Christopher Street Parade

Sexuality and gender identity-based cultures concern the behaviors, beliefs, knowledge, and references shared by members of sexual minorities or transgendered people by virtue of their membership in those minorities. Image File history File links Information. ... Download high resolution version (1700x1307, 330 KB)Activist waving the gay pride flag at the Christopher Street parade in Berlin. ... Download high resolution version (1700x1307, 330 KB)Activist waving the gay pride flag at the Christopher Street parade in Berlin. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Queer studies is the study of issues relating to sexual orientation and gender identity. ... Image File history File links Gay_flag. ... Gender in common usage refers to the sexual distinction between male and female. ... Homosexuality refers to sexual interaction and / or romantic attraction between individuals of the same sex. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Transgender (IPA: , from trans (Latin) and gender (English) ) is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies that diverge from the normative gender role (woman or man) commonly, but not always, assigned at birth, as well as the role traditionally held by society. ... LGBT history refers to the history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender cultures around the world, dating back to the first recorded instances of same-sex love and sexuality within ancient civilizations. ... LGBT rights Around the world · By country History · Groups · Activists Declaration of Montreal Same-sex relationships Marriage · Adoption Opposition · Discrimination Violence This box:      This timeline of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) history details notable events in the Common Era West. ... Gay Liberation (or Gay Lib) is the name used to describe the radical lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered movement of the late 1960s and early to mid 1970s in North America, Western Europe, and Australia and New Zealand. ... LGBT rights Around the world · By country History · Groups · Activists Declaration of Montreal Same-sex relationships Marriage · Adoption Opposition · Persecution Violence LGBT social movements share related goals of social acceptance of homosexuality or transgenderism. ... This is a timeline of AIDS. 1959 The first known case of HIV in a human was found in a person who died in the Congo (Zhu et al. ... The idea of a gay community is complex reflecting the diverse nature of the individuals who make up that community. ... The gay pride or simply pride campaign has three main premises: that people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity, that sexual diversity is a gift, and that sexual orientation and gender identity are inherent and cannot be intentionally altered. ... Coming out of the closet (very often shortened to coming out in winking reference to the public introduction of debutantes) describes the voluntary public announcement of ones (often homosexual or bisexual) sexual orientation or gender identity. ... Gay slang in linguistics refers to a form of English slang used predominantly among LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people. ... A gay village (sometimes called a gay ghetto and increasingly gayborhood) is usually an urban geographic location with generally recognized boundaries where a large number of gay and lesbian people, as well as bisexual and transgender people live. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... The word queer has traditionally meant strange or unusual, but it is also currently often used in reference to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and asexual communities. ... Questioning is a term that can refer to a person who is questioning his or her sexual identity or sexual orientation. ... World laws on homosexuality US laws on homosexuality Legality of same-sex unions in Europe. ...   CA, CT, MD, NY, NJ, OR, RI, VT, WA See also Civil union Registered partnership Domestic partnership Timeline of same-sex marriage Listings by country This box:      Same-sex marriage is a term for a governmentally, socially, or religiously recognized marriage in which two people of the same sex live... A civil union is a recognized union similar to marriage. ... LGBT adoption refers to the adoption of children by lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered people. ... A sodomy law is a law that defines certain sexual acts as sex crimes. ... LGBT rights Around the world · By country History · Groups · Activists Declaration of Montreal Same-sex relationships Marriage · Adoption Opposition · Persecution Violence This box:      The militaries of the world have a variety of responses to homosexual and bisexual orientations. ... A Jewish cemetery in France after being defaced by Neo-Nazis. ... This list indexes the articles on LGBT rights in each country and significant non-country region (e. ... For the Pet Shop Boys album of the same name see Behaviour Behavior or behaviour (see spelling differences) refers to the actions or reactions of an object or organism, usually in relation to the environment. ... Look up belief in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Personification of knowledge (Greek Επιστημη, Episteme) in Celsus Library in Ephesos, Turkey. ... Sexual orientation refers to the direction of an individuals sexuality, normally conceived of as falling into several significant categories based around the sex or gender that the individual finds attractive. ... Transgender (IPA: , from trans (Latin) and gender (English) ) is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies that diverge from the normative gender role (woman or man) commonly, but not always, assigned at birth, as well as the role traditionally held by society. ... In sociology and in voting theory, a minority is a sub-group that is outnumbered by persons who do not belong to it. ...

