So I’ve recently been trying to use the term “2SLGBTQQIA+” over “LGBTQ” as it seems more inclusive, and includes first nation peoples beliefs on sexuality and gender, as well as including and differentiating “queer” from “questioning”. It’s not perfect (still combines A for ally and A for Asexual) but I think ally could just be included in the “+” portion. Regardless, It seems that people unfamiliar with this term just think I’m being a smart ass or a bigot. When truly I want to know what the limits of what “the community” feel is appropriate. Thank you to anyone who can shed some light on this for me.
In hindsight I can see how someone could take this as inflamitory but that wasn’t my intention. This was the wrong forum to ask about such a sensitive subject. Just curious what others thought about the expansion of an acronym and how it is used. How can I add an appropriate warning?
I realised I forgot to actually help you out in my original reply. I’ve been around since the acronym only had 3 and 4 letters in common usage, there was still unfortunately debate at the time for some LGB about whether T made sense to include. Over time more groups of people felt generally aligned to the concept of being outside the strict roles and expectations of Male and Female, straight and gay, but they didnt feel really described by the words the acronym contained, and letters started to be added.
When it hit 7 letters, it was clear to me that the whole acronym was founded in very Abrahamic gender and sex constructs and continuing to add letters was just making it difficult to remember in entirety.
LGBTQIA as a term didn’t include other cultural definitions of gender and sex, even though plenty of other cultures legally recognised one or more groups outside of what they translated into English as “male” and “female”. Obviously the Canadian government has been promoting adding “2S”, but as far as I know that’s a description you’ll only find in Northern America. It still doesn’t include the Thai third gender, the 2 extra Samoan genders, and a bunch other cultures that didn’t have a long Semitic cultural history.
This is why I say LGBT+. 5 syllables and characters is long enough to be understood but also short enough to be remembered. Most people I know right now seem to say LGBT+ or LGBTQ+, and the plus sign is generally understood to include all other identities. I have never experienced someone taking offence to not having their letter said - or if they were offended, they didn’t say anything.
When sociologists decide on a single more inclusive word that includes the most people in the global gender and sexuality diversity spectra, I’ll use that. Until then, I’m sticking with LGBT+ to say “outside major gender and sex roles”, and I think the rainbow 6 stripe flag should be turned into a gradient. The new flag iterations are not doing much for me in terms of aesthetics, to be honest, even if I 100% support the intent.
I hope that’s helpful for you to decide what term you use, and it is understandable to ask the question because there’s a lot of legacy and variation in its history. Plenty more than even this lengthy post.
I never really thought about other cultures view on gender until recently when I learned of 'two souls" being added. It really makes me want to dive deeper into what gender means to more people. Thank you. I think a gradient flag would look really cool. And probably be more accurate.