You do you, everyone can call themselves what they like! I personally don’t like ‘queer’ as it has connotations of otherness and strangeness and I don’t like the idea that LGBT+ people are strange just for existing - we’re a natural and normal part of human variation.
That’s fair, and totally makes sense! I tend to like it as a descriptor for myself right now, because I can use queer as a catch-all that is faster and easier than “transfemme nonbinary pansexual”
We’re the same flavor of queer! I do the exact same thing. Easier than needing to clarify several different identities to the curious but well-intentioned cis-straight person I’m talking to.
I appreciate that, and you Identify however you want too.
But I want to communicate otherness and strangeness. In a world that continually tries to force cis and straight as default, I want to confront people with the reality that their assumptions are bullshit. I don’t want them to gently put it down and move on, I want to smash it with a sledgehammer.
And as bullshitty as it is to need people in this position, it provides cover for those in the closet, and those who want to fly under the radar. I’m the queer cousin. I’m the weirdo that wears skirts and makeup sometimes. I’m the one that will enforce pronouns for those who can’t for themselves.
I’m fucking weird and I love myself. Using “queer” as my label says “You can’t use this to hurt me, because it is me. You can love my weird too, or take a fuckin’ hike.”
And as long as this weirdo is normal in their life, they can get used to it, and then it won’t be weird anymore.
You do you, everyone can call themselves what they like! I personally don’t like ‘queer’ as it has connotations of otherness and strangeness and I don’t like the idea that LGBT+ people are strange just for existing - we’re a natural and normal part of human variation.
Given my experience with “normal” people, I would rather be strange.
It’s normal to be different.
I feel that so hard
That’s fair, and totally makes sense! I tend to like it as a descriptor for myself right now, because I can use queer as a catch-all that is faster and easier than “transfemme nonbinary pansexual”
We’re the same flavor of queer! I do the exact same thing. Easier than needing to clarify several different identities to the curious but well-intentioned cis-straight person I’m talking to.
I just say “I’m nonbinary” lol, or LGBT+ if I need to be vague
I appreciate that, and you Identify however you want too.
But I want to communicate otherness and strangeness. In a world that continually tries to force cis and straight as default, I want to confront people with the reality that their assumptions are bullshit. I don’t want them to gently put it down and move on, I want to smash it with a sledgehammer.
And as bullshitty as it is to need people in this position, it provides cover for those in the closet, and those who want to fly under the radar. I’m the queer cousin. I’m the weirdo that wears skirts and makeup sometimes. I’m the one that will enforce pronouns for those who can’t for themselves.
I’m fucking weird and I love myself. Using “queer” as my label says “You can’t use this to hurt me, because it is me. You can love my weird too, or take a fuckin’ hike.”
And as long as this weirdo is normal in their life, they can get used to it, and then it won’t be weird anymore.