In the 1990s, gay, lesbian, and bisexual activists adopted the initialismLGB. Terminology eventually shifted toLGBT, as transgender people gained recognition. Around that time, some activists began toreclaim the termqueer, seeing it as a more radical and inclusive umbrella term, though others reject it, due to its history as apejorative. In recognition of this, the 2010s saw the adoption ofLGBTQ, and other more inclusive variants.
LGBTQ people collectively form theLGBTQ community, though not all LGBTQ people participate in or consider themselves part of a broader community. These labels are not universally agreed upon by everyone that they are intended to include. For example, someintersex people prefer to be included in this grouping, while others do not. Various alternative umbrella terms exist across various cultures, includingqueer;same-gender loving (SGL); andgender, sexual and romantic minorities (GSRM).
Some versions of the term add aplus sign (+) to represent additional identities not captured by the letters within the initialism. Many further variants exist which add additional identities, such as2SLGBTQ (fortwo-spirit),LGBTQQ (for queer and questioning), or, rarely, the letters ordered differently, as inGLBT andGLBTQ.
The first use of the words Monosexual, Homosexual, and Heterosexual in a letter written on 6 May 1868
The first widely used term,homosexual, now a term used primarily in scientific contexts, has at times carried negative connotations in the United States.[2]Gay became a popular term in the 1970s.[3]
As lesbians forged more public identities, the phrasegay and lesbian became more common.[4] A dispute as to whether the primary focus of their political aims should befeminism orgay rights led to the dissolution of some lesbian organizations, includingDaughters of Bilitis, which was founded byDel Martin and Phyllis Lyon,[5] but disbanded in 1970 following disputes over which goal should take precedence.[6] As equality was a priority forlesbian feminists, disparity of roles between men and women orbutch and femme were viewed aspatriarchal. Lesbian feminists eschewedgender role play that had been pervasive in bars as well as the perceivedchauvinism ofgay men; many lesbian feminists refused to work with gay men or take up their causes.[7]
Lesbians who held theessentialist view that they had beenborn homosexual and used the descriptorlesbian to define sexual attraction often considered theseparatist opinions of lesbian-feminists to be detrimental to the cause of gay rights.[8] Bisexual and transgender people also sought recognition as legitimate categories within the larger minority community.[4]
In the late 1970s and the early 1980s, after the elation of change following group action in the 1969Stonewall riots inNew York City, some gays and lesbians became less accepting ofbisexual ortransgender people.[9][10] TheGay Liberation Front, which was lessassimiliationist, remained more accepting.[11] Critics[like whom?] said that transgender people were acting outstereotypes, and bisexuals were simply gay men or lesbian women who were afraid tocome out and be honest about their identity.[9] Each community has struggled to develop its own identity including whether, and how, to align with othergender and sexuality-based communities, at times excluding other subgroups; these conflicts continue to this day.[10] LGBTQ activists and artists have created posters to raise consciousness about the issue since the movement began.[12]
LGBTQ publications,pride parades, and related events, such as this stage atBologna Pride 2008 in Italy, increasingly drop theLGBT initialism instead of regularly adding new letters and dealing with issues of placement of those letters within the new title[13]
From about 1988, activists began to use the initialismLGBT in the United States.[14] Not until the 1990s within the movement did gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people gain equal respect.[10] This spurred some organizations to adopt new names, as theGLBT Historical Society did in 1999.[15] Although the LGBT community has seen much controversy regarding universal acceptance of different member groups (bisexual and transgender individuals, in particular, have sometimes beenmarginalized by the larger LGBT community), the termLGBT has been a positive symbol ofinclusion.[16][10]
Beginning in the 1990s, the termqueer began to bereclaimed from its earlier pejorative use, particularly by radical activists who sought to reject causes they viewed asassimilationist, such asmarriage,military inclusion and adoption.[17] Academic fields of study such asqueer studies andqueer theory build on this reclamation. The termqueer is now in use as an umbrella term and as a distinct self-identity term analogous to gay, lesbian, and bisexual.[18] The initialism LGBT eventually evolved to LGBTQ in recognition of the unique meaning ofqueer within the community.[19][20][21]
In 2016,GLAAD's Media Reference Guide states thatLGBTQ is the preferred initialism, being more inclusive of younger members of the communities whoembracequeer as a self-descriptor.[22] Some people considerqueer to be a derogatory term originating inhate speech and reject it, especially among older members of the community.[23]
