As we approach Pride weekend, I am reminded of what Pride is all about: togetherness. No matter what your sexual orientation, Pride gives you the opportunity to celebrate with those who have experienced the oppression of the majority because of their sexual orientation.
The togetherness that we experience is constantly being diluted by the way many in the community, as well as the media, refer to our community. Recently, I received an invitation to an international conference in Montreal during their Pride week in August. The community was referred to as LGBTTIQA2S. I’m not kidding.
As someone who was instrumental in getting the Obama administration to use the term LGBT, the inclusion of additional letters has gotten out of hand. I accept the fact that everyone in our community wants to be acknowledged, but the alphabet soup is getting ridiculous.
Here is a little song (sung to the ABC tune) that I have created:
A, B, C, D, E, F, G
H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P
Q, R, S
T, U, V
W, X, Y and Z
Now, I’ve said my ABCs, have I covered all who are LGBT?
As opposed to being only critical, I have a suggestion to solve the alphabet soup problem. Our community should begin to refer to ourselves as Sexual Orientation Minorities (SOM). The term would be inclusive without all the letters of the alphabet. If there was legislation around SOM, then it would be a defined term that explained who was included.
As you enjoy Pride, remember there are so many things that join us as a community, as opposed to the ever-increasing moniker that some in the media are proselytizing. It is time for our community to take charge of what it is called and LGBTTIQA2S is not it. Can you ever imagine a president of the United States saying, “I want to acknowledge the LGBTTIQA2S community for its contributions to our great nation”? I think not.
As you gather this Pride week, remember we are all the same: Sexual Orientation Minorities. How can you tell that someone is bisexual, asexual, questioning or transgender? You can’t. And that’s why we need one inclusive term that does not separate us but joins us together. What Pride does every year.
STAMPP CORBIN
PUBLISHER
San Diego LGBT Weekly
Your use of the words “sexual identity” and “sexual minority” demonstrates that we do indeed need to be inclusive by acknowledging everyone in the alphabet soup. Trans is a gender not sexual identity, a definition that eludes many cis folk. We trans people are constantly fighting for our identities even in the LGB community. For decades we were subsumed under the gay moniker. To eliminate the T and call us a sexual minority is to once again erase our community.
So many things wrong with this article, where could I begin? Thank you, Meredith, for urging trans awareness to the lgb community. It’s 2017 and San Diego LGBT Weekly still doesn’t have it together when it comes to us, the trans community. No real representation whatsoever, no real understanding. I mean, c’mon.
Sorry, Corbin, but you have some research to do.
I don’t see straight people wanting to change their gender as having anything to do with gay rights. Sorry.
Greetings,
LGBT Weekly is the name of this publication, the “T” represents transgender (or trans). What’s missing from your “SOM” suggestion in your editorial is support of our transgender community.
Sexual Orientation is one segment of our community, Gender Identity (and/or neutrality) is another. I’m very surprised that Mr. Corbin excludes an important and necessary part of our community. That’s a significant oversight, whether it be intentional or otherwise.
I did a quick internet search– seeking other more inclusive alternatives to the limited SOM concept. Gender and Sexual-orientation Minority (abbreviated as GSM) is one I felt drawn to. It’s certainly more inclusive than SOM. I began using it after I discovered it and I hope it catches on, especially in the LGBT Weekly. ThanQ
I just wanted to start the debate about a more inclusive term. I consider gender identity and expression in the SOM term but GSM works as well.