What does it mean to be queer? PFLAG defines the word as an umbrella term encompassing anyone who either “wants to identify as queer” or “feels somehow outside of the societal norms in regards to gender or sexuality.” So really, I suppose the question at hand should be what doesn't it mean to be queer? As we turn the corner into the second half of the decade, queer has become an ever popular signifier of otherness. It has all but replaced the constantly expanding LGBTQ+ acronym, and every day, more celebrities are using the term to define themselves, most recently rising Disney Channel star Rowan Blanchard. So where does the problem lie? Why shouldn't we celebrate the openness and changing tides of sexuality?
First, let's take a brief look at the history of the word. Aside from it's literal meaning of different or odd, queer was used as a homophobic slur from the 1920s onward. It wasn't until around the late 1980s the word was largely reclaimed (“We're here, we're queer, get used to it.”) by gay and lesbian men and women across the globe. It became a rallying cry, allowing gay people to create spaces for themselves in a time marked by the destruction of the AIDS epidemic.
As time has passed, queer has been molded and watered down to mean whatever it is needed to mean in any given context. Queer is the ultimate catch-all term. It can mean gay, or bisexual, experimental, transgender, asexual, aromantic, demisexual, “hetero-queer” is a thing now, even straight people who participate in BDSM have considered picking it up. Needless to say, queer as a label doesn't carry the same political weight it once did.
On Jan. 16 2016, Rowan Blanchard tweeted this in regards to her sexual orientation. It read, “In my life-only ever liked boys however I personally don't wanna label myself as straight gay or whateva so I am not gonna give myself labels to stick with- just existing :)” She later expanded on this, stating, “...open to liking any gender in the future is why I identify as queer.” Essentially, Blanchard is saying that she is pretty much straight. In a sense, it is good for other young people struggling with their identities to see a young woman speaking openly about her attractions, but what does this mean in a broader context? With queer widely used as both a personal identifier and a term for the community at large, confusion can arise.
Let me pose this situation: when a person who is almost straight, such as Blanchard, identifies as queer, and queer is also the label given to lesbian women, what is stopping others (read: men) from disrespecting a lesbian identity? Relationships between women are so rarely taken as legitimate as it is. “You just haven't met the right guy yet,” and “it's not real sex without penetration” are just two examples demonstrating the perceived illegitimacy of lesbian relationships. When we call lesbian women queer, (and this scenario could apply to gay men as well) we are implying a fluidity or ambiguity that is not there; a possible openness to sleeping with the opposite sex, which will eagerly be taken advantage of.
So how do we resolve this? It is my opinion that the word queer has become too trendy, too mainstream, and far too vague. What was once a radical and polarizing reclamation in the gay community is now an all-encompassing word suited to whoever. When we become so broad in our definitions, we lose our edge. We lose the heart of a counter-culture movement that has fought for us to be out and speak freely about who we love. But go ahead; if it resonates with you, identify as queer. If you want to entertain the possibility that maybe, maybe you're a little different from everyone, then be my guest. Marry the man of your dreams and adopt a dog, move into a house with a white fence and pop out 2.5 kids, you can still be queer. Queer is rapidly becoming normal. Please leave me out of it.
