kids, Im the 2nd female born)
(2) genetic predisposition- that's part of hypo #1. The sex-linked genes might mutate into the gay gene, lol!!
(3) hormonal predisposition- you produce more estrogen, ergo you become a drag queen or produce more testosterone, thus makes you SUPER-BULLDYKE..lmao!
(4) the Gay Womb- what your mom did while pregnant with you
(5) Bio/Physiological- you're a woman trapped in a man's body, vice-versa. Not electro-shock therapy, not hypnosis, not even Richard Simmons can change your mind about a sex-change.
LESSON OF THE DAY: LISTEN TO YOUR HEART & SOUL & ALL ELSE WILL FOLLOW
RAINBOW_UMBRELLA
from the way Im seeing it, most everyone that are outraged about this are bisexuals & the bi-haters. This is my opinion of bi's- (1) they're queer in the sense that they like both sex, one foot on each world (str8 & gay), so technically, they are a minority within this "queer" community, ergo, qualifies as "queer". (2) the way I see it is, as long as you like the same sex or both sex, you're "queer" enough. Im a lesbian & Im not a bi-hater, I finally understand why they say "they like both sex". Hey, if you find pleasurable sex with both, more power to you. Nothing wrong with liking both sex, we're only humans & this whole hypercritical, "not gay enough" mambo-jambo are just nonsense & waste of energy, accept it, respect it & move on. That's the beauty of diversity, we're all under this big rainbow umbrella.
Anonymous
not much in favor of labels, and voted undecided for that reason; I AM BISEXUAL, HAVE BEEN SINCE A TEENAGER, AND DO NOT CARE FOR ANY OTHER LABEL THAT OTHERWISE CLOUDS THE ISSUE. if straights,gays, and lesbians can have a name, so can the others, and not have it lost in an anacronym(sp?) that supports no one in particular!
John L Turner MD
The more I think about this question, the more my answer is NO. Chopping, dicing, splitting, pulverizing, dividing, and on and on just are not helpful in approaching problems (or solutions) or anything else about human interactions, one with another or with many. From the points of view of living (planet, country, neighborhood, family), sociological research or applications, medical understanding or treatment, or any of thousands of other topics, adding letters to GLBTQUNM (the additions are Undecided, None, Maybe) don't improve anything. Excellent arguments have already been made for this in many ways. This is NO.
Yvonne
I am bisexual. It is not a choice. I am often besmerched by both hetero's and gays. I think we need to educate, educate. We need to form an alliance and stand togther for our rights against all discrimination.
Anonymous
We use all these phrases and the words "queer" and "dyke" all the time to describe our special sorts of community. No one term will ever capture it all.
Anonymous
Absolutely!
Reed Braden
I organise my school's GSA, and abbreviations make life easier for everyone. In order to represent everyone equally, I can't say Gay and leave the others out. It gets really taxing on both the writer and the reader to write out "gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people" every time.
What's next? Do I have to write "gay, lesbian, bisexual, transexual, transvestite, pre-op, queer, hermaphrodite, and whatever else?" No thanks. It's like the 'differently abled' debacle... should we lump it all into "differently gendered?" Do you see how rediculous this political correctness crap is?
Maybe we shouldn't say LGBT, but I have no qualm writing it.
r.curtis
gay men, gay women, gay transgendered, gay if you are with same sex straight if your with opposite. Us old folks worked hard for "gay" unified word for a unified people. Can't we keep it simple. Out-side our world they call us all just "gay" we fought for it we're gay and should proud , look it up in the dictionary be gay and happy and keep fighting for our rights. I'm 74 and proud to be just "GAY
Pippin Fowler
'gay' and 'lesbian' may be on the way out, but replacing 'gay and lesbian' with a string of impersonal initialism is not the way to go. Gays and lesbians are people, but 'LGBT' is a statistic or demographic--a thing--and wouldn't those who oppress us love it, if we willingly renamed ourselves as an impersonal clump that is more easily despised?
Anonymous
Identity politics is boring!
Anonymous
Identity politics is boring!
Drew
I don't really understand why this question is being phrased as such as it is worded to provoke a debate that works only to divide and conquer. Though often times the gender identity issues surrounding genderqueer/trans/intersex individuals are different from those facing lesbian and gay men, adverse social and political issues affect us all. Just because I now identify as FTM does not erase the 11+ years I spent in the lesbian community. I am as invested in GLBTQ issues as I ever was. Additionally, GLBTQIA is a phrase that relies on identity labels. As long as people continue to grow and change, identity labels will need to grown and change as well. Ideally we shouldn't have to rely on labels at all (as they are limiting) the material conditions exist that necessitate us to organize around them. So...hopefully we can stop asking stupid poll questions like this and get some real work done-together.
Anonymous
I can find no sensible reason we can't all join hands under the rubric Gay.
LL
a lesbian
Steven
We’re all perceived to be cut from the same cloth by the larger, heterocentric, anti-gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender community. All of our struggles, and those of communities of color, are intrinsically tied together into a web of common destiny. MLK was right when he said that injustice against one is injustice against all. Misogyny, anti-Semitism, racism, homophobia, and all of the other “-isms” that plague our society travel hand-in-hand. We can’t fix one without fixing them all – and why would we want to fix just one of them without trying to fix them all? That’s why I use LGBT or, better yet - LGBTIQQA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, and Allies)!
Anonymous
Are we also going to add CS, SC, SBTGSOAIWFMTIABIFSG...
(Confused Straight, Straight Curious, Straight But Tried Gay Sex Once And It Was Fun Might Try It Again But I Feel So Guilty), etc. ????
Steph
There are too many acronyms already!
Denise
I am soo tired of naming every single group -fringe or not that tags along with us.
I don't like the lumping together of different sexual orientations.
My sexual orientation as a lesbian has as much in common as a straight person has with an intersex or trannie or questioning individual.
Be gay be happy
Chloe
I am a bisexual female and I don't think we should have the abbv. of LGBT or GLBTQ instead of gay and lesbian because the LGBT and GLBTQ has too many possibilities and if people use the abbv's then some people will question what the person is talking about: Transgender, Questioning/Queer, Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay. It also seems to put everyone into the same group and their are different names for different reasons.
Julie
...yes, of course..
.because the term LGBT is more progessive and inclusive of all of us who identify as alternate to 'straight' sexual orientation.
for those who dont know what LGBT stands for...it is:- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans.
forgive my ingnorance in not knowing what the Q stands for though... please enlighten me.
Brian
It's important to say the words out loud... abbreviating them to a clean little letter among 4, 5, or 6 others makes it almost meaningless to anyone other than ourselves. Besides... how many other letters are we going to have to add to that list of self-identifications? There comes a point where our message is lost once it becomes evident that we've lost our identity and focus.
mari
bi and trans and intersex people can greatly benefit from the progress already made by the gay and lesbian movement, and we all need this kind of progress. The mission is the same, even though some of the issues are separate. It would be cruel to ignore the rest of us when we play such an integral role to supporting each other.
Torey Bookstein
Unless, of course, you are discussing issues that only affect Lesbians and Gay people. But since it seems that issues that affect *those* people also usually affect people like *me* (bi), Trans people, Intersex people, people who prefer to identify as queer (and people who hate "queer"), and people who are still questioning their sexuality, LGBT is already a step in the right direction. Many people prefer LGBTI, LGBTQQIA, etc., but the longer the acronym gets, the more resistance we face, so...baby steps are Ok with me. But if you're talking about me, please include the B. And so on.
ric
For many years now, many have realized that sexuality and sexual orientation are MUCH more fluid than simply Gay/Straight - the bisexual experience is EVERY bit as natural and part of non-hetero as our Gay and Lesbian sisters and brothers - bisexual folks have had to be invisible within the community for way too long.
As for trans folks, let's not forget the courage that cross-dressers and drag-queens have shown on the front lines of our liberation battles - remember who the Stonewall queers were led by? working class young trans folk!!
Anonymous
Gay doesn't mean Male Homosexual. Why can't we redefine the word "GAY" to be all inclusive? It'll be much easier on anyone.
Gay=not straight... so much easier.
Michael Rankins
At least in certain circumstances, GLBTQ should be used to demonstrate inclusivity of all non-heterosexual persons AND those who are transgender. We can't play some game of "King of the Mountain" when it comes to civil rights. That kind of infighting is exactly what the radical right wishes to promote in our ranks. Divide, then conquer...
Anonymous
To Someone who suggested to use just the word "Queer" - I hate that word, just like I hate to be called "Different" ot "Not Normal" - I'm Gay, I'm not Queer.
Anonymous
why do we need to be abbreviated, why can't we be who we were born to be gay or lesbian Americans
A
Why do we need labels, labels, labels on our people, people, people???
Suzy Roundy-Schmidt
I don't think "replace" is the right word. As someone who has worked at an LGBT Resource Center, I am constantly telling people what LGBT means - I don't think it is in mainstream consciousness enough, yet.
I do feel, though, that the community should be inclusive and that abbreviations should include LGBTQ, although it is difficult to know when to stop - A - I, etc.
I will say, though, that exclusion is completely unacceptable!!! It is only together that we can change the world. When building communities of support for equality, it is when we divide within ourselves that we will lose.
Ted Studebaker
Yes, definitely. The phrase "gay and lesbian" more or less ignores the existence of bisexual and transgendered people, or assumes that they are somehow included in the phrase "gay and lesbian", which they are not.
It is time for a lot more solidarity among people who self-identify (or get labelled as) queer. It is time for bisexuals and transgendered individuals to stop having to say "me too" and make an argument for inclusion. Maybe we should just use the word "queer" a lot more, and forget the rest.
Ted Studebaker
Yes, definitely. The phrase "gay and lesbian" more or less ignores the existence of bisexual and transgendered people, or assumes that they are somehow included in the phrase "gay and lesbian", which they are not.
It is time for a lot more solidarity among people who self-identify (or get labelled as) queer. It is time for bisexuals and transgendered individuals to stop having to say "me too" and make an argument for inclusion. Maybe we should just use the word "queer" a lot more, and forget the rest.
Eileen Novack
Yes, LGBTQI is much more inclusive of all members of the community.
Anonymous
The realities within human existence beckon us to be inclusive in building our beautiful community. Using the LGBT or GLBTQ abbreviation opens the door of support to everyone who does not fit the societal expectation of being "heterosexual".
Anonymous
I believe there is too much prejudice among the groups themselves to lunk them all together. Some gays and lesbians are against bisexuals, specially those that are married or in a relationship with someone of the opposite sex. Seems like, to me, that bisexuals are more open and accepting of all the groups.
Ruth
I have never received a bigoted or prejudiced remark from a straight friend, but I constantly receive them from lesbians. It was a confusing response to my coming out. I doubt an abbreviation would make me feel welccome in the gay and lesbian community, but I would like to see it all the same. Maybe I would get sneered at less. I'm willing to try anything, it hurts so much.
Anonymous
More inclusion, not less.
Anonymous
Our world is too polarized -- whether it's black/white, straight/gay, us/them, etc. The alphabet letters, even if cumbersome, remind us that it's not an either/or world we live in.
Dean
In a world or growing divisiveness, fueled by conservatives that would like to see us all go away, a united front is imperative. We are stronger together than any of us are individually. To quote a famous activist, MLK, Jr., "If one of us is oppressed, we are all oppressed." Using the most inclusive termanology in our efforts for equal rights is essential.
Will Van Roosenbeek
I work on a collge campus and we use LGBTQA to be welcoming and inviting to the entire community. To think that the community only includes gay men and lesbians is incorrect and would especially alienate young people and people of color.
Our community does inculde people who identify as bisexual, transgender, queer and our allies. We must stand united to fight the hatred in the world.
Anonymous
bissexuals are much MORE discriminated than gay or lesbian people
Selfellatio
I am not gay or straight but I am myself. We are all a sexual minority but if we all stand together there may be larger power to make changes and acceptance. I don't like being labeled as anything.(open minded is the easiest way to describe me.)
What upsets me is that the labels make it easy for people to lump us all together as different and less than human compaired to them and therefore shouldn't have the same rights as all homosapiens.
Anonymous
A great question if the goal here is to finally assess how gays and lesbians see their own prejudices. LGBT/GLBTQ does NOT replace the use of gay and lesbian (G and L), however. It simply offers a more inclusive alternative. As a lesbian, I know how homophobia feels like and consciously avoid contributing to a discriminatory discourse. If we do not recognize trans & bi legitimacy and contributions to our successes, who will?
Anonymous
Just as the Straight community uses exactly that word "Straight" so should our community use "Gay " to cover the rainbow!
Anonymous
I don't understand how others can be so sexuocentric as to think that it shouldn't include all non-heterosexuals. I mean, I suppose we could divide ourselves into two separate communities, one for "traditional," if you will, gays and lesbians, and one for bisexuals, pansexuals, and transgendered people (or any other non-straight lifestyles that I may have missed) but that would be stupid. Solidarity in our acceptance of ourselves and others is the answer, not Pat Robertson-style hate.
Anonymous
Pity the POOR bisexuals who get to own 1/2 heterosexual priviledge. How terrible their trauma must be. We have so diluted our political clout that we are nothing more than a joke. Much the same as the democrats (I am one) who have so much inner turmoil that they can't win a major election to save their souls, the GLGTQEMSHL community can't decide on anything except the mind-numbing stupid belief that marriage equality is just around the corner. Have a bake sale!
shawn
i dont want to be put in a big pot and stired up. it only makes it easier for people to discrminate. we are all human. lets just play nice for a change? why cant we all respect each other as people ? theirs enough labels out their stop the abreaviations please.
Smurf
I'm Bi and feel a more inclusive abbreviation should be used. Surley we all have more to gain by standing together and being more inclusive than spliting into a number of smaller minority groups.
Anonymous
Let's be inclusive.
Max
Bis and transgendered are subjected to the same discrimination. We're here and queer too, get used to us.
wanderingrichard
we are too diverse and too representative of the real population of the world to let only one or two small parts of this large group be used to idenbtify the rest of us.
Laura Colbert
I am an out bigendered bisexual person and I think that I should be included too.
wryterzblock
You know, I've come across the occasionally ignorant person who claims that either a. there is no such thing as bisexuality or b. we, as bisexuals, have a CHOICE as to whom we want to be with so we somehow don't qualify as remotely queer. But I'm a little surprised to see The Advocate ask such a ridiculous question. I am so sick of the inability of the monosexual majority (gay AND straight) either misinterpreting or just plain misunderstanding who we are, just because they cannot fathom the concept of the unimportance of gender in choosing a partner. I consider myself and have always referred to myself as just plain ol' queer, because- to me- that is an all-encompassing term. I hope I did not make a mistake in actually thinking that I was a member of the GLBT community. It was something that I took great pride in.