Many variants of the termLGBTQ exist, such as the more inclusiveLGBT+,[25] and variations that change the order of the letters or include additional letters. At least some of the components of sexuality (regarding hetero, bi, straight), and alsogender are stated to be on differentspectrums of sexuality.[26][27] Other common variants also exist, such asLGBTQIA, with theI standing forintersex and theA standing forasexual,aromantic, oragender,[28][29][30] andLGBTQIA+, where "the '+' represents those who are part of the community, but for whom LGBTQ does not accurately capture or reflect their identity".[31]
Although identical in meaning,LGBT may have a morefeminist connotation thanGLBT as it places the "L" (for "lesbian") first.[10]LGBT may also include additional Qs for "queer" or "questioning" (sometimes abbreviated with a question mark and sometimes used to mean anybody not literally L, G, B or T) producing the variantsLGBTQ andLGBTQQ.[40][41][42]
The order of the letters has not been standardized. In addition to the variations between the positions of the initial "L" or "G", the mentioned, less common letters, if used, may appear in almost any order.[10] InHebrew andPeninsular Spanish,LGTB (להט"ב) is used, that is, reversing the letters "B" and "T".[43][44]Variant terms do not typically represent political differences within the community, but arise simply from the preferences of individuals and groups.[45]
The termspansexual,omnisexual,fluid andqueer-identified are regarded as falling under the umbrella termbisexual (and therefore are considered a part of thebisexual community). Some useLGBT+ to mean "LGBT and related communities".[27] Other variants may have a "U" for "unsure"; a "C" for "curious"; another "T" for "transvestite"; a "TS", "2S", or "2" for "two-spirit" persons; or an "SA" for "straight allies".[46][47][48][49][50]
The inclusion of straight allies in the LGBT initialism has proven controversial, as many straight allies have been accused of using LGBT advocacy to gain popularity and status in recent years,[51] and various LGBT activists have criticised the heteronormative worldview of certain straight allies.[52] Some may also add a "P" for "polyamorous" or "pangender", an "H" for "HIV-affected", or an "O" for "other".[10][53] The initialismLGBTIH has seen use inIndia to encompass thehijrathird gender identity and the related subculture.[54][55]
Adding the termallies to the initialism has sparked controversy,[56][57] with some seeing the inclusion of ally in place of asexual/aromantic/agender as a form ofLGBT erasure.[29][58][59] There is also theacronymQUILTBAG (queer and questioning, unsure, intersex, lesbian, transgender and two-spirit, bisexual, asexual and aromantic, and gay and genderqueer).[60] SimilarlyLGBTIQA+ stands for "lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning, asexual and many other terms (such as non-binary and pansexual)".[61][62]
As of 2025[update], theGovernment of Canada's official term is2SLGBTQI+, with the first two characters standing fortwo-spirit.[63] Trudeau's new initialism was criticized by some social media users.[64] For someindigenous people,two-spirit invokes a combination of identities, including sexual, gender, cultural, and spiritual.[65] The government previously usedLGBTQ2.[63] Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau was also criticized[why?] for using the2SLGBTQQIA+ initialism.[66][67]
Transgender inclusion
The termtrans* has been adopted by some groups as a more inclusive alternative to "transgender", wheretrans (without the asterisk) has been used to describetrans men andtrans women, whiletrans* covers all non-cisgender (genderqueer) identities, including transgender, transsexual, genderqueer,genderfluid,non-binary,genderfuck, genderless, agender, non-gendered, third gender,two-spirit,bigender, and trans man and trans woman.[68][69] Likewise, the termtranssexual commonly falls under the umbrella termtransgender, but some transsexual people object to this.[10]
Those who addintersex people to LGBTQ groups or organizations may use the extended initialism LGBTQI.[70][71][72]
The relationship ofintersex to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer communities is complex,[73] but intersex people are often added to the LGBTQ category to create an LGBTQI community. Someintersex people prefer the initialismLGBTQI, while others would rather that they not be included as part of the term.[71][74]Emi Koyama describes how inclusion of intersex inLGBTQI can fail to address intersex-specific human rights issues, including creating false impressions "that intersex people's rights are protected" by laws protecting LGBTQ people, and failing to acknowledge that manyintersex people are not LGBTQ.[75]
In the early 2010s,asexuality andaromanticism started gaining wider recognition. Around 2015, they were included in the expanded initialismLGBTQIA, with the A standing forasexual,aromantic, commonly grouped together asa-spec along withagender.[29][30]
Some people have mistakenly claimed the A stands for"ally", but allies are not a marginalized group and mentions of A for ally have regularly sparked controversy as a form ofLGBTQ erasure.[56][57]
Criticism