Among the first to argue that members of sexual minorities can constitute cultural minorities as well as being just individuals were Adolf Brand, Magnus Hirschfeld and Leontine Sagan in Germany. These pioneers were followed later, in the USA, by the Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis. Adolf Brand (1874-1945) was a German journalist and school teacher who began publishing the first German homosexual periodical, Der Eigene (The Special), in 1896. ... Magnus Hirschfeld in 1933 Magnus Hirschfeld (Kolberg, May 14, 1868 - Nice, May 14, 1935) was a prominent German-Jewish physician, sexologist, and gay rights advocate. ... Leontine Sagan (born Leontine Schlesinger, 1889 in Vienna, Austria , died 1974 in South Africa) was a German actress. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The Daughters of Bilitis (DOB) was formed in San Francisco, California in 1955 by Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon along with six other women. ...

Not all members of a particular sexual minority participate in, or are aware of, the subculture that may be associated with that minority. In addition to simply not knowing that the culture exists, non-participants may be geographically or socially isolated, they may feel stigmatized by the subculture, they may simply dislike it (feeling it is outdated, corrupted, or does not align with their personal taste or style), or they may prefer to affiliate with some other culture or subculture.

See also: separatism, discrimination. The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      Separatism is a term usually applied to describe the attitudes or motivations of those seeking independence or separation of their land or region from the country that governs them. ... Manifestations Slavery · Racial profiling · Lynching Hate speech · Hate crime · Hate groups Genocide · The Holocaust · Armenian Genocide · Pogrom Ethnocide · Ethnic cleansing · Race war Religious persecution · Gay bashing Blood libel · Black Legend Pedophobia · Ephebiphobia Movements Discriminatory Aryanism · Neo-Nazism · Ku Klux Klan National Party (South Africa) American Nazi Party Kahanism · Supremacism Anti...

Definition

The Rainbow flag, often used as a symbol for LGBT culture.

Sexual minorities defined by sexual orientation and gender identity — lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people — are often seen as having a common culture, which can be called LGBT culture, Queer culture, or gay culture. In academia, when discussing works of literary or artistic value, the term used is often 'homoeroticism'. (We will use the term LGBT culture in this article. The term Queer is perceived by many to be political or objectionable, although others use it as the primary description of their sexual minority culture. We will reserve the term "gay culture" for gay men's culture.) Image File history File links Gay_flag. ... Image File history File links Gay_flag. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ... A lesbian is a woman who is romantically and sexually attracted only to other women. ... GAY can mean: Gay, a term referring to homosexual men or women The IATA code for Gaya Airport Category: ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Transgender (IPA: , from trans (Latin) and gender (English) ) is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies that diverge from the normative gender role (woman or man) commonly, but not always, assigned at birth, as well as the role traditionally held by society. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The word queer has traditionally meant strange or unusual, but it is also currently often used in reference to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and asexual communities. ... Artistic merit is an English language term that is used in relation to cultural products when referring to the judgment of their perceived quality or value as works of art. ... In the late twentieth century, male homoeroticism flourished in the visual arts. ...

The idea is quite contentious. Some argue that there are too many LGBT people who do not participate in this culture for the idea to be meaningful, or that the culture constitutes a stereotype or is associated with only a radical minority.

Others argue that LGBT culture is an undeniable fact, and/or that it constitutes the basis of a LGBT nation with a common understanding and history.

The existence of a larger community including gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people has also been questioned by noting the exclusion of some of these groups by others; for example, biphobia among gays and lesbians, transphobia among non-trans LGB people, or lack of inclusiveness of lesbians in gay milieux. For example, in some cities, especially in North America, gay men and lesbians tend to live in certain neighbourhoods. Biphobia is the fear of, discrimination against, or hatred of bisexuals (although in practice it extends to pansexual people too). ... A gay village (sometimes called a gay ghetto and increasingly gayborhood) is usually an urban geographic location with generally recognized boundaries where a large number of gay and lesbian people, as well as bisexual and transgender people live. ...

A response could be that, although these sorts of prejudice and exclusion exist among part of the community, they do not necessarily impede members of all of the groups from participating in a common culture.

It ought to be remembered, further, that LGBT culture is often intensely marked by geography and surrounding culture. What may often be thought of as "LGBT culture" may be peculiar to North America and/or Europe, and not found among other LGBT communities around the world.

