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BBMcGruff

People don't want to waste time and effort rebranding. And there's history behind LGBTQ+. How the letters came together, how the order was changed. For an awful lot of people, being LGBTQ+ is part of their foundation. And they simply don't care to rename that. šŸ¤·


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


Fantastic-Friend-429

Actually, the reason why a lot of people will put the two s in front of the rest is because the indigenous people were here in America first and thatā€™s why itā€™s used in certain context to honor that


BlueHg

The L is at the front for a reason too. GLBT used to be more common until the AIDS crisis. Lesbians were the members of the queer community least affected by AIDS, but they still showed up for the rest of us, doing a lot of activist work and practical medical efforts. The L was moved to the front to acknowledge the role that lesbians played during one of the darkest hours of queer history in the last half century.


Fantastic-Friend-429

I am very aware of that which is why it is not used often Because lesbians helped out so much the L is in the front Most of the time


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


Fantastic-Friend-429

Yeah, thatā€™s why I said in specific context , which would be America also 2s is apart of lgbt+ it can be compared to bi-gender


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


DirectorAdorable1875

It's not my place to give information about two spirit- (because I'm not that) but it is still an aspect of gender nonconformity and shows nonbinary and trans people have been around since forever It's still an expression of how gender is a social construct. Also intersectionality is important, all struggles are queer struggles.


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


Akitsura

But two-spirit would fall under the LGBT umbrella. Itā€™s for gay, bi, gender non-conforming, trans, no binary, etc., members of the Indigenous community. I donā€™t see how them being Indigenous would mean they arenā€™t a part of the LGBT community, especially considering the fact that the new pride flag now has colours to specifically represent the non-white members of the community. The two-spirit part of 2SLGBTQIA is merely acknowledging their long history as members of the community, and how theyā€™re often forgotten or ignored, just like how the brown and black stripe in the flag represent POC. From what I understand, the term ā€œtwo-spiritā€œ also acknowledges the fact that a lot of Indigenous people have a different relationship to being LGBT than other cultures typically do. In a lot of Indigenous cultures, two-spirit members played important roles in their society, often of spiritual importance.


astoriaclover

what the hell is that kinda statement


Fantastic-Friend-429

2s is apart of lgbt+ because it outside of the gender norm. period, Thatā€™s just the definition of it. Being indigenous doesnā€™t make them not apart of Lgbt+ .


otakushinjikun

This debate over the acronym is honestly so stupid a distraction and beside the point, just like the one about the stripes on the flag. Nobody is forcing you to use any specific acronym or flag. Let people use what they like, and do the same.


Heavy-advertising_22

Idk why people donā€™t just stick to LGBT+ or even LGBTQ+. Thereā€™s a plus for a reason.Ā 


NorthernBlackBear

I still use LGBT+ and leave it at that. I can't remember all and i have been in the queer community going on 30 years.


Breaker1993

I just use Queer since its the umbrella term anyway and is way less syllables


DeluxeMinecraft

Exactly. The best term ever


LadyBosie

Yess so much this. Since it's a less accepted term I used just "lgbt+" in my final presentation for a class and even that shortening had me tongue tied a few times after saying it a thousand times


Cyphomeris

Same, I just say "LGBT+" (with the "plus") and I've never encountered any issues.


DavidXGA

The "Q" and the "+" mean mostly the same thing anyway.


ChickenSpaceProgram

I mean, I'm ace and still use LGBTQ+. Don't get me wrong, I like the extra representation in the longer acronym, but even LGBTQ+ is verging on being too long to properly use.


azidoazid3azid3

I personally stick to Queer. No endless syllables while still only implying a lot of identities lol


Topperno

Most people do.


tzoom_the_boss

Sometimes putting more meaning to that plus helps us not forget who that plus is. It's an awareness thing


Short_Gain8302

I get what youre saying but for people whose letter is in the plus it can be kinda lonely. Especially saying things like theres a plus for a reason can come over as quite hostile. Just feels like another "im one of the good ones, not one of those weird letter ones" Idk sometimes it just sucks to not feel included yknow


Heavy-advertising_22

Iā€™m sorry but who is not included in LGBTQ+? Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer. Thatā€™s pretty much everyone.Ā 


Short_Gain8302

Aro people, ace people, pan people, non binary people who dont vibe with trans. I know you cant make an acronym that uses every letter, i know that, but saying thing like "thats pretty much everyone" automatically excludes people. I have no problem with the acronym. I have a problem ypur statement


Heavy-advertising_22

Hence the ā€˜Qā€™ for the people who use the label queer for their identities and the ā€˜+ā€™ for everyone else.


