LGBT? LGBTQ? Queer? QUILTBAG? GSM? GSRM?  What’s the best word or acronym to describe this diverse community? Is there a perfect balance between length and inclusivity?  LGBT - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and TransgenderThis is by far the most common acronym used today to describe non-heterosexual/cisgender people. Unfortunately, it leaves out many identities that are an essential part of this community - people who identify as asexual, intersex (and not transgender), or don’t want to be defined by binary orientation. LGBTQ - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and QueerThis acronym improves slightly on LGBT by adding the ‘queer’ label for people who identify as such, but it still leaves out many identities that are not always encompassed by ‘queer’.  QueerThis word started off as anti-gay slur in the early 1900s, but started being reclaimed by non-heterosexual/cisgender people in the ’80s - a process which continues through today. The main issue with this word is the baggage it carries and the fact that it is still used pejoratively by many people.  QUILTBAG - Queer/Questioning, Undecided, Intersex, Lesbian, Transgender/Transsexual, Bisexual, Ally/Asexual, Gay/GenderqueerThis is the famed ‘alphabet soup’ acronym. Instead of using broad language (ie GSM/GSRM), QUILTBAG explicitly includes all of the most common identities.   GSM - Gender or Sexual MinorityGSM tries to correct for the exclusion found in the LGBT/LGBTQ/QUILTBAG acronyms by encompassing everyone who identifies as non-heterosexual/cisgender, though asexual identities (romantic/non-sexual orientation) are still not accounted for. GSRM - Gender, Sexual, and Romantic MinorityAgain correcting for the exclusions of GSM, GSRM explicitly includes romantic identity as well.   -Eva What is your preferred acronym for non-heterosexual/cisgender - identified people?

LGBT? LGBTQ? Queer? QUILTBAG? GSM? GSRM? 

What’s the best word or acronym to describe this diverse community? Is there a perfect balance between length and inclusivity? 

LGBT - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
This is by far the most common acronym used today to describe non-heterosexual/cisgender people. Unfortunately, it leaves out many identities that are an essential part of this community - people who identify as asexual, intersex (and not transgender), or don’t want to be defined by binary orientation.

LGBTQ - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer
This acronym improves slightly on LGBT by adding the ‘queer’ label for people who identify as such, but it still leaves out many identities that are not always encompassed by ‘queer’. 

Queer
This word started off as anti-gay slur in the early 1900s, but started being reclaimed by non-heterosexual/cisgender people in the ’80s - a process which continues through today. The main issue with this word is the baggage it carries and the fact that it is still used pejoratively by many people. 

QUILTBAG - Queer/Questioning, Undecided, Intersex, Lesbian, Transgender/Transsexual, Bisexual, Ally/Asexual, Gay/Genderqueer
This is the famed ‘alphabet soup’ acronym. Instead of using broad language (ie GSM/GSRM), QUILTBAG explicitly includes all of the most common identities. 
 

GSM - Gender or Sexual Minority
GSM tries to correct for the exclusion found in the LGBT/LGBTQ/QUILTBAG acronyms by encompassing everyone who identifies as non-heterosexual/cisgender, though asexual identities (romantic/non-sexual orientation) are still not accounted for.

GSRM - Gender, Sexual, and Romantic Minority
Again correcting for the exclusions of GSM, GSRM explicitly includes romantic identity as well.  

-Eva

What is your preferred acronym for non-heterosexual/cisgender - identified people?

  1. ilikeititspretty reblogged this from queerumich and added:
    oh wow, labels… this gets more and more complex… which is good, albeit confusing. hoping for the day when “human” is the...
  2. yogurtpockets reblogged this from queerumich and added:
    QUILTBAG. I love it. We...we’d better stick together and fight out way out! D:
  3. vivinator4 reblogged this from queerumich and added:
    I often use LGBTQA for...understanding me. Though I...get...
  4. jealousy-jones reblogged this from queerumich
  5. cupcakesandkerosene reblogged this from thoughtstoberemembered
  6. thoughtstoberemembered reblogged this from queerumich
  7. rat2rrj reblogged this from queerumich
  8. harmonygraziano reblogged this from queerumich and added:
    since it’s not especially inclusive,...became LGBTQIA la la la.
  9. sunshinetheinspiration answered: I use LGBQ & T in order to separate the T from the other sexualities. I use q(user) account for anything I missed, although it’s exclusionary
  10. anonformyprivacy reblogged this from queerumich and added:
    I find GSM to be the easiest and the the most inclusive for the length.
  11. whydontihatemarrymyself answered: Don’t think you should be deciding the identities of asexuals for them. Just sayin.
  12. kinky-dominasterisk reblogged this from queerumich
  13. crysmilecry answered: I prefer GSRM, but I mostly use LGBTQ+ for the simplicity of being understood.
  14. theslavbarbarian reblogged this from queerumich and added:
    asexual folks is...anything other than cis and/or heteroromantic they’re
  15. theslavbarbarian answered: I used to use LGBT but lately I’ve been training myself to use LGBTQ, I prefer just “queer” anyhow
  16. awkwardlypainful answered: queer!
  17. queerumich posted this