Language describing LGBTQ+ people has shifted and evolved over time. By the 1970's, the word gay largely replaced the word homosexual, and the acronym GLBT was used in the gay rights movement. However, gay and lesbian rights groups often acted independently, focusing on different priorities informed by their gendered experiences.
In the 1980's, the AIDS crisis changed this dynamic. Many lesbian women became caregivers to gay men who contracted HIV/AIDS by providing shelter, donating blood, and nursing the sick, particularly helping those who did not have family support systems to turn to.
The acronym shifted, placing lesbians at the forefront of the LGBTQ+ community in recognition of this service and solidarity.