It’s Pride Month, folks, as I’m certain you’ve heard by now, and I think it’s time we educate the populace on both what it means to be a part of Pride and its long history. I’m Peyton Williamsburg, the Jacarian gender-fluid icon and child of our beloved Lord High Williamsburg. Join me on our adventure through the complex world of the LGBTQ+ community, by the letter.
Before we begin, a quick note: this article is meant as an introduction and overview, so some topics are discussed in more generalized terms due to the sheer complexity of LGBTQ+ history. Also, the history of the community varies heavily depending on the region of the world you’re in, and many beliefs have shifted over time as cultures have risen and fallen. Now, let’s dive in!
L is for Lesbian
The term lesbian actually emerged from the birthplace of the Greek poet Sappho, Lesbos. For most of history, the phrase actually referred to the inhabitants of the island of Lesbos and its many exports, including wine, dairy, olive oil, fish, and honey. It was only around the 1800s that the term shifted to mean homosexuality between women, with many famous works (including the National Medical Dictionary) describing various sexual acts between women as “lesbian”. This is generally the definition we see today.
Lesbianism was an acceptable practice for a significant portion of history, with many authors, playwrights, and philosophers even creating positive works describing lesbian women. Generally speaking, it was during and after WWII that groups, many having religious or conservative ideologies, began to persecute homosexual individuals with the fervor that we still see today, the most notable being the Nazis. Since the latter half of the 1900s, this view has started to subside as people become more tolerant and inclusive.
Now, time for an interesting story. The L in LGBTQ+ hasn’t always been first. In fact, for many years, the queer community was usually referred to with the abbreviation GLBT. One popular story places the change during the AIDS crisis, when gay men faced heavy stigma, and some were prevented from donating blood. Many lesbian women stepped in to help with blood donations, caretaking, et cetera. The abbreviation was changed afterward as a sign of gratitude towards the lesbian community. In reality, the shift was likely more gradual, driven partly by the increasing ease of communication and coordination between LGBTQ+ advocacy groups in the late 20th century.
G is for Gay
While it is most commonly associated with homosexual men, the term gay can mean any homosexual relationship, regardless of the genders involved. The term originally meant “happy” or “carefree”, but was slowly shifted to its modern meaning when it was used to describe those who were “uninhibited by moral constraints” in the late 1600s, before gradually being adopted as a self-described name for homosexual men by the latter half of the 1900s.
Male homosexuality has had a bumpier history, but was widely accepted in antiquity and much of ancient Asia, before more recent European influence led to the same homophobia that some people face today. In modern history, gay men are faced with much more stigma and discrimination than their female counterparts, especially in the United States, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, and the Middle East.
Fun fact time! Alan Turing is known for his work in computing and for helping the Allies crack the Enigma code during WWII, which enabled them to decipher Axis messages and contributed to an Allied victory in the Battle of the Atlantic. Without Turing, the war would likely have gone on much longer than it did, changing the map and costing millions their lives. Sadly, in 1952, Turing was prosecuted for his homosexuality, resulting in his chemical castration. Turing died in 1954 as a result of cyanide poisoning. Since the 2000s, the British government has officially apologized for its treatment of Turing, and in 2013, Queen Elizabeth II granted Turing a posthumous pardon.
B is for Bisexual
The definition of bisexuality differs from person to person. However, it is most commonly defined as an exhibition of attraction to more than one gender, and sometimes, it can also be defined as a disregard for gender or sex in attraction.
Bisexual attraction makes up the majority of the LGBTQ+ community, with figures placing their composition to around 50-60%. Alongside this figure, many studies conducted globally have posed the idea that individuals who self-identify as heterosexual may, in actuality, have bisexual attraction, with polls showing that significant portions of straight individuals would be open to romantic or sexual activities between those of the same gender. This has led researchers to propose the idea that bisexuality might be more prevalent than polling suggests.
T is for Transgender
A transgender (sometimes shortened to “trans”) person is often defined as a person whose identity is different from that with which they were born. While some trans people may undergo hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or other gender-affirming treatments, others may choose to express their chosen gender through their clothing, hairstyles, music, etc.
The term transgender can also sometimes refer to non-binary, gender fluid, and genderqueer individuals due to how their perceived gender differs from their birth sex. While the legality of transgender folks varies widely from place to place, most developed nations allow for an individual to change their legal gender on official documents such as IDs, passports, and driver’s licenses.
Q is for Queer/Questioning
Originally a derogatory term for the LGBTQ+ community, queer has recently been reclaimed as a term for those who don’t fit into or reject societal norms. Originally a synonym of strange or peculiar, queer is now most often used as a self-identifying term.
Questioning can refer to anyone who is unsure of their identity, anyone interested in exploring their identity further, or anyone concerned about applying social labels to themselves for varying reasons. Questioning one’s identity, while most commonly seen in youths who are entering puberty, can happen to anyone regardless of age.
What This Means for Us Today
Amongst all of the horrible things going on in the world, sometimes it can be nice to take a step back and focus on yourself and others. Sadly, there are many who see the LGBTQ+ community as something unnatural or wrong, and even more who think Pride Month shouldn’t be celebrated. This is evermore the reason why we continue to celebrate Pride Month each June, to celebrate each step we’ve taken towards equality and an accepting society.
And Pride Month doesn’t just have to be for the LGBTQ+ community, either! Take the time to love yourself for who you are, and be proud of your identity. Celebrate the version of yourself you see when you look in a mirror, and get excited about what you love. In the end, being happy is the most important part of life, and if you’re happy, then spread the love.
