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Queer is queer?
2008-08-14 23:15The words queer, as I understand it, is sometimes used as an umbrella term in a sort of way such that 'queer' could be typed or said in place of LBTGQQIA, even though at least one of those Qs is standing for 'queer' already. So perhaps I have this wrong.
However, I have tonight been wondering how far its scope goes as an umbrella term? Specifically, I have been wondering what people's thoughts about how much the term queer might encompass. Would it, frex, include people who are kinky, or who identify as furry?
Working backwards to find why I am inclined to include those examples, I think what I mean when I describe sexuality as queer is a non-standard sexuality. Preferably non-standard in a way likely to meet opprobrium in the present climate, although I am not succeeding at thinking of examples of any other kind just now.
This definition is not necessarily inclusive of trans people, I think. I also think the term queer can be applied to identity, following the precedent set above to mean a non-standard identity. This still is not necessarily inclusive of all trans people but that is okay with me now because a) I no longer care, I am happy for the moment with the term as I have described it and b) not all trans people wish to be included by the word queer and I am not interested in trying to make it happen anyway. Nor anyone else.
Noted for clarity: queer as in queer sexuality is not a term which would apply to everyone who identifies as furry, I think. Although queer as in identity might.
Further note: in an earlier mental draft of this post plurality was to be used as an example of something non-standard but not queer, before I considered applying queer as a term for identity too. Now... that is seeming complicated and I am tired and not going to go into it tonight.
[Further further note: there is probably a large body of literature on the subject of this post. I have not so much as looked at it. My primary aim writing this is to set out and clarify my own thoughts.]
However, I have tonight been wondering how far its scope goes as an umbrella term? Specifically, I have been wondering what people's thoughts about how much the term queer might encompass. Would it, frex, include people who are kinky, or who identify as furry?
Working backwards to find why I am inclined to include those examples, I think what I mean when I describe sexuality as queer is a non-standard sexuality. Preferably non-standard in a way likely to meet opprobrium in the present climate, although I am not succeeding at thinking of examples of any other kind just now.
This definition is not necessarily inclusive of trans people, I think. I also think the term queer can be applied to identity, following the precedent set above to mean a non-standard identity. This still is not necessarily inclusive of all trans people but that is okay with me now because a) I no longer care, I am happy for the moment with the term as I have described it and b) not all trans people wish to be included by the word queer and I am not interested in trying to make it happen anyway. Nor anyone else.
Noted for clarity: queer as in queer sexuality is not a term which would apply to everyone who identifies as furry, I think. Although queer as in identity might.
Further note: in an earlier mental draft of this post plurality was to be used as an example of something non-standard but not queer, before I considered applying queer as a term for identity too. Now... that is seeming complicated and I am tired and not going to go into it tonight.
[Further further note: there is probably a large body of literature on the subject of this post. I have not so much as looked at it. My primary aim writing this is to set out and clarify my own thoughts.]