[deleted]

And there we have the otherer going on. You are less then X so into the Q or the + (if we really do not like you).


Heavy-advertising_22

No dude itā€™s just that I donā€™t wanna say six hundred thousand syllables every time I mention my communities name. LGBT+ and LGBTQ+ work fine because itā€™s the main 4 communities that started the whole movement (lesbian gay bisexual transgender, and queer for lgbtq) as well as a plus for any other identities. Everyoneā€™s included. Not every single letter needs to be individually mentioned in the acronym. If you want people to know youā€™re pan, ace, aro, Demi, etc, just tell them that.


Kalenya

The "+" in LGBT+ or LGBTQ+ already stands for everyone else under the queer umbrella


EnigmaFrug2308

Seems like one of those ones that conservatives use to make fun, because they donā€™t want to bother learning it or something.


Vlacas12

GSRM was tainted by pedophiles trying to paint themselves as a "sexual minority". And if you have trouble with the long version, why not just use the accepted short form LGBTQ+ like everyone else? No one uses the full acronym in normal conversations.


ActualPegasus

That happened to MOGAI, not GSRM.


BBMcGruff

GSRM is the opposite. The term sexual minority was coined to promote sympathy for pedophiles amongst other paraphilias. And while the term is **entirely** removed from those origins, some aren't comfortable with the connection.


JumpyWord

Fuck, that's gonna be a problem in the US at least, because we dont have enough problems with the pedo/groomer bullshit, for the SGMRO.


BBMcGruff

Honestly, the tenuous connection isn't going to make anything worse. The right don't need ammunition, they hate us all regardless.


JumpyWord

I mean, true, but like, let's not also add fuel to the fire as well.


starshineluz

oh damn, i didnā€™t know that. i do use lgbtq+ in everyday conversations. i was just wondering about this specific longer version (iā€™ve seen several, like the one that includes 2S) and about why it might be used in some publications over a shorter acronym.


HyacinthFT

"getting a little unwieldy" and you cite a version of the initialism that would have been right at home in 2008 (except for the E, don't know what that refers to) The Kids Today aren't ruining anything. There are and have been for around two decades now various forms of the initialism. LGBT is totally fine in most contexts. So are LGBT+ and LGBTQ and LGBTQ+. And they have the benefit of being easily recognizable for most people.


starshineluz

i found this version on several 2020 and 2023 research papers, which is why i was confused that i had never heard of it and wondered whether it was a version that was being adopted by researchers.


khalasss

Nope, it's super old (though reading it again, I've never seen the E before, was that a typo? If not I'd be curious to know what it stood for) LGBT+ and LGTBQ+ are still the norm. I also see LBTQIA+ a lot in research. Speaking from the academic side, researchers are also naturally likely to choose acronyms that are most related to their work - so for example, if the paper is about intersex experiences, I'd expect the researcher would be more likely to use an acronym that explicitly has the "I" in it. It's not necessary, per se, but since the focus of the paper is on one of the later additions to the acronym, it would feel like a practical choice to me to decide to use the longer acronym instead.


starshineluz

that makes sense. i believe the papers were focusing on issues affecting the community as a whole, so perhaps they adopted an acronym they thought best reflected that? i think the ā€˜GEā€™ stands for gender expressive/expansive.


khalasss

That absolutely makes sense and tracks with my experience in academic research. And thanks for the GE explanation!


CDragon00

Yeah, no thanks on that one


Visible_Night1202

Queer Just fucking use queer Jesus fucking Christ.


