Sexuality and gender identity-based cultures aresubcultures andcommunities composed of people who have shared experiences, backgrounds, or interests due to commonsexual orgender identities. Among the first to argue that members ofsexual minorities can also constitute cultural minorities wereAdolf Brand,Magnus Hirschfeld, andLeontine Sagan in Germany. These pioneers were later followed by theMattachine Society and theDaughters of Bilitis in theUnited States.
Not all individuals of various gender and sexual orientations self-identify with or participate in a particular subculture. Reasons include geographic distance, unawareness of the subculture's existence, fear ofsocial stigma, or personal preference for privacy. Some have suggested that the identities defined by the Western heterosexualized cultures are based onsexuality that have serious flaws and often limit public discussion. The lack of inclusive spaces can lead to peopling rejecting who they are and ignoring their own sexual needs. This rejection can lead to people being classified under sexual identities that doesn't feel representative to them as a person.
These cultures continue to evolve. For example, Greece recently legalizedsame-sex marriage, taking a huge step for an Orthodox country.[4]
LGBTQ+ is an abbreviation and umbrella term encompassingLesbian,Gay,Bisexual,Transgender,Queer, and related identities. The term originated in theUnited States and broadly encompasses all related identities not explicitly represented by a letter in the acronym.[5][6]
LGBTQ+ culture refers to the shared culture by people in the community. It is sometimes simply referred to as "queer culture" or "gay culture", but the latter term can also be specific togay men's culture.
LGBTQ culture varies widely by geography and the identity of the participants. Elements often identified as being common to the culture include:
In some cities, especially inNorth America, gay men and lesbianstend to live in certainneighbourhoods that celebrate or support their community.
LGBTQ communities organize a number of events to celebrate their culture, such asPride parades, theGay Games andSouthern Decadence.
Polyamory is the practice and associated culture of engaging in more than one consensual romantic relationship at the same time. It is sometimes associated with polysexuality, the attraction to multiple genders, though distinct in its own way.[8] Polyamory can occur in a social group, culture, or group of people specific to a certaingender-identity or sexualorientation. In some cultures the practice of forming multiple simultaneous romantic relationships is controversial.
Polygamy (a practice that overlaps heavily with polyamory) is the practice of legally marrying more than one person. It is against the law to marry more than one person in the United States; however, there are some countries around the world wherepolygamy and/or polyamorous relationships are not unusual. For example, it is not uncommon in many middle eastern cultures for men to have multiple wives. This type of polyamorous relationship is known aspolygyny, whereas the opposite, in which women have multiple husbands, is calledpolyandry.
The illegal status of multiple marriages in many parts of the world has not stopped the formation of communities and sub-cultures that practice polyamory and informal polygamy. There are several accounts of attempted private polygamist communities in WesternEurope andNorth America. However, these communities, for the most part, have eventually disbanded. In Western culture there are few examples of widespread acceptance of polyamory. This does not mean that polyamorous relationships in Western culture (and subcultures) do not exist. In the United States it is estimated that polyamory is practiced by 4-5% of the population.[9] Polyamory exists mainly as isolated instances in which those in relationships have made agreements with their significant other(s).
The fetish subculture comprises people who share interests in a broad range ofsexual fetishes and otherparaphilias. Alternative terms for the fetish subculture include fetish scene and fetish community.
This subculture is often has a strongnightclub scene, in the form offetish clubs.
Some of the most common paraphilias seen in the fetish subculture includeBDSM,leather fetishism andrubber fetishism. The subculture itself allows for people to come together and share their common interests in regards to sexual fetishes, allowing for a safe and supportive environment. However, there is typically a negative stigma associated with this subculture as it encourages the uncommon discussion and indulging of sexual desires in society. This often results in people rejecting such subcultures or associating it with other cultures that explore such topics, thus including the LGBTQ culture.
Sexual minority cultures frequently and consistently influence each other.Yale sociology professorJoshua Gamson argues that thetabloid talk show genre, popularized byOprah Winfrey in the 1980s provided a much needed, high impact media visibility for sexual minorities and did more to make gay culture mainstream than any other development of the 20th century.Slang frequently originates in subcultures, including sexual minority subcultures, which becomes part of the largervernacular.
