The
LGBT community or
GLBT community, commonly referred to as the
gay community, is a loosely defined grouping of
lesbian,
gay,
bisexual, and
transgender (
LGBT) and LGBT-supportive people, organizations, and
subcultures, united by a common
culture and
social movements. These communities generally celebrate
pride,
diversity,
individuality, and
sexuality. LGBT activists and sociologists see LGBT community-building as a counterbalance to
heterosexism,
homophobia,
biphobia,
transphobia,
sexualism, and
conformist pressures that exist in the larger society. The term
gay pride is used to express the LGBT community's identity and collective strength;
gay pride parades provide both a prime example of the use and a demonstration of the general meaning of the term. The LGBT community is diverse in political affiliation. Not all LGBT individuals consider themselves part of an LGBT community.