What it means to be queer – Meaning and when this concept of sexual and gender identity is used

Since its appearance in the 18th century, the english word queer has had a negative connotation, since it was used to label all those people who were not recognized as men or women. But, in addition, the term referred to the cheater, the black sheep, the weirdo, the drunk or the thief. The use of the word queer spread to classify effeminate men and masculine women, that is, to name those people who escaped heterosexuality. However, in the two centuries that followed, the word queer radically changed its concept. It was in the 1980s when these groups began to call themselves queer, making the word a tool of social repression for become a pride, a flag and a revolutionary act. Through the term queer, all those boundaries of what is “politically correct” or what is socially accepted are crossed.

Being queer means being a person who lives without labels, without having to define oneself by a sexual taste or a specific gender. Through the term genderqueer, gender identity is described or defined, which is different from heterosexual or cisgender, which is why many people use the concept of queer or genderqueer to identify themselves outside of the traditional gender binary that we use in society, or what we commonly call man and woman.

Adding the “Q” to the LGTBI acronym has been a great step for queers or non-binary people, but so has its flag, through which all those people who They do not identify with a specific gender and seek to break with the roles traditional. Through the colors of the flag (purple, white and green), neutrality, non-binary genders and those who do not fit as men or women are represented.

Queer theory is one that is thought about sexual dissidence, or what is the same, in the deconstruction of stigmatized and traditional identities. Through the queer concept, all sexual orientations and gender identities are defended, since it is considered that defining oneself as straight, man or woman, is nothing more than a social construction. The idea of ​​queer theory is to eliminate certain roles and replace them with all those ways of living sexuality. This theory was born to defend the rights of those considered “deviant”, as the term itself indicates, so the queer concept rejects the classifications of people according to universal labels or categories. In this way, the concept tries to accommodate any transgressive person who is not protected, recognized or welcomed by more traditional perspectives, without taking into account sex, ethnicity, social class, etc.

queer theory was born as a result of women’s studies, homosexuality and feminist theories, which is why it is considered a postmodern and poststructuralist sociological theory. Although the term was seen as something negative, it was not until 1991 when the term was first used to refer to a way of thinking that does not respond to heterosexuality, heteronormativity or the gender binary. Simultaneously, while this theory was being studied and reflected on, a strong movement of struggle took place towards the recognition of other gender identities and sexual orientations, which ended up giving the place that corresponds to the term queer.

If we talk about queer relationships we are referring to all those people who identify with this concept, moving away from heterosexuality. The term queer is used precisely to express that Sexuality and gender can be complicated, not 100% defined, or change Over time, you may not even feel like you fit into one identity or another, so the type of relationships will be diverse. The term queer claims love for everyone, without discrimination, releasing desire and feelings from what is traditionally established, with the aim of saying goodbye to the social phobias that people commonly have towards people with different thoughts, feelings or tastes.

All non-binary people are genderqueer, but not all genderqueer people are non-binary. What does this mean? Well then, Non-binary people are those who reject binary terms, that is, the gender or category with which people are commonly classified: male or female. In this sense, non-binary people rule out establishing labels at the moment in which they feel recognized aspects of both genders in their identity, regardless of how they were born. The Genderqueer are those who feel disagreement and rejection of the binary term.However, they are defined with other genders such as bigender, androgynous or pangender.

The main difference is a question of identity, not sexual orientation, because the latter concept is about who you want to have sexual-affective relationships with and not about what you identify with. The queer concept aims to end traditional social labels, to give rise to another type of classification with which you can feel more identified.

If you want to tell your family that you are queer, gay, lesbian or any other term that encompasses sexualities and genders, don’t miss this unCOMO article on How to tell my parents that I am gay. We provide you with a series of tips so that you can express yourself freely.

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