Equinox Releases "LGBTQA Alphabet" Pride Video And People Are NOT Happy About It
Source – On Monday, Equinox Fitness released a short film titled “LGBTQAlphabet: Six Letters Will Never Be Enough.” In a clip of the video posted on Twitter, dancers are shown representing the definitions that make up the acronym LGBTQA.
According to the video, “A” stands for ally. However, people on Twitter were quick to point out that this is not the case. The “A” is commonly recognized to stand for agender, asexual, or aromantic. “It is so frustrating to continue to see asexuality erased from the LGBTQIA+ community,” one user responded. Another pointed out that the erasure of an entire community can be harmful. In the 5 minute short film every letter in the alphabet is given a definition as 26 different voices explain what each identity means to them.
While the video does include parts of the LGBT community that often get overlooked, such as those who identify as pansexual, overlooking the asexual community — a identity that is often discredited or erased completely — has many people jumping to correct the error. Equinox’s Executive Creative Director Liz Nolan made it clear the ad is not intended to be a “closed narrative” and hopes the film empowers people in the LGBT community. At Equinox, we want to empower everyone in the community to be proud and unapologetic about who they are and how they identify, and that goes well beyond six or even 26 letters. We’ve learned a lot from the social dialogue inspired by this work, and we want to thank those of you who spoke out to educate us and others.
I spit up my drink when I read this and I wasn’t even drinking anything. Laugh out loud funny. First it was LGB, then LGBT, then LGBTQ, now it’s the whole alphabet? Unreal. This is why we can’t have nice things. I get that equinox is pandering to their customer base (go there and you’ll understand) but this is ridiculous. For a gym that is constantly packed with gays they’re pretty out of touch. Take a look at this list:
A – Ally
B – Bisexual
C – Coming out
D – Drag
E – Exhibitionist
F – Femme
G – Gay
H – Heteroflexibile
I – Intersex
J – Justified
K – Kink
L – Lesbian
M – Masc
N – Non-binary
O – Out
P – Pansexual
Q – Queer
R – Real
S – S & M
T – Trans
U – Undecided
V – Vogue
W – Womxn
X – Xtravagant
Y – You
Z – Ze | Zir
“Real,” “Justified,” “Vogue,” “Xtravagant?” It sounds more like a Janet Jackson album than a description of gays. I’m sure this was just an attempt at inclusion but that doesn’t mean it’s not extra. Equinox needs to do less.
How about “asexuals” getting mad that they’re not on the list. First of all, relax. It’s a list made by a company whose motto is “look better naked.” Second, it’s a list about sexuality, by the very definition of your identity you exclude yourself from the conversation. That would be like me getting involved in a list for people named John. It doesn’t make sense. There’s nothing worse than people who get offended. It’s one thing to get mad at someone for being malicious. But you have to be smart enough to recognize intent. There’s merit in bringing up meaningful issues. This is not one of those issues. Pick your battles, asexuals. Let’s not place too much stock in what Equinox says.
Although Liz Nolan did make me a little nervous:
“we want to empower everyone in the community to be proud and unapologetic about who they are and how they identify, and that goes well beyond six or even 26 letters”
Do we start using numbers to identify? Because if we do I call 69, that or 420. Or maybe we use hieroglyphics, those could get dirty. Bottom line is if you get mad over something like this you’re a loser. Let’s not let equinox dictate our self worth. It’s pride month so the best thing we can do is stick together and buy shirts. Here’s the video:
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