
' is an
initialism
An acronym is a word
In linguistics, a word of a spoken language can be defined as the smallest sequence of phonemes that can be uttered in isolation with semantic, objective or pragmatics, practical meaning (linguistics), meaning. In ma ...
that stands for
lesbian
A lesbian is a Homosexuality, homosexual woman.Zimmerman, p. 453. The word ''lesbian'' is also used for women in relation to their sexual identity or sexual behavior, regardless of sexual orientation, or as an adjective to characterize or ...

,
gay
''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'.
While scant usage referring to male homosexuality
Human male sexual ...
,
bisexual
A bisexual pride flag
Bisexuality is romantic
Romantic may refer to:
Genres and eras
* The Romantic era, an artistic, literary, musical and intellectual movement of the 18th and 19th centuries
** Romantic music, of that era
** Romantic p ...
, and
transgender
Transgender people have a gender identity
Gender identity is the personal sense of one's own gender
Gender is the range of characteristics pertaining to, and differentiating between femininity
Femininity (also called womanliness or ...

. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an
umbrella term
In linguistics, hyponymy (from Greek language, Greek ὑπό, ''hupó'', "under", and ὄνυμα, ''ónuma'', "name") is a semantics, semantic relation between a hyponym denoting a subtype and a hypernym or hyperonym denoting a supertype. In oth ...
for
sexuality and gender identity.
It may refer to anyone who is
non-heterosexual
''Non-heterosexual'' is a word for a sexual orientation or sexual identity that is not heterosexual. The term helps define the "concept of what is the norm and how a particular group is different from that norm". ''Non-heterosexual'' is used i ...
or non-
cisgender
Cisgender (sometimes cissexual or shortened to cis) describes a person whose gender identity
Gender identity is the personal sense of one's own gender
Gender is the range of characteristics pertaining to, and differentiating between f ...
, instead of exclusively to people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.
To recognize this inclusion, a popular variant, ', adds the letter ''Q'' for those who identify as
queer
''Queer'' is an umbrella term
In linguistics, hyponymy (from Greek language, Greek ὑπό, ''hupó'', "under", and ὄνυμα, ''ónuma'', "name") is a semantics, semantic relation between a hyponym denoting a subtype and a hypernym or hyp ...

or are
questioning their sexual or gender identity.
History of the term

The first widely used term, ''
homosexual
Homosexuality is Romance (love), romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or Human sexual activity, sexual behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality is "an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic ...

'', now carries negative connotations in the United States.
[Media Reference Guide]
(citing AP, Washington Post
''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper
A newspaper is a Periodical literature, periodical publication containing written News, information about current events and is ...

style guides), GLAAD
GLAAD is an American non-governmental media monitoring organization, founded as a protest against defamatory coverage of LGBT people. Its agenda has since extended to the entertainment industry and its portrayal of these groups. The movement is ...

. Retrieved 23 December 2019. ''
Gay
''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'.
While scant usage referring to male homosexuality
Human male sexual ...

'' became a popular term in the 1970s.
As lesbians forged more public identities, the phrase "gay and lesbian" became more common.
A dispute as to whether the primary focus of their political aims should be
feminism
Feminism is a range of s and that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social . Feminism incorporates the position that societies prioritize the male point of view, and that women are treated unjustly within ...

or
gay rights
Rights affecting , , , and () people vary greatly by country or jurisdiction—encompassing everything from the legal recognition of to the .
Notably, , 29 countries recognized . By contrast, not counting non-state actors and extrajudici ...
led to the dissolution of some lesbian organizations, including the
Daughters of Bilitis
The Daughters of Bilitis , also called the DOB or the Daughters, was the first
First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number 1 (number), one (#1).
First or 1st may also refer to:
*World record, specifically the first instance of a particular ac ...
, which disbanded in 1970 following disputes over which goal should take precedence. As equality was a priority for
lesbian feminists
Lesbian feminism is a cultural movement and Critique, critical perspective, most influential in the 1970s and early 1980s (primarily in North America and Western Europe), that encourages women to focus their efforts, attentions, relationships, ...
, disparity of roles between men and women or
butch and femme
''Butch'' and ''femme'' are terms used in the lesbian
A lesbian is a Homosexuality, homosexual woman.Zimmerman, p. 453. The word ''lesbian'' is also used for women in relation to their sexual identity or sexual behavior, regardless of ...
were viewed as
patriarchal
Patriarchy is a social system
In sociology, social system is the patterned network of relationships constituting a coherent whole that exist between individuals, groups, and institutions. It is the formal Social structure, structure of role ...

