Portal:LGBT

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The LGBT Portal

The rainbow flag, the main symbol of the LGBT movement. LGBT(or GLBT) is an abbreviation used as a collective term to refer to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgenderpeople. It is an adaption of the abbreviation LGB. While still controversial, it is considered less controversial than queerand is more comprehensive than homosexualor simply gay. The initialism GLBT is sometimes used in the United Statesand commonly in Australia, but to a lesser extent elsewhere. As of 2005, LGBT has become so mainstream that it has been adopted by the majority of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community centersand the LGBT press in most English-speaking countries.

Homosexuality is a sexual orientation and it is defined as romantic attraction and/or sexual interaction between consenting individuals of the same sex. In modern use, the adjective homosexual is used for intimate relationships and/or sexual relations between people of the same sex, who may or may not identify themselves as gay or lesbian. Homosexuality, as an identifier, is usually contrasted with heterosexuality and bisexuality. The term gay is used predominantly to refer to self-identified homosexual people of either sex. Lesbian is a gender-specific term that is only used for self-identified homosexual females.

The countries of the world have a wide variety of laws relating to sexual relations between people of the same sex—everything from full same-sex marriage to the death penalty as punishment for homosexual intercourse. Among the first laws on same-sex relations ca. 600 BC are those in ancient Crete and Sparta, which encouraged all adult men to engage in mentoring homoerotic friendships.

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Same-sex marriage was legalized in Spain in 2005. In 2004 the new Socialist government, led by President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, began a campaign for its legalization, which would also include adoption by same-sex couples. After much debate, a law permitting same-sex marriage was passed by the Cortes Generales (Spain's bicameral parliament composed of the Senate and the Congress of Deputies) on 30 June 2005 and published on 2 July 2005. Same-sex marriage officially became legal in Spain on Sunday, 3 July 2005.

The ratification of this law has not been devoid of conflict, despite strong support from Spaniards. Catholic authorities in particular were adamantly opposed to it. Demonstrations for and against the law drew thousands of people from all parts of Spain. After its approval, the conservative People's Party challenged the law in Constitutional Court. Unlike what happens in Canada, foreigners cannot marry in Spain while visiting. At least one partner must be Spanish to marry, although two foreigners may marry if they both reside in Spain. (MORE...)

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WP:LGBTRandom Quote “

As homosexuality becomes more accepted, outing becomes more acceptable. The two phenomena are inextricably linked. As pop stars and TV celebrities like Melissa Etheridge, Amanda Bearse, k.d. lang, Dan Butler, Elton John, and others continue to come out and not see their careers ruined (but in fact enhanced); as politicians (from members of Congress to dozens of state and local elected officials) announce their homosexuality and are reelected; and as average Americans keep coming out every day to their family, friends, and co-workers, the idea that revealing a person's homosexuality is a terrible action that automatically ruins his or her life begins to wear thin.

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—Michelangelo Signorile

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