This is a new one for us…

There is now a K to add to the ever-growing LGBT+ acronym – and apparently, it stands for “kink”. The acronym which has grown since the 90s, out of a need to move away from the limiting “gay community” adds letters to encompass any community that defines itself as anything but heterosexual or cisgender.

The LGBT initialism was coined in the late 80s / early 90s.

So what do all the letters mean?

L – lesbian

G – gay

B – bisexual

T – transgender

Q – queer

Q – questioning

I – intersex

A – asexual

A – agender

A – ally

C – curious

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P – pansexual

P – polysexual

F – friends and family

2 – two-spirit

K – kink

However, the addition of the K has been met with some reservation from many on the question website, Quora. Users were quick to dismiss Kink as part of the LGBT+ community.

Sarah remarked, “Call me old-fashioned, but I don’t believe that fetishes belong in the same acronym as sexualities and gender identity”.

While Caitlin added, “However, I and others believe that it shouldn’t be included in the acronym. Kink is not inherently non-cis or non-straight, and including it can feed into the stereotype of queer people being “sexual deviants”. BDSM is fine in a community of its own but it’s strange and unnecessary to include it with sexual orientations and gender identities”.

John wrote, “I’m gay, and I do not and will not use this silly LGBTQLAPK sh*t. They keep adding a silly letter for inclusion. You are just labelling yourselves, and that is a silly thing to do.”

*This article has been updated. We have become aware that this article has been used to undermine and denigrate the LGBT+ community.

Although Kink can form a part of someone’s sexual identity, is not limited to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, asexual or transgender (or gender non-conforming) experience.



The news team for THEGAYUK. Got tips? Go to www.thegayuk.com/newsdesk to tell us something.

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