LGBT

LGBTQQ++ (also GLBT, LGBTQIA+) is an initialism referring collectively to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Other letters are sometimes added to describe additional identities covered under the umbrella. The + functions much like the word "etc.," connoting that there are more identities than described by the preceding letters alone.
In modern use, the acronym aims to describe a diverse group of people.
== History ==
Up until the sexual revolution of the 1960s, there were no widely 
known terms for describing the people in these groups other than the 
derogatory terms used by the straight community; third gender
 was in use before the second world war, but fell out of use afterwards.
 As people began organizing for their sexual rights, they needed a term that would say who they were in a positive way. (Compare heteronormativity)
The term homosexual was used mainly in science, but has had negative connotations.Media Reference Guide Archived 27 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine (citing AP, Washington Post style guides), GLAAD. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
In the 1970s, the term gay became popular. It was often used for the entire community.Ross, E. Wayne (2006). The Social Studies Curriculum: Purposes, Problems, and Possibilities. SUNY Press. ISBN 978-0-7914-6909-5. Archived from the original on 19 June 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2015. As lesbians worked for visibility, it expanded to gay and lesbian.
From around 1988, the LGBT acronym came into common use.Research, policy and practice: Annual meeting Archived 19 June 2019 at the Wayback Machine, American Educational Research Association Verlag AERA, 1988.
== Variations ==
The GLBT variation was used more in the past. During the AIDS epidemic, lesbians worked hard to help, donating blood and helping with medical care during gay men's time of need. The L was moved to the beginning to honor this and to draw more attention to much-neglected women's issues.The “L” In LGBT, And Why Order Matters
People may also add:
* Q for queer and questioning
* I for intersex
* A for aromantic and asexual (not for ally;A is Not for Ally: Affirming Asexual College Student NarrativesThe A in LGBTQIA+ is for Ace, not Ally allyship is welcome but does not make someone LGBTQ+A is not for Ally)
* P for pansexual
* N for nonbinary
* 2 or TS for two-spirit
* O for omnisexual or other
* H for hijra
Other letters may also be added.
== List ==
Due to the use of microlabels, this list can't include every identity. It aims to cover the more common ones.
=== Sexual and romantic identities ===
* Gay and lesbian
* Bisexual
* Pansexual
* Polysexual
* Omnisexual
* Asexual (ace for short). The asexual spectrum includes demisexuals and gray-aces.
* Aromantic (aro for short). The aromantic spectrum includes demiromantics and gray-romantics.
Some people, especially those on the asexual and aromantic spectrums, find it helpful to differentiate between sexual and romantic attraction. For example, someone could be an asexual lesbian or an aromantic pansexual.
=== Gender identities ===
Transgender is the umbrella term for diverse gender identities. Transgender people may be male, female, or nonbinary.
==== Nonbinary ====
* Agender
* Bigender
* Pangender
* Intergender
* Genderfluid
* Demigirl/demigal and demiboy/demiguy
There are many other microlabels for nonbinary people.
== Intersex ==
Intersex people are welcome in the LGBTQ+ community.
== See also ==
See more generally: Orientation; Sexuality.
== References ==
Category:LGBT
Category:Social categories
Category:Identity