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• The "Q" word

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“Queer.”

Today, some people hate the word while others have embraced it. In the English language, the word “queer” first meant “odd or unusual.” By the 20th century, however, the word gained an association with homosexual folks and other “sexual deviants.” It soon became a hateful slur used to degrade non-heterosexual people, especially effeminate gay males.

Then, during the gay rights movement in the latter quarter of the 20th century, the word “queer” became a reclaimed word. LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) folks took on the word as a symbol of self-empowerment and solidarity within the non-heterosexual community.

Today, the word is still controversial. People in favor of the word like the strength of a single word that encompasses a rainbow of identities that the LGBT acronym cannot fully cover, including people that identify as asexual, pansexual, intersex, two-spirit, genderqueer, BDSM (bondage/discipline, sadism/masochism) and many more. They believe it promotes unity between people that defy sex and gender norms in our society; calling it the “queer community” is a lot less awkward and a lot more inclusive than the “LGBTQPAOI etc.” community.

“Queer” has become more than just an inclusive term. For some, labels like “bisexual,” “gay,” “heterosexual” or “lesbian” don’t fully encompass a person’s sexuality. For that reason, many folks instead use “queer” to describe their sexual orientation in an effort to express their sexual fluidity or dissatisfaction with the intricate politics and stereotypes that accompany the more common sexual orientation labels.

The word has gone beyond describing sexual orientation. “Queer” has come to be used by members of the transgender community as well to describe non-traditional gender expression. “Genderqueer” is a gender identity that describes any person that feels their gender does not fit into the “man” and “woman” binary. The word has been instrumental in bringing together a community that has so far been nameless and voiceless in mainstream society.

At the same time, there are many LGBT folks who still shy away from the word because of its hateful past. Though the word seeks to empower, it only serves to bring up painful memories for some. For this reason, the word shouldn’t be tossed around casually, especially by heterosexual folks who aren’t the target of homophobia and transphobia.

A good rule of thumb is to avoid using “queer” as a noun, such as “so-and-so’s a queer.” When used as a noun, it becomes a stand-in for “person.” When used as an adjective, such as “queer community” or “queer person,” it retains a human aspect and is much more respectful. If you are not a fan of PC language or just aren’t sure about the word “queer” and its usage, it’s better to just avoid it. But if you are seeking to be a better ally to the queer community, knowing the unique history and evolution of the word “queer” is an important step.