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	The LGBTQ+ Portal

Introduction

LGBTQ (also commonly spelled LGBT, LGBTQ+, and LGBTQIA+) is an initialism of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning. It is an umbrella term, broadly referring to all sexualities, romantic orientations, and gender identities which are not heterosexual or cisgender.

In the 1990s, gay, lesbian, and bisexual activists adopted the term LGB, supplanting narrower terms such as "gay or lesbian". Terminology eventually shifted to LGBT, as transgender people became more accepted within the movement. Around that time, some activists began to reclaim the term queer, seeing it as a more radical and inclusive umbrella term, though others reject it, due to its history as a pejorative. In recognition of this, the 2010s saw the adoption of LGBTQ, and other more inclusive variants.

Some versions of the term, such as LGBT+ and LGBTQ+ add a plus sign, to represent additional identities not captured within the acronym. Many further variants exist which add additional identities, such as LGBTQIA+ (for intersex, asexual, aromantic, and agender) and 2SLGBTQ+ (for two-spirit), or which order the letters differently, as in GLBT and GLBTQ.

The collective of all LGBTQ people is often called the LGBTQ community. These labels are not universally agreed upon by everyone that they are intended to include. For example, some intersex people prefer to be included in this grouping, while others do not. Various alternative umbrella terms exist across various cultures, including queer, same gender loving (SGL), Gender, Sexual and Romantic Minorities (GSRM). (Full article...)

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The LGBTQ community (also known as the LGBT, LGBTQ+, LGBTQIA+, GLBT or queer community) is a loosely defined grouping of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals united by a common culture and social movements. These communities generally celebrate pride, diversity, individuality, and sexuality. LGBT activists and sociologists see LGBT community-building as a counterweight to heterosexism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, sexualism, and conformist pressures that exist in the larger society. The term pride or sometimes gay pride expresses the LGBT community's identity and collective strength; pride parades provide both a prime example of the use and a demonstration of the general meaning of the term. The LGBT community is diverse in political affiliation. Not all people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender consider themselves part of the LGBT community.

Groups that may be considered part of the LGBT community include gay villages, LGBT rights organizations, LGBT employee groups at companies, LGBT student groups in schools and universities, and LGBT-affirming religious groups. (Full article...)

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Rustin at a news briefing on the March on Washington in Washington, D.C., on August 27, 1963

Bayard Rustin (/ˈbaɪ.ərd/ BY-ərd; March 17, 1912 – August 24, 1987) was an American political activist, a prominent leader in social movements for civil rights, socialism, nonviolence, and gay rights. Rustin was the principal organizer of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963.

Rustin worked in 1941 with A. Philip Randolph on the March on Washington Movement to press for an end to racial discrimination in the military and defense employment. Rustin later organized Freedom Rides, and helped to organize the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to strengthen Martin Luther King Jr.'s leadership; he taught King about non-violence. Rustin worked alongside Ella Baker, a co-director of the Crusade for Citizenship, in 1954; and before the Montgomery bus boycott, he helped organize a group called "In Friendship" to provide material and legal assistance to people threatened with eviction from their tenant farms and homes. Rustin became the head of the AFL–CIO's A. Philip Randolph Institute, which promoted the integration of formerly all-white unions and promoted the unionization of African Americans. During the 1970s and 1980s, Rustin served on many humanitarian missions, such as aiding refugees from Vietnam and Cambodia. (Full article...)

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“

For a long time I thought I wanted to be a nun. Then I realized that what I really wanted to be was a lesbian.

”

—Mabel Maney

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Current events

October 5: Supreme court of Mauritius rules the colonial era law criminalizing homosexuality unconstitutional
August 5: DaBaby Levitating remix losing US radio audiences after the rapper's comments on HIV/AIDS
May 19: Taiwan's legislature first in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage
February 1: Toronto serial killer Bruce McArthur pleads guilty to eight murders
October 30: 22nd annual ILGA-Europe conference meets in Brussels: in pictures
October 30: In pictures: thousands attend 16th annual Taiwan Pride

See also: 2024 in LGBT rights

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Credit: Stefan Servos

Ian McKellen, English stage and screen actor. McKellen is gay and a prominent campaigner for LGBT rights.

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... that when Dan Savage's book Savage Love was published, his advice column of the same name had 4 million readers?
... that Anita Bryant's participation in Save Our Children, a coalition working to overturn gay rights ordinances in Miami and other cities in 1977 and 1978, destroyed her career?
...that the GayFest of 2005 was the first LGBT pride parade in Romania?
... that African American civil rights activist Mel Boozer was the first openly gay person nominated for the office of Vice President of the United States?
... that the first same-sex kiss on an American soap opera was between fictional characters Lena Kundera and Bianca Montgomery in 2003, who were also American soap opera's first lesbian couple?

