"There's a lot of overlap, of course, but I think 'LGBT' is really about a coalition of communities rather than a collective group identity. When we tag each other with L, G, B, or T, it's not so much to assess one's personal identity as it is to associate a person with their primary affinity group.
"The four categories are not regarded equally either, as some letters take precedence over others. In my case, I've actually identified as each of the four - L, G, B, and T at different points in my life. But once I became "T", that overshadowed all the rest in other people's eyes. I know very well that I am primarily seen as a trans woman who happens to be a dyke, rather than a dyke who happens to be trans."
-- Lish (commenter at Pam's House Blend), 2009-06-28