LGBTQ people are individuals who are

lesbian A lesbian is a homosexual woman or girl. The word is also used for women in relation to their sexual identity or sexual behavior, regardless of sexual orientation, or as an adjective to characterize or associate nouns with female homosexu ...

gay ''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'. While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late ...

bisexual Bisexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior toward both males and females. It may also be defined as the attraction to more than one gender, to people of both the same and different gender, or the attraction t ...

transgender A transgender (often shortened to trans) person has a gender identity different from that typically associated with the sex they were sex assignment, assigned at birth. The opposite of ''transgender'' is ''cisgender'', which describes perso ...

queer ''Queer'' is an umbrella term for people who are non-heterosexual or non- cisgender. Originally meaning or , ''queer'' came to be used pejoratively against LGBTQ people in the late 19th century. From the late 1980s, queer activists began to ...

, or questioning. Many variants of the initialism are used; LGBTQIA+ people incorporates

intersex Intersex people are those born with any of several sex characteristics, including chromosome patterns, gonads, or genitals that, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, "do not fit typical binar ...

asexual Asexual or Asexuals may refer to: *Asexual reproduction **Asexual reproduction in starfish *Asexuality, the lack of sexual attraction to anyone or lack of interest in or desire for sexual activity. **Gray asexuality, the spectrum between asexualit ...

aromantic Aromanticism is a romantic orientation characterized by experiencing little to no romantic attraction. The term "aromantic", Colloquialism, colloquially shortened to "aro", refers to a person whose romantic orientation is aromanticism. It is d ...

agender Non-binary or genderqueer gender identities are those that are outside the male/female gender binary. Non-binary identities often fall under the transgender umbrella since non-binary people typically identify with a gender that is differ ...

, and other individuals. The group is generally conceived as broadly encompassing all individuals who are part of a sexual or gender minority, including all

sexual orientations Sexual orientation is an enduring personal pattern of romantic attraction or sexual attraction (or a combination of these) to persons of the opposite sex or gender, the same sex or gender, or to both sexes or more than one gender. Patterns are ...

romantic orientation Romantic orientation, also called affectional orientation, is the classification of the sex or gender which a person experiences romantic attraction towards or is likely to have a romantic relationship with. The term is used alongside the t ...

gender identities Gender identity is the personal sense of one's own gender. Gender identity can correlate with a person's assigned sex or can differ from it. In most individuals, the various biological determinants of sex are congruent and consistent with the i ...

, and

sex characteristics Sexual characteristics are physical traits of an organism (typically of a sexually dimorphic organism) which are indicative of or resultant from biological sexual factors. These include both primary sex characteristics, such as gonads, and sec ...

that are not heterosexual,

heteroromantic Romantic orientation, also called affectional orientation, is the classification of the sex or gender Gender is the range of social, psychological, cultural, and behavioral aspects of being a man (or boy), woman (or girl), or third g ...

cisgender The word ''cisgender'' (often shortened to ''cis''; sometimes ''cissexual'') describes a person whose gender identity corresponds to their sex assigned at birth, i.e., someone who is not ''transgender''. The prefix '' cis-'' is Latin and ...

, or

endosex An ''endosex'' person is someone whose innate sex characteristics fit normative medical ideas for female or male bodies. The word ''endosex'' is an antonym of ''intersex''. Etymology and meaning The prefix '' endo-'' comes from the Ancient Gre ...

, respectively.

Scope and terminology

A broad array of sexual and gender minority identities are usually included in who is considered LGBTQ. The term ''gender, sexual, and romantic minorities'' is sometimes used as an alternative umbrella term for this group. Groups that make up the larger group of LGBTQ people include: * People with a sexual orientation that is

non-heterosexual Non-heterosexual is a word for a sexual orientation or sexual identity that is not heterosexual. The term helps define the "concept of what is the norm and how a particular group is different from that norm". ''Non-heterosexual'' is used in fe ...

