Here to Stay: An Overview of America’s LGBTQ+ Community
According to most recent estimates, less than 5% of the U.S. population identifies as LGBTQ+ — lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer/questioning. Unfortunately, LGBTQ+ history, key figures, and culture are rarely, if ever, taught in American classrooms. Nonetheless, the resilience, activism, and fearlessness of the LGBTQ+ community have prevailed, inspiring generations of LGBTQ+ Americans and allies alike. It’s high time we shined a spotlight on them.
Basic terminology
Before we can delve into the LGBTQ+ community, we need to define sex, gender, and sexual orientation. As you can imagine, this can be quite difficult to do. However, these three concepts greatly contribute to our ability to better talk about and understand the LGBTQ+ community.
Let’s start with sex. Sex can be defined as “a biological category that distinguishes between males and females.” Sex is rooted in our makeup of chromosomes (XX for females, XY for males.) Sex characteristics include our reproductive genitalia, breasts, pubic hair, and facial hair.
Some people may use the terms “sex” and “gender” interchangeably. This is technically not correct.
While one’s sex is biologically constructed, one’s gender is socially constructed. Gender can be defined as “a set of social and physiological characteristics that a society considers proper for males and females.” “Proper” gender expressions in a society can be, for example, that men have short hair, and women have long hair. That men wear blue, and women wear pink. That men wear suits and ties, and women wear dresses and skirts. That men work in STEM fields, and women work with children. That men are more tough, and women are more sensitive. The list goes on and on.
Although gender norms vary across the world, each society has a rough set of distinctions that “makes” a woman a woman and a man a man, which are influenced by a combination of culture and values, among other factors. One’s gender identity, or “a person’s deeply held sense of their gender,” sometimes does not match their sex, as is in the case of transgender individuals. Other people identify or label themselves as gender fluid or gender queer, meaning they embrace both feminine and masculine gender expressions.
Lastly, one’s sexual orientation can be found under the umbrella of sexuality, which encompasses “everything related to sexual behavior: sexual acts, desire, arousal, the entire experience that is deemed sexual.”
Homosexuality (or being gay) is attraction to the same sex; heterosexuality (or being straight) is attraction to the opposite sex; bisexuality (or being bi), is attraction to both the same and opposite sex; and asexuality is attraction to neither the same nor opposite sex.
Remember that one’s sexuality and gender expression exist on a spectrum. Essentially, this means that each person’s sexuality and gender expression is different. You cannot, for example, generalize about all homosexual individuals because homosexuality exists on a spectrum, as does heterosexuality, bisexuality, asexuality, and any sense of being queer or non-binary.
Are you confused by any of the terms mentioned above? If so, see below for a list of common words and phrases (also known as labels). The definitions are adapted from resources made available by The Trevor Project and the Human Rights Campaign, two leading LGBTQ+-serving organizations located in the U.S.
Do keep in mind that ascribing labels to oneself can be controversial. While some may view labels as a form of self-empowerment and acceptance, others can find them limiting and superficial. The choice to label yourself, or not, rests entirely with you. You should never however, take it upon yourself to label anyone else.
LGBTQ+: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning
Queer, non-binary: a broad term to express the spectrum of sexual orientations and gender expressions. *Can carry a negative connotation in some contexts*
Cis, cisgender: a person whose gender identity matches their sex assigned at birth
Trans, transgender: a person who does not identify with their sex assigned at birth—for example, a transman is an individual who was assigned female at birth per their biological makeup, but does not identify as female, but rather as male
Genderqueer, gender non-conforming, gender fluid: a broad term to describe individuals’ diverse gender expressions
Straight, heterosexual: a person attracted to the opposite sex
Homosexual: a person attracted to the same sex
Bisexual: a person attracted to both sexes
Asexual: a person who does not experience sexual attraction
Gay: frequently synomous with homosexual, and, though the term “gay” can be used to chacterize homosexual men and women, it is most often used to describe homosexual men
Lesbian: a homosexual woman
Intersex: a person who is born with sex characteristics that are not inherently male or female due to genetic, hormonal, or anatomical differences
Pronouns: Depending on where you are on the spectrum, you can choose to describe yourself with a) he/his/him pronouns; b) she/her/hers pronouns; and/or c) they/their/theirs pronouns
Ally: a person who does not identify as LGBTQ+, but supports the LGBTQ+ community--YOU can be an ally!
Three main takeaways
Being an LGBTQ+ individual does not make you any less deserving of respect. All human beings are entitled to human rights, tolerance, respect, and love.
You are not required to come out. “Coming out” refers to telling your family, friends, community, and even strangers that you identify as LGBTQ+. Coming out at any point in your life is a personal choice that only you can make for yourself. If you feel coming out could create an unsafe situation for you, do not feel forced to do so. Likewise, choosing not to come out does not invalidate your experiences as an LGBTQ+ individual.
You are not alone.
You are not wrong.
You are normal.
You are strong.
