The word 'Queer'

Damn zzzzz sounds always getting in the way of a perfectly good sexual orientation. :dry:

Just kidding. Ehm, I put queer because there is still an attraction for me, on some levels, to men. Not sexually, but... emotionally. I feel like I could go out with 'em if I wanted. Girls I just love everything about. No escape there. I know I'm a dyke, not about to deny it. But men... I don't know. I feel like I'm still figuring it all out.

I think plenty of gay gals use "lesbian". It's a rather fun word. But I identify as queer because I am both gay and kinda questioning.

Plenty of girls have their orientations as "gay" too, so. I don't really know. "Gay" is like the overbearing term. "Lesbian" only applies to gay women. And "Queer" is when you are either something different, or you like to call yourself a queer cuz that's just what you want to do. That's how I see it, at least.

Honestly, labels are kinda skin-deep.However you decide to label yourself; that's up to you. What sexuality you are born with isn't up to you. Labels are just labels. It's what's inside that counts.

 

While growing up, the only context I had for the word "queer" was in a "game" played on the playground called "smear the queer". Which mainly consisted of designating one kid the "queer", and then throwing stuff at him. Not surprisingly, I have a bit of trouble seeing "queer" as a neutral term now.

Lex

 

Yes. I do know one guy who uses the word queer, but he's interested in gender theory and stuff so only in those contexts, or as an umbrella term to cover all the LGBTetc.

I think the Q can be both queer and questioning. A lot of organizations actually use LGBTQQ. I've seen as many as 3 Qs - LGBTQQIAQ but I forgot what the third Q was for.

 

I actually thought 'Queer' meant 'Questioning', as in the individual didn't really know what sexual orientation they were, and were (like stated before) using it as an umbrella term for something.

I guess it can be quite insulting tbh, as queer can also mean 'odd' or 'peculiar', or it used to anyway. Not sure if people still use it to mean that anymore because it's associated with LGBT so much.

 

I have heard many uses for queer.

Mostly people use queer to mean that they like something else other than just the opposite sex.

I met this girl who is a lesbian but is now married to a transgender man. She just rather say she is queer than try to explain to people her feelings.

 

I've never heard anyone use the term queer where I'm from. But I'm from the midwest so that probably explains a lot.

I choose to identify as gay because well, I like the way it sounds. Not only that I always saw it as putting a slight rift in the LGBT community. Like we were splitting hairs about what kind of homosexual we were. If we're attracted to the same sex, we're gay. To both sexes, bisexual (pansexual), etc for the rest.

But that's just my $.02

 

people call me Connor Queer cus it rhymes with my second name (lucky me) and really it makes my blood boil, sorry but no, I hate the word.

 

I use queer because I don't think I'm homosexual.

 

Oddly, this song just popped up on my iPod.

[youtube]457N1m4oUZw[/youtube]

Lex

 

I dont know what it is about the word queer that bothers me but it does.
Maybe because Im thinking to literally but the words Fag, or Fagot have never really bothered me unless used offensively. Because simply, the word Fag means cigarette, and Fagot means a bundle of sticks, where as Queer mean strange or odd. I dont like be strange just for being Gay.

 

Most of the support groups here use queer as an umbrella term so it's considered neutral (to my generation at least).

I know some girls (including me sometimes) use it to get around biphobia. I have issues with girls who don't see you as a viable option unless you're a full-on lesbian. I've seen some of those girls hard out flirting with someone and then run a mile when they find out she's bi. If someone who's flirting with me asks if I'm gay or bi I usually assume that's why (why else would it matter? They know I'm not straight...) so I usually say queer out of solidarity. Even though I identify as a lesbian I'm not sure I want to date someone who wouldn't go out with me if I was bi.... so I leave things uncertain. Queer is ambiguous.

 

I personally feel a lot more comfortable describing myself as "gay" rather than "lesbian" or "queer" because...well actually, I don't know.

 

I don't really care of the term is used.

 

i think its a perfectly good term, especially when youre sure youre not straight but not really sure youre bi or gay either. its easy sometimes especially when used as an all inclusive

 

Usage of Queer that I've come across:

- Umbrella term used for the LGBTTQQI2S community. However, we still debate on how 'inclusive' and 'exclusive' the word 'queer' can be. It's also a word that had a deragotive connotation in the past and the community here is trying to reclaim that word and use it positively.

- A sexual orientation that has similar meanings to pansexual. It's basically a term to describe your orientation if you can't identify with LGBT (hence LGBTQ came about). It is distinguished from bisexual in the sense that 'queer' individuals don't identify with just being attracted males or females but a variety of gender.

 

I don't mind the word queer. I think that "LGBTQ" the Q, stands for either questioning or queer. But I don't have a preferance as to which word is used... gay just comes to mind first.

 

Personally, I'm not a fan of the word "lesbian".

And being that technically I am one...well, I just prefer "gay". I don't get why gay women and gay men need to have separate terms. I know the origin of the word lesbian, but just because it's some antiquated inside joke doesn't mean we still need to use it.

As for the word "queer", it's useful in that when you're talking about the LGBTQQIAPSwhatever community, queer is obviously shorter for conversation.

 

I like using queer because it's more than just lesbian. It can refer to gender non-conformity, being gay, bi, anything. It's a unifying term and I like the sound of it (I'm from past when queer was a rather offensive term and have only positive connotations for it). I also sometimes struggle with the connotations of 'lesbian' but use it more and more, as lesbian I've heard with more negative connotations in a negative way than I have heard queer used.

But I call myself, lesbian, queer, I prefer using the term gay. I'll even use some more derogatory terms in a non-serious fashion like 'homo' or 'dyke' for the hell of it, but not to most people other than myself.