, including

lesbians A lesbian is a homosexual woman or girl. The word is also used for women in relation to their sexual identity or sexual behavior, regardless of sexual orientation, or as an adjective to characterize or associate nouns with female homo ...

gay men Gay men are male homosexuals. Some bisexual men, bisexual and homoromantic men may dually identify as ''gay'' and a number of gay men also identify as ''queer''. Historic terminology for gay men has included ''Sexual inversion (sexology), in ...

, bisexual people, and asexual people * People who are

non-binary Non-binary or genderqueer Gender identity, gender identities are those that are outside the male/female gender binary. Non-binary identities often fall under the transgender umbrella since non-binary people typically identify with a gende ...

* People who are

Queer people ''Queer'' is an umbrella term for people who are non-heterosexual or non- cisgender. Originally meaning or , ''queer'' came to be used pejoratively against LGBTQ people in the late 19th century. From the late 1980s, queer activists began to ...

, which is sometimes used as an alternative descriptor for LGBTQ people generally, and sometimes as a specific identity There are many variations on the initialism used, including ''LGBT'', ''LGBT+'', ''LGBTQ+'', and ''LGBTQIA+''.

Community

LGBTQ people may participate in the LGBTQ community, which may be defined by shared

LGBTQ culture LGBTQ culture is a culture shared by lesbian, Gay men, gay, bisexuality, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals (LGBTQ people). It is sometimes referred to as queer culture (indicating people who are queer), LGBT culture, and LGBTQIA cult ...

, by shared geography (such as

gay village A gay village, also known as a gayborhood or gaybourhood, is a geographical area with generally recognized boundaries that is inhabited or frequented by many lesbian, gay, bisexuality, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people. Gay vil ...

s), or by participation in LGBTQ-focused organizations. The LGBTQ community includes elements such as

LGBTQ social movements Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) movements are social movements that advocate for LGBTQ people in society. Although there is not a primary or an overarching central organization that represents all LGBTQ people and their i ...

(including

LGBTQ rights organization LGBTQ rights organizations are NGO, non-governmental civil rights organization, civil rights, healthcare and the LGBT community, health, and community organizations that promote the civil rights, civil and human rights and public health, health o ...

s), LGBTQ student groups in schools and universities, and LGBTQ-affirming religious groups. LGBTQ activists and sociologists see LGBTQ community-building as a counterweight to

heterosexism Heterosexism is a system of attitudes, bias, and discrimination in favor of heterosexuality and heterosexual relationships. According to Elizabeth Cramer, it can include the belief that all people are or should be heterosexual and that hetero ...

homophobia Homophobia encompasses a range of negative attitudes and feelings toward homosexuality or people who identify or are perceived as being lesbian, Gay men, gay or bisexual. It has been defined as contempt, prejudice, aversion, hatred, or ant ...

biphobia Biphobia or monosexism is aversion toward bisexuality or people who are identified or perceived as being bisexual. Similarly to homophobia, it refers to hatred and prejudice specifically against those identified or perceived as being in the ...

transphobia Transphobia consists of negative attitudes, feelings, or actions towards transgender or transsexual people, or transness in general. Transphobia can include fear, aversion, hatred, violence or anger towards people who do not conform to socia ...

sexualism Sexual orientation discrimination (also known as sexualism) is discrimination based on a person's sex, sexual orientation, or pregnancy. Sexual bias Sexual orientation discrimination often comes up in the context of employment actions. It ...

, and other

conformist Conformity or conformism is the act of matching attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to social group, group norms, politics or being like-minded. Social norm, Norms are implicit, specific rules, guidance shared by a group of individuals, that guide t ...

pressures that exist in the larger society. Not all LGBTQ people consider themselves part of the LGBTQ community.

