"LGBT" and the way the acronym is typically used, to me, implies near total equivalence to all four identities/realities/categories.

the difficulty I have with that statement is that it's darned close to the Arovoisis position of saying that there's a descending order of leigitimacy. Primacy is given, of course, to Gay, where gay = gay men. Then lesbian because they're kindo of like gay men, but only women. Then bisexuals, who are really heteros trying to have it both ways  and then we get into the really wacko people who are always trying to gatecrash and spoil our party.

that is probably not what you mean, but I've read so much on the ENDA kerfuffle that when I see statements like that, I invariably see it followed by that sort of reasoning, even if it's put diplomatically, (we call them weasel-words here aka bullshit). I've come to associate them, so pardon if I sound like I'm bristling a bit but I'm not sure where you're taking it.

I don't know what "coming out" is like for a gay person in America, but I don't imagine that the fear and sheer emotional turmoil associated with telling your parents and those who are close to you is any different. I don't imagine the pain of having your sister screaming at you that you'd be better off dead is any different.

I could write more. Much much more. We earned our place on the bus. How dare anybody, how dare you say there is no T in Gay !!!

keep to the Fen Causeway