Gay or queer? (+)
by: Hypatia
Fri Oct 03, 2008 at 13:49:24 PM EDT

http://pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=12E5AF7891B4824BB9A79147E56E5942?diaryId=7356

( - promoted by Pam Spaulding)

This is just to set out some basic concepts that may not be clear to everyone, especially the older generation of hetero people. In my experience it's been mostly older people who question our use of "queer." It may even come across as shocking to them since when they grew up it was only known as a term of abuse. A hetero friend of mine who came of age back in the 1960s, and is a gay ally, asked me:

What is the difference between 'queer' and 'gay'? I thought 'gay' was the more up-to-date word for 'queer.'"

So this was my reply to her, and I invite criticism and comments from all.

I know people who feel that the term "gay" is inadequate, since behind it is the implicit duality of gender, which they want to do away with. Actually, "queer" is the up-to-date term these days, for several reasons: