Commonly Asked Questions About LGBT Issues

What exactly does LGBT stand for?

LGBT is an acronym which stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender. It is a very inclusive term which refers to all people who are sexual minorities in some way either because of their sexual orientation or their gender identity.

Why don't people just say "gay" or "homosexual" instead?

The term "gay" has historically referred to homosexual men, and even when it has been used to refer to women, typically the term has not included bisexuals or transgender people. The same is true for "homosexual," which sounds extremely clinical to many people, and to some seems to refer only to the sexual component of being LGBT. Many people feel that being LGBT goes far beyond simply who one is romantically or sexually attracted to.

Why do some people use the word "queer"?

"Queer" is another term often used to refer to all people whose identities cross traditional norms of sexuality and gender identity. "Queer" implies a much more fluid identity that may not even be able to be described with the words "lesbian," "gay," "bisexual," or "transgender." For many people this term has strong political connotations, and represents more than just a sexual or gender identity, but also an identity that is rooted in creating social change and challenging oppression for all under-represented peoples.

Why is there so much emphasis on terms and labels in the LGBT community?

Labels and terms have so much power and impact on how people feel about themselves and who they are. Using labels and terms that people are most comfortable with is a sign of respect to those who prefer them. While it may seem overly involved or too politically correct for some people, using the labels and terms that people prefer to be called is a very easy way of acknowledging and validating who they are.

How come the LGB are sometimes separate from the T?

The "LGB" in "LGBT" refers to lesbian, gay, and bisexual, which are all about sexual orientation, or who one is romantically or sexually attracted to. The "T" refers to "transgender" which deals with gender identity. Efforts to include the "T" whenever possible usually show an effort to be inclusive of transgender people within the lesbian, gay, and bisexual communities. However, though sexual orientation and gender identity are related, they are very different things, and sometimes it is necessary to make them distinct for the sake of clarity.

Is being gay a choice?

Most all LGBT people agree that they did not choose their sexual orientation or gender identity, as do most people who are heterosexual. Research done confirms among most scientists, psychologists, and sociologists that sexual orientation in particular is very strongly influenced by biological and hereditary factors. Also, one must wonder, why would anyone ever choose a life that is so difficult, challenging, and that leads to oppression? It is also important to make the distinction between sexual orientation, sexual behaviors, and sexual identity.

Is ten percent of society actually LGBT?

No one really knows how many people are LGBT. It is so hard to tell and so hard to measure, because it depends on what exactly is meant by the question. The question may refer to sexual orientation, sexual identity, or sexual behaviors, in which case the answer could potentially be different for each. Also, with research conducted about sexual orientation and gender identity people may not necessarily feel comfortable being honest in surveys or reports because they are not out to family & friends. So it is really hard to tell exactly how many people are LGBT.

What if someone is unsure about his or her sexual orientation?

Because our society encourages and strongly supports heterosexuality, and shuns and discourages non-heterosexuality, many people have a hard time dealing with feelings they may have or parts of themselves which do not fit into heterosexual norms. For some people, stepping outside of the roles and norms which they have been raised to believe are normal is an important part of realizing their sexual orientation. Responsible and safe experimentation and exploration are quite common. Also, talking with a friend is often helpful as well.