Open Access Research Article
THE EVOLUTION OF LGBT TO LGBTQAI+
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THE EVOLUTION OF LGBT TO LGBTQAI+
Abstract
The LGBTQIA+ community, characterized
by its diverse and ever-expanding acronym, constitutes a mosaic of identities
challenging conventional norms of gender and sexuality. Societal evolution has
led to increased visibility and acceptance of these identities, sparking
essential dialogues on inclusivity, recognition, and equal rights. The
historical journey of this community is marked by resilience against
discrimination, evident in persistent advocacy for legal protection, societal
endorsement, and equal opportunities. The "plus" symbolizes a
commitment to embracing an evolving understanding of human sexuality and gender
diversity. The journey towards acceptance extends beyond legal victories,
necessitating profound social and cultural shifts. Increasingly, LGBTQIA+
individuals find representation in various domains, fostering understanding and
empathy through accurate portrayals of their experiences.
An examination of the evolution from
LGBTQ to LGBTQIA+ reveals the gradual acceptance of diverse sexual orientations.
The progression extends to transgender individuals who assert identities
incongruent with their birth-assigned genders, transcending societal barriers
over time. Bisexuality has also gained recognition as a distinct orientation,
challenging the binary construct of attraction. However, concepts like
transracial and transabled identities remain more contentious.
The societal acceptance of these
identities underscores a broader shift in attitudes, with increasing
recognition of the right of individuals to define their own lives. The
unresolved question emerges: What other forms of self-identification may arise
within this dynamic landscape? The "plus" in the acronym acknowledges
the ongoing expansion of these identities and experiences. While earlier struggles
were centered around sexual attraction, the spectrum of LGBTQIA+ has broadened
to encompass complex intersections of gender and identity. As society confronts
these novel concepts, the principles of empathy, respect, and inclusivity
remain crucial in fostering a more equitable future.
This topic research paper maybe be called as “the evolution
of LGBT to LGBTQAI+”
The research will employ a
mixed-methods approach, combining ‘non-doctrinal’ and ‘applied’ research
methodology approach to achieve the desired objectives.
Non-doctrinal research method is also
known as socio-legal research and it looks into how the law and legal
institutions mold and affects society, this research method have been used to
approach the burning social issue and to see how different counties rights
effect the LGBT community and how this community is effecting the society by analysing
the factual incidents and Reports data.
Applied research is a
non-systematic way of finding solutions to specific research problems or
issues. These problems or issues can be on an individual, group, or societal
level. It is called “non-systematic” because it goes straight to finding
solutions. And to be specific with in the applied research the author has used evaluation
applied research to meet the research desire. This approach will provide a
comprehensive understanding of the lived experiences and perceptions of
transracial, Transabled, transgenders and other community members as well as
societal attitudes toward these emerging identities. Comparative analyses will
be conducted to examine similarities and differences with established gender
and sexual orientations. Furthermore, The main data to evaluate was Gallup Poll
report, some individuals factual situations and the rules and regulations of
different countries and their surveys to reach the given conclusion.
This research aims to
investigate the emerging phenomenon of identity perception and acceptance that
goes beyond established gender and sexual orientations within the LGBTQIA+
community. The study seeks to understand the motivations, experiences, and
societal implications of individuals who identify as LGBTQ or otherwise, and to
explore the limits of acceptance within contemporary society.
Navigating the Complex
Landscape of Identity Expression and Societal Influence: An In-depth Analysis
of Emerging Identities and Their Implications within the Expanding LGBTQIA+
Spectrum.
1. What are the underlying motivations
and psychological factors driving individuals to identify as transracial, tansabled,
or other unconventional identities within the expanding LGBTQIA+ spectrum?
2. How do emerging identities like
transracial and transabled intersect with established gender and sexual
orientations in terms of identity expression, societal acceptance, and legal
recognition?
3. What role does societal influence,
including media, celebrities, and brands, play in shaping the understanding and
expression of non-traditional LGBTQIA+ identities?
4. To what extent do factors like
evolving social attitudes, legal reforms, education, and awareness contribute
to the growth and diversification of LGBTQIA+ identities?
5. Can the LGBTQIA+ community and society at
large strike a balance between affirming individual identities while critically
assessing potential ethical and psychological implications of emerging identity
claims?
6. How can media and educational institutions
influence or encourage society and contribute positively to raising awareness
about LGBTQIA+ diversity and challenging stereotypes surrounding
non-traditional identities?