. Lesbian feminists eschewed
gender role
A gender role, also known as a sex role, is a social role
A role (also rôle or social role) is a set of connected behavior
Behavior (American English) or behaviour (British English; American and British English spelling differences#-our, ...
play that had been pervasive in bars as well as the perceived
chauvinism
Chauvinism is the unreasonable belief in the superiority or dominance of one's own group or people, who are seen as strong and virtuous, while others are considered weak, unworthy, or inferior. It can be described as a form of extreme patriotism
...

of
gay men
Gay men are male . Some and men may also dually identify as , and a number of young gay men today also identify as . Historically, gay men have been referred to by a number of different terms, including ' and ''s''.
Gay men continue to face ...
; many lesbian feminists refused to work with gay men, or take up their causes.
Lesbians who held the
essentialist
Essentialism is the view that every entity has a set of attributes that are necessary to its identity and function. In early Western thought, Plato's idealism held that all things have such an "essence"—an "idea" or "form". In Categories (A ...
view, that they had been born homosexual and used the descriptor "lesbian" to define sexual attraction, often considered the separatist opinions of lesbian-feminists to be detrimental to the cause of gay rights. Bisexual and transgender people also sought recognition as legitimate categories within the larger minority community.
After the elation of change following group action in the 1969
Stonewall riots
The Stonewall riots (also known as the Stonewall uprising or the Stonewall rebellion) were a series of spontaneous demonstrations by members of the gay community
The LGBT community (also known as the LGBTQ+ community, GLBT community, or the ...
in
New York City
New York, often called New York City to distinguish it from New York State
New York is a state
State may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Literature
* ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of ...

, in the late 1970s and the early 1980s, some gays and lesbians became less accepting of
bisexual
A bisexual pride flag
Bisexuality is romantic
Romantic may refer to:
Genres and eras
* The Romantic era, an artistic, literary, musical and intellectual movement of the 18th and 19th centuries
** Romantic music, of that era
** Romantic p ...
or
transgender
Transgender people have a gender identity
Gender identity is the personal sense of one's own gender
Gender is the range of characteristics pertaining to, and differentiating between femininity
Femininity (also called womanliness or ...

people.
Critics said that transgender people were acting out
stereotypes
Police officers buying doughnuts and coffee, an example of perceived stereotypical behavior in North America.
Social psychology
Social psychology is the Science, scientific study of how the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of individu ...

and bisexuals were simply gay men or lesbian women who were afraid to
come out
Coming out of the closet, often shortened to coming out, is a metaphor used to describe LGBT people's self-disclosure of their sexual orientation or of their gender identity.
Framed and debated as a privacy issue, coming out of the closet is exp ...
and be honest about their identity.
Each community has struggled to develop its own identity including whether, and how, to align with other
gender
Gender is the range of characteristics pertaining to, and differentiating between femininity
Femininity (also called womanliness or girlishness) is a set of attributes, behaviors, and roles generally associated with women
A woman is a ...

and sexuality-based communities, at times excluding other subgroups; these conflicts continue to this day.
LGBTQ activists and artists have created posters to raise consciousness about the issue since the movement began.
From about 1988, activists began to use the initialism ''LGBT'' in the United States. Not until the 1990s within the movement did gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people gain equal respect.
This spurred some organizations to adopt new names, as the
GLBT Historical Society did in 1999. Although the LGBT community has seen much controversy regarding universal acceptance of different member groups (bisexual and transgender individuals, in particular, have sometimes been marginalized by the larger LGBT community), the term ''LGBT'' has been a positive symbol of inclusion.
Despite the fact that ''LGBT'' does not nominally encompass all individuals in smaller communities (see Variants below), the term is generally accepted to include those not specifically identified in the four-letter initialism.
Overall, the use of the term ''LGBT'' has, over time, largely aided in bringing otherwise marginalized individuals into the general community.
Transgender actress
Candis Cayne
Candis Cayne (born August 29, 1971) is an American actress and performance art
Performance art is an artwork or art exhibition created through actions executed by the artist or other participants. It may be witnessed live or through document ...

in 2009 described the LGBT community as "the last great minority", noting that "We can still be harassed openly" and be "called out on television".
In 2016,
GLAAD
GLAAD is an American non-governmental media monitoring organization, founded as a protest against defamatory coverage of LGBT people. Its agenda has since extended to the entertainment industry and its portrayal of these groups. The movement is ...

's Media Reference Guide states that ''LGBTQ'' is the preferred initialism, being more inclusive of younger members of the communities who embrace ''
queer
''Queer'' is an umbrella term
In linguistics, hyponymy (from Greek language, Greek ὑπό, ''hupó'', "under", and ὄνυμα, ''ónuma'', "name") is a semantics, semantic relation between a hyponym denoting a subtype and a hypernym or hyp ...