Cherie Baldwin
As a bisexual women married to a bisexual man I believe any other label is inaccurate when describing our joint community. We co-facillitate a Bisexual support/social group meeting at a "Gay and Lesbian Community Center" and it is painful to see the lack of inclusiveness in naming of the center. We are here to stay s part of the Queer community even if there is controversy . Our group has a history of consistent meeting twice monthly for greater than 7 years. The longevity and commitment I believe, speaks to our mutual concerns and identity issues and gives us the right to recognition.
cheryl
I am neither gay nor lesbian but bisexual, so that phrase would not apply to me.
larisa
Yes. I'm bi and I'm sick of not feeling like part of the community because I'm so called not "queer enough."
Anonymous
no NO NO NOThese are awful PC terms that are silly and awkward. And what has being a transexual got to do with being gay? Nothing! We can wish them well and give them support, but they are not part of the gay and lesbian community except by invitation here and there. Bisexuals seem to be able to take care of themselves. They get the best--or the worst--of both worlds.
Anonymous
no NO NO NOThese are awful PC terms that are silly and awkward. And what has being a transexual got to do with being gay? Nothing! We can wish them well and give them support, but they are not part of the gay and lesbian community except by invitation here and there. Bisexuals seem to be able to take care of themselves. They get the best--or the worst--of both worlds.
Anonymous
Its really, really, really, really, really stupid.
Anonymous
More and more medical research suggests that all orientations have biological bases, and that sexual orientation and gender identity have a great deal in common -- though admittedly they also have significant differences. We ought not to forget as well that the Stonewall Rebellion was sparked in large part by drag queens (who are usually not transgendered) and other people who were trans. United we may stand; divided we will fall -- again.
Anonymous
are gays and lesbians guilty of being just as discrimanatory as they accuse heterosexuals of being?
so,,,,,amongst those who have suffered persecution,,,the model of that should be perpetuated?
Anonymous
gays and lesbians sometimes forget that bisexuals were there fighting with them in the early days of liberation. those who have fought for inclusion should think seriously about doing to others as they would have done to them.
Anonymous
Ideally we'd have another word (NOT "queer," which is WAY more offensive to many) that is more inclusive, but I think gay and lesbian fits most uses and it could be clarified in other cases that bi's and trans people are included by adding them. I think this abbreviation thing is getting a bit too long and unwieldy.
Bigregory
L and G are diffrent than B orT and T is diffrent thanG and B is diffrent than L and G is diffrent than L opps diffrent but the same.Cats,dogs,birds and gerbils all pets but all diffrent.LGBT same thing.I guess LGBT somehow unites us some way,but i don't really want to be mixed in with gerbils.
Gustavo
Oh, please, it's a matter of semantics... whenever one says an abbreviation or "gay and lesbian", they are referring to both... As if transgenders, bisexuals and everything else are not just kinds of gay...
jay lee
A NOTE FOR THE ADVOCATE EDITORIAL STAFF: as you can see below, a TON of bisexual and transgender people read your site. if part of the rationale for this poll is to figure out your own editorial policy, then the answer is that you need to figure out how to be much more inclusive. every time i read this site or your print magazine, i feel disappointed at the lack of consideration for and representation of transgender and bisexual people. all of the allegedly queer/trans media makes me feel let down. i know your editorial board may not inherently understand anything outside of their own comfy categories (i'm guessing they're all gay or lesbian, or if not then they are totally hoarse by now from screaming and not being heard) -- but it's time to stretch yourself. thanks.
Anonymous
The abbreviations are clunkier, but they're certainly a lot more accurate than gay and lesbian are. I'm a bisexual woman, not a lesbian.
Anonymous
absolutely, YES! bisexual and transgendered people have been foundational in the fight for equality and deserve acknowledgment. use of the phrase "gay and lesbian" promotes the invisibility of the bi and trans communities.
Anonymous
definitely, the more inclusive we are, the more influence we'll have
Anonymous
"Queer" would be the most preferable to me, seeing how it includes transpeople, intersex people, pansexuals, bisexuals, etc. without being a long unpronounceable acronym.
But if people are really hesitant about reclaiming "queer," a more inclusive acronym is still better.
Anonymous
LGBT, is now ,when minds are changing , and people are educating themeselves. Gay, and lesbian is the past with all the hate, and ingnorance attached.
m. garren
Wow! in my previous comment, "you dont hear african americans calling themselves AAs", I has no idea people meant for this to 'include or exclude the other groups, I am still against the acronym and the terms queer and fag, but yes are struggle is innately linked and all should be included, but we shouldnt use acronyms anymore than do other minority groups. Spell them all out, we all deserve our space. otherwise, im just going to start using AA, H&NWH, NA, TT, PI, IP, CWE, etc. and i shall refer to myself as CWENAASPCD and a pissed off RLWR. Enjoy!
Anonymous
Ive seen and heard so many acronyms in the Gay media that I dont even understand most of them any more. one i saw recently was LGBTTQQI, I have nor idea what the last 3 stand for. In addition, I dont understand why so many today are forgoing the word Gay in favor of Queer (which is as offensive to me as Fag/got). Gay and Lesbian are whole identities in and of themselves and should not be pushed aside. you dont hear african americans calling themselves AAs.
Jephtha Brown
"Gay and lesbian" is five syllables. GLBT is four syllables.
There are some instances in which, for clarity sake, gay and lesbian works as a term; at other times, you need the GLBT term or you're excluding people.
We are fighting for "gay and lesbian" marriages, but we are fighting for the rights of GLBTs to marry the same sex. Do you see the difference? In one sentence one term and in the other, the other term applies.
As a bisexual male who is predominantly attracted to the opposite sex, I still want equal rights for gay men and lesbians. I also want the right to have a relationship with another man if one day I meet a man I really like. So the issue affects me, even though I am not currently involved with any men.
By the way, I know many bi people now, and all of them identify with the gay and lesbian cause. I've never met an openly bisexual person who thinks that their option to go with the opposite sex means they can bail on gays and lesbians. But I have read, in this forum, many gays and lesbians who think they can bail on bisexuals. How tragic.
Michael
A lot of people don't know what LGBT and GLBTQ stands for.
Mike
gay/bi or les/bi are probably less cumbersome..and a bit more inclusive.
Problem is...too often...we worry/argue about semantics. Gay/Bi/GLBT, Marriage v. civil union. But no..my vote...no LGBT just doesnt roll off my tongue.
Lindasusan
Of course we should be inclusive! Bisexuals and transgender people have been part of the movement from the start, doing the hard work right along with lesbians and gay men. (Don't forget that Compton's Cafeteria and Stonewall were primarily tranny hangouts! And if you think you don't know any bisexuals, maybe they just don't feel safe coming out to you.) Plus, I don't remember any right-wing bigots asking for proof of orientation before denying ALL of us our civli rights.
Anonymous
Let's not reduce ourselves to an acronym.
Michael
Where is the S for straight allies or the D for disabled persons? I think it needs to be shortened to B-SHT, which covers all the sexual orientations, while eloquently states my fed-up message with discrimination. Stop hiding behind letters and focus on the fight.
Rachel
There are some pretty insensitive comments here. Be nice, people.
The civil rights issues we all face are pretty much the same. As a TS person, any relationship I have will be twisted by someone into being a gay / lesbian relationship. Anyone who hates gay people will probably hate me even more.
There needs to be a term that includes all of us but I agree that the alphabet soup is a mystery to most "straight" people. There are also too many varieties of sexual minorities to name in 4 or 5 letters.
I don't care what's in the name as long as we're all included.
Anonymous
Bi and trans people are not gay, and therefore should be excluded from the "label". Gender identity is not sexual orientation and should not be treated as such. Inclusion is not always best. Why not include disabled people and monorities too? They face discrinimation based on biology too, don't they?
Anonymous
The abbreviation while not rolling off the tongue as easily is more inclusive. Just stating "gay and lesbian" can feel like it excludes bisexual and transgendered (or questioning) individuals. There is power in numbers -- inclusivity is a good thing.
Noel Rosenberg
Inclusive language unites us. Exlusive language divides us.
M.J., Denver, CO
On one hand, GLBTQ (or variations thereof) is much more inclusive, and I'm always for including as many people as possible. However, these abbreviations are only useful in our own community. Any reader of Advocate.com probably knows what LGBT means. However, how many people would understand it on CNN or NBC? While I think these abbreviations have their place in our community, and are certainly more inclusive than "gay and lesbian", it is the phrase "gay and lesbian" that people are more likely to understand in overall society. Until all of our community can embrace one universal word, such as "queer" (never going to happen), we're going to have to compromize.
Sean
Hasn't it already?!
The struggles of both sexual and gender minorities are not only historically linked, but have remained intertwined because of society's conflation of gender idenitty and sexual orientation. Although this connection may not be apparent or even true in many people's lives, and sexuality and gender identity formation have quite different trajectories, the umbrella label may serve two positive functions:
-Diminishing transphobia, biphobia and homophobia.
-Creating a more unififed sociopolitical force against a society that is increasingly biased against anyone who is not straight and gender euphoric.
Since sexism also still exists, I do think that the L should go first :)
Anonymous
we should be a unified front -- but i'm not a copywriter.
Anonymous
no, people who don't understand abbreviation are quick to write them off, that's the last thing we need.
Anonymous
just not a good idea.
Anonymous
i don't think an abbreviation is a good idea, but i do think that perhaps it's time to come up with a new, more inclusive phrase. one that encompases everyone.
Anonymous
i don't think an abbreviation is a good idea, but i do think that perhaps it's time to come up with a new, more inclusive phrase. one that encompases everyone.
Anonymous
i don't think an abbreviation is a good idea, but i do think that perhaps it's time to come up with a new, more inclusive phrase. one that encompases everyone.
jenny
i don't think an abbreviation is a good idea, but i do think that perhaps it's time to come up with a new, more inclusive phrase. one that encompases everyone.
Lorelei
I would prefer something like 'queer' - as has already been said, it is more inclusive and less of a mouthful, plus it is a good word to reclaim. I understand that some people remember it as a harsh insult, and that does need addressing, but I don't think it's always a bad thing to show that we don't take ourselves *too* seriously - it helps get over that other cliche of po-faced, shouty, pushy, 'politically-correct' liberals that we also get saddled with.
I'm really shocked by some of the NIMBY attitudes (to use another acronym) that I've seen in the comments here. We're all on the same side, people!! For those saying "TS/bi issues don't affect my life so I have no interest in them and don't see what they have to do with me", get your heads out of your comfortable little routine. That's like saying "Well, starvation in Africa doesn't affect me personally, so I don't care about it." How do you feel when straight people say "I don't see why I should support gay rights, it's nothing to do with me"? I bet you start muttering about homophobia and breeders and wondering why the world is such a prejudiced place.
Ever heard of quid pro quo? It makes life, and most struggles, a hell of a lot more pleasant.
Anonymous
things are confusing enough as is without adding additional alphabet soup acronyms to the mix. We are the Gay and Lesbian communtiy and when we need to differentiate and educate we can but confusing people only hurts things.
Anonymous
Inclusivity, not exclusion is a vital step for the strength and awareness of our community. We are all part of a beautiful continuum of sexuality and gender, and all of us have the same need for rights, liberation, and a deeper understanding of our orientations and experiences.
Brandon
The division within our community is a significant contributing factor to the struggles we face in political mobilization. Unification begins with the simplest things- our perspective and language. Until we learn to include within our own community (by sharing in the struggles of both bisexuals and transgender people) we will not achieve the political strength needed to make our voices heard.
Anonymous
Hello,
I do not think LGBT or GLBTQ should be Changed.
We are all equal and should be or correction are guaranteed under the Right and Freedom(Canadian Charter of Rights)in our Constitution,also I'm sure under the US Constitutionand let's not forget the UN declaration of Human Rights.
Cassandra
we're working for inclusion here aren't we? how can the world learn to be inclusive of the gay and lesbian community if they're just shunning another community?
Alan Hamilton
Stephen Donaldson, in the 1960s, founded the BGL college student movement which led to Stonewall and the modern BGL movement. http://www.lgbtran.org/Profile.asp?A=E&ID=144
Brenda Howard, bi and leather activist, was a major organizer of the 1-year commemoration of the Stonewall Rebellion in 1970, the first annual Pride march. She also came up with the idea of adding events to create Pride Week. http://www.nyabn.org/brenda/
Lisa Field, bi activist, helped organize the second Boston Pride march in 1971.
Maria
Bisexuals and Transgender people have enough of a problem with invisibility as it is without being left out of our own communty.
To the gentleman who stated that being bi is a choice: You are correct-IN PART. We choose who we sleep with, just as you do. We do NOT choose who we are attracted to-Just like you.
We should be standing together as a community and not letting the straight world define who and what we are.
Anonymous
Being a man trapped in a woman's body or a woman trapped in a man's body is a gender disorder people get corrective surgery for and has nothing to do with gay men or lesbian women. therefore gay and lesbian should remain what it is and not what it isn't.
Anonymous
While the issues I face as a bi trans person aren't all the same as issues faced by gay and lesbian people, those who hate don't make that discrimination. The hostility that trans people face is very similar to what gays and lesbians face, and that alone makes me believe that uniting and working together for human rights will work much better than splintering up into groups based on identity politics.
Anonymous
No...why?
Anonymous
It's all just more freakin' LABELS that people want to try and FORCE us in to. We are what we are, and what you want to call yourself is up to YOU.
SHAUN
THE USE OF ABBREVIATIONS SEEMS LIKE YOUR SCARED TO SAY GAY OR LESBIAN, YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF WHO AND WHAT YOU ARE AND NOT TO LABEL YOURSELF WITH A LABEL!
STUTZ
As a bisexual woman I have found that it is important to have visiblity in the community. Bisexual and transgender people support gay and lesbian efforts for equality. Our causes are their causes. Transgender people stood up at Stonewall opening the doors for the "gay" liberation movement. We all benefit by standing together.
Anonymous
The nature of human sexuality is far to broad and varied to be captured in with simple terminology. "Gay and lesbian" is a phrase for a particular group of people, but there are many others who are interested in similar issues and face similar problems who would NOT label themselves as gay or lesbian. "GLBTQ" and similar acronyms are a bit unwieldy, but at least they are broader in scope and far more inclusive than merely "gay and lesbian."
Anonymous
I think using gay/lesbian when the topic ONLY pertains to gay and lesbian people is fine. I wouldn't want it to seem like something is that inclusive if it really isn't. But as a political movement, we must be united broadly when possible.
Steven McCarthy
use of the code will confuse straight people we are trying to educate.
