Understanding the LGBT Subculture

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The LGBT subculture is defined by sexual identity. The LGBT culture, in general, encompasses sexuality and gender-based identity. It emphasizes a diversity of sexuality and gender identity based subcultures. Not all of those who identify with the LBGT community openly identify with them especially if they live in a discriminatory environment.

Historically, according to societal norms, the LGBT community has been viewed as "bad" or "wrong." In religious circles, the community has been viewed as "blasphemous." In some cultures, it was, and for others, still is, permissible to kill non-heterosexual people because they are considered not "real people" or "real humans."

UNIQUE ATTRIBUTES AND SEXUALITY

With respect to the factors that this identity includes, there are debates ongoing with what "LGBT" actually represent. There have been references that add two "Q"'s for questioning and queer (which also has a fluid construction), two "T"'s for transvestite and transsexual, and even "P" for polyamourous (or polyamorous).

Fundamentally, LGBT is used as a general reference for non-heterosexual, or better, a person who identifies with a non-heterosexual identity. Of course the debates would include those opposing an "umbrella" term for encompassing too many variations when there are critical differences evident in what each label represents. Each community, that is the lesbian community, gay community, and so on, has struggled to develop their own identity even though they are collectively categorized. Some subgroups don't feel comfortable aligning with other subgroups. This was evident in the 1980s when gays and lesbians were not as accepting of bisexuals and transgenders. Gays and lesbians had their own stigmas attached to bisexuals and transgenders which further marginalized bisexuals and transgenders' identities.

For example, polyamoury (being in multiple romantic relationships with people of varied sexual orientations), in the form of polygamy is not legal within North America but it is legal in some countries. In some LGBT circles, the label "confused" is used, however, that also has some similarity to "questioning" and even "queer." Polyamoury is sometimes categorized as a fetish or even an expression of the individual's pan-sexual preference.

BEHAVIOURS
Gender specific dress codes do exist and are maintained in certain circles in the United States. This is usually reflected in certain classes and it is more of conformity to certain social standards than it is an expression of one's sexuality.

The LGBT community is striving to be liberated from being in the "closet." Lesbians want to feel free to wear suits and ties if they want to. It is not an expression of their sexuality but an expression of the identity that they feel most comfortable with. The LGBT community knows that it does not fall within certain social standards thus if they conform to those ...