7. How can policymakers and legal bodies
address the complexities of emerging identities within the LGBTQIA+ community without
ensuring and analyzing the diverse category and what all could lie within?
8. What problem could policymakers face
if they don’t specify the plus symbol before granting them any rights?
The LGBTQIA+ community, an inclusive
and evolving acronym that encompasses lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,
queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, and other diverse identities, represents
a rich tapestry of human experiences and challenges societal norms surrounding
sexuality and gender. As society progresses, the visibility and recognition of
these diverse identities have grown, sparking essential conversations about
inclusivity, acceptance, and the fight for equal rights.
The history of the LGBTQIA+ community
showcases their resilience in the face of discrimination, stigma, and
marginalization. Throughout the years, members have tirelessly advocated for
their rights, aiming for legal protections, societal acceptance, and equal
opportunities. The Stonewall riots[1] of 1969
are often seen as a pivotal moment in LGBTQIA+ activism, igniting a movement
that has since made significant progress in demanding equality, challenging
societal norms, and increasing visibility through global Pride marches and
celebrations.
Within the LGBTQIA+ community, there
exists a remarkable diversity of experiences, identities, and intersections.
Lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals encounter distinct challenges related to
sexual orientation, navigating relationships, and combating stereotypes.
Transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals grapple with issues of gender
identity, including accessing healthcare, legal recognition, and societal
acceptance. The queer/questioning category encompasses those who are exploring
and questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity, seeking
self-discovery and understanding.
Intersex individuals, born with
physical or biological traits that don't align with traditional male or female
definitions, often face challenges associated with medical interventions and
societal acceptance. Asexual individuals, who may experience minimal or no
sexual attraction, are often overlooked or misunderstood in discussions about
sexuality. The "+" in the acronym represents other diverse identities
that are continually being acknowledged and included as our understanding of
human sexuality and gender expands.
The fight for acceptance and equality
for the LGBTQIA+ community extends beyond legal battles and policy changes; it
necessitates broader social, cultural, and attitudinal shifts. Visibility and
representation play crucial roles in fostering understanding, empathy, and
acceptance. Increasingly, LGBTQIA+ individuals are gaining visibility in
various spheres, including media and entertainment, leading to more nuanced and
accurate portrayals of their experiences.
Initially we saw a rise homosexual
people, Gay – men who are sexually attracted to men and lesbian- women who are
sexually attracted to women, and it is pretty clear that in present times it
has been accepted by the society though different countries accepted it in
different times but almost majority of the democratic counties accepted the
sexual demand of the homosexual people.
As of 2023, marriage between same-sex
couple is legally performed and recognized in 34 countries including united
states of America and United Kingdom and the first country to recognize the
same is Andorra.
After Gay and lesbian, we got
transgenders, men who identify as women, women who identify as men, they claim
the opposite gender of their birth gender because they feel that they are
trapped inside wrong body but society, after years of movement and struggle started
to accept that also.
We also have Bisexual, who are
attracted to both males and females. They experience emotional, romantic and
sexual attraction to people of both genders, without necessarily being equally
attracted to all individuals or experiencing attraction in the same way.
Bisexuality is considered a distinct sexual orientation, separate from being
heterosexual or homosexual and as a society we accepted and recognized that
also.
Not just this, we have transracial
people also, people who claim the opposite color of their birth color, an
American born women Rachel Dolezal, who is born white claimed that she was
trapped inside a wrong body and her inner soul is black in color, she claims
that she should have been born black and not just this she even went to great
lengths to change her appearance, including her hair and skin tone, as a
society we accepted that also and recognized that transracial is a thing.[2]
After transgender and transracial we
have transabled, individuals who desire or feel a strong need to acquire a
disability or impairment, despite not having a physical or cognitive condition.
And not just this, there have been incidents where they engage in self-harming
behaviors or seek out surgeries or interventions to fulfill their desire.
One notable incident involves the
case of Chloe Jennings-White, an individual who identified as a paraplegic and
used a wheelchair despite having full mobility.
Another incident involved a man named
Jason, who purposefully damaged his spinal cord in an attempt to become
paralyzed. His case sparked intense debate and raised ethical concerns
regarding body integrity identity disorder (BIID) and the concept of
transability.
Furthermore, Jewel Shuping, a young
woman from the United States, goes blind on purpose.
