Happy Pride Month Queers

The LGBTQ community has seen controversy regarding acceptance of different groups (bisexual and transgender individuals have sometimes been marginalized by the larger community), but the term LGBT has been a positive symbol of inclusion and reflects the embrace of different identities and that we’re stronger together and need each other. While there are differences, we all face many of the same challenges from broader society.

In the 1960′s, in wider society the meaning of the word gay transitioned from ‘happy’ or ‘carefree’ to predominantly mean ‘homosexual’ and was an umbrella term that meant anyone who wasn’t cisgender or heterosexual. The community embraced the word ‘gay’ as a mark of pride.

The modern fight for queer rights is considered to have begun with The Stonewall Riots in 1969 and was called the Gay Liberation Movement and the Gay Rights Movement.

The acronym GLB surfaced around this time to also include Lesbian and Bisexual people who felt “gay” wasn’t inclusive of their identities. 

Early in the gay rights movement, gay men were largely the ones running the show and there was a focus on men’s issues. Lesbians were unhappy that gay men dominated the leadership and ignored their needs and the feminist fight. As a result, lesbians tended to focus their attention on the Women’s Rights Movement which was happening at the same time. This dominance by gay men was seen as yet one more example of patriarchy and sexism. 

In the 1970′s, sexism and homophobia existed in more virulent forms and those biases against lesbians also made it hard for them to find their voices within women’s liberation movements. Betty Friedman, the founder of the National Organization for Women (NOW), commented that lesbians were a “lavender menace” that threatened the political efficacy of the organization and of feminism and many women felt including lesbians was a detriment.

In the 80s and 90s, a huge portion of gay men were suffering from AIDS while the lesbian community was largely unaffected. Lesbians helped gay men with medical care and were a massive part of the activism surrounding the gay community and AIDS. This willingness to support gay men in their time of need sparked a closer, more supportive relationship between both groups, and the gay community became more receptive to feminist ideals and goals. 

Approaching the 1990′s it was clear that GLB referred to sexual identity and wasn’t inclusive of gender identity and T should be added, especially since trans activist have long been at the forefront of the community’s fight for rights and acceptance, from Stonewall onward. Some argued that T should not be added, but many gay, lesbian and bisexual people pointed out that they also transgress established gender norms and therefore the GLB acronym should include gender identities and they pushed to include T in the acronym. 

GLBT became LGBT as a way to honor the tremendous work the lesbian community did during the AIDS crisis. 

Towards the end of the 1990s and into the 2000s, movements took place to add additional letters to the acronym to recognize Intersex, Asexual, Aromantic, Agender, and others. As the acronym grew to LGBTIQ, LGBTQIA, LGBTQIAA, many complained this was becoming unwieldy and started using a ‘+’ to show LGBT aren’t the only identities in the community and this became more common, whether as LGBT+ or LGBTQ+. 

In the 2010′s, the process of reclaiming the word “queer” that began in the 1980′s was largely accomplished. In the 2020′s the LGBTQ+ acronym is used less often as Queer is becoming the more common term to represent the community. 

This video is how I imagine Baz like in Ban’s Twist and Shout. I’m still not ready to accept the fact that it’ll never be completed 💔

yo ho homosexual

no matter your gender it’s gay to be attracted to me I don’t make the rules

I was talking to my friend who isn’t familiar with CO about Baz and I said “on all levels except physical I am him,” and then showed her the cover art of WS. She, without hesitation, said “all levels including physical, you look like him” and it made me so stupidly happy my life feels complete.

love when fictional men are so devoted to their partner it makes them dangerous and insane. very slutty behavior keep it up king

he’s just like me fr (responsible homosexual older sister who’s afraid of breaking the rules. Somehow still the problem child even though they try so hard not to be. High functioning depression & anxiety. Feels like everything is constantly their fault.)

IS BAZ A SMOKER?

I just got a private ask about this, and thought I may as well answer it here.

No, Baz is not a smoker. (In canon.) I thought I was making it clear in Carry On that he only smokes a cigarette at the vampire club to intimidate Nico. (Because vampires are so flammable, none of them smoke. It makes Baz seem fearless.) Elsewhere in Carry On, Baz says his dad drew a hard line against smoking. (The flammable thing again.) The most compelling evidence that Baz isn’t a regular smoker is that Simon is surprised by Baz’s cigarette at the vampire club. “I didn’t know he smoked.” Simon has been following Baz around for eight years, inhaling him as much as possible. If Baz was smoking regularly, Simon would have noticed. (Also, if Baz were a regular smoker, I feel like we would have seen him light up in that book on many stressful occasions.)

Anybody else got that Evergiven sized writers block

“Public libraries are such important, lovely places!” Yes but do you GO there. Do you STUDY there. Do you meet friends and get coffee there. Do you borrow the FREE, ZERO SUBSCRIPTION, ZERO TRACKING books, audiobooks, ebooks, and films. Have you checked out their events and schemes. Do you sign up for the low cost courses in ASL or knitting or programming or writing your CV that they probably run. Do you know they probably have myriad of schemes to help low income families. Do you hire their low cost rooms if you need them. Have you joined their social groups. Do you use the FREE COMPUTERS. Do you even know what your library is trying to offer you. Listen, the library shouldn’t just exist for you as a nice idea. That’s why more libraries shut every year

Six-Sentence Sunday: They Get Married.

Hello all! I am currently working on and finishing up Chapter 4 of "They Get Married." Here's an excerpt of a scene featuring some steamy cooking ;)

“I want you to make Cook Pritchard’s roast beef and Yorkshire pudding,” I purred, before adding with a smirk: “wearing nothing but an apron.”

Which is how I ended up sitting at the kitchen table, admiring Baz’s beautiful pale arse as he tenderises steak in a frilly pink apron. “You know, I finally understand why it’s called mooning,” I say, slowly sipping on a cider. Baz looks back at me, one eyebrow arched, and I can’t help but snicker. “Have something to say about my arse, Snow?” “Oh, of course not, never!” I gasp, feigning offence. “Watching my favourite thing to eat prepare my favourite meal? I’m living the dream!”