Elements often identified as being common to the culture of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered people include:

• The work of famous gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people. This may include:
  • Present-day LGBT artists and political figures;
  • Historical figures who have been identified as LGBT. It has often been questioned whether it is appropriate to identify historical figures using modern terms for sexual identity (see History of sexuality). However, many LGBT people feel a kinship towards these people and their work, especially to the extent that it deals with same-sex attraction or gender identity.
• An understanding of the history of LGBT political movements.
• An ironic appreciation of things linked by stereotype to LGBT people.
• Figures and identities that are present in the LGBT community; in Euro-American LGBT culture, this could include the gay village, drag kings and queens, Pride, and the rainbow flag.

LGBT communities organize a number of events to celebrate their culture, such as Pride parades, the Gay Games and Southern Decadence --the largest LGBT street fair celebration in North America. This is a partial list of confirmed and debated famous lesbian, bisexual, or gay people. ... The people on this list have been selected because their fame or notoriety was in some way due or connected to their transgender identity or behaviour. ... The History of Sexuality is also the title of a book, by Michel Foucault. ... LGBT rights Around the world · By country History · Groups · Activists Declaration of Montreal Same-sex relationships Marriage · Adoption Opposition · Persecution Violence LGBT social movements share related goals of social acceptance of homosexuality or transgenderism. ... The idea of a gay community is complex reflecting the diverse nature of the individuals who make up that community. ... A gay village (sometimes called a gay ghetto and increasingly gayborhood) is usually an urban geographic location with generally recognized boundaries where a large number of gay and lesbian people, as well as bisexual and transgender people live. ... A drag king performance troupe Drag kings are female-bodied or -identified performance artists who dress in masculine drag as part of their routine. ... Drag queens Luc DArcy and Jerry Cyr and friend at Montreals 2003 Divers/Cité pride parade. ... The gay pride or simply pride campaign has three main premises: that people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity, that sexual diversity is a gift, and that sexual orientation and gender identity are inherent and cannot be intentionally altered. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ... Baton twirlers perform in the 2002 Divers/Cité pride parade in downtown Montreal A pride parade is part of a festival or ceremony held by the LGBT community of a city to commemorate the struggle for gay liberation, gay rights, and gay pride. ... The Federation of Gay Games logo The Gay Games is a popular sporting and cultural event organized by LGBT athletes, artists, musicians, and others. ... Southern Decadance is a week-long, predominantly gay-male event held in New Orleans, Louisiana and its environs by the gay and lesbian community in early September, climaxing with a parade through the French Quarter on the Sunday before Labor Day. ...

Gay male culture

Historically, and specifically in the last century, American culture as a whole (but also Europe and Latin America) has focused much more heavily on gay men than on other members of the LGBT community. This may be due to larger numbers of men than women or transgender people (insofar as you would call it that) coming out, it may be due to gay men typically being more brash in their coming out (and having more resources available to them to justify, explore and perform their sexuality), or it may be due to Western culture as a whole still seeing men and male experience as the central experience in culture, even if the men in question are transgressing established gender norms. Research into lesbian histories and cultures is fledgling by comparison. Indeed it may be argued that gay men have, in certain circles, enjoyed a peculiarly privileged relationship to cultural production, by comparison with lesbians, trans people and some might argue women in general. The subject is open to debate, but gay male culture is often better known to lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people than those groups' particular cultures may be known to gay men. This article serves as an overview of the customs and culture of the United States; for the popular (pop) culture of the United States, see arts and entertainment in the United States. ...

