PSA: Queer
Jun. 18th, 2010 11:38 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rm(This is an outgrowth of a comment thread I'm having with someone in their journal. If that someone is you, no worries, we're cool).
Queer (as an adjective, we will not be using the noun here) is not inherently synonymous with gay and lesbian or LGBT.1
Many LGBT people do not like or choose to use queer and/or feel it to represent something additional or instead of gay and lesbian or LGBT.
Because queer was originally a slur and not all LGBT people like to use it,2 it's generally best that straight people don't use the word unless talking about people and groups that self-identify as queer.
Queer can be considered a non-assimilationist word. Some LGBT people who are not interested in getting equal rights by proving we're just like straight people prefer the term. (This is like when I rant about how "I'm queer and you can tell and I like it that way.")
Some non-trans people who are gender non-conforming use the term or variations there of (i.e., genderqueer).
Some trans people who are additionally not straight use the term as a shorthand way of encompassing multiple identities.
Some people who would traditionally be called "bisexual" use the term to avoid the reinforcement of a binary gender dichotomy.
Some people prefer queer because it removes the separation between men and women in the LGBT community, breaks down barriers between bisexual and other orientation identities, and can be more inclusive of the T part of the LGBT (which often gets pushed aside, because oppressed groups can be crappy to each other too).
Others like it because it's only one syllable.
Additionally queer is sometimes used to encompass kink, polyamorous and other non-traditional relationship styles in a way that may or may not be related to LGBT individuals depending on the community.3
As usual, I don't speak for all LGBT or queer people, just myself and my experience of our communities. If you have questions or more to add, consider the comments a free for all. I'm particularly interested in other people's sense and connotations for the word as ongoing discussion in the original thread is revealing that they are highly varied.
1 A commenter reminds me that LGBT is just not enough these days, nor is LGBTQ, which you'll also often see. The full acronym these days often includes not just LGBT, but Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and more.
2 It's also just been brought to my attention that age may be a factor in how one reacts to queer so this PSA might seem more or less peculiar to you depending on your age.
3 Please see comments for additional discussion of this as there is disagreement on this one. It is problematic for many, and I tend to agree, although the arguments for its inclusion in queer also make a lot of sense.
ETA: Please read the comments. This is such an awesome display of diverse identities, respectful discussion about fraught issues and random people making friends I can't quite get over it. I am loving the LJ today.
Queer (as an adjective, we will not be using the noun here) is not inherently synonymous with gay and lesbian or LGBT.1
Many LGBT people do not like or choose to use queer and/or feel it to represent something additional or instead of gay and lesbian or LGBT.
Because queer was originally a slur and not all LGBT people like to use it,2 it's generally best that straight people don't use the word unless talking about people and groups that self-identify as queer.
Queer can be considered a non-assimilationist word. Some LGBT people who are not interested in getting equal rights by proving we're just like straight people prefer the term. (This is like when I rant about how "I'm queer and you can tell and I like it that way.")
Some non-trans people who are gender non-conforming use the term or variations there of (i.e., genderqueer).
Some trans people who are additionally not straight use the term as a shorthand way of encompassing multiple identities.
Some people who would traditionally be called "bisexual" use the term to avoid the reinforcement of a binary gender dichotomy.
Some people prefer queer because it removes the separation between men and women in the LGBT community, breaks down barriers between bisexual and other orientation identities, and can be more inclusive of the T part of the LGBT (which often gets pushed aside, because oppressed groups can be crappy to each other too).
Others like it because it's only one syllable.
Additionally queer is sometimes used to encompass kink, polyamorous and other non-traditional relationship styles in a way that may or may not be related to LGBT individuals depending on the community.3
As usual, I don't speak for all LGBT or queer people, just myself and my experience of our communities. If you have questions or more to add, consider the comments a free for all. I'm particularly interested in other people's sense and connotations for the word as ongoing discussion in the original thread is revealing that they are highly varied.
1 A commenter reminds me that LGBT is just not enough these days, nor is LGBTQ, which you'll also often see. The full acronym these days often includes not just LGBT, but Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and more.
2 It's also just been brought to my attention that age may be a factor in how one reacts to queer so this PSA might seem more or less peculiar to you depending on your age.
3 Please see comments for additional discussion of this as there is disagreement on this one. It is problematic for many, and I tend to agree, although the arguments for its inclusion in queer also make a lot of sense.
ETA: Please read the comments. This is such an awesome display of diverse identities, respectful discussion about fraught issues and random people making friends I can't quite get over it. I am loving the LJ today.
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no subject
Date: 2010-06-18 09:32 pm (UTC)De Humphries, member of the AGLCC Board of Directors and who also sits on the Board at the Austin Gay and Lesbian Pride Foundation (because that's not at all shady!) confirmed my suspicions about the general tensions and exclusivity of Austin Pride during the ensuing one-sided conversation about the potential threat that QueerBomb and affiliated events might pose to the "official" festivities.
Humphries stated that QueerBomb looks like nothing but empty promises. Yet she seemed defensive, and went on the offensive, adding that if "bisexuals and transvestites" want to be represented, they need to "do it themselves" and stop "pissing on our parade."
This is the former VICE PRESIDENT of the AGLCC, someone who still sits on the Board. This is a woman who is, for all intents and purposes, the public face of LGBTQI (at least business and marketing in) Austin.
Edit: I wanted to add the link to the awesome QueerBomb speech, given after the mayor declared 6/4 to be QueerBomb day.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-19 12:01 am (UTC)Also, hi, fellow possibly-queer-identified person living in Texas!
no subject
Date: 2010-06-19 12:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-19 02:12 am (UTC)I'm not loving the 96-feels-like-106 degree weather right now, but I can certainly get used to the lack of six inches of slush in February.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-19 05:48 pm (UTC)What part of Texas are you living in? It's been a crazy rainy June too, the humidity is confusing my brain. (I hope you don't mind, I have friended you.)
no subject
Date: 2010-06-19 06:10 pm (UTC)I'm in Aggieland. Which possibly makes us mortal enemies; I hear those orange folk don't get on with the maroon ones. (I have friended you back -- always good to know more people around here.)
no subject
Date: 2010-06-19 10:38 pm (UTC)(My first husband was from Aggieland, so I feel like I'm building bridges! And then my current spouse actually went to OU - horrors! - so my football cred at home is pretty much dust now. Oops)
The plant of doom I would not be so intent on uprooting, except that it reaches out to the sidewalk to stab you as you tyr to get to the front door.