GLBT

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Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Community

Gay

Gender Identity

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Do gay men identify as women? What about masculine gay men? What are bears?What are butch and lipstick lesbians?

Lesbian

Portrayal in Media

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All lesbians are actually bisexual?Gay men are effeminate fashionistas?Bisexual men are promiscuous, bisexual women only engage in same-sex for the pleasure of men?All transvestites are transgender? All transgenders are prostitutes?

Bisexual

Transgender

Gender Identity

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What are MtF and MtM? What consequences are there of having the opposite gender identity that a heterosexist society disapproves of? How much clout does gender identity hold over physical sex?What sorts of studies have even been done on the thought processes of transgender individuals?

History

Older

Western

Greece

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How have the ancient acts of pederasty and Pagan free love affected modern views of the GLBT community in a predominantly-Christian society?

Pederasty

Free Love

England

James I

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How have the romantic relationships between King James I shown hypocracy in man-made law and religion? What, if any, impact has this created?

Eastern

Samurai

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Samurai took up young apprentices, often developing into sexual relationships.

Kabuki Theatre

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Traditional theatre in which actors and roles have opposite sexes. That is, men play the roles of women and vice versa.

Rights Movements

Stonewall

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How did the Stonewall Riots change the predominantly submissive attitude of the GLBT community?

Recent

Mainstream

Hollywood

Popular TV

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How have shows like "Queer Eye" and "Will & Grace" impacted the gay rights community?What does it say that more and more shows are showing positive or neutral portrayals of homosexuals, as in "Law & Order"?

Big Names

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How have big names like Barbra Streisand, Liza Minelli, Elton John, George Michael, Ellen Degeneres, and even Judy Garland affected the community?

Porn Industry

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What does the porn industry imply about the marketability of the GLBT community?Is lesbian porn intended more for heterosexual men or homosexual women?What about the marketing of "boy's love" in Japan?

AIDS Epidemic

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How has the AIDS crisis impacted the GLBT community, particularly homosexual men?

The Holocaust

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How was the European GLBT community affected during the Holocaust? Why has their persecution during been denied for so long?

Natural?

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What are current theories on the nature of homosexuality? What "causes" it?

Biological Factors

Environmental Factors

Choice

Animals

Whales

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Whales have been known to engage in same-sex acts.

Giraffes

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Studies have shown that a large number of male giraffes engage in homosexuality.

Penguins

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Several cases of male penguins mating together have existed in zoos in the US, Japan, and Germany.

Chimpanzees

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Chimpanzees have been known to perform sexual acts as sorts of favors, disregarding sex often.

Struggles

Legal Rights

Marriage

United States

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Which states allow gay marriage? Which states allow pseudo-marriage? Which officially ban it?How has Amendment C impacted South Dakota?

Denmark

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Has Denmark's lengthy history of allowing gay marriage "degraded the sanctity of marriage?"

Germany

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How has Germany's split-marriage system worked out?

England

Hate Crimes

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Why aren't homosexuals protected under hate crimes, even though it is an obvious fact that homosexuals are targets?

Work Rights

Equal Opportunity Employers

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What legal protections are there to GLBT individuals regarding job security?

Implicit Expectations

Teachers

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What sort of backlashes have there been in situations which parents have learned that their child's teacher is gay?

Politicians

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How has the GLBT fared in politics? Is outting a new weapon? How does support of GLBT rights affect political standing?

Spiritual Advisors

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Gay bishops? Gay priests? Are all of the child abuse scandals homosexual in nature?

Immigrant Status

Iran

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Homosexuality is punishable by death, and therefore many gay Iranians seek asylum.

International Relationships

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How do marriage laws affect non-American citizens who want to come into the US to be with their loved ones?

Military Service

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Why does the military simply not even use homosexuals? What are the problems with "Don't Ask, Don't Tell?"