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, gay culture was highly covert and relied upon secret symbols and codes woven into an overall straight context. Gay influence in early America was mostly limited to high culture. The association of gay men with opera, ballet, professional sports, couture, fine cuisine, musical theater, the Golden Age of Hollywood, and interior design began with wealthy homosexual men using the straight themes of these media to send their own signals. In the very heterocentric Marilyn Monroe film vehicle Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, a musical number features a woman singing while muscled men in revealing costumes dance around her. The men's costumes were designed by a man, the dance was choreographed by a man, and the dancers seem more interested in each other than in the female star, but her reassuring presence gets the sequence past the censors and fits it into an overall heterocentric theme. This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy. ... Painting of ballet dancers by Edgar Degas, 1872. ... In professional sports, athletes receive payment for their performance, as opposed to amateur sports and college sports where they do not. ... Couture is the name or part of the name of several communes in France: Couture, in the Charente département Couture-dArgenson, in the Deux-Sèvres département Couture-sur-Loir, in the Loir-et-Cher département See also La Couture Haute couture CharlElie Couture, a French... Cuisine (from French cuisine, cooking; culinary art; kitchen; ultimately from Latin coquere, to cook) is a specific set of cooking traditions and practices, often associated with a specific culture. ... Musical theater (or theatre) is a form of theatre combining music, songs, dance, and spoken dialogue. ... ... Interior design is the process of shaping the experience of interior space, through the manipulation of spatial volume as well as surface treatment. ... Heterosexism (or heterocentrism or heterosexualism (Corsini, 2002)) is the assumption that everyone or a particular person is heterosexual. ... Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962), was a Golden Globe Award-winning American actress, singer, model and pop icon. ... This article is about the ancient Roman political office. ... Heterosexism (or heterocentrism or heterosexualism (Corsini, 2002)) is the assumption that everyone or a particular person is heterosexual. ...

After the Stonewall riots in the United States in 1969, gay male culture began to be publicly acknowledged for the first time. Some gay men formed the Violet Quill society, which focused on writing about gay experience as something central and normal in a story for the first time, rather than as a "naughty" sideline to a mostly straight story. A good example is the short story A Boy's Own Story by Edmund White. In this first volume of a trilogy, White writes as a young homophilic narrator growing up under the shadow of a corrupt and remote father. The young man learns bad habits from his straight father and applies them to a gay existence. LGBT rights Around the world · By country History · Groups · Activists Declaration of Montreal Same-sex relationships Marriage · Adoption Opposition · Discrimination Violence This box:      The Stonewall riots were a series of violent conflicts between New York City police officers and groups of gay and transgender people that began on June 28... For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ... Edmund Valentine White III (born January 13, 1940) is a novelist, short-story writer and critic. ...

Throughout the 1970s, gay male culture was a growing influence on American pop culture as a whole. Celebrities such as Liza Minnelli spent a significant amount of their social time with urban gay men, who were now popularly viewed as sophisticated and stylish by the jet set. And more celebrities themselves, such as Andy Warhol, were open about their relationships. Such openness was still limited to the largest urban areas such as New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami, however, until AIDS forced several popular celebrities out of the closet due to their contraction of what was known at first as a "gay cancer". The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979. ... Liza May Minnelli (born March 12, 1946 in Los Angeles, California) is an Academy Award-winning and Tony Award-winning American actress and singer. ... Andy Warhol (August 6, 1928 — February 22, 1987) was an American artist who became a central figure in the movement known as pop art. ... “New York, NY” redirects here. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... Nickname: Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in the Chicago metro area and Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois County Cook & DuPage Incorporated March 4, 1837 Government  - Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area  - City  234. ... This article is about the city in Florida. ...

Some elements that may be identified more closely with gay men than with other groups include:

• pop-culture gay icons who have had a traditionally gay male following (for example, in Euro-American gay culture, disco, Madonna, Judy Garland, Cher, and so forth);
• familiarity with certain aspects of romantic, sexual, and social life that have been common among gay men (for example, in Euro-American gay culture, Polari, poppers, camp, and the fag hag; in Indian gay culture, evening people).

There are a number of subcultures within gay male culture, such as bears, chubbies, and gay skinheads. There are also subcultures that have historically had a large gay male population, such as the leather and SM subcultures. St. ... Disco is a genre of dance-oriented pop music that blends elements of funk and soul music that was first popularized in dance clubs (discothèques) in the mid-1970s. ... Madonna Louise Ciccone Ritchie (born August 16, 1958), better known as simply Madonna, is a six-time Grammy[1] and one-time Golden Globe award winning American pop singer, songwriter, record and film producer, dancer, actress, author and fashion icon. ... Superscript text Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922 – June 22, 1969) was an Oscar-nominated American film actress, considered by many to be one of the greatest singing stars of Hollywoods Golden Era of musical film, best known for her role as Dorothy Gale from The... Cheryl Sarkisian LaPiere (better known as Cher) (born on May 20, 1946),[1] is an American actress, singer, songwriter, and entertainer. ... Polari (or alternatively Palare, from Italian parlare, to talk) was a form of cant slang used in the gay subculture in Britain. ... Poppers is the street term for Nitrite inhalants, particularly amyl nitrite, butyl nitrite and isobutyl nitrite. ... For the baseball player Bert Campaneris, see Bert Campaneris For the prestigious bicycle component manufacturer, see Campagnolo The current version of this article or section is written in an informal style and with a personally invested tone. ... Fag hag is a slang term for a woman who associates mostly or exclusively with gay men. ... The evening people of India are males who choose to live a life in which they dress and otherwise comport themselves in a way intermediate between the ways that typical men and women dress and act. ... This article or section cites very few or no references or sources. ... The chubby community is a subculture in the gay community. ... A Gay skinhead, also known as a gayskin or queerskin, is a gay person who identifies with the skinhead subculture, often (though not necessarily) out of sexual interest. ... The Leather Pride flag, which has become a symbol of the BDSM and fetish subculture. ... Flogging demonstration at Folsom Street Fair 2004. ...

