Comments on: We’re queer. Are you offended?

By: amberglow

amberglow — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 04:50:22 +0000

it’s context, but it’s also generational–many older guys do not ever ever want to hear it. “queer” was more common than “fag” for a long time as an insult, and not many people use “fag” positively at all even to this day. “queer” holds the same position in many older people’s minds–it can’t be redeemed due to decades of having it flung.

great blog!

By: Jen Burke

Jen Burke — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 21:26:33 +0000

Casey, excellent point on this issue (which I forgot to consider, which perhaps indicates something about my geography and what I’ve grown accustom to taking for granted): “while gay basically is a less clinical form of referencing the homosexual orientation, queer has political, radical implications which many gay individuals do not believe in and donâ€™t want to be associated with.” I know that I’ll start emailing with a friend asking, “What list of definitions and beliefs go with the word ‘gay’ and which ones for the word ‘queer’?” I’ll open that thread here to anyone who’s interested.

By: Casey

Casey — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 21:13:32 +0000

I think context is also a consideration in terms of geography. On the coasts or in urban settings, queer is more innocuous, but away from these areas, it is almost universally still imbued with its original meaning, of strange, odd, and somehow undesirable, at the same time as it references sexual orientation. As such, it can’t help but be derogatory, and people from these regions are very much aware of that. Alternatively, while gay basically is a less clinical form of referencing the homosexual orientation, queer has political, radical implications which many gay individuals do not believe in and don’t want to be associated with. Just my two cents.

By: Jen Burke

Jen Burke — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 20:33:10 +0000

Hi Dawn and Josh, thanks for your comments. Context is all, no? Someone can call me “gay” or “queer,” and the tone and actions will determine whether I think I was insulted or the victim of discrimination. I embrace the word “queer” as much as the term “dyke” in relation to my identity, but certainly someone screaming either one hatefully from a car is going to turn my stomach.

I think for many folks, particularly for those who have trauma associated with the word, certain words may always be problematic. I can tell you that the word “faggot” sends chills through my spine because of my experiences associated with it, but I know some people happily use the term as a self-descriptor.

By: Josh

Josh — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 20:26:50 +0000

It is all in how you say it and who says it pretty much. If someone were to come up to me and call me queer, I don’t think I would really react much though. I might give a slight bow and say “Thank you.” People would would go by and call me a !@$*& queer, well they are the ones who might bother me. I think queer and gay are just becoming the same two words. It seriously used to be a word if someone says “Them queer people.” it would be offensive. Well that is probably because ‘queer’ means something that is weird, not right or normal. But anybody who is anyone knows that queer is as normal as a birthmark. You don’t choose that birthmark, you don’t choose to be gay. You can hide it, but it isn’t going away. There is my input.

By: daily dose of queer » Welcome to Washington Blade Online Readers

daily dose of queer » Welcome to Washington Blade Online Readers — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 18:30:14 +0000

[...] Welcome to all who arrived at Daily Dose of Queer from today’s Washington Blade BlogWatch link to Weâ€™re queer. Are you offended? We hope you’ll stick around for a while and browse through some of our categories or most popular posts. [...]

By: ~Dawn

~Dawn — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 18:23:15 +0000

It’s all about context for me. If you are shouting at me or have other abusive language in the article, then yes, I will take offense. If you are describing someone or a group, I don’t have any troubles