Ever since she was a little girl,
Jewel Shuping dreamed of being blind. At the age of 21, Jewel chose to take
matters into her own hands and make her lifelong dream of becoming blind a
reality. She claims that she had a psychologist pour drain cleaner in her eyes,
then waited to seek medical attention. Afterwards, she gradually lost her
eyesight and is now almost completely blind.
“I really feel this is the way I was
supposed to be born, that I should have been blind from birth,” jewel says.
And as a society we accepted that
also, if they believe that they should be disabled or should have been born
disabled, who are we to say anything? Though it might look strange to some
intelligent people that why would someone want to live like a disabled person
who are born perfectly fine. Moreover, even if they believe that they should
have been born disabled but born fine, why can’t they just use it, why they
feel the need to get that body part off?
There are many questions regarding
transabled people and their choices but as I said who we are to say. If they
believe that they should live a life of a disabled person and happily want to
do the same, we has to accept that, after all its their life.
Transgenders, transracial and
transabled, what else? What else could individuals claim to be identifies as?
These questions remain still open. The LGBT community is not just finite to
these terms only but goes far dynamic and beyond, the addition of “+” just
takes it to another level. Until now, the society was dealing with the cases
where men felt sexually attracted to men or women felt sexually attracted to
women or men claiming that he should have been born as a women or visa-versa,
but does it ends somewhere?
The "+" symbol in LGBTQ+
represents the inclusivity and recognition of identities beyond those
explicitly mentioned in the acronym. It acknowledges that human sexuality and
gender identities are diverse and can extend beyond any fixed set of labels.
The "+" serves as a way to encompass a broader range of identities
and experiences that may not be explicitly represented by the individual
letters.
As I said, up until now, society was
dealing with the trend of LGBTQ, after years of movement and struggle, society
started to accept the fact that men wants to have sex with men and women wants
to have sex with women, and the struggle to make this thing normalize among
society certainly has a great impact, but the “+” sign add much more to it, and
not just transracial or transabled people but this sign accept whatever an
individual feel and claim to become.
A grown men posted an add on
craigslist wanting a nanny just because he feels like a baby, the men claims
that he identifies as a baby and want a nanny, how ridiculous does that sound?
But again, who are we to say and
shouldn’t the LGBTQ community fight for those men, if he believes that he is a
child.
An individual cannot just claim
anything up, just because a man claims that he is a child or he believes that
he is a child, shall be given child’s rights or the community starts fighting
that if the men believes that he identifies a child and wants to live happily
like that way then we shouldn’t stop him.
And if that is the case then any
murdered could come up after killing someone and claim that I identify as a
child and then would you give him the privileges a child gets? Or even worse
what if he claims that he identifies as an insane or lunatic person, will the
court exempt him from the murder charges and provide him defense for the
murder.
Its been decades since the LGBTQ
community is fighting for the rights that they claim to deserve and after so
many years we recognized that men can love men or women can love women and
tried to normalize it, but what if someone claims that he is sexually attracted
to something else other than human? For example animals, if anyone claims that
he/she is sexually attracted towards animals, will the LGBTQ community treat it
as a sickness or fight for the support of it? Whatever the LGBT community does
the society will certainly treat it as a sickness but the question is how long?
How long the society can resist if there is tireless efforts to make these
things normalize.
Recently, Victor Hugo Sosa, the mayor
of a town -- San Pedro Huamelula -- in southern Mexico, married a female
crocodile in a traditional ceremony believed to bring good fortune. The
reptile, a caiman, represents the "princess girl" in local lore.[3]
Now if the people of those community believe
that the these kind of marriages should be normalize, shouldn’t they expect
from the LGBT community to support them?
And if these kinds of cases started
to come, people who started to claim that they feel sexually attracted to
animals and want to have sex with them, what will the LGBT community would do?
They can’t just say that if an individual feels that they are attracted to
something or identifies differently from their birth identity, then they shall
have the right to do the same.
And its not just some hypothetical
situations, people are actually doing that, recently, 40 year old Nagpur man
was arrested for committing a sexual scene with stray dog on the street and 45
year old men charged with 377 of IPC for committing sex with stray dog in Mumbai
Andheri area. Now these are just 2 incidents that has been stated above but the
number is in thousands.[4]
A person cannot do anything and later
claim that they did that because they felt that way, almost before half a
century words like homosexuality were considered as strange and sinful, and
nobody believed that it will be normalized so much in the time to come, but
people fought for it, and it did. And now many other words like transabled or
zoophilia (sexual attraction of a human toward a nonhuman animal) are coming up
and who knows it will be normalized after half a decade as well.
