LGBTQ+

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All forms of queer news and culture. Nonsectarian and non-exclusionary.

See also this community's sister subs Feminism, Neurodivergence, Disability, and POC

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Is queer an equivalent substitute for lgbtq(...)+? (lemmy.blahaj.zone)

submitted 1 year ago by Blahaj_Blast@lemmy.blahaj.zone to c/lgbtq_plus

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Hello!

I am new here, and new to the LGBT community in general. Around 6-7 weeks ago I realized I was trans(htf do you make it to 30 and not realize?)

In talking to my therapist, they said they(belonging to the community themselves) like to use queer as shorthand since it includes everyone and isn't an unending acronym that is constantly getting new letters. I also like that and would use it, but being new, I'm not sure how others who've been here longer feel.

Are they equivalent?

I don't like how the acronym keeps changing and accidentally leaving out a letter could be taken as an intentional slight.

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[–] empireOfLove@lemmy.one 42 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

Sort of equivalent. "Queer" was once used as a sharp slur by many homophobes, but it's been actively reclaimed by the community and used as a badge of honor instead to remove its power as a slur. Some older members may still take offense to it just because of the historical context that they lived through, but I imagine anyone of your age or younger has zero problem with the word and probably use it themselves.

In definition, "queer" is meant to describe someone deviating from the norm. As your therapist described, in this community its often used as a catch-all for people who don't fit cleanly into the lesbian/gay/trans labeled bins. Its also frequently used when someone has more than one gender/sexuality identifications. But you're welcome to use it with only just one.

Technically, the acronym "LGBTQ+" includes Queer in itself, as the Q. But we all know that acronym sucks to use in conversation a lot lol.

[–] Evergreen5970 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Huh, I’ve always thought “queer” encompasses both those who fit neatly into the gay, lesbian, bi, or trans bins as well as those who don’t. In other words, I thought it meant

a person who is at least one of:

not cisgender
not heterosexual
not heteroromantic

So basically the same as LGBTQ+ except that 1) it’s easier to say than LGBTQ+ and 2) it’s a reclaimed word that not all people in the community have reclaimed so it will make more of the people it describes uncomfortable than “LGBTQ+” will.

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