Queer

EOQueer

#essay, #queer, #feminism, #gender, #sexuality

The meaning of the word ‘queer’ changed over time, but also bears different meanings at the same time and even changes depending on who uses the word. I, for instance, would never say:

‘My word, you do look queer.’ (Youtube)

But in 1922, ‘queer’ in this context meant: ‘my word, you look unwell’ (Youtube). And was repeated as many as 12 times in a comic monologue written by Bert Lee and R.P. Weston.

When I look up the word ‘queer’ in the 1828 Merriam Webster Dictionary, it comes up with: Odd; singular; hence, whimsical.This was before 1840, the year the word ‘queer’ was used for the first time to refer to a gay person, by John Douglas, 9th Marquess of Queensberry. (Autostraddle)

In today’s version of the Merriam Webster dictionary, ‘queer’ fills no less than 2 pages. ‘Queer’ as meaning odd, strange, nauseous,... However, most young people will now associate the word ‘queer’ with gender identity. Or, as Merriam Webster puts it; ‘of, relating to, or being a person whose sexual orientation is not heterosexual and/or whose gender identity is not cisgender.’ It is different to relate to another person as ‘queer’, because the word can become a slur. Hence, my hesitation with the first sentence.

The first time I saw someone relate to themselves as ‘queer’ was on Instagram. It must have been 8 years ago, in fact I think it was the hashtag ‘queer’, used by one of my college friends.

I am a cis gendered, heterosexual, she/her person. Words that are relatively new to me. And it was this week that I, for the first time, saw this description in an Instagram bio. Gender or sexuality is something that I never had to think about.

It is like the perfectly fitted jeans, one that does not leave marks on my skin. So you almost forget you are wearing anything. But for some, these one-size-fit-all, mass produced jeans do not fit that well, they need a slight alteration. In an article by ‘One World’, Anne de Hooge states that: ‘The word “queer” can be used as a, fuck you, to the norm.’ That makes me think, not for the first time, who am I to write about ‘queer’.

Am I like a white middle aged man writing about Feminism?

To label yourself ‘queer’ can be positive. ‘Some sources trace the first adoption of “queer”, as a positive self-label, to the group Queer Nation, founded in the early 1990s as a radical organisation to combat violance agains homosexuals. By co-opting the word “queer,” QN claims, they have disarmed homophobes.’ (Colombia) I read an article from NPR, in which it is debated if it is appropriate to use the word ‘queer’ in their reporting. Mallory Yu, a producer for All Things Considered, states: ‘In terms of reporting, I think it’s really important to not use the word “queer” when someone does not identify that way.’

Does this make it wrong for me to write this piece?

I listened to the Good Point podcast, where Jeremy Bayley and Rafael Roosendael talked about the position of women in the Art World. Rafael, obviously uncomfortable at the end of the conversation, asks:

Rafael: ‘Did I say anything offensive?’ Jeremy: ‘In the last thing?’

Rafael: ‘Yeah I wonder because it is such ahh... it is not my cup of tea.’

Jeremy: ‘The most offensive thing you can do is be uncomfortable with a conversation (...)’

Rafael: ‘I agree with you in theory. But it seems when you take part in a conversation, you are also taking a risk. If you’re quiet you’re not taking that risk.’

https://ap.lc/e5rlR Youtube, S. Holloway written by B. Lee and R.P. Weston: https://ap.lc/GIUVR Merriam Webster: https://ap.lc/CGXvF Autostraddle: https://ap.lc/oBEH3 Merian Webster: https://ap.lc/Ewaq4 Columbia Journalism Review: https://ap.lc/bda06 One World: https://ap.lc/CAGkz NPR: https://ap.lc/CviaS Good Point Podcast: