Not long after the LGBT acronym was coined as an "umbrella term" for sex and gender-diverse people, a campaign seems to have been initiated to sabotage it. First came pressure to replace LGBT with "queer", which is what the saboteurs really wanted. That initially proved too controversial, so a "Q" was added to LGBT (sometimes meant as "queer" and at other times "questioning". When in doubt, two "Qs" were added).
Then came "I" (intersex) and "A" (asexual), then a second "A" (allies), and that threw open the door for every other status that might catch someone's fancy: "2S" (two-spirit), "NB" (non-binary), "GF" (gender-fluid) and so on, and so on, and scooby-dooby-doo! It still stuns me, the number of organizations that are willing to consume one or more varieties of potluck alphabet soup. But this expanding Scrabble game was clearly unsuited to general parlance, so the acronym was shorthanded to "LGBT". Damned if it didn't start expanding again, first to "LGBTQ" and now, increasingly, "LGBTQ+"! And we've now reached the point where the saboteurs are able to have their alphabet soup and eat it, too. An increasing number of pop culture and news outlets consider "LGBTQ+" and "queer" interchangeable terms.
In retrospect, it's baffling how quickly mainstream institutions have bought into this inappropriate labeling. They should all know better; no one acronym or word could ever serve to group together so many disparate peoples and issues. The random nature of the letter additions surely could not have escaped rational observers; and the hateful and stigmatizing history of the Q-word should have given them pause, but so far that's proving not to be true.
Folks who would never even consider slinging the N-word around seem to have no trouble at all dropping a sexual slur into casual conversation. To hear children, elderly people, disabled people, professional people and even sometimes animals described as "queer" is cringe-making, and that's a gross understatement!
The message being sent is that anybody who isn't heterosexual or binary-gendered deserves tossing into a grab bag, a miscellaneous bin or a trash can. How much more could you demean someone? It is quite painful to hear oneself referred to as "the queer community" by news outlets such as NPR, but being put through a sex and gender meat grinder doesn't feel any better. Either way, it's profoundly disrespectful.
I submit that both LGBTQ+ and Queer are expressions of disrespect for sex and gender-diverse peoples. It doesn't matter if those same peoples are largely responsible for their coinage; we shouldn't be surprised that historically devalued populations might lack respect for themselves. But those of us who do have self respect shouldn't just go along to get along. We don't have to accept being toyed with like this. We're human beings, not game apps!
This is where Gay Pride comes into play. (That's real Gay Pride, as opposed to "Pride", which is a marketing term.) The mighty Lesbian community has led the way with their righteous objections to being disappeared inside this cavalier terminology. There are also many proud Transfolk who demand that their distinct identities and issues be acknowledged. We can all say "no" to being umbrella-termed out of existence.
You can probably tell that I don't like the Q-word, but I don't want to get into an argument about that. I'm not concerned with derogatory usage right now. I'm concerned with usage that amounts to erasure.
[–][deleted] 39 insightful - 4 fun39 insightful - 3 fun40 insightful - 3 fun40 insightful - 4 fun - (1 child)
[–]KCStuffedAnimal[S] 18 insightful - 5 fun18 insightful - 4 fun19 insightful - 4 fun19 insightful - 5 fun - (0 children)
[–]MarkJeffersonTight defenses and we draw the line 28 insightful - 1 fun28 insightful - 0 fun29 insightful - 0 fun29 insightful - 1 fun - (1 child)
[–]KCStuffedAnimal[S] 11 insightful - 3 fun11 insightful - 2 fun12 insightful - 2 fun12 insightful - 3 fun - (0 children)
[–]MezozoicGayoldschool gay 27 insightful - 1 fun27 insightful - 0 fun28 insightful - 0 fun28 insightful - 1 fun - (2 children)
[–]KCStuffedAnimal[S] 13 insightful - 1 fun13 insightful - 0 fun14 insightful - 0 fun14 insightful - 1 fun - (0 children)
[–]fuck_reddit 10 insightful - 1 fun10 insightful - 0 fun11 insightful - 0 fun11 insightful - 1 fun - (0 children)
[–][deleted] 20 insightful - 3 fun20 insightful - 2 fun21 insightful - 2 fun21 insightful - 3 fun - (9 children)
[–]KCStuffedAnimal[S] 14 insightful - 1 fun14 insightful - 0 fun15 insightful - 0 fun15 insightful - 1 fun - (0 children)
[–]fuck_reddit 10 insightful - 2 fun10 insightful - 1 fun11 insightful - 1 fun11 insightful - 2 fun - (7 children)
[–]KCStuffedAnimal[S] 7 insightful - 2 fun7 insightful - 1 fun8 insightful - 1 fun8 insightful - 2 fun - (6 children)