The initialismsLGBT orGLBT are not agreed to by everyone that they encompass.[39] For example, some argue thattransgender andtranssexual causes are not the same as that of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people.[76] This argument centers on the idea that being transgender or transsexual has to do more with gender identity, or a person's understanding of being or not being a man or a woman irrespective of their sexual orientation.[10] LGB issues can be seen as a matter ofsexual orientation or attraction.[10] These distinctions have been made in the context of political action in which LGB goals, such assame-sex marriage legislation andhuman rights work (which may not include transgender and intersex people), may be perceived to differ from transgender and transsexual goals.[10]
A belief in "lesbian and gay separatism", not to be confused with the related "lesbian separatism", holds that lesbians and gay men form, or should form, a community distinct and separate from other groups normally included in the LGBTQ sphere.[77] While not always appearing in sufficient numbers or organization to be called amovement, separatists are a significant, vocal, and active element within many parts of the LGBT community.[78][77][79] In some cases separatists will deny the existence or right to equality of bisexual orientations and of transsexuality,[78] sometimes leading to publicbiphobia andtransphobia.[78][77] In contrasts to separatists,Peter Tatchell of the LGBT human rights groupOutRage! argues that to separate the transgender movement from the LGB would be "political madness", stating that:[80]
Queers are, like transgender people, gender deviant. We don't conform to traditional heterosexist assumptions of male and female behaviour, in that we have sexual and emotional relationships with the same sex. We should celebrate our discordance with mainstream straight norms.
The portrayal of an all-encompassing "LGBT community" or "LGB community" is also disliked by some lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.[81][82] Some do not subscribe to or approve of thepolitical and social solidarity, and visibility and human rights campaigning that normally goes with it, includingLGBT pride marches and events.[81][82] Some of them believe that grouping together people with non-heterosexual orientations perpetuates the myth that being gay/lesbian/bi/asexual/pansexual/etc. makes a person deficiently different from other people.[81] These people are often less visible compared to more mainstream gay or LGBT activists.[81][82]
Since this faction is difficult to distinguish from the heterosexual majority, it is common for people to assume all LGBT people support LGBT liberation and the visibility of LGBT people in society, including the right to live one's life differently from the majority.[81][82][83] In the 1996 bookAnti-Gay, a collection of essays edited byMark Simpson, the concept of a 'one-size-fits-all' identity based onLGBT stereotypes is criticized for suppressing the individuality of LGBT people.[84]
Writing in theBBC News Magazine in 2014,Julie Bindel questions whether the various gender groupings now, "bracketed together[,] ... share the same issues, values and goals?" Bindel refers to a number of possible new initialisms for differing combinations and concludes that it may be time for the alliances to either be reformed or go their "separate ways".[85] In 2015, the slogan "Drop the T" was coined to encourageLGBT organizations to stop support oftransgender people as they say that sexual orientation, LGB, does not share similarity with gender identity, the T. The campaign has been condemned by manyLGBT groups astransphobic.[86][87][88][89]
Many have expressed desire for anumbrella term to replace existing initialisms.[20][78][90]Queer gained popularity as an umbrella term for sexual and gender minorities in the 21st century.[91] The term remains controversial, particularly among older LGBT people who perceive it as offensive due to its historical usage as aslur,[91][92] as well as those who wish to dissociate themselves fromqueer radicalism,[93] and those who see it as amorphous or trendy.[94] Some people feelqueer is a more politically charged, more powerful term thanLGBT.[95][96] Recent studies have found that 5–20% of non-heterosexuals and 21–36% of trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people identify as queer.[91]
In academic and professional contexts,sexual and gender minorities (SGM) is sometimes used as an alternative toLGBTQ to include individuals who may not self-identify as LGBTQ (such asmen who have sex with men,women who have sex with women, and someintersex people).[97] A UK government paper favorsSGM because initials likeLGBTQ stand for terms that, especially outside theGlobal North, are "not necessarily inclusive of local understandings and terms used to describe sexual and gender minorities".[98]
Other rare umbrella terms areGender and Sexual Diversities (GSD),[101] MOGII (Marginalized Orientations, Gender Identities, and Intersex) and MOGAI (Marginalized Orientations, Gender Alignments and Intersex).[102][103]
^Esterberg, Kristen (1994). "From Accommodation to Liberation: A Social Movement Analysis of Lesbians in the Homophile Movement".Gender and Society.8 (3):424–443.doi:10.1177/089124394008003008.S2CID144795512.
