LGBTQIA+

Long silenced, the voice of the LGBTQIA+ community is now more prominent than ever . This is true both in terms of their daily struggles for the fair recognition of their rights and their very existence in our societies. At The Body Optimist , we strive every day to give a voice to those who are silenced. Because LGBTQIA+ people deserve, like all of us, their place in this world, through the various articles in this category we inform you of the challenges they face , both in French society and in those around the world .

The meaning of the term LGBTQIA+

To fully understand this term, whenever you see it in an article or on social media, for example, think of a rainbow . Besides being the official flag of this community, it's also a good way to easily grasp what lies behind this acronym : a great diversity of minorities . Each letter has a meaning, and there are many variations.

• L is for lesbian : a woman attracted to a woman.
• G is for gay: a man attracted to a man.
• B is for bisexual : a person who can love a man or a woman, but not necessarily to the same degree.
• T as in transsexual: a person born male or born female, but who does not feel they belong to the gender assigned at birth.
• Q is for queer: a person whose sexuality or gender identity differs from heterosexuality or cisgender identity. Queer is an English word meaning "strange" or "uncommon," and is therefore used to refer to all sexual and gender minorities.
• I as in intersex : people born with sex characteristics (genitals, hormone levels and/or chromosomes) that do not fit the biological definitions of "male" and "female".
• A is for asexual: asexual people do not feel the need to engage in sexual relationships and therefore assert their right not to experience physical attraction. Since the spectrum of asexuality is actually quite broad, people can more simply define themselves as "ace".
• + like all other sexual orientations: in the United States, the longest acronym is LGBTTQQIAAP: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, queer, questioning (people who are questioning their sexuality) , intersex, asexual, allies (heterosexual allies of the cause) , pansexual (who claim an attraction to any gender) . We sometimes also see an O, for " other," referring, for example, to non-binary people .

The acronym LGBTQIA+ reflects a desire for better representation. The term "gay" from the 1990s no longer corresponds to the diverse spectrum of sexuality that exists today. The acronym LGBT, on the other hand, still designates the community and remains widely used in our societies, particularly by the government.

Transphobia and homophobia

Two aspects that unfortunately hit the LGBTQIA+ community hard . The year 2020, heavily marked by the health and socio-economic crisis, had a significant impact on anti-LGBTQ+ or LGBTophobic acts , leaving few escapes for victims of violence , whether in private spaces, at work, or on social networks. In the news, we are sadly seeing more and more accounts of LGBTQIA+ people being mistreated and abused, sometimes even driven to suicide , simply because of their sexual orientation. We are here to denounce these acts, so that this stops! In 2015, in their book "Sociology of Transphobia," sociologists Karine Espineira and Arnaud Alessandrin estimated that approximately 85% of transgender people will experience harassment in their lifetime . More recently, in 2019, in its report on homophobic acts, the association SOS Homophobie revealed that in one year, the number of attacks against the LGBT+ community had increased by 66% . An app has even been created to report these types of incidents. On social media, thanks to hashtags like #MeTooGay , the community is very active in supporting victims of harassment . This also helps to bring greater visibility to these acts, making them easier to denounce and fostering genuine educational discussions about these abhorrent forms of discrimination .

Getting informed to give a voice to those who lack one

Through our Society section and our social media channels, we strive daily to highlight inclusive initiatives that champion the diversity of LGBTQIA+ people . Culture, a crucial element of this visibility, greatly inspires and educates us. We think, for example, of documentaries , films , and books that depict transitions and coming out at all ages . The journeys of these individuals command respect, and we gain a deeper understanding of their experiences. We also find photographic projects , as well as advertising campaigns that showcase members of the LGBTQIA+ community to everyone, and encourage us to further normalize the vision of a plurality of identities and sexualities . Public figures also help spread a message of acceptance and inspire people who question their sexuality, who are sometimes ashamed or afraid to be themselves. Finally, Pride Month, held every year in June , includes the Pride march, a demonstration and period more than ever dedicated to the visibility and defense of the rights of LGBTQIA+ people ! And here, on our scale, we give you a little more each day the tools to deconstruct your thinking, defend , support, and listen to the voices of those directly affected. Note also that, in order to be as inclusive as possible, as with all issues concerning women , we use inclusive writing in our articles . Because everyone should be represented equally in the media, as in everyday life.