Portal:LGBT


	The LGBTQ+ Portal

Introduction

LGBT is an initialism that stands for "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender". It may refer to anyone who is non-heterosexual, non-heteroromantic, or non-cisgender, instead of exclusively to people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. A variant, LGBTQ, adds the letter Q for those who identify as queer (which can be synonymous with LGBT) or are questioning their sexual or gender identity. Another variation, LGBTQ+, adds a plus sign "represents those who are part of the community, but for whom LGBTQ does not accurately capture or reflect their identity". Many further variations of the acronym exist, such as LGBT+ (simplified to encompass the Q concept within the plus sign), LGBTQIA+ (adding intersex, asexual, aromantic and agender), and 2SLGBTQ+ (adding two-spirit for a term specific to Indigenous North Americans). The LGBT label is not universally agreed to by everyone that it is generally intended to include. The variations GLBT and GLBTQ rearrange the letters in the acronym. In use since the late 1980s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for marginalized sexualities and gender identities.

LGBT is an adaptation of LGB, which in the mid-to-late 1980s began to replace the term gay (or gay and lesbian) in reference to the broader LGBT community. When not inclusive of transgender people, the shorter LGB is still used. (Full article...)

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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 homosexuality or same-sex attraction. The concept of "lesbian" to differentiate women with a shared sexual orientation evolved in the 20th century. Throughout history, women have not had the same freedom or independence as men to pursue homosexual relationships, but neither have they met the same harsh punishment as gay men in some societies. Instead, lesbian relationships have often been regarded as harmless, unless a participant attempts to assert privileges traditionally enjoyed by men. As a result, little in history was documented to give an accurate description of how female homosexuality was expressed. When early sexologists in the late 19th century began to categorize and describe homosexual behavior, hampered by a lack of knowledge about homosexuality or women's sexuality, they distinguished lesbians as women who did not adhere to female gender roles. They classified them as mentally ill—a designation which has been reversed since the late 20th century in the global scientific community.

Women in homosexual relationships in Europe and the United States responded to the discrimination and repression either by hiding their personal lives, or accepting the label of outcast and creating a subculture and identity. Following World War II, during a period of social repression when governments actively persecuted homosexuals, women developed networks to socialize with and educate each other. Gaining greater economic and social freedom allowed them to determine how they could form relationships and families. With second-wave feminism and the growth of scholarship in women's history and sexuality in the late 20th century, the definition of lesbian broadened, leading to debate about the term's use. While research by Lisa M. Diamond identified sexual desire as the core component for defining lesbians, some women who engage in same-sex sexual activity may reject not only identifying as lesbians but as bisexual as well. Other women's self-identification as lesbian may not align with their sexual orientation or sexual behavior. Sexual identity is not necessarily the same as one's sexual orientation or sexual behavior, due to various reasons, such as the fear of identifying their sexual orientation in a homophobic setting. (Full article...)

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McKellen in 2013

Sir Ian Murray McKellen CH CBE (born 25 May 1939) is an English actor. With a career spanning more than sixty years, he is noted for his roles on the screen and stage in genres ranging from Shakespearean dramas and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction. He is regarded as a British cultural icon and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1991. He has received numerous accolades, including a Tony Award, six Olivier Awards, and a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for two Academy Awards, five BAFTA Awards and five Emmy Awards.

McKellen made his stage debut in 1961 at the Belgrade Theatre as a member of its repertory company, and in 1965 made his first West End appearance. In 1969, he was invited to join the Prospect Theatre Company to play the lead parts in Shakespeare's Richard II and Marlowe's Edward II. In the 1970s McKellen became a stalwart of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre of Great Britain. He has earned five Olivier Awards for his roles in Pillars of the Community (1977), The Alchemist (1978), Bent (1979), Wild Honey (1984), and Richard III (1995). McKellen made his Broadway debut in The Promise (1965). He went on to receive the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his role as Antonio Salieri in Amadeus (1980). He was further nominated for Ian McKellen: Acting Shakespeare (1984). He returned to Broadway in Wild Honey (1986), Dance of Death (1990), No Man's Land (2013), and Waiting for Godot (2013), the latter being a joint production with Patrick Stewart. (Full article...)

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“

Understand one thing. Heterosexual and Homosexual have one thing in common. It is the bond between two people that is important.

”

—Unknown

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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: dbking

Tombstone of Leonard Matlovich, discharged from the United States Air Force in the 1970s after coming out as gay.

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... that during action by the UK Gay Liberation Front (GLF) to disrupt a Christian morality campaign in 1971, a GLF "bishop" began an impromptu sermon urging people to "keep on sinning"?

... that the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list of official mental illnesses in 1973? And that the American Psychological Association followed suit in 1974?

... that Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir became the world's first openly gay head of state in the modern era on February 1, 2009?

... that Men who have sex with men are not currently allowed to donate blood in the United States, Austria, Sweden, Finland, or Denmark?

... that in her 1992 documentary film Nitrate Kisses Barbara Hammer filmed an elderly lesbian couple making love as part of an exploration of the repression and marginalization of LGBT history?

