LGBT, or GLBT, is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. LGBT communities may organize themselves into, or support, movements for civil rights promoting LGBT rights in various places around the world. Groups that may be considered part of the LGBT community include gay villages, LGBT rights organizations, LGBT employee groups at companies, LGBT student groups in schools and universities, and LGBT-affirming religious groups. Not all people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender consider themselves part of the LGBT community. The LGBT community is diverse in political affiliation. The term pride or sometimes gay pride expresses the LGBT community's identity and collective strength pride parades provide both a prime example of the use and a demonstration of the general meaning of the term. LGBT activists and sociologists see LGBT community-building as a counterweight to heterosexism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, sexualism, and conformist pressures that exist in the larger society. These communities generally celebrate pride, diversity, individuality, and sexuality. The LGBT community (also known as the LGBTQ+ community, GLBT community, or the gay community) is a loosely defined grouping of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other queer individuals united by a common culture and social movements.