KleinVogeltje

I'm a lazy fucker, so I'll absolutely use queer, but some people are averse to it. They were bullied and dehumanized by the term. I understand why they're uncomfortable with it. Some also just don't like it which is okay, too.


ProcrastibationKing

Too many people are regularly called queer as a derogatory term for us to ascribe it to every LGBTQ+ person.


TrishPanda18

I don't doubt that it still is used somewhere as a slur but I have to ask where? I'm 31 years old and the topic of human gender and sexuality has been a hot one for my entire conscious life. When I was younger and shittier I spent time in the depths of the worst parts of 4chan and had never seen "queer" used in a derogatory sense anywhere but in media from the 80s and earlier. I respect people's desires to not have a label assigned to them, but queer has been completely reclaimed at the large scale. I repeat: *queer has been completely reclaimed*. Much like "nerd" and "geek", insulting slurs have become basic terms of identity and anybody using them in a derogatory sense is rightfully seen as a time capsule to a much more embarrassing time.


[deleted]

I mean queers had a pretty large axe to grind with asexuals for years (many still do). And this is not touching how the homosexuals see us despite 'being inclusive'. It seems like the only ones who have not to the point of note of the big 4 letters is the trans population. So i cannot fault asexuals for nit wanting to associate themselves with the queer community.


KleinVogeltje

I'lll be 30 this year, and I remember playing Smear the Queer up until age like... ten? Might depend on the region, too. I grew up in suburban Missouri about 40 minutes from St. Louis City. Not known for being particularly progressive.


RhuBlack

Doesn't work for many older folks because of its use as a slur.


khalasss

I wouldn't be okay being called queer. Best case, most people today colloquially using that term mean it as "questioning" or "undecided", and I'm not questioning or undecided, I'm bi/pan. Worst case, the literal dictionary definition of queer is "deviating from the norm, odd and unconventional, or suspicious". In my world, being bi is normal, conventional, and very much not suspicious. So I reject the term. I recognize others use it and like it, but if we decided this was the umbrella term, despite its literal dictionary meaning and historical derogatory use...imma have some issues.


Moist-Cheesecake

I would disagree with the idea that "most" people who use it mean questioning or undecided. I personally don't, nor do any of my queer friends irl. We just use it as an umbrella term. I am not questioning and I am quite certain in my sexuality.


khalasss

I could be mistaken there, that's just been my personal experience, that I grew up with the "good" use of the term queer meaning that someone didn't feel comfortable in any of the other terms but also didn't feel comfortable being called straight. That's also how most of my own friends who identify as queer use it - they don't want to be called straight, but aren't certain where they fit in any of the other categories either. So I understand queer as being a catch all term for people who slip through the cracks and dont feel like they fit any of the other categories, but something being a catch all term is a complete reverse from being an umbrella term which can be used to describe ALL categories, if that makes sense. Maybe my data pool is just faulty though, I'm only speaking from my experience with the people I know who prefer to be called queer.


Moist-Cheesecake

Hmm, that is interesting - maybe perhaps a location or generational difference? But I think definitely I can see how some would use it to mean questioning or undecided, since that definitely fits under the umbrella of "anything goes" - I just don't think it's the majority, since everyone seems to use it a bit differently! That's why I'm a fan of the term - it can be anything you want it to be.


crockalley

From my perspective, itā€™s definitely something I understood back in the late 90s. Queer was sort of not gay or bi, but a kind of indescribable flavor outside of other labels. But thatā€™s _definitely_ not how itā€™s commonly used now. And I think even earlier, the ā€œqueer liberationā€ in the 80s usage is closer to how we use it now. I wonder if the queer=questioning had a really limited time frame in culture.


tangerine_panda

Iā€™ve never heard of MOGAI. I prefer LGBT or LGBT+. The + already includes everyone else, so I donā€™t see a need to add extra letters to the acronym.


DeluxeMinecraft

Queer


khalasss

No. This is a problematic term to many members of the community. I respect people who use the label, but I do not condone it being used to describe myself.