'' as a self-descriptor. However, some people consider ''queer'' to be a derogatory term originating in hate speech and reject it, especially among older members of the community.
Variants

Many variants exist including variations that change the order of the letters, including ' to encompass
spectrums of sexuality and
gender
Gender is the range of characteristics pertaining to, and differentiating between femininity
Femininity (also called womanliness or girlishness) is a set of attributes, behaviors, and roles generally associated with women
A woman is a ...
.
Other common variants also exist, such as ''LGBTQIA+'', with the ''A'' standing for "
", "
aromantic
Romantic orientation, also called affectional orientation, indicates the sex or gender
Gender is the range of characteristics pertaining to, and differentiating between, femininity and masculinity. Depending on the context, these character ...
" or "
agender". Longer acronyms have prompted criticism for their length, and the implication that the acronym refers to a single community is also controversial.
Although identical in meaning, ''LGBT'' may have a more
feminist
Feminism is a range of social movements and ideology, ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social gender equality, equality of the sexes. Feminism incorporates the position that societies priori ...

connotation than ' as it places the "L" (for "lesbian") first.
''LGBT'' may also include additional Qs for "
queer
''Queer'' is an umbrella term
In linguistics, hyponymy (from Greek language, Greek ὑπό, ''hupó'', "under", and ὄνυμα, ''ónuma'', "name") is a semantics, semantic relation between a hyponym denoting a subtype and a hypernym or hyp ...

" or "
questioning" (sometimes abbreviated with a question mark and sometimes used to mean anybody not literally L, G, B or T) producing the variants ''LGBTQ'' and '.
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.
In Spain, ''LGTB'' is used, that is, reversing the letters "B" and "T".
Longer initialisms based on ''LGBT'' are sometimes referred to as "
alphabet soup".
Variant terms do not typically represent political differences within the community, but arise simply from the preferences of individuals and groups.
The terms ''
pansexual
, meaning "all"
, definition = Sexual or romantic attraction to people regardless of gender
, classification = Sexual identity
Sexual identity is how one thinks of oneself in terms of to whom one is romance (love), romantically ...
'', ''omnisexual'', ''fluid'' and ''queer-identified'' are regarded as falling under the umbrella term ''bisexual'' (and therefore are considered a part of the
bisexual community
The bisexual community (also known as the bi+, bisexual/pansexual, or bi/pan/fluid community) includes members of the LGBT community
The LGBT community (also known as the LGBTQ+ community, GLBT community, or the gay community) is a loosely defi ...
).
Some use ''LGBT+'' to mean "LGBT and related communities".
' is sometimes used and adds "queer, intersex, and
" to the basic term. Other variants may have a "U" for "unsure"; a "C" for "curious"; another "T" for "
transvestite
Transvestism is the practice of dressing in a manner traditionally associated with the opposite sex. In some cultures, transvestism is practiced for religious, traditional, or ceremonial reasons. The term is considered outdated in Western cul ...

"; a "TS", or "2" for "
two-spirit
Two-Spirit (also two spirit or, occasionally, twospirited) is a modern, , umbrella term
In linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of language, meaning that it is a comprehensive, systematic, objective, and precise study of l ...
" persons; or an "SA" for "
straight allies
An ally, straight ally, or heterosexual ally is a Heterosexuality, heterosexual and cisgender person who supports equal civil rights, gender equality, and LGBT social movements, challenging homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia. Not everyone who mee ...
".
The inclusion of straight allies in the LGBT acronym has proven controversial as many straight allies have been accused of using LGBT advocacy to gain popularity and status in recent years,
and various LGBT activists have criticised the heteronormative worldview of certain straight allies.
Some may also add a "P" for "
polyamorous", an "H" for "
", or an "O" for "other".
The initialism ' has seen use in
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi
Hindi (Devanagari: , हिंदी, ISO 15919, ISO: ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: , ISO 15919, ISO: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in Hindi Belt, ...

to encompass the
hijra third gender
Third gender is a concept in which individuals are categorized, either by themselves or by society, as neither man nor woman. It is also a social category present in societies
A society is a Social group, group of individuals involved ...
identity and the related subculture.
Adding the term ''allies'' to the initialism has sparked controversy,
with some seeing the inclusion of "ally" in place of "asexual" as a form of
asexual erasure.
There is also the
acronym
An acronym is a word
In linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of language
A language is a structured system of communication used by humans, including speech (spoken language), gestures (Signed language, sign langu ...
' (queer and questioning, unsure, intersex, lesbian, transgender and two-spirit, bisexual, asexual and aromantic, and gay and genderqueer).
Similarly ' stands for "lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning, asexual and many other terms (such as non-binary and pansexual)". The ''+'' after the "A" may denote a second "A" representing "allies".
In Canada, the community is sometimes identified as LGBTQ2 (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Two Spirit). Depending on the which organization is using the acronym the choice of acronym changes. Businesses and the
{{Redirect category shell, 1=
{{Redirect from other capitalisation
{{Redirect from ambiguous term
...
often simply employ ''LGBT'' as a proxy for any longer acronym, private activist groups often employ ''LGBTQ+'', whereas public health providers favour the more inclusive ''LGBT2Q+'' to accommodate twin spirited