Colin Pearce
Acronyms are so insular. Unless you are "in" you don't know what it means.
Anonymous
Definitely, It is long overdo!
Anonymous
Definitely, It is long overdo!
Anonymous
Just call it all GAY...
Ingmar Nordahl
In the Right to Marry department, Gay and Lesbian is more than adequate. Bisexuals can still marry atleast one out of two people they're sexually attracted to while gays and lesbians do not have even that oportunity. Trannies can marry in many states after they've had their birth certificates corrected. But in the anti-discrimination suits, Queer fits all. -- An opinion from an American who tired of the BS and drama and found inclusion in Sweden.
Anonymous
As a bi person, I would like to "exist" within the label.
Anonymous
LGBT is as easily understandable and more inclusive than gay and lesbian.
Anonymous
(From a bi man) Like all of us, I hope for the day where belonging to a sexual and/or gender minority will be as much of an issue as being left-handed. Meanwhile, we all face oppression for the same broad reason: not fitting into the narrow conventional boxes of gender roles. Whether you agree with using "queer" or not, our community is broader than just "gay and lesbian", and a label should keep that visible.
June Johnson
Bisexuality is an orientation, NOT a choice. Bi people can CHOOSE how they express it. Homosexuality is also an orientation. Gay and lesbian people can also CHOOSE how they express it. Aren't we all still people though? I am a proud bisexual woman who shows respect for all people. It's a shame some gays and lesbians CHOOSE not to do the same.
jae
GLBT is a much more inclusive and precise term.
John Johnson
A. Philip Randolph (1889-1979) took Bayard Rustin (1912-1987) out of the “spotlight” of the 1960s civil rights from fear that the fight for sexual minority and ethnic minority rights was too great. Bayard helped out as much as possible from “behind the scenes”. Where we are today? Shabby ethnic minority rights & miniscule sexual minority rights.
Brenda Howard (1946-2005) was a bisexual woman and major player in the civil rights movement of the modern sexual minority - helping coordinate the 1st month anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion (beginnings of the modern sexual minority civil rights movement) - now celebrated as Pride Day/Week/Month.
Although I am bisexual, people/peers/coworkers infer I am gay due to the symbols I display & the words I speak. I promote awareness and social justice for all in the LGBTQI community; including the rights of all in the Leather Community.
Anonymous
Of course. I don't think we're really at the point where we can go "Hey, we're really all pretty similar. Let's get rid of all the labels." Right now we need to bring attention to the fact that the queer community is diverse, and contains more than just "gays and lesbians." With the use one of these abbreviations, I think people might learn about some more of the different types of people encompassed under the term "queer." Eventually, when awareness is raised, I think we'll be able to use that term to refer to everyone. It would be nice to think that in the distant future, we won't need to bring attention to our diversity, and difference will just be another accepted part of belonging to our species. This may just be wishful thinking though.
Anonymous
Abbreviations can be dehumanizing.
reyl
Exclusion of bi, trans and other queer people from the community is hurtful. Being in the non-hetero minority is difficult enough without having to suffer discrimination from our peers.
Anonymous
While I say yes...I do tire of labels. I think, in all honesty, we should be moving toward a time when labels (gaystraightlesbianqueerbitranspanpoly) don't matter. While we are there, I think the initials simplify it. If someone doesn't understand, then explain it, life moves on and they'll be smarter for knowing.
Christopher
Here's a thought. Why don't we just use the word queer to encompass all peoples under the current LGBT? I substitute queer for LGBT when I read it anyway.
Laura
Yes, LGBT should replace lesbian and gay. Lesbian and gay denies the bisexual and transgender communities the acknowledgement they not only deserve but that they need. Invisibility and marginalization hurt, not only politically but also socially and emotionally. If only one term was acceptable then there would be no need to include lesbian in the phrase "gay and lesbian" -- gay would be enough. It is not. Lesbian and gay is not enough either. LGBT or LGBTQ is appropriate and needed.
Anonymous
Monosexuality is monosexuality, be it hetero or homo. It's about time the narrow minded, insular, and heterophobic gay 'community' started paying attention to the FACT that there's more to queer than just liking your own sex.
Josue Marquez
By leaving out those who are bisexual and trans-gender, we are mimicing the fear that the straight comunity posseses over us. If we are to show that we are the receptive, open-minded, and caring comunity we need to accept that there is no black and white here. We are all shades of grey, not everything in life can be put into neat little categories. Eerything fringes on everything else, no matter how slight! Polls with intentions like these only go to prove the stereotypical images of our comunity being an unorganized jumble, rather than help us disspell them.
Anonymous
Our community is bigger than the G and L alone.
Clover
As a pansexual ftm genderqueer, I wholeheartedly say YES!
Anonymous
El Gee Bee Tee or
Gee El Bee Tee Que are just too much of a hassle to pronounce.
Ron
It seems to encompass more of the spectrum of sexual orientations.
BiQ
Yes, absolutely. I am bi and am very tired of the often cold reception I get from gays and lesbians. I did not choose my bisexuality anymore than others chose their homosexuality. How easily gays and lesbians forget, as they are beginning to achieve some degree of acceptance, what it feels like to be completely excluded! We are your brothers and sisters too. Can you understand what it's like to be pulled in two directions at once, to fall in love with a man and a woman at the same time, and to face the wrenching choice of either living in polyamory (more against the law then same-sex monagamy ever was) or letting one person go? And what of transgender people who often face huge obstacles of discrimination when they transition to the sex they feel they should have been born with? We are not so different from you. Now you must confront your own prejudices about us.
Beth Braunhut
While I do believe it is important to be inclusive, the simple fact is, most of the population doesn't have the faintest idea what an abbreviation like "LGBT" stands for. Where I live in Arizona, I know that if I told someone "I'm LGBT," then I'd be forced into a 10 minute conversation just to explain what the heck LGBT is. And frankly, I don't have that kind of time. I'm sticking with "I'm a lesbian." It's quick, simple, and there's no explanation required. Not even in a red state.
Amit Taneja
I am really put off by gay & lesbian people who don't identify with the struggles of bisexual and transgender people. We are all in the same boat ... united we win, divided we fall. I absolutely stand for abbreviations like LGBT!
Anonymous
Lays it out front inside of hiding behind a cryptic set of letters
Anonymous
There is a significant difference between sexual orientation and sexual identity. These issues are difficult for the public to understand. I believe the public better understands the concepts of gay and lesbian than the acronym soup which is important as we try to advance the rights of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transsexuals, transgenders, etc. Personally, if you want to cluster it all together, I prefer the term "sexual minorities."
Anonymous
There is a significant difference between sexual orientation and sexual identity. These issues are difficult for the public to understand. I believe the public better understands the concepts of gay and lesbian than the acronym soup which is important as we try to advance the rights of gays and lesbian. Personally, if you want to cluster it all together, I prefer the term "sexual minorities."
Anonymous
I feel that bisexuals are totally maligned by a large percentage of "real" gay people.
We need to be represented and have a voice too.
Anonymous
All who are marginalized and oppressed because they don't conform to societal norms of gender and sexuality should be welcome. Other people's ignorance or fear should not exclude others. I am proud that the transgender and bisexual people are part of this community.
Anonymous
As a bisexual woman, I am infuriated by those who say that my orientation is not a choice. How can thinking, feeling gay, lesbian and otherwise queer people say that I am any less deserving of equal rights than them? Why do we let such pettiness divide us? Aren't we all fighting for acceptance and equal rights? It's because of things like this -- dividing ourselves up into groups -- that the world at large may never fully understand. It's so sad and unnecessary.
Anonymous
As a bisexual woman, I am infuriated by those who say that my orientation is not a choice. How can thinking, feeling gay, lesbian and otherwise queer people say that I am any less deserving of equal rights than them? Why do we let such pettiness divide us? Aren't we all fighting for acceptance and equal rights? It's because of things like this -- dividing ourselves up into groups -- that the world at large may never fully understand. It's so sad and unnecessary.
Anonymous
I am either a Lesbian, Gay, BI-sexual or Trans-gendered. WE are all queer. As a male call me gay' I think labels are absurd so I refer to myself as queer. Guess my straight wife must be as well, to accept me and stay married.
Anonymous
Hey! I'm pansexual and transgendered-androgynous--and I exist! Lead me not into pigeonholing, but deliver me from dichotomy--amen!
gramina
Unless you want to refer specifically to monosexual queers, it makes sense to include us all.
Anonymous
We need to be aware of the fact that bisexuals and transexuals are as much a part of this community/lifesytle as gay men and lesbians are. Discriminating them only hurts the fight for total equality.
Anonymous
We humans seem to like binary choices such as male / female, gay / straight, but real life is so much more complex than these simple abstractions. Sexual minorities need a common voice since together we are still a small minority., and without a common voice we are divided and conquered. So let's have an inclusive name for ourselves. GLBTQ appeals to me.
Donna Barr
Takes up less space in articles.
Anonymous
As a bisexual woman it often feels to me that the hardcore homosexuals and the hardcore hetrosexuals have found a common enemy against whom they can both hate together - the bisexual and the transexual. Just as the homosexual wishs to be accepted, so do we.
Anonymous
I am so tired of the ever expanding list of persons who want to hitch thier star to the gay and lesbian movement. It is "gay and lesbian" or just gay -- this alphabet soup nonsense is just out of hand and mkes us appear foolish to the rest of the public.
Anonymous
Definetly! The Queer community needs to be a lot more inclusive of bisexuals, pansexuals, and those who do not fit the "standard" gender norms of just Male or Female!
Anonymous
It's not just gays and lesbians who get discriminated against. Bisexuals and the transgender/intersex community have the added problem of being shunned by both sides - as the current poll results show.
Cassandra
Why would we want to separate ourselves? That will only make it easier for the religious-right to single us out and discriminate. By sticking together, we become that much louder and harder to ignore. If you think it's too complicated having "all those abreviations" why not just sum it up with "Alternative"? Why try to exclude people who are just as discriminated against (I can't tell you how many times I've been told bisexualty isn't even real!) when there is power in numbers?
Anonymous
I'm tired of bisexuals not being recognized as part of the queer community! Of course, using the abbreviation LBGT won't necessarily make bisexuals any more visible or welcome, but at least it doesn't erase us like "lesbian and gay" does.
JC
I perfer Queer!
Adolf
There's too much discrimination in this world against gays, however some gays can be so discriminant against bisexual and other type of orientation. Then let's not complain when we don't get back-up from those other groups in important issues. They can marry and we can't! (Just like an example!).
Peace.
Anonymous
Our community consists of more thatn Gay & Lesbian people, and should include all Queer folk!
Steve-Iowa
'Gay and Lesbian' covers the entire spectrum of our "alternative lifestyle", as the conservatives describe our orientation. There are WAY too many gray areas to include all of them in the abbreviation. If all were included, it would read LGBQ...ZNTIUPMHWYJ...123..WXYZ
nick
i think the terms can co-exist. I dont think lesbian and gay should be replaced by LGBT but those two terms do not encompass all aspects of the community.
Anonymous
Civil rights for people practicing consensual activities. Is that so hard?
Anonymous
bisexual, transgender, and ALL queer people should be included as part of our community. Queer people (not just gays and lesbians) have been fighting heterosexism and homophobia since Stonewall (and even before then) and our language should reflect that.
Jacob
While I respect trans and bi, we are talking about gay and lesbian - which is sexual orientation - that may include real bisexual people although Im not sure how much discrimination they face or if its the same as someone who is 100% homo.
Transsexuals have a totally fiferent issue withi gender orientation - not sexual orientatoin.
If you fight all or nothing, youre more apt to lose than to try to get small gains and right now gay and lesbian is less threatening that transexul so work on GL rights and then will have a leg up on helping transexuals
Doesnt make sense what people say that Trans are fighting too - sure lots of people are fighting but we dont lump in GL with disabled people or pple with mental illness who dont have equal health insurance rights or poor people or Hispanix or any other minority group
Anonymous
Why use a silly abbreviation that mainstreamers have not idea what that means.
Plus gay and lesbian is one thing - transsexuals are something else. While its good to show solidarity they are not the same issues -- transsexuals have gender identity issues which is much different from sexual orientation. Many gay men and lesbians are very happy with their genders - and believe it or not, some gay men are masculine, dont lisp or swish
Marie
Please don't forget those of us who are bi, trans or queer. The straight world doesn't want us.
Anonymous
the struggle for equal rights must include EVERYONE!
Anonymous
Gays and Lesbians aren't the only one's involved. Bisexuals and transgendered persons have been on the front-lines of the "gay rights" movement since Stonewall. We're all queer.
Victor Raymond
Since bi and trans people have been involved in sexual orientation issues just as long as gay and lesbian, this is the only logical conclusion. Especially if you are already distinguishing between "gay" and "lesbian."
Michelle H.
I think that LGBT SHOULD replace gay and lesbian simply because we are ALL part of the community, even if some would like to deny it. Bisexuality isn't a choice, it is a matter of biology the same as being gay or lesbian. In some ways, it is even worse to face simply because some in the "gay and lesbian" community call us fense sitters and other such names. Just as my gay brothers and lesbian sister are made as they are, so to am I. The same applies to my trans brothers and sisters. They cannot stop their biology, any more than bisexuals, gays and lesbians.
We all long for equality and unity, yet some within the community can't even see their way to including bi and trans people. How are we supposed to be taken seriously, when we are waging a war within our own house?
Chris
The question is very limiting - On one hand, I am not fond of abbriviations, but the way the question is phrased does not allow the option of a more inclusive word (like "queer") or inclusive phrase.
Linzi
Inclusion is important and there should be a phrase which represents this. I am bisexual and have faced much more discrimination from the lesbian and gay community than anywhere else. many bisexuals are frequently subjected to comments such as "being bisexual is a choice". it is not a choice but such an attitude leads to many bisexuals feeling like they have to hide their sexuality.
T.J. Jourian
Even more so because of all the ignorance that is being espoused around this poll alone. It is plainly obvious to me and many others that our community still has a lot to learn about bisexual and transgender people, let alone other identities that hardly ever seem to be included in this alphabet soup of a so-called "community". Not understanding certain identities and ways of being is not an excuse for exclusion, rather a desperate call for more education. And for those that don't think bi and trans folks work ever so diligently on queer rights should only take a moment to look into it to find thousands of names such as Robyn Ochs and Leslie Feinberg. Some of the posts here on exclusion frankly disgust me and if we can't even include each other in the struggle how do we expect to be taken seriously and be included within the rest of society?