LGBTQ+ history highlight: Stonewall & Pride in America
The history of LGBTQ+ Americans is as diverse as the community itself. There have been milestones of progress, such as the 2015 Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage in all 50 states, the 2018 election of a record number of LGBTQ+ politicians to positions of power, and homosexuality being declassified as a mental disorder in the early 1970s, thanks to the groundbreaking research of Dr. Evelyn Hooker and the advocacy of Frank Kameny, Barbara Gittings, and others.
However, the LGBTQ+ community has also faced numerous challenges. For example, the 1980’s HIV/AIDS epidemic in the U.S. killed hundreds of thousands of Americans while also stigmatizing and spreading false information about the LGBTQ+ community at large. (Do you know the difference between HIV and AIDS? They’re not the same! Click here to learn more.)
In addition, transwomen of color are disproportionately affected by violence and high rates of murder. Many LGBTQ+ individuals, especially youth, have been coerced into “conversion” therapy, a practice designed to “convert” a gay person into a straight person. In reality, this “therapy” is a form of physical, mental, and psychological torture and is resoundingly rejected by the medical community. It has never, nor will ever, “work.” (For more on this topic, I would recommend Garrard Conley’s memoir, Boy Erased.)
While there are countless events in LGBTQ+ history that could be highlighted, one of the most iconic moments is Stonewall, which laid the groundwork for Pride celebrations in America and across the globe.
What happened at the Stonewall Inn in June 1969 should be understood in the context of the wider struggle for civil rights that was occurring in the U.S. in the 1960s. This (ongoing) fight for civil rights and liberties impacted many minority groups in addition to the LGBTQ+ community, such as women, African Americans, Native Americans, and individuals with disabilities.
In the early morning of June 28th, 1969, the police raided the Stonewall Inn, a popular bar for the LGBTQ+ community, in particular transwomen, located in Greenwich Village on Christopher Street in New York City. The alleged purpose of the raid was that the bar was selling liquor without a license. However, the authorities long had a history of harassing, arresting, and attacking gay patrons at Stonewall and other LGBTQ+ establishments. At the time, being gay was illegal in most parts of the United States and was considered “deviant” and “indecent.” Gay people, or even those suspected of being gay, could be fired from their jobs, all the way up to the federal level.
Photos: The New York Times, The Harvard Gazette
That day at Stonewall, the patrons decided to take a stand against the police. The crowd became incensed. They shouted and threw objects at the police, and soon more protesters arrived at the scene, forming a riot. Thousands of people joined demonstrations that lasted from June 28th-July 3rd, 1969. News of what had happened at the Stonewall Inn quickly spread, becoming one of the most important events in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in America.
We recommend to scroll through this great resource to learn more about the history of Pride, and Stonewall in particular, as well as watch the documentary about the Past, Present and Future of Pride.
In 2016, President Obama declared the Stonewall Inn, Christopher Park, and the surrounding streets as a National Historic Landmark. Stonewall also inspired Pride celebrations in America and elsewhere around the world. Pride month is celebrated in June, and the first ever Pride parade in America was actually held in 1970, one year after the Stonewall uprising.
If you attend a Pride celebration, you’ll likely find parades, floats, colorful costumes, and lots and lots of rainbow flags! Pride is celebrated in both major cities and smaller towns throughout the U.S. Although some people have criticized Pride for its lack of inclusiveness, especially for people of color and those with disabilities, it remains one of the most visible and assertive events for most LGBTQ+ individuals.
Curious about early leaders and activists in the American LGBTQ+ movement? Check out the following trailblazers:
Sylvia Rivera was a Puerto Rican transgender activist who was a founding member of the Gay Liberation Front. Alongside Marsha P. Johnson, she founded STAR, an organization committed to serving homeless trans youth.
An astronomer, army veteran, and fervent LGBTQ+ leader, Frank Kameny’s tireless activism greatly influenced the modern LGBTQ+ movement. In 1957, Kameny was fired from his federal government job due to his sexual orientation. He fought for eighteen years to overturn this discriminatory law. Kameny is also known for participating in and organizing “Annual Reminder” pickets with Barbara Gittings, which were early public demonstrations to raise awareness of inequality for LGBTQ+ Americans. He co-founded the Mattachine Society, one of the first ever LGBTQ+ organizations in the U.S.
Barbara Gittings was a leading figure for LGBTQ+ rights, especially for lesbians. She organized the first East Coast chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis, a lesbian advocacy and rights group. She participated in some of the first LGBTQ+ protests and helped start the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in 1973.
An activist, prostitute, drag queen, and key figure in the movement for LGBTQ+ rights, Marsha P. Johnson was an African American transwoman dedicated to issues related to trans youth, homelessness, and equity. She and her fellow activist, Sylvia Rivera, worked closely together to serve the LGBTQ+ community.
Stormé DeLarverie was a famous drag performer known for her dapper suits and ties. She is believed by many to have thrown the first punch at the Stonewall Inn raid, which sparked the uprising in 1969.