The population of LGBTQ+ individuals
is diverse and has been gradually increasing over time. Factors contributing to
this growth include increasing social acceptance, improved visibility, and
individuals feeling more comfortable and empowered to openly identify with
diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. However, it is important to
note that accurate data on the exact size of the LGBTQ+ population can be
challenging to obtain due to various factors, including societal stigma,
underreporting, and varying definitions of sexual orientation and gender
identity across different regions.
Furthermore, if we take a single
country, let’s say united states, then according to Gallup poll report the LGBT
community population seems to be roughly doubling every generation in the
country.[5]
The data shown above is based on the
Gallup report, which shows the increasing population of the community.
According to the report, less than 1
percent of the population identified as LGBT who were born before 1946.
Then the number increased to 2.6% in
the boomer’s generation (people born from 1946 to 1964) and then it got doubled
to 4.2% in generation X (those born between 1965 and 1980).
Subsequently, the data shows that the
millennials generation (born between 1981 – 1996) had a LGBT population
percentage of 10.5% and the generation Z (born between 1997 – 2012) shows the
percentage of 20.8% which is double of millennials.[6]
Now if we follow this trend of the
increasing population of the LGBT community then we will all be gay or lesbian
by the year of 2054. By the end of 2060 all the people we’ll see would be
anything but straight. The figure below shows the same.
What’s causing
rapid growth in people identifying as LGBT?
There are various factors
contributing to the growth of the community such as evolving social attitude,
increasement of visibility, education, awareness or legal reforms.
Evolving
Social Attitudes:
Society's understanding and acceptance of diverse sexual orientations and
gender identities have progressed over time. This has created a more supportive
environment for individuals to explore and express their authentic selves,
leading to more people identifying as LGBTQ+.
Legal and
Policy Changes: Many
countries have made significant strides in recognizing and protecting LGBTQ+
rights through legal and policy changes. These changes, such as decriminalizing
homosexuality, legalizing same-sex marriage, and enacting anti-discrimination
laws, have empowered LGBTQ+ individuals to live their lives more openly and
authentically.
Education
and Awareness:
Increased education and awareness about sexual orientation and gender identity
have contributed to a better understanding of the LGBTQ+ community. Efforts to
promote inclusivity and diversity in educational curricula and public discourse
have helped break down stereotypes and foster acceptance.
Supportive
Communities and Resources: The growth of LGBTQ+ support networks, organizations, and online
communities has provided individuals with a sense of belonging, support, and
resources. These communities offer safe spaces for individuals to connect, seek
guidance, and share experiences, which can encourage more people to embrace and
affirm their LGBTQ+ identities.
The factors stated above shows an
important role in the growth of LGBT community but in the author’s opinion the
most important factor is increasing visibility which means that when people see
their alike then they are more likely to open up and share their thought while
being bold.
Increased
Visibility: With
advancements in media representation, LGBTQ+ individuals and their stories have
gained more visibility. This increased representation allows individuals who
may have previously hidden their identities to feel more comfortable and
confident in coming out and openly identifying as LGBTQ+.
The most influencing thing which
contributed in the same is either Tv series or brands. It is noteworthy that
Prior to that time of 1980s in the United States, the LGBTQ+ community was
commonly portrayed in a highly negative light by the public and media. The gay
lifestyle was associated with notions of filth, lack of hygiene, and
sinfulness. LGBTQ+ individuals were often confined to seedy bars and bathhouses
and were generally perceived as morally depraved. However, after that period
the change can be seen in movies or tv series, they are stated being portrayed
as ‘classy gays’. The change in the lifestyle of gay or lesbian in the movies
were often started seeing as rich or happily married people, more educated than
others and modern or advance than the society.
Now when celebrities in movies and in
real life started representing themselves as homosexuals then it influenced a
lot of people, even though the people do not accept that but subconsciously
their minds are influenced by the same. They started becoming bold and proud
and started living in a myth that the life of homosexuals is more of quality,
they are more modern as celebrities and the society is not advanced enough to
understand their feelings.
Now, people might not accept the
given point that they are being influenced by brands or celebrities but let’s
take an example of coloring hair. Though coloring hair is an old practice but
now people are doing different colors let’s say green. Now, it wasn’t so much
trend until Billie Eilish colored her hair green and now BTS army are doing the
same thing as BTS singers.