Sarah
What kind of a poll is this?!? In what context are you asking? For what puposes? These two "phrases" have different meanings and, in some contexts, one is more appropriate than the other. Of course I think bisexual and transgender people should be included in gay and lesbian advocacy and general sexuality minority categories, but one cannot categorically replace one with the other. I am very disappointed in The Advocate for placing such a poorly worded poll on its website.
Paul
I think LGBT should be used for anything official (organization names, etc). Informally? I'm happy with 'queer.' The term's not gonna reclaim itself, people.
Chris
For all you biphobes out there-thanks a lot, I'm a bisexual woman married to a man, but I was on the board of my community LGBT organization for one year and President for another. I helped get non-discrimination laws passed in my city and state. I lobby my legislators tirelessly on queer issues. Don't tell me I don't belong in "your" movement. We need all the allies we can get, so why do we always do all this infighting while the Right is taking away our civil rights? Embrace your bi, trans and straight allies.
Anonymous
They are more inclusive, but then not everyone knows what they mean. Inclusion is a good thing but being obscure isn't. So I'm undecided.
Susan aka DV8Chicky
The problem here is the question. Why should there be a "rule"? There are inclusive communities, folks, and centers which use the term, "LGBT" and there are those who refer to the "gay and lesbian" community. Should either be censured? Of course not. While it is always appropriate to be inclusive, simply using the term "gay and lesbian" does not necessarily exclude other groups of sexual/gender minorities. This is a silly question. We should all strive for inclusion; one name or the other does not necessarily exclude. I know my friend, the late great Brenda Howard, would disagree with me. She devoted much of her life to the struggle for demanding inclusion, and rightfully so. I just don't think we should make a "rule."
Anonymous
In this battle we've all gotta stick together. How does exclusion and bigotry towards other make us advance in any way? Let's not be like the Christian right... let's actually live what we preach.
Sandra Webster
Something should replace "gay and lesbian", but I don't believe it is LGBT or GLBTQ or any of those initial acronyms. If we are going to talk about a group of people who's sexual preferences are anything but "straight", then we are going to be talking about a wide variety of folks, many who do not fit into the "gay" or "lesbian" label. I agree with many commenters here that perhaps the word "queer" could be used to encompass everyone who is not "straight" (ie; heterosexual). If you look at mainstream media, we have such things as "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" and "Queer as Folk", where the word "queer" is used as an identifier for folks homosexual, and it has become an accepted and familiar term to the general population. Since there are so many variations of sexual preference within the homosexual community, having one word, such as Queer, makes things simpler and more inclusive of all of our variations, and perhaps will help us to be able to move ourselves from being only paritally accepted to being fully accepted for who and what we are as humans.
Jim Siegle
I feel the important thing is that we are one united community. I remember when the work Gay came into use, in the public mind, and it was inclusive. Today, the term is seen as referring to men (however, that would make saying Gay Men unnecessary). I also have notice how the younger generation is turning away from labels, to an extent. While initials may not be the answer, I do see the need of inclusion.
Jim Siegle
I feel the important thing is that we are one united community. I remember when the work Gay came into use, in the public mind, and it was inclusive. Today, the term is seen as referring to men (however, that would make saying Gay Men unnecessary). I also have notice how the younger generation is turning away from labels, to an extent. While initials may not be the answer, I do see the need of inclusion.
Leanne
Yes, LGBT is just four syllables whereas "gay and lesbian" is five. Everyone since Kinsey knows that humans are not three categories: heterosexual, gay and lesbian... their sexuality falls into a continuum. Given that heterosexuality is presumed to be the standard in biology and society at this point, everyone else is marginalised and often victimised. The term "gay and lesbian" insists people who do not feel they fit standard heterosexuality chose strict homosexuality or be once again discounted or ignored. It behooves us in the margins to be inclusive, to stand strong together, and to not repeat the us or them stance of binary choices.
Allyson Diane Hamm
The term "Gay and Lesbian" refers to only one part of our rich & colorful community. If you want to be inclusive & show true diversity, it should be more than just G&L.
Margaret Robinson
I'm sick of people behaving as if they're doing us a favour by including B or T in the acronyms for the movement we helped start and supported these many years.
Michael Preston
Some years ago the lesbian and gay community was ignored, belittled and marginalised by the, (mainly) straight world. The act on naming and creating a sense of identity was fantastically empowering and led directly to changes in the way that are treated today.
Some years on, the bisexual and transgender communities are facing a similar situation. In a similar way to the way that the lesbian and gay community faced homophobia they face bi and transphobia. Somewhat shamefully, some of this prejudice originates from within the lesbian and gay community.
It's time that we realised, as a collective, that the things that join us together in a heterosexist world are far more powerful than the things that separate us. It's on this basis that I believe the appropriate acronym for ALL of our community is LGBT.
Roger, NewBedford,MA
I think "gay and lesbian" is just fine in a media setting. LGBT and GLBTQ are new terms we gay sensitive folk know about, but the public at large might not know. The public knows about gays & lesbians. We've come a long way using the term gay & lesbian.
H.B.
Just use Queer and make the definition what every you desire and stop making a fuss over a label, if you know what you are than should you worry? When they say "gay and lesbian" they mean the greater community half of the time anyway.
Do the ostracized have the right to ostracize, do the bullied have the right to bully?
Rob
Until the gay community stands up for causes other than the fight against Aids and the right to marry,
the general public will always see us as self centered, egotistical perverts. What is shown in the media is nothing more than nearly naked men dancing on floats, drag queens so blind to the problems of the world they are bogged down by mascara , or dykes dressing like and acting more like men than most guys in the NFL. I mean to say that as a gay man, I am so much more than someone who has sex with men, I am an educated, good natured, generous and loving human being who wants to and demands to be equal in this great society. Everytime I turn around I see stories in our Gay publications about White Parties, Gay Cruises and lawsuits to win the right to marry. Where are the stories about we Gay Americans who volunteer our time to help the homeless, give our time and money to charities and most importantly surround ourselves with a Rainbow of people, not just Gays?
Don't label me GLBTQ, let's instead get back to calling ourselves Gay & Lesbians Americans!.
Lori
I really dont understand why there is such division between gays & bisexuals. Both myself (female) & my love (male) are bi. He has run into more discrimination from the gay community than anywhere else.
Anonymous
bisexuals and transgender should be included
Anonymous
Are Transexuals necessarily gay or lesbian? If not, then why lump every one with the same abbreviation. They are all individuals, so individual words are better. If I had changed gender to become a man, I wouldn't like to be labelled gay'/esbian!
Kay Dekker
Where you're not just talking about lesbian and gay people, it would be nothing less than polite to do so.
Anonymous
What do LGBT or GLBTQ mean? I want to vote, but don't undrestand the abbreviations!
Ed
The acronyms LGBT and GLBTQ are not nearly as widely known and recognized as the terms "gay and lesbain".
Anonymous
I think the term that should replace 'gay and lesbian' is simply 'Queer'. It's the most inclusive, all-encompasing term, and fosters the greatest sense of community.
Anonymous
I think the term that should replace 'gay and lesbian' is simply 'Queer'. It's the most inclusive, all-encompasing term, and fosters the greatest sense of community.
Anonymous
No. I've never believed that transgender should be included with the lesbian/gay/bisexual community. I think the transgender issue is completely separate.
Phoebe
As a bi trans woman who's been subject to numerous homophobic attacks, it hurts to be made to feel invisible or unincluded by rights groups who refer to themselves as "Gay and Lesbian" only. Trans and bi people aren't a new phenomenon trying to push their way into the "gay rights movement". We've been central to it from the outset. Remember Stonewall. Remember Tom Robinson.
Sarah
It's all inclusive. Or should we just deny our brothers and sisters fight to help us get us where we are today?
Nickie Roome
I think if is important when discussing discrimination that affects gay and lesbian people to include bisexual and transgendered people under the same banner as the discrimination they suffer is not less than the discrimination suffered by gay and lesbian people, but rather greater, as there is discrimination and prejudice against both these minority groups from *within* the gay and lesbian communities as well as from the straight community that surrounds and oppresses us all.
frenchie
no way! I am a French gay and dont feel connected with transexuals nor bisexuals, stop confusing all these people!
Juliara
It's really sad to see this much discrimination from a group of people who are so discriminated against themselves. One would think understanding would stem from being part of the downtrodden. But some "Gays and Lesbians" seem to be very selfish, and only worry about *their* fight and *their* interests. This is why Bisexual and Transgender don't feel included in the first place: we get flack from mainstream society and the society we're pushed into being a part of.
And I find it ironic that people are using the argument "but we'll just have to keep adding more letters! It's silly!" That same argument is being used against same-sex marriage. "If we allow that, we'll have to allow people to marry in groups, and then marry their pets!" It's really disheartening to see the same argument used by bigots, and then the people calling them bigots turning around and using the same argument on others.
As long as you keep the club only open to "gays and lesbians" then they'll the only ones who will feel comfortable with "your" fight.
Nichy
how can a community who has gone through so much discrimination sit there and discriminate people who have very much of the same problems and concerns they do!
pseudo_intellect
the question is illogical. LGBT represents the "entire" community, not specifying a certain orientation. If the question is erroneous from the start, the answer is pointless & erroneous as well.
Anonymous
Just using gay or lesbian does not cover everything. For instance, bisexuals don't fit under those two names. It isolates people who need a place to belong. Not everyone fits simply into boxes.
Anonymous
I am bisexual. We exist. Whether it's a "choice," as some anti -inclusionists have claimed or not, we're here and just as queer as you are. The anti-bi bias I'm hearing is proof that we are the queerest of the queer--discriminated against in the queer community.
And if it's not a choice: do you gays and lesbians hate yourselves so much that you'd choose straight if you could?
Where's your pride? If you truly have queer pride, you'll accept all of us--LGBT.
Anonymous
Bi and trans folks matter.
Sheela Lambert
I wish that The Advocate would show more leadership in editorial policy, calling for consistent inclusive language whenever possible. Then people would be less likely to post some of the bigotted comments I have read below. One of the reasons some people eroneously believe that bi and transgender folks have not fought for LGBT rights is the way our history has been reported in the Advocate (as well as other publications) in the past. Bisexual people have been erased from queer history reporting and terms like "LGBT" have only recently and sporadically come into use.
KNOW YOUR HISTORY
Some people may not be aware that the person who invented the annual Gay Pride March (commemorating Stonewall) was a bisexual woman named Brenda Howard and the founder of the student "gay rights" movement was a bi man named Stephen Donaldson. There is a building named after him at Columbia U in NYC.
nicky
It is not about sexual orienation
It is not about gender
It is about people
People who love
People with Hearts
All for one, and one for all,
Together we stand, together we fall.
Thomas Leavitt
This is the wrong question. The question should be, "Do you think the phrase 'gay and lesbian' should be expanded to 'gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender'?" Just like "gay" was expanded to "gay and lesbian". Bi and trans folk want equal standing, and visibility. No one would ever us "GL" as an abbreviation - so why is it that much harder to type out or say a couple of extra words? Or are bi and trans folk only worth including as token letters?
Anonymous
The abbreviation is only used in discussion and or as a group in gay press. It would be improper to use the abbreviation to replace gay or lesbian. Another words an insult to the Gay Community.
Anonymous
The abbreviation is only used in discussion and or as a group in gay press. It would be improper to use the abbreviation to replace gay or lesbian. Another words an insult to the Gay Community.
jb
As others have said, gay and lesbian is not inclusive. I'm neither, I'm bisexual. Yes, amazingly enough, we DO exist, we ARE part of the community, and we ARE discriminated against, even by those in the queer community, as evidenced by some of these comments.
Anonymous
Gay and Lesbian do not reflect the full rainbow of colours in the spectrum of sexuality. Why not pink and blue? Because if we're to accept gays and lesbians as a way of accepting diversity, then we must accept bisexual and trans for the ways in which they also challenge the concepts of "normal" gender and sexuality. Besides, bi and trans people are fighting for queer rights at your side, because they are discriminated against for same-sex relationships and messing with gender "norms" right along with you.
Robyn
We are all fighting the same fight, and we are all family.
Erika G.
While there are some distinct differences between the feelings, goals and needs of bisexuals and transpeople, so to are there differences between those who identify as gay men and gay women, and yet, for most, the end goal is the same-the right to love who we're in love with, to be safe in our homes, jobs and communities, to be loved and accepted by those around us. Bisexuals and transpeople have been fighting the "gay rights" fight from the early days of gay liberation and deserve to be included, not isolated. Bisexuals and transpeople are affected by the same discrimination that alienates gays and lesbians, and sometimes even more so, as we're shunned by both the gay and not gay communities.
Anonymous
While there are some distinct differences between the feelings, goals and needs of bisexuals and transpeople, so to are there differences between those who identify as gay men, and as lesbians, and yet, for most, the end goal is the same-the right to love who we're in love with, to be safe in our homes, jobs and communities, to be loved and accepted by those around us. Bisexuals and transpeople have been fighting the "gay rights" fight from the early days of gay liberation and deserve to be included, not isolated. Bisexuals and transpeople are affected by the same discrimination that alienates gays and lesbians, and sometimes even more so, as we're shunned by both the gay and not gay communities.
Liza
Bisexuals are here, we're just as badly maligned, we should be included. I can't speak personally for transgendered people, but they too are maligned and deserve the same kind of rights and understanding gays and lesbians fight for.
We're all queer. We all have rights.
Roman
no and, might I say OH MYGOD with all that's going on in the world, THIS is worth taking a poll over? what I do in bed is a fraction of what I am and I don't give a flip about what I'm called or abbreviated.
How about a poll about whether or not you think the Dixie Chicks are ignorant arrogant seditious bitches ( YES) or They have every right to give aid and comfort to the enemy because I'm a drooling retard (NO) or Who are the Dixie Chicks? (Undecided)
Carolyn Marie Fugit
"Gay and Lesbian" is not all-inclusive anymore than "mankind" is inclusive of humanity. Gay men and lesbian women like to think that such limiting terms describe a whole community that exists also of bisexual people of all sorts of flavors and everyone under the transgendered umbrella. It is degrading to those of us who are neither gay nor lesbian. And it helps perpetrate the myth that you're either gay or straight. "Gay and Lesbian" makes people invisible when gays and lesbians assume it covers everyone else.
Anonymous
I really don't think it is necessary to specifically mention every single sexual minority everytime the subject comes up. We need a general term, preferably one word, that includes everyone.
Lyla Miklos
The queer community has become so much more than just the words gay and lesbian. I as an out bisexual woman who has proactively been involved in GLBT politics for over a decade like it when I know I am including in the mix.
For more on me go to www.lylamiklos.com
Here is an article I wrote for my local newspaper a couple of years ago when I sat on their community editorial board about the use of the word queer.
