What does “alphabet mafia” mean?
“Alphabet mafia” is a derogatory slang term for LGBTQ+ people. The “alphabet” part of the name refers to the letters in the acronym “LGBTQIA+” (and its variations) that describe the different sexual, gender, and romantic identities within the queer community. “Mafia” refers to the perceived notion by some that LGBTQ+ people and their allies use aggressive tactics to pressure individuals or organizations into adopting their values. The term was originally meant to be condescending, derogatory, or just plain homophobic, but has been reclaimed by LGBTQ+ people as a funny and ironic label. In some cases, “alphabet mafia” is used by queer content creators to avoid having posts about innocuous LGBTQ+ content restricted or shadow-banned on social media sites under the guise of “content moderation.” “Alphabet mafia” may also sometimes be used as a criticism (from within and outside of the LGBTQ+ community) for the way the “LGBTQ+” acronym seems to be constantly changing and getting longer. Meet the wikiHow Expert Mira Lazine is a journalist who specializes in LGBTQ+ issues, politics, science, and more. She’s been featured in outlets including The Washington Post and The Advocate.
Is “alphabet mafia” offensive?
“Alphabet mafia” is negative when used by non-LGBTQ+ people in a derogatory way. “The term “alphabet mafia” originated initially as a right-wing insult against the queer community,” says Lazine. “[It emerged] as an anti-queer critique of the LGBTQ+ acronym for containing ‘too many letters,’ especially as more identities were added.” While the acronyms LGBTQ+ or LGBTQIA+ are meant to reflect and highlight many diverse identities, “alphabet” reduces all queer people to one condescending umbrella term (similar to how “queer” was previously used as a slur for anyone not straight or gender-normative). The term shows a lack of care, respect, or even belief in LGBTQ+ identities and is a way of “othering” queer people. “Mafia” is also belittling, as it suggests efforts by LGBTQ+ people to protect and advance their civil rights, representation, and social acceptance are aggressive, coercive, or even illegal. Many ultra-conservative commentators like Candace Owens use phrases like “We must stand up to the alphabet mafia” or “Don’t pander to the alphabet mafia” to make it sound like LGBTQ+ people are a group to work against politically. Essentially, “alphabet mafia” is a derogatory term used to erase LGBTQ+ visibility and vilify pro-LGBTQ+ values or policies. Terms like “alphabet soup” or “alphabet people” are also used this way.
However, many LGBTQ+ folks now use the term in a humorous, ironic way. “Many queer individuals online found [the term ‘alphabet mafia’] funny,” says Lazine. “[They] chose to try and reclaim it by adopting it as a point of pride. This spread throughout social media, especially on TikTok. The original usage as an insult [is] beginning to slowly slowly fade out of the public consciousness.” “However, some people do still use it as an insult,” cautions Lazine. “And some reject [its] reclaiming, given its recent use as a queerphobic insult.” By adopting the term themselves, queer folks tell homophobic and transphobic people that their efforts to erase or insult them are ineffective. It’s the same kind of humor that queer people use when they joke about “choosing” to be gay (it’s not a choice) or enacting the sinister but vague “gay agenda” (which, for the record, is not real). Some LGBTQ+ people joke that the number of years you’ve been out of the closet determines your “rank” in the mafia. For example, newly out people are privates, while those with more experience in the community are generals, colonels, captains, etc. Others identify themselves by a military title corresponding to their label in the LGBTQ+ acronym. Lesbians can be lieutenants, bisexuals can be brigadiers, etc. (This Tumblr post from user @trixicbean shares the full mafia ranks list.)
Why did people start saying “alphabet mafia”?