Culture

Cologne Germany Cologne-Gay-Pride-2014 Parade-01

LGBTQ culture varies widely by geography and the identity of the participants. Elements common to cultures of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and

people include: *

Pride Pride is a human Emotion, secondary emotion characterized by a sense of satisfaction with one's Identity (philosophy), identity, performance, or accomplishments. It is often considered the opposite of shame or of humility and, depending on conte ...

movements, including

pride parade A pride parade (also known as pride event, pride festival, pride march, or pride protest) is an event celebrating lesbian, Gay men, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) social and self-acceptance, achievements, LGBT rights by country o ...

s * Events such as the

Gay Games The Gay Games is a worldwide sport and cultural event that promotes acceptance of sexual diversity, featuring lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) athletes, artists and other individuals. Founded as the Gay Olympics, it was s ...

and

Southern Decadence Southern Decadence is an annual, five-day (Thur - Mon), LGBTQ-based event held in New Orleans, Louisiana during Labor Day weekend, culminating in a parade through the French Quarter on the Sunday before Labor Day. History The event traces its ...

* LGBTQ media and works by LGBTQ artists, including the queer art movement * LGBTQ-owned businesses, particularly those that cater specifically to the LGBTQ community Not all LGBTQ people identify with LGBTQ culture; this may be due to geographic distance, unawareness of the subculture's existence, fear of

social stigma Stigma, originally referring to the visible marking of people considered inferior, has evolved to mean a negative perception or sense of disapproval that a society places on a group or individual based on certain characteristics such as their ...

or a preference for remaining unidentified with sexuality- or gender-based subcultures or communities. The

Queercore Queercore (or homocore) is a cultural/social movement that began in the mid-1980s as an offshoot of the punk subculture and a music genre that comes from punk rock. It is distinguished by its discontent with society in general, and specifically ...

and

Gay Shame Gay Shame is a movement from within the queer communities described as a Radicalization, radical alternative to gay mainstreaming. The movement directly posits an alternative view of gay pride events and activities which have become increasingly Co ...

movements critique what they see as the commercialization and self-imposed "ghettoization" of LGBTQ culture.

History

The history of LGBTQ people dates back to the first recorded instances of same-sex love and diverse gender identities and sexualities in cultures around the world. In many cultures this history has involved marginalization and persecution, such that these histories have only in recent decades been pursued and interwoven into more mainstream historical narratives. In 1994, the annual observance of

LGBT History Month LGBTQ History Month is an annual month-long observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer history, and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements. It was founded in 1994 by Missouri high-school history teacher ...

began in the United States, and it has since been picked up in other countries. This observance involves highlighting the history of the people,

LGBTQ rights Rights affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people vary greatly by country or jurisdiction—encompassing everything from the legal recognition of same-sex marriage to the death penalty for homosexuality. Nota ...

and related

civil rights Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' political freedom, freedom from infringement by governments, social organizations, and private individuals. They ensure one's entitlement to participate in the civil and ...

movements. It is observed during October in the United States, to include

National Coming Out Day National Coming Out Day (NCOD) is an annual LGBT awareness day observed on October 11 to support anyone "coming out of the closet". First celebrated in the United States in 1988, the initial idea was grounded in the feminist and gay liberation s ...

on October 11. In the United Kingdom it has been observed during February since 2005:

Section 28 Section 28 refers to a part of the Local Government Act 1988, which stated that Local government in the United Kingdom, local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales "shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with t ...

, which had prohibited local authorities from "promoting" homosexuality was repealed in England and Wales in 2003, while the same legislation (named Section 2a in the Scottish legislation) was repealed by the

Scottish parliament The Scottish Parliament ( ; ) is the Devolution in the United Kingdom, devolved, unicameral legislature of Scotland. It is located in the Holyrood, Edinburgh, Holyrood area of Edinburgh, and is frequently referred to by the metonym 'Holyrood'. ...

in 2000. A celebrated achievement in LGBTQ history occurred when

Queen Beatrix Beatrix (Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard, ; born 31 January 1938) is a member of the Dutch royal house who reigned as Queen of the Netherlands from 30 April 1980 until her abdication in 2013. Beatrix was born during the reign of her maternal gr ...

signed a law making Netherlands the first country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2001, and another when Ireland became the first country to legalise same-sex marriage by popular vote in 2015.

