Color me thick; or just plain stupid; but I don’t understand
why the Gay Lesbian Bi-Sexual Transgender group has added the letter “Q”; as in
“Queer”; to their organization’s name. I
am going to stick my neck out on this in the hopes that someone can explain to
me why this is a good idea. Or, even simply how did this come to pass? And, of
course, what the aim is.
“Queer”, we have been taught by the GLBT group, is the most
vulgar term that can be used to describe another person’s alternate sexual
identity. The word “queer” became the equivalent of the word “nigger”, which we
have all learned to avoid; that is if we ever used it to begin with. Then we
went from that to Negro; to African-American; to “black” and now, in some circles;
particularly the field of entertainment; nigger is back. And that confuses me
as well.
Note: I
use the words “Queer” and “Nigger” in this post because I am writing about the
words nigger and queer. I will not do as Alan Dershowitz did in his book; he used
all the ethnic slurs imaginable for every race except African-Americans; for
which he used the euphemism “the N- word” to de-note it; all while lauding his
belief as an “absolutist” on the subject of free speech. I agree with Clarence
Darrow who said that “there are too few words as it is. I think we should use
them all.” (He really did say that.
Check the court transcript if you don’t believe me.)
As to the LGBT use of the word Queer, I have the following
questions;
If Queer was so offensive to Gays and Lesbians, then for whom
is the term now appropriate; and why?
If the people who consider themselves to be “Queer” can call
refer to themselves as such, and even join an existing political lobbying group
using that term, then is it okay for others to use that term again when
describing people who live a lifestyle which may seem queer to them?
Further, if the people in this category seem queer to
themselves; as well as the LGBT group; are they bigots in the same way as the
people who used to call gay people queer because they found homosexual behavior
to be, well, queer?
This is the same conundrum many of us have faced with the
African-American use of the term nigger, nigah, nigga, etc. If such a vile word
is now simply tossed off as being a part of entertainment, then the whole
struggle to rid society of the racial prejudice which spawned the term to begin
with has all been in vain. All those people who stood up to Bull Connors and
the police dogs in Selma and Birmingham were wasting their time. Their own
grandchildren would bring back the word with pride.
Now we have the GLBT movement telling us that they have a
group of people whom they consider to be Queer. I’m wondering if this means
that they’re straight. If so then I am offended. I don’t like being referred to
as queer just because I have a different sexual identity than they do. I am
proud to be a heterosexual. Where’s my parade?
The people who were beaten at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich
Village in 1969; considered to be the birth of the Gay and Lesbian movement;
must be appalled by the re-emergence of this term.
Women are another group who have presented a conundrum of
sorts over the years. They had a big “revolution” in order to detach themselves
from the rampant sexual exploitation of the media, and now they market shirts
for women with the word “Bitch” on them. And women snap them up!
Just as I do not understand the GLBT community being willing
to go back to the term Queer; in any form; and am equally appalled by the use
of the term nigger in any of its incarnations (literature excepting); I am also
dismayed that women have been reduced more than ever to “sex objects”; enough
so that they would buy millions of these shirts. You can buy one at;
So, not only am I confused about all these things, but I
still haven’t got a clue as to why the LGBT group considers queer an acceptable
term for any group under their banner. I must be getting very old. And, finally, why do all reform movements seem
to end in some sort of insanity? Now, I just have to find a picture “queer”
enough to illustrate this post…
Addenda: 7-31-14 11:30 AM A few individuals have expressed their beliefs; in a rather crude fashion; that I am either a racist, or homophobic. I assure you that neither is the case. I feel that everyone should have the right to be called what they please. That is why we have names. But when you adopt a derogatory term which is applicable to a whole group of people who may be offended by that choice, I have to opt in favor of the most aggrieved party. That message is the intent of this post. You can put the pitchforks and torches away now, thanks!