Celebrating "Queer"
By Lyla Miklos
From The Hamilton Spectator
October 11, 2003
I love the word “queer”. For me, being queer means the freedom to love whomever you please and to be able to express that love freely, fighting to end homophobia and heterosexism, embracing diversity and frankly discussing sex and gender issues.
So I was thrilled The Spectator didn’t water down my Community Editorial Board bio and change “queer” to “gay”. The queer community is made up of numerous elements: Gays (men who love men), lesbians (women who love women), bisexuals (people who love both men and women) and transgenders (people born as one gender who transition, dress or identify as another).
But that’s not all! Queer also encompasses intersexed (people born with sex chromosomes and/or genitalia from both sexes), two-spirited (aboriginal term for people who are queer), BDSM (Bondage, Discipline, Sadomasochism, Dominance and Submission), polyamoury (people in more than one loving/committed relationship), sex-positive advocates, AIDS/HIV activists and “straight but not narrow” allies.
I love the richness of the word “queer”. It encompasses so much. But it is still considered a derogatory slur by many. My hope is that by reclaiming the word queer, it will no longer be a hateful word but a celebratory one.
Larry Nelson (nyabn,org)
On the topic of abbreviations and who does or does not belong in the community,
I would like to remind everyone that at the Stonewall Rebellion in addition to some Gay Men (the "G" in LGBT), there were also some notable strong Lesbians (the "L" in LGBT) and many fierce drag-queens (some of whom are the 'T' in LGBT). And that among the founding Fathers AND Mothers of this Civil Rights Movement, who the next day went forward from that battle and marched and fought and organized and would NOT shut-up and just let the issue go away was a determined and tenacious Bisexual Woman, the late Brenda Howard the ("B" in LGBT).
So while I read some of you complaining about YOUR movement, I think I have to ask this, "Where precisely were YOU on the night of Friday, June 27 1969? And what meetings were you in on Saturday the 28th? AND what flyers were you handing out on Sunday the 29th? AND what Rally and March did you organize and participate in within the week?, etc. etc."
I know where my Brenda was (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brenda_Howard,) and I know where her dear friend the late Sylvia Rivera was (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_Rivera).
So where were YOU when THEY literally put their own bodies on the barricades and physically fought for YOUR rights Mr. "Only Gay Men Need Apply"?
Anonymous
I believe that we should say the words, not abbreviate them so others aren't uncomfortable. Besides, if people don't know what you're talking about...GLBTQ means nothing. Gay however, means something. It's a pride thing to me...I'm not going to say I'm B...I say I'm bisexual.
Sabrina
The phrase gay and lesbian does not include the bisexuals and gender identity
Anonymous
If you're talking about gays, you should say so. If you intend to refer to groups other than gays, you should also say so. There is no point in using an acronym that refers to four or five distinct groups of people out of habit if all the the groups referenced are not the subject at hand.
Robyn Ochs (www.robynochs.com)
I am a bi woman who has been part of the GLBTQ community for 25 years, and when I hear "lesbian and gay" instead of "GLBT," I feel uncomfortable because I'm not sure whether the speaker is simply using shorthand, or whether s/he's intentionally excluding me and my trans friends. Inclusive language reminds those around us that we are very, very diverse and that we include folks who identify as bi, as trans, as queer as well as those who identify as lesbian and gay. Hopefully someday this will be self-evident and we won't have to remind folks over and over, but we certainly have a long way to go.
Walter
There are way too many letter combos for everything...we are gay or lesbian, not a bunch of letters that probably mean nothing to most
Americans.
Tommy
I dont' think our community needs to be defined by any one term. Use whatever term suits the need. Why be limited?
Anonymous
No, too many heteros would have no idea what they stood for.
David Stout
What's wrong with having a rich (and shall I say it? "diverse") language, full of a variety of words and phrases to communicate the many sublties and nuances of sexual attraction and desire? Why try to subsume it all into simplified abbreviations?
Emma
While I personally prefer these more inclusive abbreviations, I also think it is important to keep the words "gay" and "lesbian" in use, lest they come to be viewed as taboo.
Robert Goodman
I think there is a need for both separate terms and a unifying term. I don't think we run into problems when we use specific terms to refer to specific groups within the larger community. As I see it, as a Community, we DO share things in common and we are strongest when everyone within our Community feels included and respected. That said, we really have not cystalized in our own minds what our commonalities are, and we certainly don't have an inclusive term to define us that really works.
You know, we are the most fantastically creative people on the planet. I'd like to see the Advocate run a contest to see who can come up with the best name!!! I'm sure we would come up with some great ideas!!!
Robert Goodman
I think there is a need for both separate terms and a unifying term. I don't think we run into problems when we use specific terms to refer to specific groups within the larger community. As I see it, as a Community, we DO share things in common and we are strongest when everyone within our Community feels included and respected. That said, we really have not cystalized in our own minds what our commonalities are, and we certainly don't have an inclusive term to define us that really works.
You know, we are the most fantastically creative people on the planet. I'd like to see the Advocate run a contest to see who can come up with the best name!!! I'm sure we would come up with some great ideas!!!
Anonymous
It puts us into one simple category. What is the point and what can be accomplished from this.
Anonymous
Well put Robin
Lisa in NE
Should I get the same grip you seem to have? You can't even stated your name or something you would like to be called so I can address you properly, so please, please, bring yourself down from YOUR high and mighty stoop. I do not profess to be high and mighty but I do know, we as a community will never get were we need to be in this world until we stand together and stop hating each other and realize we are fighting the same fight. A clear example: want to know why blacks in this country voted republican in the last presidential election? Because of homophobia. Same with latins. But do we as a community reach out to those groups? Heck no. We can't even reach out to GLBTQ black and latinos and make them feel part of our community. So what am I trying to say? We need to stop racism, sexism, ageism, stop fighting with trans and bi people, and stop focusing on the supperficial. All of the homophobes of the world can't get past our bedrooms and what's in our pants long enough to see us as human. As long as we treat each other as anything less than a wonderful, complex human being, why should anyone else treat us differntly? So if that is high and mighty speach--I am sooooo sorry.
Robin
I absolutely think that gay, lesbian, bi, transgendered, etc. people are fighting the same fight. I absolutely think that we are all in the same boat. That being said, the people that we have to convince of our right to equality have no idea what LGBT, or GLBTQ or GOBBLEDYGOOKDYQ stands for. Time spent having to educate these people on what various alphabet soup acronyms stand for, would be better spent on educating them about the inequalities we all face. If using a term like Gay & Lesbian, or even just Gay, makes it even minutely easier for the straight community at large to identify with the queer world; that benefits not just gay people but the entire queer community. We need to quit focusing on making sure everyone is represented in a meaningless acronym, and start focusing on the best strategy for all of us.
Anonymous
Lisa,
Get a FUCKING GRIP! Your temper will kill you and your opinions rate no more attention than anyone else on this poll. Do not call them my Trans and Bi Brothers and sisters as they most certainly are not and you miss High and Mighty have just demonstrated by your lack of patience and understanding that we do not all have the same agenda!
Anonymous
I think abbreviations like LGBT/GLBT are more concise; however, if letters keep being added (ie, GLBTQAABBQ) it could get crazy.
Anonymous
I am a Gay Man with very different problems, needs and wants from Bi-Sexuals who obviously can choose to be with the opposite sex and fit right in with closed minded America. I also have never wished to be, have sex with and have never wanted to dress like or act like a woman, so Transgendered is as foreign to me as Straight.
Lisa in NE
I will say it again--I think it is important to say GLBT or even GLBTQ so that everyone in OUR community knows that being "gay" is more than being a white guy who likes guys. It is men and women (and those in between), of all colors, races, and religions; who have differnt beliefs (and kinks). The reason we went from Gay to Gay and Lesbian to GLBT to GLBTQ is because our community does not make those of us who are not white gay men feel like we are a part of the community. Not sure of what I say? Well consider there are Dyke Marches and Black Gay Pride events all over the country to go along with the normal Gay Pride Parades. If we all felt like we were apart of the community as a whole, there would not be a need for sepperate events. We need to work on this, because before we can change the minds of all the homophobes out there we first need to stand as one community. . .not several. I would love to get to the day where the word Gay stood for all GLBTQ and Ally persons. Heck GLBTQ and Ally is just too much to say (and to type)--And I will add--HOW DARE YOU STAND HERE CAST OUT YOUR TRANS AND BI BROTHERS AND SISTERS? THOSE WHO FIGHT THE SAME FIGHT AND WANT NOTHING MORE THAN TO FEEL HUMAN AND FOR PEOPLE TO SEE THEM AS HUMAN. IT IS PEOPLE LIKE YOU (THOSE THAT CONTINUE HATE) THAT WE ALL CONTINUE TO BE WERE WE ARE, BEGGING TO BE HUMAN. Sorry I don't like to yell but sometimes you have to.
Anonymous
it amazes me that there is even a question here. Why the seperation? It seem the seperation is due to Gay men and Lesbians wanting, beyond anything, to be accepted as "normat"! do you think that bisexuals, trans folk and folks truely questioning their sexuality are not a part of the picture here? Please.
Anonymous
Absolutely; the phrase "gay and lesbian" is not inclusive. It's a no-brainer!
Melinda Brown
If "gay and lesbian" is being used to mean the broader community, then yes, definitely it should be replaced by a more inclusive term, like LGBT or queer. I contributed to positive outreach to and education of the mainstream hetero community when I was a lesbian, and I continue to do so as a bisexual. A more inclusive term would recognize what all members of our community do.
That being said, I've noticed that many gays and lesbians use LGBT when they still really mean "gay and lesbian". Just look at all the books and articles that use LGBT but have no T or B content. I'd rather people say "gay and lesbian" if they really aren't being inclusive of bisexual and transgendered folks.
Sarah Young
As a bisexual who's been actively working on the community for the past 15 years, it's a thousand little stings to have my existence ignored over and over again in how we label ourselves. Gee, sorry I'm too "inconvenient" to include. No one seemed to think so last time I was stuffing envelopes for our GLBT center, or volunteering at Pride.
Anonymous
What about just saying "queer"?
Patrick
if you narrow it down, "gay" and "lesbian" is the defining component of all of the groups involved in the abbreviations. I've always felt I was *more* than an abbreviation, thanks.
Anthony
Bisexuals and transgenders are finally respectfully recognized as individuals in this society. At the same time, we don't have to be all inclusive. It is bad enough need to be labeled.
Jennifer
Why should the homosexual community abandon our transgendered and bisexual family? The hetrosexual world segregates them and we, gays and lesbians, should accept them with open arms.
clark
I'm 26, and although I wasn't around for Stonewall (for example) in 1969, it seems that the time and energy we spend fighting among each other has not gotten any less... I mean, we're still fighting about who's more worthy of civil and human rights-- In the women's movement early on lesbians were kicked out because they were deemed a threat to women being able to accomplish all they wanted too, because being a lesbian was bad. Since Stonewall it seems we lesbian, gay, bi, trans, and queer folk are still trying to separate and put down each other in order to get ahead in the eyes of the heterosexual world. I think all of the responses thus far illustrate in perfect form how rampant and destructive and angry this divisive shit is! These patterns are the same tools that have been used for years, from the earliest days of pathologizing homosexuality to current day marriage politics.
I'm a gay FTM Transsexual man and for example, I don't believe in marriage as a social institution but have and will continue to fight for the right of my gay and lesbian brothers and sisters to have the right to marry if they want to.
We're all in this damn boat together, honey. We're all human, and when gay and lesbian folks decide that I'm not as worthy as they are of human rights, I know that they're using me as a token to put down in the mud in order for them to stand taller on. And yet, I can't turn my back...
We have to keep pushing forward.
Anonymous
Actually, it should be LGBTQQI: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and intersex. These have always been the constituents of our wonderful vibrant community. LG is in fact reactionary. Get with it!
Anonymous
People need to wake up and smell the coffee... the continuum exists... and we should be allies together against the real enemies, not being exclusive and territorial!
Anahi Galante
As a local community organizer in faith-based events and beyond I have been used the LGBT for more than 7 years now!!!!
Inclusion is a MUST!
Lets not perpetuate and perpetrate the same exclusion we once suffered.
Lets embrace the diversity we once used to claim for L&G only...
Blessings,
Anahi Galante, Interfaith Minister
Anonymous
I'm offended by the gay folks who have commented saying
that bis and trans should fight their own battles.
Stonewall was full of bis and trans folks, how
about the gay community acknowledges the fact that
IF IT WEREN'T FOR BI AND TRANS FOLKS, THE "GAY" COMMUNITY WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN AS FAR AS IT HAS IN THE STRUGGLE FOR EQUAL RIGHTS.
Hell, the "mother of pride" was Brenda Howard, a BISEXUAL woman.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brenda_Howard
Jonathan
Obviously, "LGBTQ" is cumbersome at best. "Queer" should replace "gay and lesbian" if it needs to be replaced. One has only to consider the history of queer people to understand that we have indeed moved into the realm of queer, where identities are unstable, blurred, multifarious. Why fear queer?
Anonymous
I don't think the abbreviation matters as much as the attitude. The Lesbian Avengers is a radical rights group, and they include any alternative gender or sexuality. Nobody complains that their name implies it's for lesbians only.
So it's more in the actions, not the language. As a bi activist, I am offended by bi and trans exclusion. Many organizations claim to be GLBT but are really GL. It makes the GLBT acronym useless, because we don't know if the organization is REALLY inclusive or not. Add to that many orgs that ARE inclusive but haven't changed their name.
Use whatever language you want, but think, "What would a bisexual do? What would a trans person do?" For instance, same-sex marriage. Why aren't folks using bisexuals as an example. As a bi woman, how different am I if I'm monogamously with a woman versus with a man? *I* don't change, and yet one marriage is allowed and another not.
Richard Birney-Smith
Yes, bisexual, trangendered and transexual persons are either excluded or marginalized by the simple gay and lesbian pairing.
Similarly, "same-sex marriage" should be called just that rather than gay marriage or lesbian marriage.
Lani
Most of the time now LGBT is appropriate, and at other times
historically speaking it is not.
Like all communication the
speaker/writer needs to be clear.
Anonymous
It would be lovely if there were a single word that adequately encompassed the community. To some extent, the word queer is growing to do that. In the meantime, however, inclusivity is far more important than "sounding good."
alex hirka
Seems like there are two discussions going on - One: about the language - the ease and cultural power of the terms gay and/or lesbian as balanced against the potentially cumbersome or confusing (but more more inclusive) LGBTQetc acronym... my vote here would be for Queer (as I have come to apply it to my own openly bisexual, polyamory, kinky self)... and two: the inclusion or exclusion of certain sexual identities, orientations, or permutations. Alas, you can hear it in the tone of some of the respondents here - the superiority of identity, the arrogance, and the boldly exclusionary attitudes that seem to mimic those thrown at them by the straight world. In the long run my shoulder is to the wheel (it's got a Q emlazoned on the hubcap) that says that we are in this - the struggles and the celebrations! - together.
