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Why do some of us sometimes call the LGBT community the "Queer Community?"

Discussion in 'Chit Chat' started by MouseKeeper, Dec 30, 2014.

  1. MouseKeeper

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    Every time I say the word "queer," I feel like I'm insulting the entire community. Some of us say that this is the "Queer Community" so that we can include everybody who isn't straight, like Asexuals, Allosexuals, Demi/Gray sexuals, Pansexuals, Autosexuals (geez, so many ones that start with 'A' no offense intended), Intersex, etc, instead of strictly homosexuals, bisexuals and transgender folks. hence LGBTQIA and so on. But why say "Queer" Community? I have a hard time saying it because "queer" was one of the insults directed towards me for not being straight, so naturally, I'll feel like I'm insulting the entire community by saying that.

    Do people within the LGBT community really use "Queer" community, or is it just straight people, or am I just dreaming? If we really do use this, and I'm not crazy, why? Thanks a bunch.
     
    #1 MouseKeeper, Dec 30, 2014
    Last edited: Dec 30, 2014
  2. SomeLeviathan

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    some people are comfortable with reclaiming "queer", some aren't.
     
  3. YuriBunny

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    Some people find it offensive; some don't.

    Personally I'd rather use LGBT+ or GSM (gender & sexual minorities).
     
  4. Gabby29

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    I just say gay people or LGBT, simple enough.
     
  5. The Virgo

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    I dont like the word queer... it feels like a slap in the face to me
     
  6. Acm

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    Some people like the word and want to reclaim it, and other people find it offensive. I'm sort of on the fence about it myself. I use LGBT instead because I know not everyone is comfortable with the word.
     
  7. stocking

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    Queer means weird

    I use it queer community sometimes but I don't like the word queer and I prefer lgbt community
     
  8. Phalange

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    I identify as queer. I don't use it for the whole community though, as I know a lot of people aren't comfortable with it.
     
  9. Pret Allez

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    LGBT is stupid and needs to die in a fire. It's difficult to say, and it's not even inclusive. Intersex and asexual people are excluded, as are people who are genderqueer but not necessarily trans. Regardless of how people feel about any particular word, we need one word that isn't made up--so no neologisms, people--to refer to the community.

    For me, queer is that word.

    And I know that some people don't like it. But I would remind them that (1) I am on your side, and I'm fighting for you, even though I don't know you, and (2) that everyone has had a terrible experience with some word. Oddly enough, in my experience the most demeaning word I've ever dealt with is "homosexual." It's completely clinical and dehumanizing, and it's almost entirely used by people who hate us. It's almost never used in an academic sense: even academics usually talk about gays or lesbians, or men who have sex with men (such as in male-bodied sexual health studies, etc).
     
  10. EDMJunkie

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    I don't like it, as its been used as a slur against me before and I view it to still be a very offensive term. I prefer using LGBT+, but if others want to use it, that's fine. Whenever I do use the word, I use it to describe something odd, peculiar, or strange.
     
  11. Burnedcloset

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    I use LGBTQ+ now. I might start using GSM.

    Queer community does sound a little intimidating....not sure why.
     
  12. C P

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    I hardly consider myself part of the community, so I couldn't really care less what is used honestly.

    With that said though, even though I've only been aware of it for a relatively short time(mostly known of gay/lgbt community), I've taken sort of a liking to the GSM community, as Yuri brought up.
     
  13. butHitlerisDead

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    Because "LGBT" stands for just "Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender" while queer colloquially means "not straight"
     
  14. ShadowSpirit26

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    I just refer to our community as the LGBT+ community.
     
  15. the haunted

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    I like the word queer and I'm glad it's being reclaimed by the LGBT+ community. I don't call us the "queer community" because I don't want anyone to think I'm being offensive. I usually just say "LGBT community."
     
  16. Miles16

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    I'm down for whatever
     
  17. gravechild

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    It also refers to gender identities, expressions, and non-traditional lifestyles, ie BDSM and polyamory. Some use it as a catch-all, others make a distinction between queer and LGBT, seeing one as more radical and political.

    I guess it depends on where you stand. I imagine more normative folk who want to be seen as "normal" and fit in would be against using it for themselves. The ones most against it seem to be gay men, since they've had it used against them before, but then... they've got one of the first two letters all to themselves.
     
  18. Rainbow Girl

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    Agreed. May I also add that someone tells you that they are queer, that's the word you use to describe them. For example if you have a friend that openly identifies as queer, when you talk about them with someone else who knows that's how they identify, you say they're queer regardless of how you feel about the word. It's the same way you wouldn't say someone is gay while knowing they identify as bi.
     
  19. resu

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    queer = weird. Some people think weird means a negative. Others think weird means different but unique (a positive). I stand with the latter, but only because I'm naturally an independent person.
     
  20. stocking

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    I've heard of people using the lgbtq so queer is in there the q also stands for questioning :slight_smile: