As you start your foray into LGBT inclusion and spaces, you will come across many terms and acronyms. One of the first will be ‘LGBT’ or its variations, such as ‘GLBT’, ‘LGBTQ’, ‘LGBTQ+’, ‘LGBTQIA+’, and so on. Additionally, you might encounter the term ‘queer’.
At times, ‘queer’ and ‘LGBT’ are used interchangeably. After all, the ‘Q’ in ‘LGBTQ’ means queer or questioning. However, there are distinctions in how these two terms are applied.
In this article, my aim is to help clarify the distinctions between these two terms, enabling you to use them knowingly.
Origins of the term ‘LGBT’
While the term ‘LGBT’ may seem ubiquitous, it wasn’t always the case. The hetero/homo binary distinction is actually quite a recent human invention.
Although the term ‘homosexual’ was widely used, due to its overly medical and scientific connotations, it has largely been abandoned by activist spaces. Later, the term ‘gay’ came along to describe the previously described homosexual (Ross 2006). The exact origins of the adoption of the term ‘gay’ within the LGBTQ+ community are unclear, as it emerged organically through cultural shifts and self-identification. However, it gained more prominence during the mid-20th century.
Later, as lesbians recognised the need to understand gayness with feminism, lesbianism emerged as a distinct political movement. This was followed by the recognition and pursuit of rights and freedoms by bisexual and transgender individuals. The four terms – ‘lesbian’, ‘gay’, ‘bisexual’ and ‘transgender’ – eventually converged forming a supposed all-encompassing term for all non-heterosexual or non-cisgendered groups and individuals: LGBT. However, issues of inclusion persistently affect LGBT groups and activism, especially concerning bisexual and transgender individuals (Sears 2001).
The acronym ‘LGBT’ has recently been officialised, expanding to ‘LGBTQ,’ to reflect the increasing acceptance and adoption of the term ‘queer’ among younger generations. However, it is worth noting that older generations often still perceive ‘queer’ as a derogatory slur (Nadal 2017).
So what’s the difference?
‘Queer’ signifies a shift in mindset and approach, moving away from the idea of ‘we are just like you’ to a perspective that challenges and critiques the norm.
In a more general sense, the LGBT approach, as distinct from the queer approach, has shifted towards a politics of assimilation. This means that the LGBT approach suggests that the path to achieving equal rights involves getting closer to straight people and conforming to a straight way of life. For example, through getting married.
Another aspect of the LGBT approach is that it implies respectability, or respectability politics. This is a political value and strategy where marginalised people or groups actively abandon or eschew controversial aspects of their identity as a method of assimilation. This allows access to social mobility, and gains respect of those who they are appealing to (Mendez 2018).
As an example of respectability politics: during every Pride parade, a recurring topic of debate revolves around the appropriateness of including kink and BDSM/leather culture. Some argue those practices are an integral part of the history and the culture of the community. On the other hand, others argue that it makes the concept of Pride unpalatable to the broader society, and hence poses a barrier to social inclusion.
Meanwhile, the queer approach takes the opposite stance: anti-respectability. The queer approach is deliberately resistant to the norm, aiming to create a new way of being that doesn’t exist within the boundaries of the norm (Sycamore 2008).
Whether you decide to use the terms ‘LGBT’ or ‘Queer’ to describe yourself or others, understand that they encompass more than just identity labels. These terms carry a slew of political and social implications and reflect a broader set of values.
When you find yourself uncertain about which term a person prefers, ask them. And in case they don’t know the difference, you can use this article as a resource to explain it!