Rick Innis
In general, yes. Bisexuals, trans people, and other people who don't fall nearly into society's straight/gay, male/female dichotomy are fighting the same battles as the gay and lesbian communities - and sometimes fighting those battles within the G/L community, as a quick read of some of these comments shows. To quote Tom Robinson:
"Gay Liberation means freedom for all
But a label is no liberation at all
I'm here and I'm queer and I do what I do
And I'm not gonna wear a straight-jacket for you"
Anonymous
Yes, especially when LGBT is who is being described and not just gay and lesbian. It should also include SGL (same gender loving) I (intersexed) Q (questioning/ queer) and any other community that is being referenced.
Jon Bassinger-Flores
Even LGBT, GLBTQ or QTBLG still aren't totally inclusive of same gender loving men and women, gender blind or androgynous folks. The struggle to define ourselves with an umbrella phrase or abbreviation is a great challenge, one that should foster communication between the various branches of our "family" tree.
Anonymous
Alphabet soup is nothing but poop!
Anonymous
No, I don't think the abbrieviations should replace "gay" and "lesbian" because I don't that I have anything more in common with transexuals than heterosexuals. Just because I don't discriminate against a group, doesn't mean I have to be lumped in with them.
Cheryl Dobinson
I support an inclusive abbreviation like LGBT or GLBTQ. "Gay and lesbian" doesn't cover all the folks who are part of our fabulous community. Many people identify as bisexual or as queer, and it's also important to include trans folks. I see our communities as wonderfully diverse in terms of how people identify their gender and sexuality and I'd like to see us refer to ourselves in as inclusive a way as we can.
Anonymous
the queer community is more than just gay and lesbian - there's bi, questioning, trans, queer-identified but otherwise straight, loves sex with men but is obsessed with breasts. Sex is not only a matter of binaries.
Anonymous
I'm bisexual. I've volunteered many hours for GLBT issues, written many checks to GLBT organizations, and had many personal talks with people who held homophobic positions but were open to hearing other views.
But I am increasingly frustrated with the viewpoint, expressed by so many here, that bisexuals and transgender people are so awful that even mentioning us by a single letter apiece drags decent gays and lesbians down. The shift from "gay and lesbian" to "GLBT" and its variants happened because bisexual and transgender people were affected by the same prejudices and were active in the same community. It acknowledges what's been true all along. It's simply more accurate.
Bill Carey
I am offended by the acronym LGBT and I feel the extended acronym GLBTQ is an expression of a troubled mind. If memory serves me, the word GAY came to mean "homosexual" because it was felt that homosexual was too long and clinical a term to define a really brilliant community. Also, if you sleep with your own sex, male or female, you are homosexual -- GAY. And I believe lesbians insistence that they be known as "lesbian" and not "gay" divorces them from the homosexual community. Maybe this is what they want, in which case the "L" should be dropped from any acronym meaning homosexual.
Anonymous
For LGBT publications and other media, sure it's fine. But for "mainstream" media, we need to use the full, spelled-out terms. Hell, we're still trying to get them past "homosexual", which is the term the religious right uses.
Thom
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As a gay man, I do not want to be tied into an acronym that is meaningless. I do not understand the transgender thing. It isnt about orientation, so they can fight their own damn battles.
Bisexuality is not homosexuality, means nothing to me, also, they can fight their own damn battles.
I do not see and transgenders or bisexuals standing up for my rights, if they are, who are they. What do they do for the gay causes?????
These associations do not help the gay community.
Anonymous
I believe we should be using Gay and Lesbian community only. Bi-sexual is a preference and its addition to the Gay & Lesbian community takes away from the fact that Sexual Orientation is natural where Bi-Sexual is most often thought to be a choice. I am also unhappy with lumping the trangendered community with Gay/Lesbian as using Transgendered is akin to adding the Aids fight to the fight on Cancer just because they are medicals illnesses.
Anonymous
No, I think to the Gen Q's this is the wave of the future, to be so exclusive that even those who have only once thought of a same sex laison would be included in this ever meaningless "letter salad" A lesson should be learned from gay history that too much inclusion leads to things such as the fateful inclusion of NABLA into New York's Gay Pride march. It was a disaster, and used by the religious right, as well it should. If Generation Q didn't revile the older freedom fighters (no, we don't all want you!) then they could have the energy, coupled with political savy. As for now, all they have is energy without direction. Enough with the ever-increasing and meaningless letters! Even poor liberal straights can't even keep up.
Gary
As someone who loves and appreciates concise,meaningful language, I sure hope this trend toward acronyms doesn't prevail--Somehow I think it's related to what seems to be an almost pathological need to be always Politically Correct with Caps- God forbid we should not be on the cutting edge of politcial inclusiveness-- alas, I can be grateful that there are only 26 letters in the alphabet -and also grateful that in just a few years there will no doubt be some newer, more trendy--OOPS, I meant PC -- ways to describe ourselves
W. Rogers RN (ret.)
OR, how about each person deciding for themselves, and respect whatever they choose to call themselves. THEN move on to issues of greater importance than acronyms vs. words. vs. labels. Like equal rights, poverty, justice, and peace for all of us regarless of who we are or what we call ourselves. SHEESH Does ANYONE REALLY CARE about abbreviations?
Anonymous
It would be stupid to do that. Those abbrebiations refer to a whole group of related but different people. It would only be confusing and just not specific enough.
Eric, Brooklyn NY
My mother didn't raise me to be an acronym.
Anonymous
What's with the "Q" crap? How silly.
Kristen Carroll
I think we'd be making great strides as a community if we stopped putting such weight on things like phrases, titles and acronymns such as LGBT, etc... The moment we stop focusing on classifying ourselves, and every subset we believe is indeed a subset of our GLBTQ world, is hopefully the moment we begin to live as people, and not just as gay people. We are so much more than our initial, and if we can reduce ourselves to a four letter word, so can society.
Bill isham
The terms "gay" and "lesbian" should be used as adjectives and not nouns: "I'm a gay man," not "I'm a gay." As adjectives, they can be predicated, as in "I'm gay." I cringe when I hear sentences like "Those two are gays" (contrast with "Those two are gay").
Even the editors at the Advocate often get this wrong....
Steve in Chicago
Jeez. Are we looking to label ourselves now as nothing more than an acronym?......
Jaiden
This is a touchy subject. I don't want to see the GAY AND LESBIAN community to constantly try to absorb other folks into the community. It isn't like their 'struggles' are the same as ours. Why not have GLBTQP? Add Poly folks to our little club! Or maybe GLBTQPL with the other L standing for liberals, since only liberal voice seem to have anything nice to say about us?
Marie
Why must everything be so complicated? How's this for an acronym- KISS (keep it simple stupid) Gay and lesbian is just fine.
Patrick
I think there's a place for both. Sometimes we may want to say "gay, lesbian, bi, and transgender," and sometimes we may want to say "queer," and sometimes LGBT or GLBTQ might be what we want to say. It depends on the context. What I don't think we want to do is use terms that are so obtuse that ordinary people won't know what we mean.
Courtney
I don't care one way or the other. It's a little easier to say....at times. The majority of the population, in my opinion, don't know what it stands for unless you're talking about a gay and lesbian issue. I have to explain to my friends (i'm 15...16 on Sunday...June 11th) what it means when I use LGBT or GLBTQ
Cindy
I really think we have a few more things that are just a little more important to worry about. But, as medical research is increasingly demonstrating we really didn't "choose," using the GBLT desigination puts a "PC" spin on the situation and maybe gives our demands for equal rights more "legitimacy."
However, getting agreement on this will be harder than trying to herd cats.
Karrie
I vote we scratch all of it and just go for 'queer,' It's inclusive of the wonderful diversity in our community. AND - I don't have to stumble over all the letters (which I can never get right - even after 20 years of practice.) Although at first I cringed over a word that reminded me of hatred, my work with young queer youth has inspired me to embrace the term.
My only caveat would be in regards to the general public - who are only just now getting used to the term 'gay and lesbian.'
Anonymous
Isnt LGBT an abbreviation for the benefits of walking: LGBT = Less Gasoline Buying Trouble. Q also means Quit...so may be Quit Buying Gasoline For Less Trouble = QBGFLT
uh oh this can go on and on, while all of those more important issues remain standing on the side-curb tired and worn out....
Sarah
In most cases, LGBT has largely replaced the terms "gay and lesbian", at least where I live. You use the terms gay and lesbian when specifically talking about gay men and lesbians. LGTB refers to our entire community. I think it is a great positive step.
Cynthia Connors
absolutely yes! most everyone I know uses LGBT, Gay or Lesbian unless in reference to a specific person sounds totally archaic
Anonymous
I like Open best.
Anonymous
Gay used to be all inclusive, now our community is wattered down by division and terms. If they are going to be using different terms then we need to figure out a term for a closeted straight guy because, I'm a gay closeted straight guy, so I think we need to add "S." Queer is the same thing as saying Gay, so why even have the "Q." What about "F" for Fag, our community has adopted that as well. If you haven't noticed all of them fall under GAY Community. What about "BO" for Boy! We all like our boys to... you have "L" for lesbian, but nothing for the BOY community, what's the deal with that? People are tired of dividing our community into terms, so new generations are using the term Queer, and Queer is also all inclusive. What gives?
Anonymous
When gay guys say "I'm not L, I'm not B, I'm not T, I'm not Q. I'm gay. Get used to it," I understand. But part of what that I hear in that comment is that this person isn't particularly interested in identifying with the larger community of sexual minority people. Fine, message received. And, yes, when speaking of same-sex oriented men, "gay" works fine, a word that speaks loud and clear. But when speaking of the larger sexual minority community, "gay" or "gay and lesbian" doesn't cut it for me anymore. AND, all the initials (while attempting to be more inclusive) create their own hurdles, as so many comments demonstrate. Bottom line: we need one or two new good strong words to use when speaking of our larger community as a whole. Not initials. I don't know what that word is. Maybe the name will come to me in a dream. A really good dream.
Anonymous
Let's go with GLBTQQAACAERHSDLX. It includes everybody and nobody would be offended.
Dana O'Day-Senior
The phrase "gay and lesbian" is much less cumbersome than some of the many acronyms and abbreviations, but "gay and lesbian" is much less inclusive and not as accurately descriptive of our community. The real question lies in which abbreviation to use, and how many letters to include. Is LGBT sufficient? Or should we try to encompass everyone with GLBTQQI or something to that effect?
Anonymous
Are African Americans A or AA's?
Anonymous
Like where have you beenn, duh? IT ALREADY HAS.
Anonymous
The abreviation is more inclusive, and inclusion in the language is important for recognition in society.
Jeffrey (TaterHead)
I'm gay. NOT L. NOT B. NOT T. And NOT Q.
Get used to it!
Brendan
I am gay, and for a long time there was only gay and lesbian. But as we modernize we want to be inclusive. I am not sure the acronym is the best way to go. Queer sounds a lot more inclusive.
Lisa in NE
I think it is important to say GLBT or even GLBTQ so that everyone in OUR community knows that being "gay" is more than being a white guy who likes guys. It is men and women (and those in between), of all colors, races, and religions; who have differnt beliefs (and kinks). The reason we went from Gay to Gay and Lesbian to GLBT to GLBTQ is because our community does not make those of us who are not white gay men feel like we are a part of the community. Not sure of what I say? Well consider there are Dyke Marches and Black Gay Pride events all over the country to go along with the normal Gay Pride Parades. If we all felt like we were apart of the community as a whole, there would not be a need for sepperate events. We need to work on this, because before we can change the minds of all the homophobes out there we first need to stand as one community. . .not several. I would love to get to the day where the word Gay stood for all GLBTQ and Ally persons. Heck GLBTQ and Ally is just too much to say (and to type)
Anonymous
Recently at my college we had a debate about the subject. We decided that the term "gay and lesbian" was just too limited, especially when trying to speak to the entire "queer" community.
On the other hand, it would seem quiet silly to say LGBT or GLBTQ when you're really just talking about gay's and lesbians. I guess its based on the group your talking to.
Renee
Identifying as gay or lesbian doesn't begin to cover the spectrum of all that we are but, then again, neither does calling ourselves black or white. There will never be a term that encompasses everyone. Let's just start with those two and then personalize our identity.
Gary (NJ)
LGBT always makes me think of a sandwich!
JR
No. Among gay people/gay organizations, sure, and it already has. But if you mean to the general public, no. Educating the largely homophobic American population has a lot more basic and serious issues to deal with.
Anonymous
gay has become synonomous with Queer. I prefer Queer. We're different and should acknowledge and be proud of that fact!
Mykel Scott
I am old enough to remember when we were the gay & lesbian community. When we started adding Bi and Trans people is was very confusing. I think we should drop everything except Queer. The important thing is we aren't straight people.
Rachel
Yes, however I was surprised when I came out at work how few people knew what the letters stand for. As a T-person, gay and lesbian issues are definitely my issues but the descrimination T-people face goes much deeper. I sometimes tell people that I'm the only thing worse than gay (from society's stand-point that is).
It will take some education but the phrase "gays and lesbians" leaves out a large group of sexual minorities such as, transgender, bisexual, and intersex people.
Anonymous
I have found all of these abbreviations strange from the very beginning - not to mention the fact that they are getting completely out of control as more and more letters are added on. While cooperation is needed to get various things accomplished, the fact remains, whether we like it or not, that we ARE different. As a gay man I have little in common with lesbians, transgendered, bi-sexuals, etc. We simply do not share common interests that would led to our hanging out together or spending much time together socially.
Anonymous
Most people do not know what LGBT or GLBTQ stand for. Gay and Lesbian will put the issues out there faster
Russell VanAllen
As our roll in society changes the term simply revolves. I like words not just first letters. We have enough of them. Where did the word referrence begin?
Bob abroad
Actually, I think all pejorative slang expressions (gay, queer, fags, dykes, etc.) make us look like people who don't take ourselves seriously. We'd be better off sticking to "same-sex", for example "same-sex marriage, partnerships, clubs" instead of "gay marriage". Instead of "I'm gay", how about "I'm looking for / I have a boy-friend, a partner, a husband ...", or "I'm interested in other boys/men/guys ..." (or girls/women...).