The term may be an antagonistic reaction to recent increases in LGBTQ+ visibility. It’s unknown when exactly “alphabet mafia” was first used. The earliest references to the term on Urban Dictionary come from December 2020. It’s likely the result of cultural changes in the past 20 or so years, which have led to increased visibility, discourse, and understanding of sexual and gender diversity. As understanding and acceptance grew, so did the LGBTQ+ acronym—and potential confusion or resentment around it. “The LGBTQIA+ acronym changes over time because many marginalized identities want to be included more explicitly beyond the +, [which can] be seen as … dismissive of important identities in the community’s history,” explains Lazine. In his 2021 Netflix special The Closer, comedian Dave Chappelle said, “The rule is that no matter what you do in your artistic expression, you are never, ever, allowed to upset…the alphabet people.” The joke drew criticism for being anti-LGBTQ+, but also alludes to a wider cultural feeling within some communities that all discourse around gay and trans people must be politically correct, “or else.” The use of the term “alphabet mafia” also coincides with rising anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime rates, which have increased every year since 2022, even as overall crime trends downward. More than 1 in 5 hate crimes are motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ bias.
What does LGBTQIA+ stand for?
LGBTQIA+ means Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and more. It’s basically an umbrella term (like “queer”) to encompass all gender, sexual, and romantic identities that deviate from the straight, cisgender “norm.” Here’s a breakdown of what ech letter means: Lesbian: Women who are sexually or romantically attracted exclusively to other women. Gay: Men who are sexually or romantically attracted exclusively to other men. Bisexual: Someone who is sexually or romantically attracted to both men and women, or to more than one sex or gender. Transgender: A person whose gender identity does not correspond with the sex registered for them at birth. Queer, questioning: “Queer” is an umbrella term for LGBTQ+ people not represented by LGBT. “Questioning” refers to those who aren’t sure how they identify yet. Intersex: Individuals with variations in their sex characteristics that do not fit into the traditional binary definitions of male and female. Asexual: A person who experiences no sexual feelings, desires; or attraction to anyone. Plus (+): The “+” sign indicates identities not covered by LGBTQIA (like pansexual, gender fluid, nonbinary, Two-Spirit, and more). EXPERT TIP Mira Lazine Mira Lazine LGBTQ+ Journalist Mira Lazine is a journalist specializing in LGBTQ+ issues, politics, science, and gaming based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mira is a transfeminine writer acclaimed for providing a methodical, accurate, and investigative slant to the world of queer reporting. She has been featured in multiple outlets, including The Washington Post, Erin in the Morning, Truthout, The Advocate, LGBTQ Nation, Assigned Media, Cincinnati Citybeat, The Buckeye Flame, Autostraddle, Strange Matters Magazine, and Discover Magazine. She is a contributor to the Trans Data Library, an authoritative site documenting the actions of opponents to transgender care. She is also a contributor to journalist Erin Reed's legislation tracker, documenting pieces of LGBTQ+ related legislation as they emerge across the country. Mira attended Keystone College. Mira Lazine Mira Lazine LGBTQ+ Journalist The most recognizable terms are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. Other ones that I would say are becoming more well-known nowadays are intersex, asexual, and two-spirit. I've been seeing a lot of, especially non-profits, using an abridged version of that: LGBTQIA2S+.
Some queer people have embraced a new acronym: MOGAI. Lazine says, “The confusion [around changes to the LGBTQ+ acronym] … has led to a variety of other proposed neutral terms. One of the most popular is MOGAI, or “Marginalized Orientations, Gender Identities, and Intersex.” Some people find the term MOGAI to be more inclusive and individual-focused, while LGBTQ+ is sometimes construed to refer to the community as a whole.
More Queer Terminology
Read up on more LGBTQ+ terminology and identities. Sexual orientations and gender identities are complex and nuanced topics. If you’d like to read about more LGBTQ+ terms, check out these helpful wikiHow articles: Understanding Asexuality: What It Means & Dating Advice A Beginner's Guide to Lithosexuality (Akoisexuality) Exploring Sexual Identities: Pansexuality vs. Bisexuality The Complete Guide to Neptunic Sexuality: Definition, Flag & More What Does Uranic Sexuality Mean? How to Know if You Are Gender Fluid How to Know if You’re Pansexual What Does It Mean to Be Demiromantic? Plus, 5 Signs You Might Be How to Understand LGBT+ Terminology
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