Gay or Queer?
I'm writing this largely with copperstewart in mind. His explorations in the subject have opened up much for me to ponder about it. This is just to set out some basic concepts that may not be clear to everyone, especially the older generation of hetero people. In my experience it's been mostly older people who question our use of "queer." It may even come across as shocking to them since when they grew up it was only known as a term of abuse. A hetero gay ally asked me:
"What is the difference between 'queer' and 'gay'? I thought 'gay' was the more up-to-date word for 'queer.'"
So this was my reply to her, and I invite criticism and comments from all.
I know people who feel that the term "gay" is inadequate, since behind it is the implicit duality of gender, which they want to do away with. Actually, "queer" is the up-to-date term these days, for several reasons:
1) To begin with, since it was historically used as a derogatory word for LGBT peoples, we have Reclaimed it and turned it into a defiantly positive self-identification: to take away the power of queerphobes to use it against us, and Reclaim our own power. In this sense, using it is a consciously political act of resistance.
2) It serves as a very useful umbrella term for the entire LGBT spectrum at once, especially for individuals who are more than one of the above at a time, like trans and lesbian at the same time--"queer" covers both at once. In this sense, using it is also a political expression of LGBT solidarity--what's important is that it's a unitary word instead of a collection of separate identities.
3) More particularly, "queer" is used for a focus on blurring or demolishing traditional categories of gender and sexuality: a refusal to categorize oneself as any particular one of the queer identities, rather an identification with the conscious political position that such categories are oppressive and are better discarded. "Queer" is likely to be favored by those who refuse a definite gender not only for themselves, but also in people they are attracted to.
4) As an extension of sense 3, "genderqueer" is an increasingly popular concept nowadays, especially with the young folks who are combining, blending, and undifferentiating various sexuality and gender characteristics at the same time. Androgyny is one form of genderqueer. A more extreme version is called "genderfuck": heightening the contrast between masculine and feminine traits thrown together at the same time in the same person, in order to provoke a radical questioning of their whole premise.
Personally, I identify as a queer woman using senses 1 and 2. I'm in open dialogue with people who come at it from senses 3 and 4.
"What is the difference between 'queer' and 'gay'? I thought 'gay' was the more up-to-date word for 'queer.'"
So this was my reply to her, and I invite criticism and comments from all.
I know people who feel that the term "gay" is inadequate, since behind it is the implicit duality of gender, which they want to do away with. Actually, "queer" is the up-to-date term these days, for several reasons:
1) To begin with, since it was historically used as a derogatory word for LGBT peoples, we have Reclaimed it and turned it into a defiantly positive self-identification: to take away the power of queerphobes to use it against us, and Reclaim our own power. In this sense, using it is a consciously political act of resistance.
2) It serves as a very useful umbrella term for the entire LGBT spectrum at once, especially for individuals who are more than one of the above at a time, like trans and lesbian at the same time--"queer" covers both at once. In this sense, using it is also a political expression of LGBT solidarity--what's important is that it's a unitary word instead of a collection of separate identities.
3) More particularly, "queer" is used for a focus on blurring or demolishing traditional categories of gender and sexuality: a refusal to categorize oneself as any particular one of the queer identities, rather an identification with the conscious political position that such categories are oppressive and are better discarded. "Queer" is likely to be favored by those who refuse a definite gender not only for themselves, but also in people they are attracted to.
4) As an extension of sense 3, "genderqueer" is an increasingly popular concept nowadays, especially with the young folks who are combining, blending, and undifferentiating various sexuality and gender characteristics at the same time. Androgyny is one form of genderqueer. A more extreme version is called "genderfuck": heightening the contrast between masculine and feminine traits thrown together at the same time in the same person, in order to provoke a radical questioning of their whole premise.
Personally, I identify as a queer woman using senses 1 and 2. I'm in open dialogue with people who come at it from senses 3 and 4.