All the slang words emphasize peculiarities, but to get ahead politically, we have to emphasize how much like other people or other minorities we are. Other minorities don't describe themselves in pejorative terms when they're speaking to or writing for people outside their groups, and majorities don't use pejorative expressions for themselves either.
Richard Rothstein
Initialism is an idiotic American habit that creates "outsiders", people who don't understand the meaning.Personally, I'm content with Gay and Queer. But we could go back to confirmed bachelor and maiden aunt?
Loraine
But only if we really do good journalism exploring the lives of bisexual and transgender and gender queer and intersex people regularly and don't assume that they are just variations on G and L. They aren't. The whole variety is important and connected and worthy of recognitions.
mountainmanusa@verizon.net
After having read all the other entries, no one suggested that perhaps
"rainbow" be used as covering all sexualities!
Noticed one other interesting one:
S G Osame gender orientied. Interesting
Anonymous
If these acronyms are used to represent a larger community, more people are included. Individuals should be allowed to label themselves however they choose, so if individuals wish to label themselves gay or lesbian, that is their choice. As a bisexual/queer person, I prefer a more inclusive word or acronym. All people are not comfortable with "queer," so I will compromise to one of the acronyms that is most inclusive.
Anonymous
I have lived my entire life trying to get not only myself but others to accept that "gay" equals same-sex orientation; connoting a difference but without any derogatory indications. Queer, though similar to the attempts like "nigger" in the black community, has a definite sharp biting dis-taste even in its pronunciation.
Anonymous
i think all the abreviations get too confusing. half the time you don't know who's talking about what. when i write my congressman to vote against discrimination in any form, i want to be sure he or she and i both know what issue i'm referring to.
Anonymous
Absolutely not! Being gay or lesbian and being transgendered are two entirely different things, and I'm not at all convinced that they should be lumped together in the same category. As for bisexual...I have opinions on that subject that are probably best kept to myself. Gays and lesbians are men and women who have gone through the often painful process of coming out and learning to live openly in a society that is not at all friendly to their existence or their "lifestyle." They're not questioning, they're not on the fence, and they've earned the right stand alone as some of the toughest, most honest, and most genuine people alive. Gay men and lesbians deserve better than the ubiquitous alphabet soup that masquerades as inclusiveness and tolerance. No matter what the youngest among us may choose to believe, "gay" is not "over."
Joe
I feel that I feel most proud when I tell people I am gay, and they understand what it means. Some people may not understand what GLBTQ or LGBT means and therefore it causes more confusion and could lead to more problems. Im GAY and Im proud, and I will continue to use the word gay!
Jim
It's important to be inclusive, as much as possible.
Lindsey
Part of me considered that gay or lesbian was sufficient and representative of the community before, but after many of my friends expressed that they were bi and the importance of that, I know that saying gay or lesbian isn't enough.
Joe in San Francisco
These labels only seem to divide us as a community. It has gone from "gay", to "gay and lesbian", to GLB, to GLBT, and now to GLBTQ! In 5 years will it be GLBTQHMVSP (use your imagination as to what the other letters could mean)! The "anti-gay", oops, "anti-GLBTQ" groups must be laughing at us.
Anonymous
Worrying about politically correct, "inclusive" labels is ridiculous. Whether you consider yourselves gay, lesbian, bi, transgender, queer or whatever, the "anti-gay" groups are "anti-all of us". These abbreviations only seem to segment us as a community.
J. Bergmann
The "Q" brings to my mind that while I understand many younger persons prefer "queer" over "gay" and "lesbian", I wonder if they also realize that for many of us 'older persons' the word "queer" was a very derogatory word in our younger days. It was pretty much used along the same lines as "fag" to put people down.
Anonymous
I'm fine with the word queer. It covers all of us.
Maria C. Triolo
Many years ago we were ALL "homosexuals!" Then we became "Queers!" Then we ALL became "Gay!" Then we distinguished the "Lesbians" from the Gays." Now another change is being proposed. Change is ultimately inevitable, but how can the "straight" community consider us
as serious & consistent if WE can't decide what we are? We are men & women who share emotional & physical intimacy with same sex partners...Call that what you will...I call it BEAUTIFUL! I'm one of God's chosen.
Dave Daulton
How about GLBTS, with the S for straights too. It's not really about the sexuality. It's about the fairness.
Secret
answer me this: i am a woman who is attracted to other women, as well as men, as well as intersexed individuals, and transgendered people.
i cannot identify as lesbian. and i am obviously not heterosexual. bisexual doesn't even come close. queer is the only thing that i feel comes close to describing how i feel.
Jamie Taylor
Its important that Bisexuals and transgendered people have recognition as part of the Gay and Lesbian community. People who are straight are prone to be a little more aware of gays and lesbians, but they might be totally unaware of bisexuality and transgender, which would feed even more ignorance into the public.
Anonymous
No, I don't think an abbreviation like LGBT or GLBTQ, etc., should replace use of the phrase gay and lesbian. I think that gay should be used for both gay men and gay women. I think that lesbian should be used for women. But I don't think that LGBT or GLBTQ, etc. should be used to represent all. Guys are gay. Women are gay and lesbian. Lesbian doesn't fit for a man. It fits for a woman. When I first saw the LGBT abbreviation, I was confused. This is also my first time seeing the GLBTQ abbreviation. I was confused by that abbreviation. Bisexual is for those who are bisexual. Etc. I'm gay. I prefer the word gay. I love calling myself gay. I don't associate myself with the abbreviations. I associate myself as gay. I love being gay and I'm extremely proud of it. Although I am in the closet. You can be extremely proud to be gay and be in the closet. In certain circumstances, I might understand using the abbreviations, but I think it's best not to use the abbreviations. It can make people confused. I prefer not to use the abbreviations. I prefer to use the word gay for myself. That's it. Nothing else. I don't like the word queer or fag, either. They're both way too derogatory. I prefer the word gay. I love being gay. I absolutely love it!
Anonymous
It's too bad that "Hell yeah!" isn't an option. Whenever a celebrity is bi, the community rushes to claim that celebrity, so a little consistency and respect for those of us bisexuals who are not famous would be appreciated. Transfolk should be respected as part of the community, too.
F
Why not just identify as pansexual? It covers so many bases and I think people have evolved passed the abbreviations and the terms gay/lesbian. Love transcends gender, does it not?
Chana Hulsey
Everyone talks about how different, unique, diverse the the LGBT community is, but why would we want to all be lumped into one group? I support using it when talking of the "community" but for general usage we should be calle by how we identify...gay, lescin, trans, queer, bi (or as one of my friends says....open)
Paul
LGBT or is it BLTG hold the mayo? It's too euphemistic to be effective. It allows us to get away with being covert (most straight people are oblivious to it - to them it IS a sandwich) rather than out and proudly gay, lesbian, bisexual and/or transgendered. It's a mouthful, but it's honest.
Tinkerbell
This is so not an issue! Do we also have to add: HIV and S&M and Closeted and Clergy and Twink?
Ask anybody of moderte intellect what the "I" means in LGBTI.... and they won't know or care. if they do know, ask them to explain it.
Tinkerbell
This is so not an issue! Do we also have to add: HIV and S&M and Closeted and Clergy and Twink?
Ask anybody of moderte intellect what the "I" means in LGBTI.... and they won't know or care. if they do know, ask them to explain it.
Anonymous
There is a part of me that wants to say that it just is not that important, however, there is a stronger portion of me that understands that the use of the phrase "gay and lesbian" to represent the multitude of our community necessarily excludes from recognition those that are not "gay and lesbian." So, Yes, an abbreviation should replace the phrase.
Ray Shelton
Gay Americans who call themselves "FAG" or "Queer" have no self-respect. They are just idiots and most often freaks who think being gay means wearing a dress or the skin of a dead cow. Thanks a lot guys, you've really helped move civil rights along. Assholes.
Ray Shelton
NO. NO. and NO.
We are gay Americans.
"Queer" is a slur word. What the fuck does being transgendered have to do with being gay? NOTHING. As for bisexuals--I've never met a single one. And even if they exist--it's the gay side that faces discrimination, not the straight side. How will America ever treat us with respect, if we don't respect ourselves.
Frankly, people who use the alphabet soup letters look like idiots on tv and everywhere else.
Anonymous
An acronym like LGBT should replace "gay and lesbian," but one must remember that no acronym can ever be entirely inculsive either. However, there exist no room for expanding the definition of who the community is comprised of in a term like "gay and lesbian."
Tom K.
WE ARE GAY MEN AND WOMEN.. TRANSGENDERS ARE NOT GAY
Mark Tidwell
I chose yes not because I don't like the terms gay or lesbian- but because GLBTQ or LGBT represents a larger protion of our community. My personal fav is actually GLBTQ because in my mind the Q represents not only those of us who are gay or trangender but the people out there who are supporters of our causes and who deserve to be recognized too.
Anonymous
People who refuse to call themselves gay or lesbian are just trying to be better then the rest of us. They are afraid to be put in a box. They need to realize the only boxes we are put in are the ones we put ourselves in.
Lamont
I feel inclusivity is a key to showing solidarity, a united front. We have to let our persecutors know that we are a force to deal with and that we recognize and support all the members of our community and the Religious Reich can not divide and conquer us by picking at different aspects of our community. It is important to let the different parts of our community know that we recognize them and support them
Anonymous
The community is diverse and it is very important we show that we are many people.
Anonymous
Isn't the point that we don't catagorize/stereotype/label?
B.J. Caldwell
It is more inclusive --- though not as inclusive as "queer"
Richard Anderson
the two terms should coincide and be used interchangably. you use gay or lesbian to be specific, and lgbt to discuss the entire community. it's just that simple.
Anonymous
And I can remember the good old INCLUSIVE days when "gay" included women, and lesbians did not feel they needed a word of their own.
Anonymous
Remember back in the day when "men" supposedly meant "men and women", except when it didn't. Some of the comments bother me when they say, "I'm gay, who needs all those other letters?" Well, if you're trans or bi, I don't think it's adequate to say "gay" includes you, too -- esp. if a person knows that often "gay" ISN'T meant to include them. That's what the "alphabet soup" is about: people trying to find ways to be acknowledged, accepted and not invisible. Words count. The fact is the phrase "gay and lesbian" doesn't represent bi, trans, inter and questioning people very well, does it? I appreciated the article in the current Advocate on "Is 'Gay' Dead". A different way of coming at the same issue.
Anonymous
y.i.o.
Anonymous
Yes. But it has taken me years to finally say the letters in the right order without having to think about it.
L. farmer
I can appreciate people wanting to use different words or abbreviations to identify themselves, but the reality is as an African Latino gay male growing up I was comfortable with the word gay. Although the images of men of African descent engaging in homosexual acts were limited and if they were seen, it was in the arms of White men, I understood gay =homosexual which equals attracted to the same gender. Every trans gender person I've met (and believe me I know many of all races and biological sexes) did not have an issue with the gay and lesbain identity. The problem was the ignorance they experienced from the gay and lesbian community, who were either unwilling to respect them or viewed them as embarrassment. I feel bisexuals and transgenders were allied with self identified gays and lesbians in the 60 s and earlier. It was the homophobes, bi phobes, and other idiots that made an issue of diversity within an already diverse community. Many communities of color do not see themselves represented on television or in movies depicting gay people. As a result, the word gay doesn't resonate with them. However, at age 18 when I watched a documentary about Harvey Milk, I did not see anyone who looked like me, but his sexual orientation mirrored mine. Harvey Milk was my gay heroe at age 18 when I had no one else regardless of color I could identify with. As I got older I searched for people who looked like me, but inbetween there was no shame or confusion as to what gay meant.
Robert Goodman
While I am not terribly concerned about what we call ourselves, as a Counselor I see this type of questioning as being very important. GLBTQ people have historically lived under such oppression, and as such have been prevented from fully actualizing ourselves, individually and collectively. This searching for a term to call ourselves is really the continuing search for identity, and it is absolutely healthy. We are emerging from our oppression; we are evolving; and for really the first time in history, we are defining OURSELVES. Wow! That's powerful!
Morgan Riley
While I recognize my place in the larger queer or GLBTQ communities, I identify as a lesbian, not as "queer" or "GLBTQ."
"Gay and lesbian" simply is not a term synonymous with "GLBTQ." There are situations in which one is more appropriate than the other.
Closet- Lesbian
doesn't LGBT suppose to represent the "entire" community of queers? Its a unity of labels & thus this is a bogus question to begin with. Why would you replace LGBT when I clearly know Im a lesbian? where's the logic in that?
Screen my name
its not a form of labeling when everything else is labeled. Heterosexuality is a label. I love labels to an extent but not to screen & pigeon-hole individuals into one big slot.
Get Tested
NO NO NO !!! keep it the way it is.
Rich Haywood
For crying out loud, since 1968 I have been struggling to gain equal
rights for me and my kind...Who will benefit from this abbreiation and who needs it?I don't need my identification marginalized any further. I am GAY,I'm here and queer now get over it!
Will McMorris
i like queer in the the way the people of color use the N word
and the hispanics use beaner
i may be missing some neuonce(sic) here but but my first mutual encounter with another male was when billie called me queer and we shared in some passion.
to me queer includes gay, lesbian, bi, trans, intersex, did i miss any?
ever since nyc pride '77 i have responed to "are you gay?" with yes but i get depressed some times.
the young in age must create there/their own melieu(sic) and i am impressed with most thus far
wmc369@nycap.rr.com
53yo gwm in albany
thank you, peace, love
Will McMorris
i like queer in the the way the people of color use the N word
and the hispanics use beaner
i may be missing some neuonce(sic) here but but my first mutual encounter with another male was when billie called me queer and we shared in some passion.
to me queer includes gay, lesbian, bi, trans, intersex, did i miss any?
ever since nyc pride '77 i have responed to "are you gay?" with yes but i get depressed some times.
the young in age must create there/their own melieu(sic) and i am impressed with most thus far
wmc369@nycap.rr.com
53yo gwm in albany
thank you, peace, love
Roland Strobel
alphabet soup sucks. "Gay" should replace "gay and lesbian"
Casey
No. First, they're just annoying and don't generally save time, since whenever you're speaking to somebody who isn't already part of the club (y'know, the ones who it's most important to talk to) you wind up having to define things anyway, which just derails the conversation and is intimidating, and secondly, bring in the "t" element of that brings in an entirely different set of issues. Fact is, as a woman whose sexual orientation is geared toward other women, I'm perfectly happy using the word gay. It's short, people know what you're talking about, and it avoids this obnoxious balkanization that the ackronyms impose. Queer, no matter how often activists use it, will never lose its stigma, and only further separates us from society. Pick a word, and stick with it - we've got more important things to deal with than never ending identity nonsense.
ohio jay
I am
gay not blt stp lgty ljkutybn or whatever.