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This month's birthdays

1 – Romaine Brooks (1874–1970), American painter
1 – Mary MacLane (1881–1929), Canadian-American writer
1 – Michael Dillon (1915–1962), British physician and author
1 – Enoé Uranga (1963–), Mexican politician
2 – Lesley Gore (1946–2015), American pop singer
3 – William Inge (1913–1973), American playwright and novelist
3 – Sandi Toksvig (1958–), Danish–British comedienne and TV personality
4 – Keith Haring (1958–1990), American artist
5 – Del Martin (1921–2008), American feminist and gay rights activist
5 – Robert Vano (1948–), Slovak photographer living in Prague
7 – Angélica Lozano Correa (1975–), Colombian lawyer, politician, and LGBT rights activist
7 – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893), Russian composer
8 – Tom of Finland (1920–1991), Finnish artist
8 – Jessica Platt (1989–), Canadian professional hockey player
9 – Alan Bennett (1934–), English playwright, screenwriter, actor & author
9 – Wendy Crewson (1956–), Canadian actress and producer
9 – Marieke Wijsman (1975–), Dutch Olympic speed skater
10 – Scott Brison (1967–), Canadian politician and federal Cabinet Minister
10 – Steve Gunderson (1951–), American politician & business executive, former Republican congressman (Wisconsin)
11 – Eleanor Butler (1739–1829), Irish aristocrat and socialite
11 – Christopher Bailey (1971–), English business executive, fashion designer, & CEO of Burberry Group Inc.
11 – Valentino (1932–), Italian fashion designer
12 – Margaret Cuthbert (1887–1968), Canadian-American radio broadcaster and producer for NBC
12 – Gerry Studds (1937–2006), American politician, former Democratic congressman (Massachusetts)
12 – Jared Polis (1975–), American Governor of Colorado, entrepreneur & philanthropist
12 – Robbie Rogers (1987–), American professional soccer player
13 – Armistead Maupin (1944–), American writer
13 – Réal Ménard (1962–), Canadian politician, political scientist, and lawyer
14 – Magnus Hirschfeld (1868–1935), German physician and gay rights advocate
15 – Stella Maxwell (1990–), Belgian-New Zealander fashion model
15 – Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762), English aristocrat and writer
16 – Liberace (1919–1987), American entertainer and pianist
16 – Adrienne Rich (1929–2012), American poet, essayist and feminist
16 – Joey Graceffa (1991–), American YouTuber
17 – Robin Maugham, 2nd Viscount Maugham (1916–1981), British novelist, playwright, and travel writer
17 – Howard Ashman (1950–1991), American playwright and lyricist
17 – Annise Parker (1956–), American politician and Mayor of Houston
18 – Miriam Margolyes (1941–), English-Australian actress & voice artist
18 – Charles Trenet (1913–2001), French singer and songwriter
18 – Don Bachardy (1934–), American portrait artist
18 – Felicia Pearson (1980–), American actress, author and rapper
19 – Sam Smith (1992–), British singer-songwriter
20 – Honoré de Balzac (1799–1850), French novelist and playwright
20 – Karl M. Baer (1885–1956), German-Israeli author, social worker, and suffragist
20 – Gregory Gray (1959–2019), Northern Irish singer-songwriter
21 – Raymond Burr (1917–1993), Canadian actor
21 – Tom Daley (1994–), British diver and television personality
21 – Frederick of Hohenau (1857–1914), German aristocrat
21 – Anika Moa (1980–), New Zealander singer-songwriter
21 – Kathleen Wynne (1953–), Canadian politician & former Premier of Ontario
22 – Harvey Milk (1930–1978), American politician
22 – Morrissey (1959–), English singer-songwriter
23 – Lotte Hahm (1890–1967), German activist for lesbian and transgender movement
23 – Lea DeLaria (1958–), American comedian, actress and jazz musician
23 – Guinevere Turner (1968–), American actress and screenwriter
23 – Maya Keyes (1985–), American social and political activist
24 – Greg Berlanti (1972–), American television writer, producer, and director
25 – Robert Ross (1869–1918), Canadian journalist and art critic
25 – Sir Ian McKellen (1939–), English actor
25 – Anette Trettebergstuen (1981–), Norwegian politician
26 – Alan Hollinghurst (1954–), English novelist, poet, short story writer and translator
26 – Ulrike Lunacek (1957–), Austrian politician & Vice President of European Parliament
26 – Mathilde de Morny (1863–1944), French noblewoman and artist
26 – Sally Ride (1951–2012), American astronaut
27 – Marijane Meaker (1927–), American novelist (aka Vin Packer and Ann Aldrich)
27 – Chris Colfer (1990–), American actor
28 – Corine Mauch (1960–), Swiss politician and Mayor of Zurich
29 – Laverne Cox (1972–), American actress, reality TV personality and LGBT advocate
29 – Rupert Everett (1959–), English actor
29 – Melissa Etheridge (1961–), American singer-songwriter
29 – Beatrice Lillie (1894–1989), American actress and singer
29 – Gene Robinson (1947–), American Episcopalian bishop
30 – Bertrand Delanoë (1950–), French politician and former Mayor of Paris
30 – Christine Jorgensen (1926–1989), American transgender advocate, first person to become widely known for having sex reassignment surgery
31 – Rainer Werner Fassbinder (1945–1982), German movie director and screenwriter
31 – Lissy Gröner (1954–), German politician and Member of European Parliament
31 – Walt Whitman (1819–1892), American poet, essayist and journalist