Madonna is one of many artists who have borrowed from sexual minority cultures, including her appropriation ofvogueing.[citation needed] Thetelevision seriesQueer Eye for the Straight Guy depicts straight men being given fashion make-overs or decorating tips from gay men.[citation needed]
In 2006, the Thai filmRainbow Boys produced by Vitaya Saeng-aroon, depicted a contemporary gay relationship. Vitaya also produced the comedy-dramaClub M2, set in a gay sauna.[10] The significance of his work was attributed to the exposure of LGBTQ communities in a culturally conservative society. Another 2007 film,Bangkok Love Story, directed byPoj Arnon, was critically hailed as a departure from the stereotyped view of homosexuals as transvestites andtranssexuals. Gay Thai independent film producer Vitaya Saeng-aroon praised the film, saying, "DirectorPoj Arnon was brave enough to shake society up."[10] These filmmaker's made breakthroughs with their films as other scholars and public authors also began to bring the issue of gender and stereotypes to the forefront as a moreover the rug topic in contemporary culture. In many countries, homosexuality and bisexuality are widely accepted and often legal, although often still face discrimination and criticism. In this context, "queer youth are often cast as victims of homophobic violence or heterosexist exclusion in ways that inscribe them within tropes of victimization and risk."[11]
Unlike European cultures which are primarily based in Christian religion and have a history of anti-LGBT laws, the Chinese culture was much more open about non-exclusively-heterosexual relationships.[12] "For a period of the modern history of both the Republic of China and People's Republic of China in the 20th century, LGBT people received more stringent legal regulations regarding their orientations, with restrictions being gradually eased by the beginning of the 21st century." Though there were still restrictions in the ancient Chinese culture, homosexual relations have been documented since early historical periods. There were recordings of subcultures of prostitute/actors in existence; however, even in modern-day Chinese culture, there are those who are opposed to homosexual/bisexual relationships and lifestyles. In the People's Republic of China, "Reportedly, Mao Zedong believed in the sexual castration of 'sexual deviants', but little is known about the Communist Chinese government's official policy with regards to homosexuality prior to the 1980s."
Many Japanese have adopted wide ranges ofsexual identity, and space has always existed for non-exclusively hegemonic gender roles in Japanese society. The modern era, however, has made more room for those openly varied gender roles. Before Western contact, Japan did not have a system of identification in which one's identity was determined by one's biological sexual preference (seeSexual minorities in Japan). Yet,hegemonic notions of how men and womenshould behave are still strong in the country, as in the Western cultures.[13] Earlier studies on sex roles and gender identities in Asia focused heavily on particular constraints felt by women, for "'[Japanese] models of citizenship implicitly privilege the male, white-collar 'citizen in a suit.'"[13] Constraints are also felt, however, on the males in Asian societies who are held at a higher standard due to the "dominant paradigm" referred to as "hegemonic masculinity". "Masculinity" has a history and is actually not only expressed differently in different societies but also differentlywithin societies throughout eras. Masculinity, even in traditional Asian cultures is, so called, plural.[13] Still, certain forms of masculinity (and femininity for that matter) become particularly privileged, thehegemonic masculinity.[14]
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LGBTQ+ activism in the United States can be traced back toWilliam Dorsey Swann, the first known person to openly identify as a "queen of drag." In the late 1800s, Swann organized one of the earliest documented LGBTQ+ gatherings, where attendees, primarily men, dressed in women's clothing, marking an early form of organized resistance against discrimination.[15][16] In 1924,Henry Gerber, a German immigrant and early gay rights advocate, founded the Society for Human Rights in Chicago, one of the first organizations in the U.S. dedicated to advancing homosexual rights.[17] Gerber wrote about homosexual oppression in an attempt to build solidarity and advocate for the community.
In 1950, activistHarry Hay founded theMattachine Society, one of the earliest enduring LGBTQ+ rights organizations in the U.S.[18] The society worked to raise awareness, educate members, and connect the pursuit of social justice with LGBTQ+ rights. In 1955,Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon established theDaughters of Bilitis, the first organization in the U.S. devoted specifically tolesbian advocacy, providing support, and promoting visibility for lesbian women.[19]
Numerous organizations emerged in the 20th and 21st centuries to advance LGBTQ+ rights globally. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) andLambda Legal are U.S. organizations focused on advancing legal protections and promoting social acceptance for LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly those who are transgender, people of color, or living with HIV, to ensure they are recognized as full and equal citizens.[20] International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association (ILGA) campaigns for freedom and equality for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, across continents.[21]OutRight Action International supports LGBTQ+ individuals in restrictive regions, engaging in advocacy, providing legal aid for asylum seekers, and leading crisis interventions for LGBTQ+ communities.[22]
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Symbolism: blue—representing openness and honesty amongst partners; red—representing love and passion; black representing solidarity with those who are forced to hide their polyam relationships due to societal pressures. The pi symbol references the word 'polyamory' as it also starts with 'p'; and the gold of the pi symbol represents the value placed on emotional attachment (friendly and/or romantic), not just physical connections.
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