Let’s take another example of
dressing, wearing short dresses was considered immoral even in the top tier
counties. According to a BBC Archives video, in a social experiment in 1964 in
Britain, women considered wearing topless dress as immoral, disgusting and
misbehaving, but in recent times even in the counties like India which is known
as the country of culture is highly influenced with the trend of short dresses
and women can easily be seen wearing very short dresses which almost shows
their complete body.
Now, celebrities indeed play an
important role in changing that behviour of the society especially women,
whether consciously or subconsciously.
Furthermore, you must have heard
about Ellen DeGeneres. In 1997, Ellen DeGeneres, a popular American comedian
and talk show host, publicly came out as a lesbian both on her sitcom
"Ellen" and in real life. Her decision to be open about her sexuality
was groundbreaking at the time and contributed to increased LGBTQ+ visibility
and acceptance in mainstream media.
There are other big names also such
as Neil Patrick Harris (played barney stinson in how I met your mother), Jesse
Tyler Ferguson, Wanda Sykes, Jim Parsons and thousands of others.
Now when people saw these celebrities
coming out as LGBT with boldness and living great life, it influenced and
encouraged them to do the same.
With the increasing gay community and
their demands of rights, we certainly cannot suggest people to stop choosing
genders and live with what they have been born with, but how do we make people
understand that one of the reasons of their change of behavior could be
influence and nothing else? This is definitely an open question for many
countries at the moment. well, the author suggests that since brands, tv,
celebrities or books has much influence on this topic then why not reserve the
situation and make people understand the demerits of the increasing population
of the community through the same way, why not tell people why they shouldn’t
opt to change their gender this easily through the said way.
Another suggestion would be to
specify the plus symbol and what all could lie inside, and to tell the courts
of law to elaborate on the same. The parliament should also specify the
category of the plus symbol before granting it any rights.
The topic is certainly very much
debatable in every country at the present time. With the increasing population
of the community, it’s getting more complex. The population is not just
increasing but it is also getting diversified, many other categories are
getting included which seems surprising. The ‘+’ symbol indeed welcomes other
categories to show up and supports them to be identified as how they want to
be.
Many democratic counties allowed
homosexuality and do not discriminate on the basis of sex, even india in 2018
after Navtej Singh Johar vs Union Of India allowed the same. Democratic
countries intend to provide equality to everyone.
34 counties among the world had allowed
same sex marriage including united states and the decision in yet to come in
India, the case is already enrolled in the apex court of the country.
Furthermore, even democratic counties
are embracing and supporting the new community but they had to set a bar for a
certain limit otherwise as fast as the community is getting diversified it will
get so much difficult for the nations to restrict people to be identified in a
certain way.
And since everyone at the moment is
talking about the the merits of the community and their rights but we shall
indeed talk about the demerits of the same because what people see in reel life
isn’t always true, reality is far different.
[1] Stonewall riots of 1969. (n.d.).
In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved August 06, 2023 from
https://www.britannica.com/event/Stonewall-riots
[2] Rachel Dolezal, in Center of
Storm, Is Defiant: ‘I Identify as Black’. Retrieved August 08 2023, from https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/17/us/rachel-dolezal-nbc-today-show.html
[3] Mexican mayor marries crocodile in
centuries-old ritual to bring good fortune. Retrieved august 10, 2023 from https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/mexican-mayor-marries-female-crocodile-century-old-practice-bring-good-fortune-2400729-2023-07-02
[4] 40 year old man arrested.
Retrieved August 09, 2023 from https://www.timesnownews.com/mirror-now/crime/nagpur-40-year-old-man-arrested-for-having-sex-with-dog-article-96279809
[5] LGBT Identification in U.S. Ticks
Up to 7.1%. Retrieved August 15, 2023 from https://news.gallup.com/poll/389792/lgbt-identification-ticks-up.aspx
[6] Ibid
Article Information
THE EVOLUTION OF LGBT TO LGBTQAI+
Authors: SHARIQ AHMAD, MD SHAKIL ANSARI
- Journal IJLRA
- ISSN 2582-6433
- Published 2023/08/29
- Issue 7
About Journal
International Journal for Legal Research and Analysis
- Abbreviation IJLRA
- ISSN 2582-6433
- Access Open Access
- License CC 4.0
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