There are also a lot of gay men who don't follow any of these subcultures, don't follow so-called gay fashions or worship gay icons. Gay men are individuals, and can't be identified by the way they look or what kind of music they like. There are gay men in every field imaginable, and into all sorts of fashions and music. The trendy gays who frequent certain gay clubs/discos and Gay Pride festivals are not necessarily typical of the average gay man in the country, many of whom are to some extent still in the closet. Not least because the commercial gay scene with its very limited range of music/fashions/gay icons etc. excludes everyone who doesn't fit in with this image. This could be described as 'gay fascism' - if a gay man prefers long hair, a 1950s quiff, a mohawk, dreadlocks or liberty spikes to a shaved head or a #1 cut he may feel unwelcome in many gay venues. A gay man into Rockabilly, 1950s Rock'n'Roll or Blues, hot rods and the Teddy-boy/Rockabilly look, for instance, might find little of appeal on the commercial gay scene. The Queercore movement as well as the group Gay shame critiques the commercialization of gay society. The famous Mohawk leader Joseph Brant wearing a scalp lock. ... Dreadlocks, sometimes called simply dreads or locks, are matted ropes of hair which will form by themselves if the hair is allowed to grow naturally without the use of brushes, combs, razors or scissors for a long period of time. ... An example of liberty spikes all over the head Spikes that may radiate outwards in all directions An example of a mohawk with liberty spikes Liberty spikes refers to a way of styling the hair in long, thick, upright spikes. ... T-Bucket hot rod Hot rods are older, often historical, cars. ... Queercore is a cultural and social movement that began in the mid 1980s as an offshoot of punk. ... Gay shame is a movement whose adherents describe it as a radical alternative to the gay mainstream. ...

Groups critical of the sex-orientated part of contemporary gay male culture also exists, most recently in gay activist Larry Kramer's 2005 book The Tragedy of Today's Gays. Larry Kramer (born June 25, 1935), American dramatist, author and gay rights activist, was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and was educated at Yale University (class of 1957). ...

On-Line Culture and Communities

From the mid-1990s, gay IRC channels emerged, with their content ranging the full spectrum from social networking to immediate arrangements for sexual contact.

More recently, a number of on-line social interaction websites for gay men have been established. Initially, these concentrated on sexual contact or titillation. Typically, users were afforded a profile page as well as access to other members' pages, member-to-member messaging and instant-message chat.

Smaller, more densely-connected websites concentrating on social networking without a focus on sexual contact have been established. Some forbid all explicit sexual content; others do not.

Significance of On-Line Social Networking to the Gay Population

On-line sexual contact sites for gay men have already altered dramatically the sexual behaviour of a large proportion of the gay population of regions where these sites are strongly patronised. There are signs that on-line social networking communities for gay men are also having a more profound impact on gay culture than their 'straight' equivalent sites.

Lesbian culture

As with gay men, lesbian culture includes elements both from the larger LGBT culture and elements that are more closely specific to the lesbian community.

Often thought of in this regard are elements of counterculture that have been primarily associated with lesbians in Europe and North America. The history of lesbian culture over the last half-century has also been tightly entwined with the evolution of feminism. This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... Feminism is a number of social, cultural and political movements, theories and moral philosophies that are concerned with cultural, political and economic practices and inequalities that discriminate against women; some have argued that gendered and sexed identities, such as man and woman, are socially constructed. ...

