Splitting Hairs: Is the LGBT Community Alienating Its Own?

[Shana A]

Catherine Oliver
Genderqueer activist, freelance writer, and publisher, 'Just a Bit Radical' magazine

Splitting Hairs: Is the LGBT Community Alienating Its Own?
Posted: 04/10/2012 12:22 pm

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/catherine-oliver/splitting-hairs-is-the-lgbt-community-alienating-its-own_b_1412191.html

Labels play a large role in society. Some choose not to identify with a label, while others find a sense of security in a label and use it to define who they are to others. Off the top of your head, how many labels can you think of for the LGBTQ community? Do certain groups not tolerate one another well? In history, the lesbian community and the gay male community have often been at odds. Some facets of the transgender community are hostile toward one another based on personal decisions regarding medical transition or one's choice not to do so.

"Gay." "Lesbian." "Bisexual." "Transgender." "Pansexual." "Genderqueer." "Neutrois." "Non-Identified." "Queer." "Femme." "Butch." The list goes on.

Have you seen examples of these groups alienating one another based on labels? I recently encountered a stream of vitriol aimed at me for being "genderqueer" -- and for my choice not to medically transition.