Harvey Milk was one of the first openly gay elected officials in the U.S., serving in California. His vocal activism to defeat Proposition 6, which would’ve legalized the firing of gay teachers in Californian public schools, is particularly noteworthy. For more on the life of Harvey Milk, check out the film Milk starring Sean Penn.
Brenda Howard is often called “The Mother of Pride” for her organization of the first Pride celebrations in New York City. She was also a proud bisexual and was active in the Gay Liberation Front and the Gay Activists’ Alliance.
National LGBTQ+-serving organizations
Mission: “To provide crisis intervention and suicide preventation services to LGBTQ+ young people under 25.” Among other resources, it has a 24/7 hotline for LGBTQ+ youth contemplating suicide at 1-866-488-7386.
Mission: “To end discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.” The HRC is politically active and works on local, national, and global issues that impact the LGBTQ+ community.
Mission: By working through various media platforms, GLAAD “tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change.” (Did you catch when Taylor Swift celebrated GLAAD and the LGBTQ+ community in her song, “You Need to Calm Down”?)
Mission: “Serves the LGBTQ+ community by providing free and confidential peer-support and local resources” such as a national hotline, online peer support chat, weekly youth chatrooms, and connections to local LGBTQ+ resources.
The Matthew Shepard Foundation
Mission: “Amplify the story of Matthew Shepard to inspire individuals, organizations, and communities to embrace the dignity and equality of all people.” Matthew Shepard was a 21-year-old gay man who was brutally attacked and left to die in Laramie, Wyoming in 1998. The Matthew Shepard Foundation has many outreach resources, including The Laramie Project, a play, and Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine, a documentary, to erase hate and promote tolerance for the LGBTQ+ community.
LGBTQ+ Organizations and Communities in Ukraine
“Our World” Gay and Lesbian Centre was established in Luhansk in Southeastern Ukraine in 1997 as a grassroots group. Nowadays, the initiative took upon itself the responsibility for educating Ukrainian society about homosexuality, toppling recurrent stereotypes and prejudices against gays and lesbians, consolidating lesbian and gay community, and for advocating their rights.
KyivPride is a Ukrainian non-governmental organization that aims at contributing to full respect for human rights for LGBT+ in Ukraine, encouraging an appreciation for these rights by raising LGBT+ visibility and their participation in social processes. In addition to its activities throughout the year, NGO “KyivPride” organizes an annual event called the KyivPride-week.
Insight is a Ukrainian public organization that is committed to equal rights, freedom, inclusiveness, and diversity for all social groups. It is engaged in human rights and educational activities, and provides assistance and support to LGBTQI-people. Since 2007, Insight works in Kyiv, and since 2015, we have opened regional offices.
Ukrainian public organization “Gay Alliance Ukraine” (GAU) has been working since 2009. During this time, the organization has developed a wide network of regional offices in many regions of the country and successfully implemented many interesting projects.
The mission of the organization is to voluntarily unite people of homosexual and bisexual orientations, and transgender identity in order to integrate them into Ukrainian society by promoting the interests of the LGBT community, providing access to information and educational programs aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle and diversity, as well as developing partnerships with government and public structures at the national and international levels.
Mission: We work to ensure that everyone in Ukraine has all the opportunities and advantages that exist in open and tolerant societies where diversity is perceived as a value. We strive to be a bridge between: LGBT and non-LGBT communities; LGBT and employers; Public services and LGBT. We work closely with partner organizations, media, educational institutions, public health institutions. 2018-2021 Strategic directions of work: Equality, Health, Allies, Sustainability.
National LGBT-portal of Ukraine
The National LGBT-portal of Ukraine is one of the leading Ukrainian publications on LGBT. We provide full information support for the community of gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender people. We publish an event, analytical, reference, monitoring information on LGBT topics. This is a non-commercial project of Ukraine LGBT organization Fulcrum.
Vocabulary list:
Prevail (v.): to succeed
Delve into (v.): to examine, analyze
Interchangeably (adverb): to use two words as if they have the same meaning
Encompass (v.): to include
Deem (v.): to determine
Spectrum (n.): range
Adapt (from) (v.): to use
Invalidate (v.): to make something not valid or true
Milestone (n.): important accomplishment
Declassify (v.): to no longer consider something as it previously was
Groundbreaking (adj.): very important
Stigmatize (v.): to characterize or target someone/something as “bad”
Disproportionately (adj.): to affect someone/something at a higher rate than someone/something else
Resoundingly (adj.): overwhelmingly, majority
Alleged (v.): accused
Raid (n.): an invasion
Deviant (adj.): going against what is “normal”
Indecent (adj.): unacceptable, immoral
Incense (v.): to become angry
Trailblazer (n.): leader
Fervent (adj.): strong, active
Equity (n.): fairness, justice
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A Texas native, Bianca Navia is currently in her senior year at Arizona State University pursuing a dual major in Political Science and Global Studies. She is most passionate about international affairs, diplomacy, foreign languages, traveling, and teaching. A fun fact about her? She’s the oldest of four sisters in a big Cuban-Italian-American family!