The Versatile “Queer” - by Mekyla

    In it's origins, queer of course means “strange” or “unconventional” but the meaning of “queer” today is far less straightforward.  While reclaimed by many members of the LGBT community after its disparaging usage against non-heteronormative people, the word remains terribly offensive for some.  Not wishing to offend anyone, I sometimes feel I should avoid using the word “queer” altogether.  However, on the other hand, its continued usage in a positive way would continue to reclaim the term.  But what about this word, “queer”?  What does it mean exactly?  And how can it be used?  Besides the fun of stealing back terms that would normally be used against us, what good is the term “queer” to us?  I personally would be lost without “queer” as a word and as an identity.  To me, “queer” is useful in at least three distinct ways.  It is an umbrella term for those that deviate from gender-normative heterosexuality, a stable identity for those with an unstable sexuality or gender, and a word which has the power to instantly change one's assumptions about an individual (and I mean this in a good way).

     This first usage of the word “queer” is perhaps the most familiar.  In writing for queerPhilosophy and elsewhere, I often wish to refer to all groups of non-heteronormative individuals.  I.e., those that identity as lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, twin-spirited, transgendered, transsexual, intersexed, genderqueer, and so on.  “Queer” to some also includes polyamory and alternative rules for establishing relationships.  It often feels as if “queer” is simply the more convenient and appropriate term to use. 

    But what about other umbrella terms?  Given what I think is included in the “queer” identity, no other umbrella term I can think of is adequate.  “Lesbigay” (“LesBiGay”) obviously fails in that it only includes three labels, and these labels only address sexual orientation.  It may have it's place, but more often I wish to make reference to anyone that doesn't fit the heteronormative mold than simply those that are not heterosexual in their sexual orientation. 

    Another umbrella term, LGBTQ(etc) (the acronym string), has some obvious advantages over “lesbigay”.  It may include “trans”, and therefore isn't limited strictly to sexual orientation.  It also has a habit of growing to include new groups depending on the individual that uses it, and the groups that individual wishes to identity/include.  But there are a few things to note.  First is that, if “Q” as in “queer” is included in the acronym string, then the string can refer to any individuals that deviate from the queer-excluding social norm in terms of sexuality, gender, and relationships.  But in this case, it doesn't give exposure to these groups equally.  Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans (for example) are identified explicitly, while other groups included in “queer” may seem to have only a secondary presence.  If I felt a strong connection to a particular community, I might be bothered by this.  With this said, however, the acronym string does have the advantage of being an umbrella term that includes “queer” (and therefore any non-heteronormativity) without placing those sensitive to the word “queer” into the “queer” identity.  However, it does nothing for those that would rather not see the word used at all.

    There is another word is one I keep using, “non-heteronormative”.  I doubt very much, however, that such a relatively awkward and academic word would work its way into common usage.  “Queer” is already there.

    “Queer” as an umbrella term can refer to any one or thing that doesn't conform to the usual straight social norms in terms of sexuality, gender, and relationships.  It's an umbrella (which is sometimes needed) that's already used colloquially, and it doesn't give any particular identity special precedence.  Without “queer”, this big umbrella would be missed.

    The second way I consider “queer” to be useful is that it provides a stable identity for someone who believes their sexuality, gender, and/or relationships are more fluid.  I'm know I'm not alone as someone that has tried on a lot of different labels and identities, to see how they fit.  I would adopt these identities for a period of time, then later decide some different identities are more suitable.  I have tried straight, gay, bisexual, pansexual, transgendered, male, female, bi-gendered, and others.  While I generally relate to some identities better than others, my adoption of these identities has not been stable, and continues to be fluid.  The label or identity that has described me throughout these explorations, and continues to describe me, is “queer”.  “Queer” in this case means, “not entirely straight or normatively gendered”.

    “Queer” also remains a stable identity when all other identities relating to gender and sexual orientation are dissolved completely.  Stemming from Zen Buddhist philosophy, I have wished to no longer see myself as gay or straight, female or male, transgendered or even gendered at all.  I believe that such identities, while useful, may ultimately limit the way we are able to experience reality and relate to others.  However, it still remains useful (and accurate) to identity as “queer” if only for the purpose of finding other individuals with similar views and in similar circumstances.  Identifying as “queer” can also be a lot easier than explaining to someone that I am, for example, neither gay, bi, or straight.  This brings me to the final use of “queer”.

    The final use of “queer” is related to what's known as a “speech act” in the philosophy of language.  A speech act is a word or statement that does something more than it actually means something.  For example, if I say “I bet you five dollars I can jump over that fence”, the statement goes beyond meaning alone.  In uttering the statement, I am actually entering into an agreement with you.  Similarly, if I yell “truck!” while you're standing in the middle of the highway, my words do more than just mean “truck”.  They actually cause you to get out of the way.  Using the word “queer” can be a type of speech act as well.  Sometimes, for me, I use the word “queer” in a way that does something more than it means something.  For example, if someone makes a comment that assumes I'm a (stereo)typical straight male, I might say, “well I'm queer”.  What this does is cause the person to reconsider what s/he said and stop assuming that my gender, sexuality, or relationships conform to heteronormative standards (and it does this without necessarily confining me to the stereotypes around a more specific identity).

    Of course, depending on who you are talking to, “queer” has as much power to end assumptions of a heteronormative nature than it does to create new non-heteronormative assumptions.  Depending on my physical appearance and behaviour, my use of “queer” may encourage new assumptions about me, including perhaps a particular sexual orientation and set of interests.  However, I have often wished for someone to have those assumptions about me than a usual set of heteronormative assumptions.  And if someone knows me well enough, they will already know about my interests and the activities I enjoy, as well as many aspects of my personality.  The only areas where their assumptions are allowed to change (hopefully) pertain to those aspects of me that remain explicitly unknown (like sexual orientation and gender identity).  Although the power of “queer” is somewhat limited in this way, its use has served me well.

    “Queer” is perhaps a bit of a strange term.  Certainly its meaning has changed over the years – from strange or unusual, to being used disparagingly against non-heteronormative individuals, to (for at least some) being reclaimed as an umbrella term encompassing non-heteronormative identities.  We certainly know what “queer” is not, and so it seems to have more of a negative definition than a positive one.  This allows it to be used in the few other ways mentioned.  It provides a stable identity for those presently exploring, or those that wish to remain fluid, and it is a powerful term that can quickly change assumptions.  No matter what my gender (non)-identity, sexuality (non)-identity, and the style of relationships I wish to establish with people at a particular time, I can always remain unquestionably queer.