Are we our own worst enemy? Has the LGBT lost sight of what is important?
3 Dec
http://lgbtnation.wordpress.com/2011/12/03/are-we-our-own-worst-enemy-has-the-lgbt-lost-sight-of-what-is-important/That brings to mind what are we all called? As a kid, it was just that everyone was gay or transsexual. Then it was Gay, lesbian and Transsexual. Then gay Lesbian Bisexual and transgender. The changes may seem subtle, but they mean something because we assign those terms value. They signify an identity and belonging to a community and subset within a community. Eventually it became the LGBTQ to include the group identifying as queer. Then the LGBTQI to add in the intersexed community. Then LGBTQQI to include those whom question their identity. Then at times depending on where you live and who you associate, pansexuals, omnisexuals and letters for people I can't even remember got included. Then the meaning of some letters changed, and by the time you figured out what was PC at any given time it had changed again. If we can't figure out what to call ourselves, how can anyone else?
This won't be popular to say, but dammit – we are a little too damn sensitive about certain terms and just more than a tad bit hypocritical at times. As a transsexual person, among other transsexuals I associate with, we will at times refer to to urselves or those in our community as ->-bleeped-<-s. it even occurs among our partners – we never call them on it. To anyone outside of our community, we rail against them as if slurred in the most heinous way. Let's not beat around the bush – it can be an offensive term – but we have to consider the source and context in which it is used. It's like when a gay man says to another "you're so gay" but then gets incredibly offended if it is said by a straight person. If there is no malice intended, we've gotta lighten up.
