Label queens
Are you queer? Bent? Camp as Christmas? Or is our ever-evolving GLBTIQ acronym more to your liking?
Labels, labels, labels. Tedium much?
Recently I noticed someone suggest we embrace the word ‘homosexual’ if we want to ‘cry for rights’ based on this being the ‘legally defendable’ definition. Yet I wonder how polarised labels might help. Homosexuality was once illegal. By this logic, what terms should our predecessors have used? Big girl’s blouse? Friends of Dorothy?
Back in school, seems I wasn’t quite as butch as I’d figured. Like most, I copped pansy, fag, queer, and sissy boy. Some are opposed to the use of queer for this reason, while others opine it implies the opposite of normal. But what is normal? And don’t we immobilise an insult by making it our own?
Nowadays, I’m a proud pansy. Besides, ‘homosexual’ is so clinical. Where’s the fun in that?
Kids are coming out younger, and are more accepting of their queer peers. As Sydney Star Observer recently reported, La Trobe University is conducting another survey for queer youth. Such studies are vital, and assist with anti-discriminatory policies in schools.
Labels play a role in society. They simplify, categorise. But it’s shaky ground, especially as we continue to evolve culturally. Are all drag queens attention-seekers? Are all bears hairy and overweight? ’Course not. But we shouldn’t take ourselves too seriously either.
And what of those born in the wrong body? It’s not about sexual orientation for trans people, it’s about gender identify. Big difference.
It sickens me to walk up Oxford St with gender diverse friends and have gay guys or gals gawk and whisper. If you think it was rough coming out on the queer scene, spare a thought for trans kids shunned by their own community. The next time you snigger at someone who doesn’t fit your idea of the world, check out the rainbow flag and remember what those colours are supposed to represent.
Personally, I prefer ‘lizard queen’ — an awesome, queer, superfreak cloned from a mystical sorceress named Ilmatar.
Funnily enough, I don’t mind Damien either.
Cheers everyone for the comments & sorry it’s taken me a while to send back a shout-out. I’ve received some awesome feedback recently, and your comments – particularly the constructive ones – are always welcome & appreciated.
Sorry if I missed you at Fair Day. Hope to see you out and about during the silly season – come say hi.
Happy Mardi Gras! xxd
Yes this is a very good article which I believe highlights how hung up we are with labels instead of just being.
I always drop by here to read ur articles however Damian where is this weeks?
I do not intend to be a suck however this is one of the best things I have read in the “queer press” in a while. At present we do not have another umbrella term so why not queer as many other countries have been using for years now.
As I feel the article infers provided we are afforded equality why should anyone care ? Berny might tho…… he is a real gay man afterall !
lol nice one lizard queen! good on ya! can u see the music? lol
A friend told me about this and I had to have a look. Thank you to the star for running this article. As a 24yo TS female I live my life as a lesbian woman which is what I have always known to be me. I have been with my girlfriend for 3 years now.
I defy numerous gender norms and stereotypes and daily life can be a struggle. I feel education to be paramount for the wider and LBGTIQ communites and articles like this are refreshing and timely reminders to celebrate the diversity of our queer family.
Berny you are an ignorant twat. I am not even going to dignify your remarks let alone try and correct your misinformation.
Happy mardi gras!!
This is all well and good in a lovey dovey perfect world however there is nothing “”queer”” about me. I AM A GAY MAN. If it is not sexual orientation that makes transexuals that way then what is it???