[–]fuck_reddit 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun - (5 children)
[–]KCStuffedAnimal[S] 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun - (4 children)
[–]fuck_reddit 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun - (3 children)
[–]KCStuffedAnimal[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun - (2 children)
[–]fuck_reddit 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun - (1 child)
[–]KCStuffedAnimal[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun - (0 children)
[+][deleted] (10 children)
[deleted]
[–]KCStuffedAnimal[S] 16 insightful - 1 fun16 insightful - 0 fun17 insightful - 0 fun17 insightful - 1 fun - (1 child)
[–]oofreesouloo⚡super lesbian⚡ 15 insightful - 1 fun15 insightful - 0 fun16 insightful - 0 fun16 insightful - 1 fun - (0 children)
[–]Q-Continuum-kin 10 insightful - 1 fun10 insightful - 0 fun11 insightful - 0 fun11 insightful - 1 fun - (6 children)
[+][deleted] (5 children)
[deleted]
[–]indeepshadowsBi woman 9 insightful - 1 fun9 insightful - 0 fun10 insightful - 0 fun10 insightful - 1 fun - (4 children)
[–]MezozoicGayoldschool gay 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun - (0 children)
[+][deleted] (2 children)
[deleted]
[–]indeepshadowsBi woman 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun - (1 child)
[–]AugustiJade 15 insightful - 1 fun15 insightful - 0 fun16 insightful - 0 fun16 insightful - 1 fun - (3 children)
[–]florasisHOMOSEXUAL FEMALE/Pussy is my God and I'm monotheist 17 insightful - 1 fun17 insightful - 0 fun18 insightful - 0 fun18 insightful - 1 fun - (1 child)
[–]KCStuffedAnimal[S] 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun - (0 children)
[–]KCStuffedAnimal[S] 9 insightful - 2 fun9 insightful - 1 fun10 insightful - 1 fun10 insightful - 2 fun - (0 children)
[–]ThiccDropkickGay 13 insightful - 1 fun13 insightful - 0 fun14 insightful - 0 fun14 insightful - 1 fun - (35 children)
[–]KCStuffedAnimal[S] 25 insightful - 1 fun25 insightful - 0 fun26 insightful - 0 fun26 insightful - 1 fun - (34 children)
[–]MezozoicGayoldschool gay 23 insightful - 1 fun23 insightful - 0 fun24 insightful - 0 fun24 insightful - 1 fun - (33 children)
[–]INeedSomeTimeAsexual Ally 17 insightful - 2 fun17 insightful - 1 fun18 insightful - 1 fun18 insightful - 2 fun - (12 children)
[–]MezozoicGayoldschool gay 16 insightful - 1 fun16 insightful - 0 fun17 insightful - 0 fun17 insightful - 1 fun - (11 children)
[–]KCStuffedAnimal[S] 8 insightful - 2 fun8 insightful - 1 fun9 insightful - 1 fun9 insightful - 2 fun - (2 children)
[+][deleted] (1 child)
[deleted]
[–]KCStuffedAnimal[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun - (0 children)
[–]Ko-hi 8 insightful - 2 fun8 insightful - 1 fun9 insightful - 1 fun9 insightful - 2 fun - (7 children)
[–]KCStuffedAnimal[S] 8 insightful - 1 fun8 insightful - 0 fun9 insightful - 0 fun9 insightful - 1 fun - (6 children)
[–]Ko-hi 4 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 2 fun - (5 children)
[–]KCStuffedAnimal[S] 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun - (4 children)
[–]Ko-hi 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun - (3 children)
[–]KCStuffedAnimal[S] 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun - (1 child)
[–]MezozoicGayoldschool gay 12 insightful - 3 fun12 insightful - 2 fun13 insightful - 2 fun13 insightful - 3 fun - (0 children)
[–]Ko-hi 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun - (17 children)
[–]KCStuffedAnimal[S] 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun - (16 children)
[–]VioletRemiCat, homosexual one 5 insightful - 4 fun5 insightful - 3 fun6 insightful - 3 fun6 insightful - 4 fun - (5 children)
[–]KCStuffedAnimal[S] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun - (2 children)
[–]VioletRemiCat, homosexual one 5 insightful - 3 fun5 insightful - 2 fun6 insightful - 2 fun6 insightful - 3 fun - (1 child)
[–]KCStuffedAnimal[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun - (0 children)
[–]Ko-hi 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun - (1 child)
[–]VioletRemiCat, homosexual one 5 insightful - 3 fun5 insightful - 2 fun6 insightful - 2 fun6 insightful - 3 fun - (0 children)
[–]Ko-hi 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun - (9 children)
[–]KCStuffedAnimal[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun - (8 children)
[–]Ko-hi 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun - (7 children)
[–]KCStuffedAnimal[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun - (6 children)
[–]Ko-hi 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun - (3 children)
[–]indeepshadowsBi woman 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun - (1 child)
[–][deleted] 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun - (0 children)
[+][deleted] (1 child)
[removed]