Anonymous
The phrase "gay and lesbian" is not in any way inclusive. It excudes bisexual, transgendered, transexual, and genderqueer people and those who chose not to identify with a particular label. We need to work on being MORE inclusive and unite people from ALL backgrounds rather than segregate and discriminate
Bill Simpson
Although in most conversation, I have used the phrase "LGBT" in the past, I do not want one term to REPLACE other legitimate terms. I do not want persons to be made uncomfortable when by mistake, they use the "wrong term."
Anonymous
No. Labels of any kind are bad.
J.
Instead of Gay, or LGBT, etc..... I like SGO ( same gender oriented).. instead of gay or lesbian. They are old NEGATIVE terms in society.. SGO is much more appropriate for men and women oriented to the same gender.For Bi and trans people, they will have to come up with something new on their own. I like to use SGO.. I think it's more accurate and new and dignified.End of story.
Richard - Las Vegas
No! I think the acronym should be GL for Gay and Lesbian as the Bisexual and Transgendered communities have no right to be included with us at all! It annoys me no end that the acronym has become GLBT in the last few years in an effort to appear more politically correct and inclusive. Bisexuals are "fence sitters" and are incapable of making a decision as to which group they belong to. As for transgendereds: how are they considered gay or lesbian? Once they change, they then consider themselves "heterosexual" and change their birth certificates and drivers' licenses in order to now "pass" as the opposite sex. Please drop the BT from the acronym and go back to calling us the Gay and Lesbian Community. Queer also works for me!
Don "Stuffed Animal" Charles
I am a Gay man! I am distinctly different from someone who is bisexual or transgendered. "Queer" is very offensive to me, and even if it weren't, it has became so laden with politics it can mean almost anything depending on who is using it. I don't like being lumped in with people I have little in common with, and I resent being referred to as LGBT just because some journalist is too lazy to write a word.
Anonymous
I think that substituting initials for a group of very disparate people waters us down to some faceless mass. We already have enough of that happening. I am neither bisexual or transgendered. I am a very proud and out lesbian.
Jamee
Why would you want to replace it with that? It would sound stupid to me, "oh yah I'm LGBT or GLBTQ" no offense but it just seems wierd. I do agree that "gay" or "lesbian" should be placed with a different word. Something that means different or happy.
Sheela Lambert
It hurts a lot to be treated like you dont exist. Every time I went to the "Lesbian and Gay " Center, the "Lesbian and Gay" Pride March or the "Lesbian and Gay" Film Festival in NYC I would feel pain at being treated like the bastard cousins at the barbecue. Now that the names have been changed to LGBT I feel only joy when participating in our community events.
I wish the Advocate would follow suit and set an editorial policy of using LGBT whenever possible.
Kevin
I think we made a big tactical error when we stopped calling all of us gay. It isn't easy, but it's easier to get a non discrimination bill passed for gays and if that was still considered to cover us all, we'd be done. But it's much harder to pass a seperate trans bill and that isn't fair. So if we all want to us queer, so be it. But I think one word is better unless and until there is full acceptance.
wendy curry
Standing together under an umbrella name shows a united front of inclusion. there's power in numbers
Anonymous
I think GLBT (or whichever order you want the initials in) is not realistically going to become a household term throughout society. I think it works best as more of an inside term, whereas the explicit terms are more appropriate for general discourse. By the way, I would prefer to leave the L[esbian] out, as I was never fond of there being a special separating name for gay females. I never saw the good in it.
Rick
Nobody outside the Gay and lesbian community knows what GLBTQ means and few within the community do. The abbreviations change daily. I saw one today that was LGBTIQQA. What the hell does THAT mean? Do we really expect to be taken seriously when even WE'RE confused as to what to be called?
Bree Mandarino
All in all, i don't think we should have terms or letters or anything else, but when you say 'gay and lesbian', you are referring to men who like men and women who like woman; that's all. It seems a bit unfair to Bisexuals, Transgenders and all else, in a way. I'm a bit mixed up on the whole thing...
Anonymous
i think it should be alphabetical, like BGLQT community
Anonymous
We can't even agree whether the G or the L comes first! This is inclusive??? To those "other folk" we're all gay. Why do we need to further divide ourselves?
Anonymous
No.. i think it's silly that everything has to be so politically correct.
Anonymous
I find the acronym divisive rather than inclusive. We all used to be the Gay Community. Then we started dividing ourselves. When you enumerate, someone always feels left out; as evidenced by the continual addition of more letters. Call us gay, call us queer, call us mutant-x, but make it something simple, consistent, and ALL inclusive. Despite our diversity, we are all in this together.
Anonymous
How many more letters do we have to add?
Bill Perdue, RainbowRED Organization
The question of naming ourselves is becoming confusing because the reality is becoming confusing. New generations are rapidly redefining gender boundaries in a mutating culture and displaying a growing rejection of superstitious bigotry.
The rejection of bigotry, the disgust with priestly boy rapists, and falling barriers of fear and intimidation are leading many young people into uncharted territory. In Australia grade school children are confidently asserting that they’re gay or lesbian as administrators scramble to provide teachers with study guides and other tools to cope. In Canada and the US high school GSA groups are a significant and weighty part of campus life all over the country.
There are still plenty of bigots out there but they don’t have the field to themselves anymore.
During the recent GLSEN sponsored Day of Silence in my hometown, Roseville, CA, christian swine (mostly recent Russian immigrants of the Orthodox cult) wore t-shirts with bigoted slogans and intimidated and taunted gay and lesbian students. But they also complained that straight students threatened them, shoved them around and told them to shut up.
Whither our wellspring is simply genetic or has other causative factors, the impulse to same sex affection and sexuality is more widespread than we imagined and takes many forms. Whatever choices people make about themselves, we have to embrace them. alter our political and cultural thinking and include them in our struggle.
Names, definitions and understanding will inevitably change as the new reality unfolds and more and more ‘straight’ people drop their fear, begin to experiment and grow intolerant of the bigots. It’s a time to ‘go with the flow’, taking a relaxed and open view of who and what we are, because it’s rapidly changing.
A hundred years ago we had an ambiguous understanding of our sexuality. We internalized the self-righteous poison of the christians because we didn’t know any better.
Self doubt, self hatred and self destruction were widespread. We have yet to finally overcome that legacy from the Dark Ages but we’re well on our way and the changing definitions of identities, our politics and even our names is a healthy sign.
Lucas Johnson
Abbreviations are cold and lifeless. I know the intention is to be inclusive but the effect is to exclude anyone who isn't closely involved in the gay and lesbian community from the conversation. They don't know what we're talking about.
Matthew
In what context? Do you mean "replace the phrase for ever and ever, in every context" or to just use it when appropriate? Odd questions, boys and girls.
Kippy
I think all of ther "qualifiers" should be mentioned once and then the generic "gay and lesbian" should be used. I, and I am sure many others, find that trying to be all-inclusive is a noble goal, but it confuses the issues in the minds of so many that it is probably self-defeating for us.
John Turner, MD
Oh, not sure I can vote again. The answer to Greg is: we are people. But, we are not "normal" (statistical term); we are, however "natural" (spontaneously occurring in nature).
John Turner
I am old. As Barbara Gittings says, "What is wrong with Homosexual?". I have never liked "gay" -- once a perfectly useful and precise (albeit multi-faceted) word. What did Leonard Bernstein mean, when he wrote, "Glitter and be Gay"?
Greg
Why can't we all just be "people"? If we want so much to have equal treatment then why is it so important to have a label?
It seems like anything other than the mainstream straight, white person must carry an exotic label in our society. If you don't believe me then watch the news or read the newspaper. White people are "people", black people are "black people" and so on...
If an individual chooses to call themself gay or queer that is fine, and I respect that. But it goes too far when it becomes the american standard.
Anonymous
This is stupid. There is nothing wrong about "gay" or "lesbian." If anything, LGBTQ is worse because it has more syllables, thus is longer to say.
Anonymous
I believe in inclusiveness, but that's stupid. I think we should just be "Queer" . There's no point in being politically correct--P.C. is another word for lipservice but no action, I think. Side note: I think if we do an abbreviation, it should be (FDQBT- fag, dyke, queer, bi, trans)--we should own our words.
Anonymous
If we do that, what will we have left to ponder in this tiny world of queer questions?
I can't even believe we're talking about this. The last thing queers need is an issue that'll make us look uptight.
Doug
Chalk it up to me being bisexual if you must, but I voted yes. "Gay and lesbian" is excluding of bisexuals and transgendered people. It's like including gay men and lesbians in the term "bisexual and transgendered."
Lisa Rayner
I'm bisexual. Like many other bis, I am also very supportive of trans people. I am very politically active with LGBTQ issues and I want an inclusive, yet relatively brief, term.
Anonymous
NO! If this keeps up, soon we're going to have the whole alphabet up there. Keep it simple. Gay and Lesbian is what we were to begin with and we did just fine.
Dave O
Its bad enough to be in a catagory now to just be an abbreviation. What's next, reduced to a footnote?
I'm LGBT and proud isn't as cool as I here I'm Queer! Get used to it! Or Out Gay and Proud. Really wouldn't have the same effect. I'm Gay let me be gay not a bunch of other things.
Charles Stanford
To be politically correct, LGBT should be replaced by LGBTH (for hetrosexual). This is in the interests of diversity and inclusion. How could liberals object?
Caroline
It's tough because there are so many abbreviations now... LGBT, GLBTQ, LGBTQ, GLBTQQA, etc. I've heard people add "XYZ" at the end, just to cover anyone that has been missed. But just as the law and society often exclude gays and lesbians, we often exclude people -- transsexuals, queers, and anyone who doesn't put labels on their sexuality. So I don't care how many letters we have to add on, as long as we aren't excluding, too.
DeWayne
No because the list just keeps growing. next on the horizon is intersex. at some point adding new letters stops being inclusive and just becomes silly.
Theo
Replacing gay & lesbian with an ever expanding series of letters does nothing to promote inclusion within the queer community. It merely becomes indecipherable and meaningless. We have to stop worrying about adding categories and identies, and actually practicing inclusion and understanding within our community.
Anonymous
First it was LGBT, then LGBTQ, now it's LGBTQI - oy vey. I think people w/ nothing better to do are trying to be offbeat and irreverent and in-your-face by using "queer" and all those other words. Having said that, though, I can understand that some people don't feel comfortable w/ the word "gay". I think the word "gay" is a big enough umbrella - and it works for me - but we are a diverse community and maybe we need a better word.
Good luck sorting all that out to heteros, though.
Steve
Yes, but maybe we can find something other than an enumeration. I've seen Gay become GL and then GLB and GLBT and now GLBTQ. Come on. How about finding some nice umbrella term that covers all sorts of human sexuality and just using that, instead of continually adding letters to an unpronounceable acronym?
Anonymous
I'm not an abbreviation, I'm not a buzz word. I'm a human being. If the abbreviations are just tricks to get straight people to accidentally support us because they get confused, I don't need that kind of support. I'm a gay male. I know other gay men. I know gay women. That's enough of a label for me.
Anonymous
why can't it just be "gay"? aren't lesbians gay too?
bob
Our lawmakers are debating amending the Constitution to strip us of our right to marry and you are wasting time on a question like this? What next? Oh I know, how about asking readers whether the pink triangle or rainbow flag is a better symbol?
John H. Neu
Another poorly drafted question, but what the hell! I teach writing occasionally to freshmen college students. A good writer, I tell them, always thinks of his/her audience, the readers. How many of us have read a piece of writing using some abstruse abbreviation which only the "in crowd" recognizes? The LGBT community should be leaning over backwards (Oops!) to be "friendly" to all readers, including those who haven't picked up the latest "alphabet soup".
james
I think use of the acronym is an easy way for newspapers, TV stations, etc., to get out of saying "gay" or "lesbian," et al.
Green Gay
Another stunningly silly poll question from the Advocate. As the Senate debates the anti-gay amendment; as state constitutional amendments continue to proliferate; as the AIDS crisis reaches its 25th anniversary; as the national gay organizations continue to fundraise and send out press releases but do little else; as sweet, uncomplicated ideas like Gay Pride continue to be attacked; as the mainstream media wage an ongoing war to caricature and ridicule us--what does the Advocate have on its mind? This piffle. Isn't it great to have such a conscientious gay magazine speaking for us?
Anonymous
Labels are labels....it doesn't matter what the words are.
Anonymous
I like "queer" best; it covers everything.
Scott...
no, but whatever we use an an abbreviation should be consistent thoughout the community.
Danyelle
I think it will eventually, but right now most of the country doesn't know what those letters stand for. Until most people do, using a mix of the phrases is a good idea.
April 6, 2009
Porn
Do you pay for
porn?
March 4, 2009
Gay Rights
Legislation
Do you feel more
optimistic about the prospects for gay rights
legislation than you did last year?
February 2, 2009
Matthew
Mitcham
Do you think
Matthew Mitcham's sexual orientation hurts his endorsement
chances?
January 5, 2009
PrEP
Are you -- or is
someone you know -- using PrEP (pre-exposure
prophylaxis)?
December 3, 2008
Prop. 8
Should Prop. 8 be
overturned through the courts or at the polls?
November 19, 2008
Pride and
Prejudice
Is gay the new
black?
November 6, 2008
The Economy
Are you afraid of
losing your job?
October 22, 2008
Harvey Milk
Has there been a
gay leader comparable to Harvey Milk since Milk's
death?
October 9, 2008
International LGBT Rights
Do you
think the next U.S. president will champion LGBT rights on
the international stage?
September 24, 2008
The High Cost of
Being Gay
Can you
afford to be gay?
September 10, 2008
Job
Stability
Do you think the
company you work for is financially sound?
August 28, 2008
Proposition
8
Is the defeat of
California's Prop. 8 worth it if Arizona's antigay Prop.
102 passes?
August 13, 2008
A Gay
President
When do you
think the U.S. will elect a gay president?
July 30, 2008
Jesse Helms
Do you
think Jesse Helms's style of bigotry will work in politics
anymore?
July 16, 2008
Obama and
Faith
Do you
support Barack Obama's plan to give federal money to
faith-based charities if LGBT-friendly programs get equal
access to it?
July 2, 2008
Silver
Foxes
Do you find gray
hair sexy?
June 19, 2008
It Takes a
Village
Is Your Family a
Village?
June 4, 2008
California
Weddings
Do you plan
on getting married in California?
May 7, 2008
Religion
Do you still
practice the same religion your family did when you were
growing up?
April 23, 2008
Thomas
Beatie
Did Thomas
Beatie's going public with his pregnancy hurt the
transgender movement?
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