Queer

[noraj]

Queer: Controversial nature of the term

The use of the term queer is not uncontroversial. Many people

and organizations, both LGBT and non-LGBT, refuse to use the

word. There are several reasons for this.

Some LGBT people disapprove of using queer as a catch-all

because they consider it offensive, derisive or self-deprecating,

given its continuous use as a form of hate speech in

English.

Other LGBT people resent the use of the word queer in this

sense because they associate it with political radicalism. They

also disagree with how the deliberate use of the epithet queer

by political radicals has played a role in dividing the LGBT

community by political opinion, class, gender, age, and so on.

The controversy about the word also marks a social and

political rift in the LGBT community between those (including

civil-rights activists) who perceive themselves as "normal"

and who wish to be seen as ordinary members of society and

those who see themselves as separate, confrontational and

not part of the ordinary social order.

Some LGBT people avoid queer because they perceive it as

faddish slang or academic jargon.

[Hawken]

Its the term lesbian/lesbianism thats appalling. Sounds dirty imo

[kimi]

Hahahahahaha! I used to feel that way too @ Hawken but I have come to realise that words are just words and it's the people who use them that give them life.

 

For a long while they've been applied to convey derogatory thoughts and that I guess has sort of influenced our perception of those words...

 

Right now, I still don't enjoy being called a Lesbian (I am in no way ashamed to identify as one, far from it). It just connotes something quite not what I would rather be associated with for now. You'd more often than not hear my refer to myself as being Homosexual or gay. All semantics if you asked me but in my head/mind, it makes a whole lot of difference.

 

Judge not! ...and thou shall not be judged :P

[Princesa]

Funny I actually prefer been cald a lesbian dan being cald homosexual, stil it's mindset

[dequeen]

I love the term "queer". In my mind when I use it, straight peeps around don't know for sure what am talking about so I like that. I've never used the term lesbian, homosexual or gay in referring to myself for the most part. I say stuff like, "i'm into girls". Lol

[Modd]

"Homosexual" is a mouthful, sounds clinical. The way you'll say "intercourse" instead of "sex". Never used it.

Lesbian is ok, not bad. Only used it once though.

"Gay" is for serious conversation or when I'm debating about such issues.

"Queer" is undefined, less boxy than "lesbian". Much better. :)

[Milad]

Only time I have come across Queer in conversation in the lgbt community is when someone is being purposely vague about their preferences due to some social justice issue they might believe in. In heterosexual conversations is just the same as gay,lesbian used as a combination to describe both male/female aspects of homosexuality.

[TeeJay]

I dislike the term "lesbian" It's in the mindset, like Princesa said. You tend to dislike the word if it was spoken of/about as a negative term by people around you.