I know this thread isn't really adult but i'm playing it safe.
Anyways, I was wondering if people find the word 'Queer' to be a derogatory term?
I only asked because I was looking on Facebook today and I found a group called 'Brighton Queers Against Cuts' but I just couldn't help but think 'Queers' was the wrong word to be used...
So what do you think? Is it derogatory? Or is it fine to use in some terms?
Queer has been reasonably successfully reclaimed by the gay community. By embracing the word (and to some extent its connotations) they have managed to at least lesson the previous meaning and use it for their own, more positive, purposes.
Although that's looking at it from an academic standpoint. I'm not gay, nor do I think I've ever used the word queer to mean anything negative. If I ever do use it, it would be in context of something being odd or strange.
I have homosexual tendencies and personally don't like it and wouldn't use it. It depends on context as to whether I'd find it offensive though; mostly I don't think I would. I've been watching The Wire recently, and it seems similar to the way the young African-Americans refer to each other as 'Nigger' in an almost affectionate way. As a white person, I couldn't call somebody that (it's not a word I'd ever use anyway) but within that social group it's a friendly term. 'Queer' is used in a similar way I think.
Last edited by Leni : 08-08-2012 at 05:33 PM.
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As far as I'm aware it has very much been reclaimed by the LGBT community, and is often used in organisation names. It's not a word I would use to describe myself though, I'm not sure why.
I dont think its a derogatory word when the gay community use it. But I do thing it can be derogatory when others use it in a negitive way.
Just out of interest, do jokes work in the same way? Like a blonde making a blonde joke, an Irishman making sweeping statements about the Irish, a self-harmer making self-harm jokes?
Because to me, words and words and we as a society imbue them with certain meaning and connotations that they don't necessarily have to hold. Words change, and they can change fairly often. Words like 'stalk' and 'rape' have entered into almost daily usage for some people, and whilst still keeping their traditional meaning, have been somewhat watered down.
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Originally Posted by squirrelspit
i think it fits into the category of 'it depends on the context in which its used'.
Yeah, I agree.
Also, The Wire is great, although sadly seemed to lose the plot by the fifth season. If you liked The Wire you should read (not watch) The Corner, as it is an amazing book.
Just out of interest, do jokes work in the same way? Like a blonde making a blonde joke, an Irishman making sweeping statements about the Irish, a self-harmer making self-harm jokes?
I think it's a matter of time. Like, blonde jokes and irish jokes are kind of legit now, and non-blonde and non-irish people can make them and people won't be offended, because there is no longer much real discrimination against blondes/Irish [gone are the days of "No dogs, no Irish" signs].
However, because there is still a lot of taboo and judgement about self-harm and homosexuality, I think there's still an element of it only being legit for self-harmers to make self harm jokes etc.
If that makes sense?
I don't know, it just seems sort of hypocritical. They obviously feel comfortable to make jokes about their condition/themselves (whether it be mental illness, physical illness, disability, skin colour, religion, nationality), but then get pissy when someone "not like them" does the exact same thing.
I suppose, would a gay person be offended by a straight person using the word queer to describe another gay person? Even if they don't have any malice behind it, or use the word in an offensive way.
I think it depend I would use the word queer to describe something that was queer or someone that did something odd
I personally wouldn't refer to someone gay as queer thats just me though
I think if you are 'queer' and want to call yourself 'queer' then it's fine!
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I understand that.
I'd never have a go at someone for using it unless it was for the wrong reasons.
The word just won't come out of my mouth personally :)
As others have said, it's been pretty well reclaimed, but 'queer' hasn't really been used as an insult that much recently? I thought it was more of an older thing. I could be wrong.
I know plenty people who positively refer to themselves at queer. And I probably hear 99% of the time, the word being used in a positive sense.
But it can still of course be used as a derogatory term!