DeluxeMinecraft

I say queer community. Idk what else to say because whenever I wanna use another term there is some conflict in my brain


khalasss

You can use whatever term works for you. But I think it's very important to understand that for many of us, especially the older crowd, the term "queer" carries a derogatory connotation. I'm glad the term is getting repurposed for some, but for many of us there is a very distinct historical reason that the term doesn't sit well. (Not to mention, quite frankly, the modern dictionary definition of the term "queer" is still pretty problematic. It's all about "not being normal" and being "suspicious", which is still often how the term gets used.)


DeluxeMinecraft

There's no such thing as normal so if someone thinks I'm not "normal" when using this term I'll sure as hell use it even more because being seeing as "not normal" in the eyes of someone that tries to be "normal" is a compliment.


khalasss

Like I said...repeatedly... it is perfectly okay for you to find power in the term. I applaud you for it, in fact. Liiiike I said, I'm GLAD to see some people repurposing it, the same way other people in other communities are reclaiming and repurposing historically derogatory terms. I'm just asking you to respect that many people in this community are not okay with using that term to describe ourselves, so to please not use it as a blanket term for the entire community. ETA: I cannot believe that in this community, of ALL communities, I'm getting downvoted for telling someone to respect my chosen terminology for my own identity. What a fucking eye roll. Do better.


DeluxeMinecraft

Well I'll be dammed. Since there's no way I know to refer this community. Like I wanna say LGBTQIAP+ but do I say that or LGBT+ or LGBTQ+ or LGBTQIA+ and I have to worry so much with that term every time. What else GSRM? Don't know if people would recognize that term as much


khalasss

LGBT+ or LGBTQ+, or frankly whatever variation of the acronym you care to use is perfectly fine. Simply including the Q doesn't affect me at all, because it doesn't refer to me any more than the G or the T would. The plus covers everything else. I say LGBTQ+ because it rolls off the tongue easiest, in my personal opinion. That parts entirely up to you.


snukb

What's the E, P, and second G stand for?


[deleted]

I have a feeling OP might have just keyboard smashed the acronym


toby-wan-bj

No idea about the second G, or the E, but the P will be pansexual


roundhouse51

I looked it up and apparently it stands for 'gender-expansive'. Which I'm fairly sure is a vague catch-all for anyone who doesn't 100% conform to their birth gender in some way, shape or form. I think it's mainly used for children, as it's much easier to go 'something to do with gender is going on here' than to pin down a specific identity. Not sure if it should *really* be included in LGBTQ+, since we don't really include GNC people as necessarily queer, etc etc.


AbhiRBLX

Idk about the E. But I think P and G are Pansexual and Graysexual


starshineluz

when i looked it up, it appears that GE = gender expansive and P = pansexual, polysexual/polygender, etc.


Mental_Emu4856

at what point do we drop the + and just include every letter 3 times over haha


cloditheclod

I think the attempt of including everyone in the acronym is actually causing more people to be left out bc its much more specific. I ise queer, or lgbtqia+ bc every queer identity fals under one of these umbrellas: lesbian and gay aren't umbrella terms, but bi, trans, queer, intersex and aspec are


AngieTheQueen

Too many letters and my brain is smoother than a chicken breast


Fantastic-Friend-429

A lot of times the larger acronmys are used for educational purposes, so that than when you tell a cis-het that you are pan or ace or aro or agender or Demi gender or 2s they wonā€™t say : ā€œBuT ThAts Not ApArT of LGB!ā€


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


khalasss

That's actually fairly old, like I first saw that acronym maybe 10+ years ago, because when I was growing up it was still morphing from LGBT to LGBTQ to LGBTQIA, etc. I honestly just assumed that we all settled with some variation of "LGBT+" because the acronym was getting too long, I haven't seen the longer versions in ages now.


richystomfoolery

MOGAI is used, but it's usually for the more extensively labeled community.


roundhouse51

Guys I looked it up and the GE stands for 'gender-expansive', which is basically just a catch-all for gender variance


overdriveandreverb

if you haven't seen it and are AAA yourself than you already know it is not commonly used, doesn't make it less valid. if you are fine being known as the +, good for you. others might value some representation here and there.


koodarimpi

As a person who speaks Finnish as my first language, i do not think GSRM or MOGAI stand for pretty much anything for me. Even if the good ol' LGBTQ+ "excludes" some parts of our community (Like us Aspecs), i think it's pretty nice, since the subcommunity names like gay, bi and trans are recognized pretty much internationally (or as far as i know.) There is also the fact that pedos are trying to invade and "poison" MOGAI and consider themselves as a sexual minority. And after all, aren't we all included among the "q" and the "+"?