Older stereotypes of lesbian women stressed a dichotomy between women who adhered to stereotypical male gender stereotypes ("butch") and stereotypical female gender stereotypes ("femme"), and that typical lesbian couples consisted of butch/femme couples. Today, some lesbian women adhere to being either "butch" or "femme," but these categories are much less rigid and there is no express expectation that a lesbian couple be butch/femme. There is a sub-culture within the lesbian community called Aristasia, where lesbians in the community adhere to exaggerated levels of femininity. In this culture, there are two genders, blonde and brunette, although they are unrelated to actual hair color. Brunettes are femme, yet blondes are even more so. Also notable are diesel dykes, extremely butch women who use male forms of dress and behavior, and who often work as truck drivers. Lipstick lesbian refers to feminine women who are attracted only to other feminine women. Lesbian culture also has its own icons such as Melissa Etheridge. Others include k.d. lang (butch), Ellen DeGeneres (androgynous), and Portia de Rossi (femme). Butch is a common nickname, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries for boys. ... Butch and femme are terms often used in the lesbian and gay subcultures to describe a persons approximate adherence of traditional masculine and feminine gender roles respectively, within a same-sex relationship, or to describe an individual generally. ... Dyke is a slang term for a lesbian. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Melissa Lou Etheridge (born May 29, 1961 in Leavenworth, Kansas) is a Grammy- and Academy Award-winning American rock musician. ... Kathryn Dawn Lang, OC (born November 2, 1961), best known by the stage name k. ... Ellen Lee DeGeneres (born January 26, 1958) is an American actress, stand-up comedian, and currently the Emmy Award-winning host of the syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show. ... If referring to a flower, see disambiguation under bisexual Androgyny is the state of indeterminate gender, or characteristics of gender. ... Portia de Rossi, born Amanda Lee Rogers on January 31, 1973, is an Australian actress who is best known for her role as lawyer Nelle Porter on the television series Ally McBeal, and as Lindsay Bluth Fünke on the television series Arrested Development. ...

A very large subset of the lesbian population believes that the paragraph above is idiotic.

See labrys, Black triangle. Minoan symbolic labrys of gold, 2nd millennium BC: many have been found in the sacred cave of Arkalochori on Crete) Labrys is the term for a doubleheaded axe, known to the Classical Greeks as pelekus πέλεκυς or sagaris (the term for a single-bladed axe being hēmipelekus half-pelekus, e. ... This article is about the Black Triangle as a badge or symbol: for other uses see the disambiguation page Black triangle. ...

Bisexual culture

The bisexual pride flag

In modern western culture Bisexual people are in the peculiar situation of receiving hatred and/or distrust (aka biphobia) or even outright denial of their existence (aka bisexual erasure) from some elements of both the straight and lesbian and gay populations. There is of course some element of general anti-LGBT feeling, but some people insist that bisexual people are unsure of their true feelings, that they are "experimenting" or going through a "phase", and that they eventually will or should "decide" or "discover" which (singular) sex they are sexually attracted to, (also see Monosexism). Image File history File links Bi_flag. ... Image File history File links Bi_flag. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Biphobia is the fear of, discrimination against, or hatred of bisexuals (although in practice it extends to pansexual people too). ... Bisexual erasure is a manifestation of biphobia characterized by dismissing, ignoring, removing or misstating/misidentifying references to bisexual people in the historical record, academic materials, the news media, and other primary sources. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Homosexuality refers to sexual interaction and / or romantic attraction between individuals of the same sex. ... Homophobia is the irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals. ... Monosexism describes a commonly held set of beliefs that exclusive heterosexuality or homosexuality are superior to a bisexual or pansexual orientation. ...

One popular misconception is that bisexuals find all humans sexually attractive. That is no more true than the idea that, say, all straight men would find all women sexually attractive. More people of all kinds are becoming aware that there are some people who find attractive sexual partners among both men and women - sometimes equally, sometimes favoring one sex in particular, (also see Kinsey scale, Klein Sexual Orientation Grid). The Kinsey scale attempts to measure sexual orientation, from 0 (exclusively heterosexual) to 6 (exclusively homosexual). ... The Klein Sexual Orientation Grid attempts to further measure sexual orientation by expanding upon the earlier Kinsey scale which only considers from 0 (exclusively heterosexual) to 6 (exclusively homosexual). ...

