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by HN_is_for_gemes 1135 days ago
It'll be a generation before people can once again admit there is a difference between men and women. If we admit men and women are different its the same a direct attack on much of the LGBT community.
3 comments

> It’ll be a generation before people can once again admit there is a difference between men and women. If we admit men and women are different its the same a direct attack on much of the LGBT community.

As phrased its…not, though.

Each of the L, G, B, and T (well, perhaps not the B in all cases) relies pretty centrally on there being a difference between men and women.

(Now, if you were to say, “‘men’ and ‘women’ are defined by gender externally ascribed on the basis of (at least notionally) immutable non-identity characteristics”, then that’s a different story, but that’s a lot different than “there are differences between men and women”.)

The LGBT community is well aware that men and women are different. The existence of trans people is itself strong evidence if this. That is why the trans community is interested in gender affirming care.
No, it is an attack on much of the trans community.

"The LGBT community" is in and of itself a part of this weird usage of group terminology to muddy the waters. It's pretty much a political device invented for that purpose - if you don't support all you support none, which is clearly ridiculous.

For example, trans women not being permitted to compete in women's sports has exactly zero bearing on the life of gay men, and is actually in the interest of gay women.

And yet, gay men can be sympathetic to the needs and experiences of trans women.

The LGBT community is, in part, built on bonds of similar experiences of ostracism by the larger society.

Why not add other marginalized group to LGBT if being marginalized is the only criteria?
I said part of the reason for association was a shared experience of ostracism. Another is being outside the mainstream in a sexual and gender sense.

In recent years, there have been some efforts to tie racial justice into the LGBT identity, but that has been controversial as there is less alignment around issues. Black and brown bands were added to the rainbow flag as part of this, and that was also controversial. The feeling was that that flag was not originally racially focused.

This is what you often see LGBTQ+ (the plus means anyone marginalized). Yes, it typically has to do with gender or sexual differences but that is pretty much marketing. It is easier to organize if you have a relatively clear community.
Groups have always had ways to define who was part of the group whether that group was political, religious, or a group of gamers. Calling it "marketing" sounds a little dismissive.