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Queer: What Does Queer Mean?

The document discusses the term 'queer' and what it means. It can be used as an umbrella term for the LGBT community or as a political statement advocating for fluid sexualities and genders. Younger LGBT people have reclaimed the term that was previously used as an insult. People who identify as queer face obstacles like having to explain their identity and coming out, and may experience harassment or violence.

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Raphael
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71 views

Queer: What Does Queer Mean?

The document discusses the term 'queer' and what it means. It can be used as an umbrella term for the LGBT community or as a political statement advocating for fluid sexualities and genders. Younger LGBT people have reclaimed the term that was previously used as an insult. People who identify as queer face obstacles like having to explain their identity and coming out, and may experience harassment or violence.

Uploaded by

Raphael
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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queer

What does queer mean?


Queer has been used as... :

• An umbrella term for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community.


• A political statement, as well as a sexual orientation, which advocates breaking binary thinking by
recognizing both sexual orientation and gender identity as potentially fluid.
• A simple label to explain a complex set of non-normative sexualities, genders, and behaviors. It is an
alternative to more static identity categories, such as “gay.”

Isn’t queer an insult?


For many years, the term queer has been used as an insult to refer to anyone who is seen outside of society’s
heterosexual and/or gender “norms” as strange. In response, many LGBT people of earlier generations do not
feel comfortable identifying with queer. In recent years, queer has been reclaimed, most commonly, by young-
er members of the LGBT community.

What are some of the obstacles faced by people who identify as queer?
Queer people face the same obstacles as any group that does not conform to society’s gender/sex expectations
or to society’s standards for what is “normal” sexual behavior. Since queer people often identify outside of nor-
mative identity categories, they often have to explain their identities to others. Like people who identify as les-
bian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, they may have to go through a “coming out” process to family and friends,
risking rejection or lack of understanding. There are also many incidences where queer people are treated with
suspicion, harassed in public spaces, and/or face physical violence.

How can I be respectful of queer people?


• Educate yourself further about queer people and issues important to queer communities.
• It is important to avoid making assumptions about the sexuality or gender of others.
• Seek awareness of your sexual orientation and gender identity and the things you may have always
taken for granted about it, particularly if you’ve always considered yours to be “the norm” (See Het-
erosexuality Questionnaire & Cisgender Questionnaire).
• Respect the confidentiality of queer people. Seek consent with an individual before revealing their
identity to others - you could be “outing” them to a person or community that does not know that they
are queer.

Where can I find more information?


• Most libraries have extensive sections dedicated to LGBTQ communities, histories, and issues. An-
namarie Jagose’s Queer Theory: An Introduction is a good book to begin with when studying queer
theory. Authors such as Kate Bornstein (My Gender Workbook) and Leslie Feinberg (Transgender
Warrior: Making History From Joan of Arc to RuPaul) write about transgender history and gender
issues.
• Search out your local LGBTIQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer) center and
inquire about what they are working on regarding transgender or LGBQ issues in your area, ask them
questions, and use their resources.
Resources:

Fear of Queer Planet: Queer Politics and Social Deaf Gay and Lesbian Center
Theory www.dcara.org (look for the DGLC Link)
Edited by Michael Warner
Queer Cultural Center
Queer Crips: Disabled Gay Men and Their Sto- www.queerculturalcenter.org
ries
Edited by Bob Guter and John R. Killacky QueerTheory.org
Visual and textual resource on queer culture,
Female Masculinity queer theory, queer studies, gender studies,
By Judith Halberstam and related fields.
www.queertheory.org
Exile and Pride
By Eli Clare

Disidentifications: Queers of Color and the Performance of Politics


By Jose Esteban Munoz

GLBT Historical Society


http://www.glbthistory.org/

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