What does LGBT Stand For?

Tucsonans came out to Coyote Moon on Friday, June 26 and IBT’s on Sunday, June 28 to commemorate Pride, the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots and the birth of the modern LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) rights movement, as well as to help this free weekly publication to be able to continue to operate during these very trying, economic times, as it has for more than 32 years.

Needed funds were raised for The Observer and the owners and publishers, Mr. Bob Ellis and Mr. Gary Clark to be able to continue providing the local information and news, something for a period of time was questionable because of the current fiscal circumstances and the loss of advertising.

Thanks to many individuals, lead by the indomitable Natalie Perry, the outpouring of financial, community and most important, heartfelt support was overwhelming and appreciated by Mr. Ellis and Mr. Clark, but Mark Kerr, the Managing Editor and those in attendance at both events, so to the Observer Benefit Committee and the sponsors, a big thank you to all for this effort to save a venerable institution, a free, weekly publication for the LGBT community, one of this nation’s oldest, has received the support needed for the interim.

This effort, especially during IBT’s event on Sunday, June 28, raised another question.

During a conversation, Miss Ajia Simone, Tucson’s “Black Cat,” asked why “didn’t Tucson’s community hold more events and benefits like this these days, especially with all that’s going on?”

Ajia’s question was a pertinent one, since she added that it had been several years since performing at IBT’s and added that Tucson’s LGBT bar owners had met on a regular, periodic basis to plan such events.
This point could also be posed towards Tucson’s LGBT groups, organizations and Tucson’s LGBT community itself?

Does Tucson’s LGBT community still stand for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender or does it stand for linking, gaming, blogging, twitterizing-texters.

Has the community become either so assimilated thanks to the accomplishments made year’s ago in the area of rights on the local level that it has become apathetic as time has passed and that LGBT doesn’t mean anything, anymore?

Perhaps it’s just the ecomony and despite the news accounts, studies and reports, the LGBT community here in Tucson just doesn’t have the money to spend?

So what does then LGBT stand for?