Distinctions exist between sexual orientation (attraction, inclination, preference, or desire), gender identity (self-identification or self-concept) and sexual behavior (the sex of one's actual sexual partners). For example, someone who may find people of either sex attractive might in practice have relationships only with people of one particular sex.[1] Sexual orientation refers to the direction of an individuals sexuality, normally conceived of as falling into several significant categories based around the sex or gender that the individual finds attractive. ...

Many bisexual people consider themselves to be part of the LGBT or Queer community. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The word queer has traditionally meant strange or unusual, but it is also currently often used in reference to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and asexual communities. ...

In an effort to create both more visibility, and a symbol for the bisexual community to gather behind, Michael Page created the bisexual pride flag. The bisexual flag, which has a pink or red stripe at the top for homosexuality, a blue one on the bottom for heterosexuality and a purple one in the middle to represent bisexuality, as purple is from the combination of red and blue. The notion of the bisexual community is complex and slightly controversial. ... Michael Harry Page (born June 17, 1941) was an English cricketer. ... Bisexual pride flag The bisexual pride flag is a flag design representing the bisexual community. ...

Additionally Celebrate Bisexuality Day has been observed on September 23 by members of the bisexual community and their allies since 1999 . Celebrate Bisexuality Day is observed on September 23 by members of the bisexual community and their allies. ... September 23 is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years). ... The notion of the bisexual community is complex and slightly controversial. ... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ...

External links

• Bi Flag
• Bi Writers Association
• Bilines a forum for Bi writers

See also: Bisexual community The notion of the bisexual community is complex and slightly controversial. ...

Transgender culture

Transgender Pride flag

The study of transgender culture as such is complicated by the many and various ways in which cultures deal with gender. For example, in many cultures, people who are attracted to people of the same sex — that is, those who in contemporary Western culture would identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual — are classed as a third gender, together with people who would in the West be classified as transgender or transsexual. Image File history File links Transgender_Pride_flag. ... Image File history File links Transgender_Pride_flag. ... Transgender (IPA: , from trans (Latin) and gender (English) ) is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies that diverge from the normative gender role (woman or man) commonly, but not always, assigned at birth, as well as the role traditionally held by society. ... Gender in common usage refers to the sexual distinction between male and female. ... Third gender was used from the late 19th century to describe people who did not fit into the then existing gender categories: female genitalia = female identity = female behavior = desire male partner male genitalia = male identity = male behavior = desires female partner Today this scheme is also known as binary gender system... Look up Transsexuality in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Also in the contemporary West, there are usually several different groups of transgender and transsexual people, some of which are extremely exclusive, like groups only for transsexual women who explicitly want sex reassignment surgery or male, heterosexual only cross-dressers. Transmen's groups are often, but not always, more inclusive. Groups aiming at all transgender people, both transmen and transwomen, have in most cases appeared only in the last few years. This article does not cite its references or sources. ... This articles is about cross-dressing in general, that is the act of wearing the clothing of another gender for any reason. ... Transmen or trans men are transgender or transsexual people who were assigned female at birth based on genital appearance (or, in cases of intersexuality, were later assigned to the female gender) and who feel that this is not an accurate or complete description of themselves. ... Transwomen or trans women are transsexual or transgendered people who were assigned male sex at birth (or, in some cases of intersexuality, later) and feel that this is not an accurate or complete description of themselves. ...

Some transgender or transsexual women and men however do not classify as being part of any specific "trans" culture, however there is a distinction between transgender and transsexual people who make their past known to others and those who wish to live according to their gender identity and not reveal this past, stating that they should be able to live in their true gender role in a normal way, and be in control of whom they choose to tell their past to.

See also: List of transgender-related topics, Hijra (South Asia), berdache, two-spirit. Transgender is a very complex topic, where consensual and precise definitions have not yet been reached. ... In the culture of the Indian subcontinent a hijra (also known by a number of different names and romanised spellings) is usually considered a member of the third sex — neither man nor woman. ... Berdache (from French, from Arabic bardajo meaning kept boy) is a generic term used by some for a third gender (woman-living-man) among many, if not most, Native American tribes. ... Berdache (from French, from Arabic bardajo meaning kept boy) is a generic term used by some for a third gender (woman-living-man) among many, if not most, Native American tribes. ...

Other groups within the LGBT community

Other groups of sexual minorities which have formed significant communities and possibly cultures include the Deaf Queer community. The word deaf can have very different meanings depending on the background of the person speaking or the context in which the word is used. ...

