Which is the preferred term these days, LGBT or GLBT? or does it matter?

[Ken Burch]

Just trying to keep up on the alphabet soup.

[justiceischeap]

1. I find I do the following:

Because I'm a lesbian, I tend to write LGBT. I'd guess that some, if not a lot of gay males, write GLBT. However, there are a lot of letters missing from this.

This is what is used today (if you're going to get it absolutely correct):
LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning and Intersex)

[unpossibles]

3. I was referring to LGBTQ the other day, and even some of my LGBTQ friends got confused by the 'Q'

lol.

Also, I sometimes just use 'Queer' because I feel it tends to be more encompassing, although some balk at that as well. Also, sometimes instead of saying "gay marriage" or "GLBTQ rights" or whatever, I simplify it to "equal rights." I have mixed feelings about this, because on the one hand I don't want to minimize or make things sound too sanitized, but on the other hand that is what the basic struggle is all about: simple equality.

[justiceischeap]

4. I'm more geared towards using "equal rights" and here's why

It shouldn't matter that I'm LGBTQXYZ, what matters is that I'm an American citizen who is being denied her basic human, equal rights. That's where the matter should stop. I think putting emphasis on the fact that as a minority we are gay instead of putting more emphasis that we are tax paying American citizens being denied rights the rest of the citizens receive should be the focus of that argument.

But what do I know? *shrug*

On the queer note, I had a discussion with one of my roommates and she is up on all the latest acronyms and their political significance and I think she told me just because I'm a lesbian doesn't make me queer. I don't know... I just know I like the ladies. :)

[unpossibles]

6. I think you make a good point

and that is why I have tried to use that tactic - of referring to equality for all - when trying to convince acquaintances I know who are not yet allies but could be. When I lived in Cincinnati, I knew people (friends of friends) in our scooter club who had many LGBTQ friends but were still seeing it as it's presented by the rightwing radio, that we want special rights and definitions, not equality. So I tried to explain why it really is about equality. Not sure if it sank in or not, and honestly it was a bit of a headscratcher since the guy in question regularly hangs out with a pretty gay crowd.

Anyway, I think that's the way to win over people who may have so-called "moral" objections to the idea. But who knows. I also think that it will eventually be a non-issue, as most of the people against it are older and perhaps don't have the same experiences or perspective that my younger friends do. I know my dad used to be pretty homophobic until I pointed out that he probably already has queer friends and doesn't even know it, as well as the idea that I am his son and that my (or anyone else's) sexuality has no bearing on whether or not I can be a good person. It was a hard conversation, but a good one, and I have to say he has lightened up considerably. Heck, he even likes my friends who have tattoos now (lol!).

As for the label, I see it as reclaiming a negative into a positive. "Queer" was meant to express someone different from the norm, and was derogatory, but now people are using the term with pride. I like it because it covers all kinds of people, including those more straight but still into "non-norm" sexual behavior, such as my BDSM friends. And what the hell is "normal" anyway? Missionary within marriage? Please.

[Kerrytravelers]

21. Gee, I never thought of the "I", meaning Intersex, inclusion.

I always use LGBTQ, just because that is the way I learned it, and you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Although this old dog does appreciate you stating the Intersex inclusion. I'll do my best to always remember that in the future. :hi:

[Bluenorthwest]

2. Well, I use both, for reasons of the moment that have nothing to do

with what is preferred. Has to do with what I am doing, and nothing else. I sure hope people do not take any form of offense at the order of the letters!

The phrase I like best is 'our community' which includes automatically anyone who wants to sit with us to eat their lunch, no matter why or what they do after lunch. All of us who sit together, even those who just sit with us for a good time, they too are our community. There are more lovely 'types' in our community that we can deal with letters wise. We are just us.

[bluedawg12]

5. Citizen with full and equal rights. (Just dreaming). n/t

[Ken Burch]

7. Always good to keep dreaming

I think it WILL happen, and sooner than you'd expect.

[RetiredTrotskyite]

17. Keep Dreamin' Bluedawg12!

It's a wonderful dream and one day it WILL come true!

[mitchtv]

8. "Id like a Gay BLT please

That's how I get my bearings, then I generally put LGBT

[ronnykmarshall]

9. We met in conference last night ..

and we're back to "Friends of Dorothy".

[Morning Dew]

28. LOL. Do we have to wear green on Thursdays?

I don't look good in green.

[UndertheOcean]

10. It should not matter , unless someone is anal about it.

[kenny blankenship]

11. Always Use Alphabetical Order -or the ensuing anarchy is on *your* head!

[Veruca Salt]

12. It doesn't matter.

I use LGBT because I'm a lesbian and it's my personal preference.

[lovecanada56035]

13. I'm not sure it matters

Either way, they both have the same meanings.

[Meldread]

14. I write LGBT.

I used to write GLBT until I read a story (years ago) of lesbian's getting angry about some banners at a gay pride parade. They wanted it to be LGBT... it caused some big fight or something.

Anyway, after reading that story I started writing it LGBT to avoid offending lesbians and have been doing it that way ever sense. I don't bother adding any additional letters, it's long enough already.

[Dr_Willie_Feelgood]

26. Another reminder of why Progressives are...

...having such a hard time getting anything done.

There is SOOOOO much divisiveness over labels and "who has it worse".

[imdjh]

15. I just use "gay" because the rest of it is redundant, IMO.

Bottom line is that whether it's some thug in an alley or a politician on the hill, they're not really concerned with your title as they do you in, and they're doing you in for the same reason regardless of what your technical or personally preferred designation is. You're a queer.

[ccharles000]

16. it does not really matter

but I say GLBT

[beyurslf]

18. I say "queer" more than all those letters. I refer to myself as gay though.

[Toasterlad]

19. Since the "G" Is Inclusive of Both Men & Women, I Always Put It First

Frankly, I'd rather eliminate the "L" altogether, as it seems unnecessarily divisive. I've been told that lesbians as a whole want it there to point out that there are distinct challenges that gay women face that gay men do not, and, since they should know, I'm certainly willing to accommodate them.

In reality, I don't think anyone really cares which comes first. We're all still second-class citizens.

[Independent_Voice]

23. Well, to play devil's advocate...

There are also distinct challenges that gay men face that gay women do not.

But such is the case with almost any two groups, vis-a-vis each other.

I personally don't think the order of lettering matters that much one way or the other.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

25. and distinct challenges gay women face that gay men do not

we earn much less, for instance

[Independent_Voice]

30. and distinct challenges gay men face that gay women do not

We get blamed ("as a group") for the spread of AIDS-HIV (which hurts the entire LGBT community, in terms of joint scapegoating).

[ShadowLiberal]

20. I'm not sure it matters, I'm always mixing up the order myself

I've already found myself write stuff like BGLT instead of GLBT without even thinking.

[tonekat]

22. When I Say the More Inclusive Acronymn

..to straight people I usually get "what's the Q for?" in response.

I'm T, but I say LGBT because it's easier than inventing TLGB or whatever, and I have more identification with lesbians than anyone else in the mix.

[rj5690]

24. Who really cares?

[ZombieHorde]

27. I often use GBLT because of the sandwich. So yummy. nt

[QC]

29. Around here, we are most commonly known as Poniless Persons. n/t

[Divine Discontent]

31. OH, NO YOU DIIIIIIDNT! LOL..... that's hysterical! :) n/t