LGBT (1991, 1992); London's "Daily Express" & Big Apple Whores (6-25-05)

[Arnold M. Zwicky]

On Jun 28, 2005, at 10:40 AM, Barry Popik wrote:

> LGBT
> ...
> Can anyone beat Grant Barrett's 1991 for LGBT or LGBTQ? Google
> Groups seems to take it back to 1992 at best...Why isn't it the
> more alphabetically ordered BGLT? Would that be bacon, guava,
> lettuce, tomato?

there are three questions here: the ordering of initials, in
particular whether it's GL or LG; the inclusion of B (always after B
and L, i believe); the inclusion of T (always after B, i believe).
(Q is an even later addition.)

GL and LG (as in NOGLSTP, the National Organization of Gay and
Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals) certainly go back
before 1992.  So do GLB and LGB (as in the Ohio State AGLBFS,  the
Association of Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Faculty and Staff).  i'm
not sure when the ordering of L before G, so as not to put gay men in
the position of greatest prominence, started.  the addition of T
might actually be since 1992.

campus diversity offices and groups would be a good place to look.
i'll forward this query to a friend who runs an LGBT office, in the
hope that she knows where some of the history might be found.

arnold