Rights

The legal rights held by LGBTQ people vary greatly by country or jurisdiction—ranging from the legal recognition of

same-sex marriage Same-sex marriage, also known as gay marriage, is the marriage of two people of the same legal Legal sex and gender, sex. marriage between same-sex couples is legally performed and recognized in 38 countries, with a total population of 1.5 ...

to the

death penalty for homosexuality Capital punishment as a criminal punishment for homosexuality has been implemented by a number of countries in their history. It is a legal punishment in several countries and regions, all of which have Islamic-based criminal laws, except for ...

. Laws that affect LGBTQ people include: * legal recognition of

* laws concerning

same-sex parenting Same-sex parenting is parenting of children by Same-sex relationship, same-sex couples generally consisting of Gay men, gay, lesbian, or bisexual people who are often in civil partnerships, domestic partnerships, civil unions, or same-sex marria ...

, including

same-sex adoption Same-sex adoption is the adoption of children or adults by same-sex couples. It may take the form of a joint adoption by the couple, or of the adoption by one partner of the other's biological child or adult ( stepchild adoption). Joint adopt ...

anti-discrimination laws Anti-discrimination law or non-discrimination law refers to legislation designed to prevent discrimination against particular groups of people; these groups are often referred to as protected groups or protected classes. Anti-discrimination laws ...

in employment, housing, education, public accommodations *

hate crime laws Hate crime (also known as bias crime) in criminal law involves a standard offence (such as an assault, murder) with an added element of bias against a victim (individual or group of individuals) because of their physical appearance or perceived ...

imposing enhanced criminal penalties for prejudice-motivated

violence against LGBTQ people LGBTQ people frequently experience violence directed toward their sexuality, gender identity, or gender expression. This violence may be enacted by the state, as in laws prescribing punishment for homosexual acts, or by individuals. It may b ...

bathroom bill A bathroom bill is the common name for legislation or a statute that denies access to public toilets by gender or transgender identity. Bathroom bills affect access to sex-segregated public facilities for an individual based on a determination o ...

s affecting access to sex-segregated facilities by transgender people *

sodomy laws A sodomy law is a law that defines certain sexual acts as crimes. The precise sexual acts meant by the term ''sodomy'' are rarely spelled out in the law, but are typically understood and defined by many courts and jurisdictions to include any o ...

that penalize consensual same-sex sexual activity * laws concerning access to

gender-affirming surgery Gender-affirming surgery (GAS) is a surgical procedure, or series of procedures, that alters a person's physical appearance and sexual characteristics to resemble those associated with their gender identity. The phrase is most often associated ...

and gender-affirming hormone replacement therapy * legal recognition and accommodation of the affirmed gender Even in jurisdictions with strong protections for LGBTQ rights, they may still be subject to

discrimination against LGBTQ people Discrimination against LGBTQ people includes discrimination against LGBTQ people as a whole and against specific subgroups: lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people, among other sexual and gender minorities. Homophobia Lesbians Gay me ...

Health

By country

* LGBTQ people in Australia * LGBTQ people in Brazil * LGBTQ people in Canada *

LGBTQ people in Chile LGBTQ rights The LGBTQ community in Chile has gained some rights in recent years. In 2012 it was approved the anti-discrimination law that includes sexual orientation and gender identity as protected categories. The law penalizes the arbitra ...

* LGBTQ people in Colombia * LGBTQ people in the Dominican Republic * LGBTQ people in Guatemala * LGBTQ people in Mexico * LGBTQ people in New Zealand *

LGBTQ people in Thailand As of 2018, there were estimated to be between 4.2 and 5 million LGBTQ people living in Thailand. Thailand has long had a reputation of tolerance when it comes to LGBTQ people. However, the ''Bangkok Post'' noted in 2013 that "while Thailand is vie ...

* LGBTQ people in the United Kingdom *

LGBTQ people in the United States In the United States, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people have a long history, including vibrant subcultures and advocacy battles for social and religious acceptance and legal rights. Though the first national gay o ...

Specific LGBTQ people

References

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