What do you think of the term "Queer"

I still dislike it. Regardless of the history it doesn't make sense to use what mainstream society considers a undeniably negative word as a title for ourselves.

 

I honestly like it because it’s easier saying “LGBT” and I get uncomfortable saying “gay” or “lesbian” talking about things like dating because it leaves out pan and bi women. Especially since the person who I go to the most for support and advice in real life about all of this is a pan woman in a lesbian marriage. That’s made me not want to use exclusionary language.

If there were another word that encompassed our whole community that was easy to say, that’s be great. I get that it makes some people uncomfortable though. I try to not use it if I know it bothers someone.

 

Still doesn't work for me. I've heard many people talk about reclaiming the word and using various arguments to support the notion of reclaiming, but none of them have been compelling enough to persuade me that it's anything other than offensive and derogatory. I remain of the opinion that using the word justifies it in the mind of idiots who would use it against us.

 

I personally like the word queer and use it a lot to self-refer when I do not want to have to go through the trouble of having to explain my sexuality.

I understand why some people don't like it, especially if the word was once used against them but I think nowadays the word "queer" allow people to label themselves as non-hetetonormative without having to fit any of the main labels (which may or may not fully suit some people).

Also I haven't heard anyone use queer as an insult at all in recent years and I feel it's partly because the word has been reclaimed so queer can't really be seen as an insult by people who identify with it? I wouldn't find someone calling me queer insulting but factual for example.

 

I'm a fan, personally. For some reason, it feels more "open", than many other words.

Words like "gay" can sometimes come across like they're more about who you want a relationship or sex with.
Queer almost feels like it means "proudly an outsider in some ways". Almost an invitation to get to know more.

Then again, that's what it's mostly down to, isn't it? The immediate emotional reaction you have to a word. And a lot of that comes from your background.
I'm not a native English speaker. So I was never exposed to the original negative connotations. When I first heard the word, it was already in its "reclaimed" use. As opposed to "gay", it's also not something you could use as a slur in my native Dutch.

So it makes sense that it evokes different reactions with different people.

 

I learnt the word "queer" as of-suspicious character or strange before I learnt of it's usage in the LGBT community. That's one major reason why, while I use the word here on EC, I don't like to use it outside anywhere else.

 

Tbh i never use it, not really a fan of the way it sounds.

 

It speaks for the voiceless

 

I've been called that in both a derogatory and complimentary way. Personally I don't use it myself in conversation but neither am I offended if others use it. I suppose it depends on how the term is used.

 

I actually think that's what I am. Still thinking about it, I've not made a decision yet, but queer will probably replace bisexual for me in the future. I really don't like the word bisexual. And I'm not gay. And I don't fit in boxes. And I have no desire to fit in them.

I think queer is not a synonym for LGBT+ though.

Queer for me also means 'not interested in adapting as much as possible to the heteronormative world around me, taking the right to be myself as much as possible, of course with respect to the people and world around me'.

I think lots of LGBT+ people do want to fit in the heteronormative society as much as they possibly can. I can imagine those people do not want to be called queer.

 

Wow, I hadn't realized there would be such split opinions about this question. I've only ever heard the word used by people using it to describe themselves, never as an insult, so my gut reaction to the word is positive as well. It seems like different peoples' personal experiences with the word are very divergent.

 

I love it. I love that the word is being reclaimed and 100% support that. For me it’s in inclusive word that represents more than just sexuality but also a political identity. For me being queer is a way of life that strongly resonates with me.

 

I still don’t understand exactly what it means..

 

i really dont care either way. i choose personally not to use it, just because a part of me feels bad about using any slur at all, even if it "applies" to me. i understand that some people want to reclaim it and have, it just makes me kind of uncomfortable. i dont mind too much if other people use it, though. (as long as its not in a insulting way)

my experiences with the word have always been negative, so thats probably why i think about it in a negative way.

 

I'm in my 40s, I'm sure when I was at school especially middle school age 11 to 13 the word queer was often used more than other terms.
While I was closeted I didn't give any of the terms much thought. But now I'm out and mix with the community it has got me thinking.
I said to my dad oh I went to my LGBTQ group, he didn't seem to know what it meant, his mid 70s so I literally had to spell it out!
The word queer a few people at groups I go to identify as queer. I've always been uncomfortable with the term and prefer gay. But my view is slipping and I quite like the term now.
No labels are easy for me. But I was closeted till age 42 and it's been a steep learning curve but what an amazing, liberating journey I've had!

 

I like the word queer because it put us all together. Unity is strength, divided we fall.