Sexuality and gender identity-based cultures
Sexuality and gender identity-based cultures are subcultures and communities composed of people who have shared experiences, backgrounds, or interests due to common sexual or gender identities. Among the first to argue that members of sexual minorities can also constitute cultural minorities were Adolf Brand, Magnus Hirschfeld, and Leontine Sagan in Germany. These pioneers were later followed by the Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis in the United States.
Not all persons of various gender and sexual orientations self-identify or are affiliated with a particular subculture. Reasons include geographic distance, unawareness of the subculture's existence, fear of social stigma, or personal preference to remain unidentified with sexuality- or gender-based subcultures or communities. Some have suggested that the identities defined by the Western heterosexualized cultures are based on sexuality. They also have serious flaws and often leave no space for the public to discuss these flaws of gender and sexuality. Because there are no safe spaces to discuss these things, many people reject who they are and ignore their own sexual needs. This rejection can lead to these people being classified under sexual identities that they feel do not represent them as a person. These cultures are currently changing. For example, Greece recently legalized gay marriage, taking a huge step for an Orthodox country.[4]
LGBT culture is the common culture shared by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and communities. It is sometimes referred to as "queer culture" or "gay culture", but the latter term can also be specific to gay men's culture.
LGBT culture varies widely by geography and the identity of the participants.
Elements often identified as being common to the culture of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people include:
In some cities, especially in North America, gay men and lesbians tend to live in certain neighbourhoods.
LGBT communities organize a number of events to celebrate their culture, such as Pride parades, the Gay Games and Southern Decadence.
Influence on mainstream culture[edit]
Sexual minority cultures frequently and consistently influence each other. 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 originates in subcultures, including sexual minority subcultures, which becomes part of the larger vernacular including words associated with descriptions specific to sexual minorities or not.
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.