External link: [2]

Polyamory

The polyamorous community is another sexual minority with an associated culture. Start of polyamory contingent at San Francisco Pride 2004. ...

Fetish-based cultures

Another form of sexual minority that may form culture is that based around sexual fetishism. For example, practitioners of BDSM and those who are into leather may have extensive cultural knowledge associated with their communities. (see Fetish community) The basic idea of sexual fetishism is sexual arousal and satisfaction through an inanimate object, the fetish. ... A collar is a common symbol in BDSM. Female bottom in bondage with leather monoglove BDSM is any of a number of related patterns of human sexual behavior. ... The Leather Pride flag, which has become a symbol of the BDSM and fetish subculture. ... The fetish subculture is a subculture that comprises people with a broad range of sexual fetishes, who tend to be more tolerant of other fetishists than the general community, even if they do not share the other persons specific fetish. ...

Influence on culture at large

Sexual minority cultures frequently and consistently influence the broader culture at large, including straight culture. Yale sociology professor Joshua Gamson argues that the tabloid talk show genre, popularized by Oprah Winfrey in the 1980s provided much needed, high impact media visibility for sexual minorities and did more to make gay culture mainstream than any other development of the 20th century. Slang frequently originations in subcultures, including sexual minority subcultures, which becomes part of the larger vernacular including words associated with descriptions specific to sexual minorities or not. YALE (Yet Another Learning Environment) is an environment for machine learning experiments and data mining. ... Tabloid talk shows are a genre of American television talk-shows that were extremely popular during the late 20th century, ran mostly during the day, and were distributed mostly through syndication. ... Oprah Winfrey, (born January 29, 1954) is a multiple-Emmy Award winning host of The Oprah Winfrey Show, the highest rated talk show in television history. ... This article cites very few or no references or sources. ... Slang is the use of highly informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speakers dialect or language. ...

Madonna is one of many artists who have borrowed from sexual minority cultures, including her appropriation of vogueing. Recently, the television series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy depicts straight men being given fashion make-overs or decorating tips from gay men. Madonna Louise Ciccone Ritchie (born August 16, 1958), better known as simply Madonna, is a six-time Grammy[1] and one-time Golden Globe award winning American pop singer, songwriter, record and film producer, dancer, actress, author and fashion icon. ... Vogue (Performance) is a form of modern dance characterized by photo model-like poses integrated with angular, linear and rigid arm, leg, and body movements. ... A television program is the content of television broadcasting. ... Queer Eye for the Straight Guy is an hour-long American television series that premiered on the Bravo cable television network on July 15, 2003, and promptly became both a surprise hit (at least by the standards of cable TV) and one of the most talked-about television programs of...

See also

• Gay community
• Media portrayal of homosexuality
• Media portrayal of bisexuality
• LGBT history
• List of gay, lesbian or bisexual people
• Heteronormativity
• Bisexual community
• Sexual orientation
• List of transgender-related topics
• Queer

The idea of a gay community is complex reflecting the diverse nature of the individuals who make up that community. ... The portrayal of homosexuality in the media reflects and guides societal attitudes towards homosexuality. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Bisexuality. ... LGBT history refers to the history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender cultures around the world, dating back to the first recorded instances of same-sex love and sexuality within ancient civilizations. ... This is an incomplete list, which may never be able to satisfy certain standards for completeness. ... Heteronormativity is a term used in the discussion of sexual behavior, gender, and society, primarily within the fields of queer theory and gender theory. ... The notion of the bisexual community is complex and slightly controversial. ... Sexual orientation refers to the direction of an individuals sexuality, normally conceived of as falling into several significant categories based around the sex or gender that the individual finds attractive. ... Transgender is a very complex topic, where consensual and precise definitions have not yet been reached. ... The word queer has traditionally meant strange or unusual, but it is also currently often used in reference to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and asexual communities. ...

External links

• Gay Resources and Encyclopedia
• soc.bi newsgroup FAQ Bi newsgroup
• BiNet USA
• Bisexual Resource Center (BRC)
• Bisexual Foundation
• New York Area Bisexual Network (NYABN)
• Bialogue = Bisexual + Dialogue
• The Androphile Project Extensive resource of gay and bisexual history
• Bisexual Playground An online community for Bisexuals
• CBC Digital Archives - Gay and Lesbian Emergence: Out in Canada
• The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society
• History of Poppers: Popular sex enhancers which are very common in the gay community.