by Joe Kort, MSW copyright
2004
>>
Download in
PDF format
When I was
a young boy, degrading, humiliating names like “faggot” and
“queer” were hurled at me repeatedly. Today, younger kids
and teenagers use the word "gay" to degrade and humiliate
others. "That is so gay!" you can hear in school corridors
and in the malls. It’s reminiscent of slang expressions
like, "I Jewed him down," or "I was gypped.” These verbs
have become so overused that people use them without even
knowing where they originated or how it offends people.
Today,
however, we see the word "queer," once a pejorative, often
being used in a positive way. Dozens of books and articles
are getting published with Queer in their titles, and the
term has come into common, affirmative usage by lesbians and
gays as well. Originally, the adjective “homosexual” was
mostly derogatory or pathological, as in calling someone a
"known homosexual." Today’s "homosexuals" don’t want to own
that title, because its negative connotations remind us of
the bad old days. The “sexual” part of the word reflected
the homophobic belief that homosexuality is primarily or
“only” about sex, which it isn't.
The labels
“gay” and “lesbian” were therefore adopted, to the extent
that today’s reparative therapies often refuse to use the
word "gay" because of its affirmative connotation!
Then
bisexuals were included. These days—again, removing “sex”
from the word—the politically correct term would be “bi-attractional.”
Gay
culture then adopted the acronym GLB to welcome in bi-attractionals.
Next to come on board was “transgendered,” an umbrella term
for drag queens, drag kings, transvestites and pre-and
post-op sex reassignment individuals; and so the acronym
changed to GLBT. When those questioning their orientation
came into the fold, the acronym expanded again to GLBTQ.
As a
result of the addition of letters maybe it all just seemed
to much and the best letter for us is just "Q" for Queer. We
see it in the media "Queer as Folk" on Showtime and now the
hysterically funny and well done "Queer Eye on the Straight
Guy.”
I have to
admit I still cringe when I hear the word queer. It takes me
back to the playground where I was made fun of and put down.
However, I am getting used to it as it is used more and
more. When in relationship with someone "queer" my judgment
is the best thing to do is to ask them how do they self
identify and what would they like to be called. I prefer to
be called gay. That is how I self-identify. How do you
self-identify?