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^"LGBT+".Dictionary.com. Archived fromthe original on 25 March 2024. Retrieved26 September 2024.
^abKuykendall, Emily (20 June 2016)."What the A in LGBTQIA+ Stands For".Buddy Project. Archived fromthe original on 21 May 2021. Retrieved21 May 2021.The A in LGBTQIA+ stands for asexual, aromantic, and agender ... .
^DeMarco, Linda; Bruni, Sylvain (18 July 2012) [1st pub. 18 May 2012]."No More Alphabet Soup".The Huffington Post. 1527958.Archived from the original on 3 February 2015.
^Burchill, Julie (6 January 2023)."Radio 4 is becoming a parody of itself".Spiked. Retrieved4 October 2023.One of the most dynamic cultural events of past year was not any of the LGBTQWERTY 're-imaginings' so beloved of Radio 4's fawning arts coverage...
^"'Klanned Parenthood': Bailey's running mate's old social media posts surface".WGN-TV. 15 August 2022. Archived fromthe original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved4 October 2023."Just say no! The LGBTQXYZ agenda is aggressively trying to repurpose classic stories and films. How can a godmother be genderless? Satan is a liar!" Trussell posted in 2020 about actor Billy Porter playing a genderless fairy godmother.
^Seitzer, Helen (2022), "The Diffusion of Workplace Antidiscrimination Regulations for the LGBTQ+ Community",Networks and Geographies of Global Social Policy Diffusion, Global Dynamics of Social Policy, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 227–253,doi:10.1007/978-3-030-83403-6_9,ISBN978-3-030-83402-9,S2CID244654734,The public confusion over acronyms and pronouns goes so far that people ironically label the LGBTQ+ community "alphabet mafia" on social media platforms
^Becker, Ron (2006). "Gay-Themed Television and the Slumpy Class: The Affordable, Multicultural Politics of the Gay Nineties".Television & New Media.7 (2):184–215.doi:10.1177/1527476403255830.ISSN1527-4764.S2CID145717408.
^Richard, Katherine."Column: "A" stands for asexuals and not allies".loyolamaroon.com. The Maroon. Archived fromthe original on 6 December 2013. Retrieved29 December 2014.That "A" is not for allies[,] [t]hat "A" is for asexuals. [...] Much like bisexuality, asexuality suffers from erasure.
^Tatchell, Peter (24 June 2009)."LGB - but why T?".mother-ship.com. Mothership Blog. Archived fromthe original on 3 July 2009. Retrieved18 March 2015.To try and separate the LGB from the T, and from women, is political madness. Queers are, like transgender people, gender deviant. We don't conform to traditional heterosexist assumptions of male and female behaviour, in that we have sexual and emotional relationships with the same sex. We should celebrate our discordance with mainstream straight norms. The right to be different is a fundamental human right. The idea that we should conform to straight expectations is demeaning and insulting.
^Choudhuri, Devika Dibya; Curley, Kate (20 September 2019), "Multiplicity of LGBTQ+ Identities, Intersections, and Complexities",Rethinking LGBTQIA Students and Collegiate Contexts, Routledge, pp. 3–16,doi:10.4324/9780429447297-1,ISBN978-0-429-44729-7,S2CID210355997
^Lapointe, Alicia (2016), Rodriguez, Nelson M.; Martino, Wayne J.; Ingrey, Jennifer C.; Brockenbrough, Edward (eds.),"Postgay",Critical Concepts in Queer Studies and Education: An International Guide for the Twenty-First Century, Queer Studies and Education, New York: Palgrave Macmillan US, pp. 205–218,doi:10.1057/978-1-137-55425-3_21,ISBN978-1-137-55425-3,archived from the original on 23 March 2023, retrieved9 June 2021
^Young, R M & Meyer, I H (2005) The Trouble with "MSM" and "WSW": Erasure of the Sexual-Minority Person in Public Health Discourse American Journal of Public Health July 2005 Vol. 95 No. 7.
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