If you are gay or lesbian, are you happy to be described as LGBT, as in I am LGBT?

[loveyouradvice]

Just that really... i saw that 2 of the Reading victims, both men, were described as "they were both LGBT", rather than they were both gay which read strangely to me....

I would like to understand whether people nowadays define themselves as I am LGBT. As an older woman, growing up my friends were clear they were Gay or Lesbian or Bi or Trans - Is this not still the case? As I am x and part of the LGBT community, rather than "I am LGBT"?

I’ve never known anyone say ‘I am LGBT’ in place of stating their sexuality when needed. I certainly don’t, I’m just plain old bisexual.
It’s probably a shite journalist.

I wouldn't use it myself but it wouldn't bother me if someone used it to describe me.

Yeah I’m happy to be included under the LGBT umbrella when talking broadly or for organisations but I would never say “I am LGBT”, that would sound really weird to me.

Wouldn't say I'd be unhappy but I would use it to describe myself.

I'm bi, and I hate the phrase. I am a person, not a collective hive mind.

Think of the lgbt+ people... as if we're all the same !

Gah!

Surely it's simply inaccurate unless the individual is somehow all of those things?

I think the need to be labelled according sexual preferences or what you wear is ridiculous. My sexuality is not the main thing about me.

Interesting this ... I was at an event recently and the presenter said 'I identify as lesbian' I thought how can you identify as lesbian you are either a lesbian or you aren't surely? It's your sexuality not your identity?

I am a lesbian not an alphabet.

I think “part of the LGBT community” is far better than “they’re LGBT”. But then people may not feel part of a community, especially at the moment there’s tensions mainly about the T.

@whereorwhere

Interesting this ... I was at an event recently and the presenter said 'I identify as lesbian' I thought how can you identify as lesbian you are either a lesbian or you aren't surely? It's your sexuality not your identity?

This is interesting, because isn’t there a discussion around whether the LGBT umbrella should include all of those as LGB are sexuality and T is identity.

My brother’s gay and we’ve had a similar discussion before. He says he would prefer not to be referred to by his sexuality at all, but if it were particularly relevant he would prefer to just be called gay.

If I remember correctly the main reason was that he felt being referred to as “LGBT” or “part of the LGBT community” implied things about his political beliefs that were not true.

I’m bisexual and would describe myself as bi. I’m happy to say I’m part of the LGBT+ community or have other people describe me as being part of that community, but I don’t think I would say ‘I’m LGBT’ unless as quick shorthand when specifically discussing the entire community rather than just my own experiences.

I think it can sometimes be helpful to talk about ‘being LGBT’ when discussing solidarity / mutual support etc, but I wouldn’t want to do it to co-opt anyone’s struggle. I know that the specific prejudices / difficulties I’ve experienced as a bisexual aren’t necessarily the same as those experiences by lesbians or trans people, and it wouldn’t be right for me to claim to speak for them.

I'm neither but have discussed this at lengths with gay friends male and female and none of them want to be lumped in with T because it's a completely different thing.

They find it frustrating.

I have to agree.

Nobody is all of those things, it's a ridiculous label.

I'm a lesbian (and no, I don't identify as one, I just am), I am just about okay with use of "gay". LGB community at an absolute push, but I want sweet FA to do with the T and Q+

I'm a lesbian. I particularly do not accept the T

The T should definitely form no part of it.

I also do not identify as a lesbian, I am one, I fit the definition of biological female attracted to other biological females

Since others are weighing in I personally have no problem with the T and am happy to fight for the rights of the trans community alongside the rights of gay, lesbian and bisexual people (plus pansexual, asexual, aromatic etc. I’ve no desire to pull the ladder up behind me).

I wonder why their sexuality is in any way relevant To the article unless that was the motive for the attack - which I thought was random..

Maybe it was clear that they were queer, but not in which way? So they used the umbrella description.

If that is the case, it's good that they did that, as bi people often get erased, as people often assume if you are currently in a relationship with someone of the opposite sex you are straight, and someone of the same sex that you are gay.

Or maybe one was gay and one was bi.

Phrasing it as "members of the LGBT community" might be less clunky than "LGBT" for a specific person though.

I'm bi, but am married to a man so never bother mentioning it to people, it's none of their business.

If I were to describe myself I would prefer LGB without the T - the first 3 are sexualities, the T is about gender stereotypes which I find offensive.