More did you know facts

This month's birthdays

1 – Jeffrey Buttle (1982–), Canadian figure skater, 2008 World Champion
1 – Leslie Feinberg (1949–2014), American transgender activist and author
1 – Lily Tomlin (1939–), American actress, comedian, writer, and producer
2 – Ferdinand Karsch (1853–1936), German zoologist and sexologist
2 – Elizabeth Birch (1956–), American attorney, former corporate executive, and LGBTQ advocate
3 – Michael Huffington (1947–), American politician, former Republican congressman (California), and film producer
3 – Sarah Orne Jewett (1849–1909), American writer and poet
4 – Mary Renault (1905–1983), English novelist
5 – Freddie Mercury (1946–1991), British musician
6 – Jane Addams (1860–1935), social worker, writer, activist and first American woman to win Nobel Peace Prize
6 – Julien Green (1900–1998), American expatriate writer
6 – Sylvester (1947–1988) American singer
7 – Michael Feinstein (1956–), American singer and pianist
7 – Rudy Galindo (1969–), American figure skater, 1996 World Bronze Medalist
7 – Paul Iacono (1988–), American actor
7 – Valerie Taylor (1913–1997), American pulp fiction author
7 – Peter Wheatley (1947–), English Anglican bishop
7 – Evan Rachel Wood (1987–), American actress
8 – Dema Harshbarger (1884–1964), American talent manager and concert promoter
8 – Siegfried Sassoon (1886–1967), English poet, author, and soldier
8 – Mark Foley (1954–), American politician, former Republican congressman (Florida), and radio host
9 – Paul Goodman (1911–1972), American sociologist and poet
9 – John Curry (1949–1994), British figure skater, 1976 Olympic Champion
10 – Pope Julius III (1487–1555), Head of the Roman Catholic church, 1550-1555
10 – Alison Bechdel (1960–), American cartoonist
10 – H.D. (1886–1961), American poet, novelist, and memoirist
10 – Karl Lagerfeld (1933–2019), German fashion designer, artist, and photographer
11 – D. H. Lawrence (1885–1930), English novelist, poet, playwright, essayist, and literary critic
11 – Kristy McNichol (1962–), American actress
11 – Karel Kovář (Kovy) (1996–), Czech YouTube personality
12 – Leslie Cheung (1956–2003), Hong Kong film actor and musician
13 – Nell Carter (1948–2003), American actress and singer
13 – Claudette Colbert (1903–1996), French-American actress
14 – Rob McCall (1958–1991), Canadian ice dancer, 1988 Olympic Bronze Medalist
14 – Pier Vittorio Tondelli (1955–1991), Italian novelist
15 – Ann Bannon (1932–), American author
16 – Wilhelm von Gloeden (1856–1931), German photographer
18 – Trajan (53–117), Roman emperor
18 – Eugenia Rasponi (1873–1958), Italian aristocrat, suffragist, and businessperson
18 – Greta Garbo (1905–1990), Swedish actress
18 – Matěj Stropnický (1983–), Czech left-wing politician
19 – Brian Epstein (1934–1967), English music manager (The Beatles)
19 – Soni Wolf (1948–2018), American queer activist, and co-founder of Dykes on Bikes
19 – Tegan Quin (1980–), Canadian singer-songwriter-musician and member of indie rock duo Tegan and Sara
19 – Sara Quin (1980–), Canadian singer-songwriter-musician and member of indie rock duo Tegan and Sara
19 – Riyad Vinci Wadia (1967–2003), Indian independent filmmaker
21 – Anne Burrell (1969–), American chef and TV personality
21 – Billy Porter (1969–) American actor, singer, writer, and director
21 – Fannie Flagg (1944–), American actress, comedian and author
21 – Philippe I, Duke of Orléans (1640–1701), younger brother of King Louis XIV
21 – Edgars Rinkēvičs (1973–), Latvian politician
23 – Manvendra Singh Gohil (1965–), Indian Prince
24 – William Dobell (1899–1970), Australian sculptor and painter
25 – Pedro Almodóvar (1949–), Spanish film director and producer
27 – Carrie Brownstein (1974–), American musician, writer and actress
28 – St. Vincent (1982–), American singer-songwriter and musician
29 – William Thomas Beckford (1760–1844), English novelist, travel writer, and also the richest commoner in England at the time
29 – Danica Roem (1984–), American journalist and politician, Member of the Virginia House of Delegates