Loving Fiercely: How I Resist - 6. Chapter 6: Queer is...

Another good piece. For too many of us still, queer is trying to find a way to survive in neighborhood/city/state/country that wants us dead. Growing up instinctively twisting language (as subtly as possible) into gender-neutral phrases.

You know, when I saw the title of this, I assumed it was going to be about Queer politics, or the politics of embracing a queer 'identity' in rejection of a Gay one. But wow. What a subtle and beautifully challenging thing you have done here.

You've used 'queer' as a re-captured tool of oppression (in the hands of the majority who would deny us everything), and turn it on them to say 'yes, I was perverted to buy into your ways and means of keeping me alone and isolated from others like me.' Really brilliant.

The second half was more like what I was expecting, but it was calm and cool, and not too politically pointed. 

I'll have to read this more than once. Thanks for sharing!        

3 hours ago, Fae Briona said:

Another good piece. For too many of us still, queer is trying to find a way to survive in neighborhood/city/state/country that wants us dead. Growing up instinctively twisting language (as subtly as possible) into gender-neutral phrases.

You are definitely right, Fae Brown. It's definitely assumed by, I want to say more privileged gays, that there's a rainbow on the other side when you become an adult. But that's definitely not the case for a lot of us. It was nice to write about some pleasant aspects of what being a queer person could be, while understanding this isn't really everyone's reality and we got a long way to go. 

Thank you for reading and offering feedback!

1 hour ago, AC Benus said:

You know, when I saw the title of this, I assumed it was going to be about Queer politics, or the politics of embracing a queer 'identity' in rejection of a Gay one. But wow. What a subtle and beautifully challenging thing you have done here.

 

You've used 'queer' as a re-captured tool of oppression (in the hands of the majority who would deny us everything), and turn it on them to say 'yes, I was perverted to buy into your ways and means of keeping me alone and isolated from others like me.' Really brilliant.

 

The second half was more like what I was expecting, but it was calm and cool, and not too politically pointed. 

 

I'll have to read this more than once. Thanks for sharing!        

I completely understand why that was what you were expecting. Sometimes I get so used to using queer as a blanket term for the LGB community, I forget it's use as a recaptured tool of oppression. If I can be honest, if I had more time with the piece back then, I do wonder if I would've been more inclined to expand on what queer identity is. But I do like that I did a piece that talked about shared experiences, combating the isolation we've all dealt with or continue to deal with.

You're welcome and thanks for reading!