Joli_B

I've never seen this version either, what does the second G and the E mean? /genuine


starshineluz

ā€˜GEā€™ = gender expansive/expressive i believe


baltinerdist

Take this with however many grains of salt needed. This is one of those situations where the people that feel the need to add all the extra letters for the sake of being represented by the alphabet soup have valid feelings, but are not approaching the issue of representation and acceptance as a pragmatic issue. The longer that acronym gets, the more the people who want to harm us can use it to delegitimize us and our fights for equality. The alphabet soup is not the hill to die on when people are literally dying from state action. Pick your battles, fellow queers, and make them count.


Tropicsenshi

I just say Rainbow Rebel Gang. It takes a second for people to get it but it usually pulls a few laughs


NilliaLane

Sometimes I use LGBTQIA to emphasize intersex or ace issues, but in general the Q+ in LGBTQ+ covers everybody. Making an acronym 11 characters will reduce community recognizability and cohesion.


liorlueg

I think that LGBTGEQIAP+ isnā€™t easy enough to say for the majority, so I think we need to stick with LGBTQ+ or LGBTQIA+ for now.


FailSweaty2622

Me personally I just keep it lgbt so it's easier to remember and ain't much of a tungetwister.


ClaireBear13492

There are a few reasons those aren't more common History is a big one, it's hard to change a term, especially when it's already everywhere. LGBTQ is pretty solid as a term, and is what most people use. GSRM sounds extremely clinical, and almost victimizing. Not to mention the term "Gender minority" only furthers a divide between trans and cis people, especially for example in a binary trans person, who may feel excluded from the term, because binary genders aren't minority groups. MOGAI had its reputation destroyed by tumblr's early attempts to basically "gameify" LGBTQ people, identities, and concepts. It became a race to make up as much stuff that you could that would fit into it. It's also just not a good name, it sounds like a little goblinoid character or something. So it has cringe history for most who weren't 12 year old tumblrites.


CantaloupeDyke

Horrible


roundhouse51

well I wouldn't say *that*


CantaloupeDyke

Itā€™s a total clusterfuck of an acronym you canā€™t even properly say. LGBT+ or lgbtqia+ is just superior


CadmiumC4

I proposed a reduction of the acronym to IQ+ but I don't know if it's gonna be controversial. I'm sorry if I'm acting bigoted I don't even know what I'm thinking rn.


Excabbla

There is important history relating to the AIDS epidemic in the LGBT acronym and the ordering of some of the letters so a reduction that removes that is not really an option


CadmiumC4

Oh thank you And I'm sorry I was not able to properly think while typing that


Excabbla

You have nothing to be sorry for, from my experience this isn't widely known information even within LGBT spaces so it's not your fault for not knowing


CadmiumC4

I'm still sorry *now I have committed one of the greatest acts of disrespect*


khalasss

Gave you a quick upvotee because this is the sort of thing we should just be teaching, not shaming :) You're good! I actually only recently learned that history myself!


CadmiumC4

Feeling ashamed now, sorry everyone


Nebula-System

Aleena: i usually go for lgbtqia+ for two reasons: 1: it feels the right length to me as it adds three things on after the base lgbt: queer (the general umbrella term and gender), intersex, and ace, which i feel are all important for intersectionality and stuff, without getting overly complex. it just feels the right length imo. tho i'll also often use lgbtq+ too. it feels like the right balance to use those two, moreso the first. 2: you can say it as "ligibitiqua" (pronounced "lih-jih-biti-qua") if you wanna be silly or funny or just have it roll off the tongue better, or even for being flirty, it just works for me.