Moderated by
Lisa Meighan, BSc Psychology (Honours)
Counselor
Hello, I am Lisa and I work in a person-centred approach mixed with cognitive behavioural therapy. I believe we all have the potential to be the best we can be.
Top Rated Answers
Anonymous
December 4th, 2016 5:05pm
The definition of Queer is 'different'. These days, however, it is usually used to describe a LGBT+ member.
Technically, it means this:
1) An umbrella term sometimes used by LGBTQA people to refer to the entire LGBT community. 2) An alternative that some people use to "queer" the idea of the labels and categories such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, etc. Similar to the concept of genderqueer. It is important to note that the word queer is an in-group term, and a word that can be considered offensive to some people, depending on their generation, geographic location, and relationship with the word.
Personally, I think it is important to ask someone what they mean by queer if they are identifying that way in order to be sure you don't misunderstand them.
Anonymous
July 20th, 2016 6:05pm
Being queer is another term for having an attraction to your own gender , so being gay. There is nothing wrong with this.
By definition, queer is an umbrella term for sexual and gender minorities who do not identify as cisgender or heteronormative. To identify as queer generally means to reject traditional gender identities and seek a broader, less conformist, and deliberately ambiguous alternative to the label LGBT.
If a person is queer, it means that they are either not heterosexual, or they do not conform to the gender binary. Some people may choose to label their sexuality as simply 'queer' if they don't wish to use a more specific label.
It means that you are who you are and you shouldn't let the world bend or opress you. It means you are You.
Queer was once a word that was used to identify gay men in a dishonorable fashion. But like words such as 'black' or 'colored', it now is used in a positive fashion to identify yourself as a gender that is not hetero. The world HAS moved on and being not of a hetero fashion is more and more accepted as a positive notation that a queer person is part of a growing number of other types of sexuality. As a current asexual person, I would no longer feel out of place being called 'queer'. I happily join others who embrace their sexuality and try to find a positive life within our identities!
Queer can mean anything: Homosexual, transsexual, bisexual, pansexual. It's what you want it to mean.
Queer is a term that is used to describe people who identify as something other than heterosexual (straight) or cisgender (the gender you were assigned at birth)
"Queer" is an umbrella word. It means you're not cisgender, so you're gender is not fully "girl" nor "boy", so basically "genderqueer". Some people also use it when they are talking about their sexuality, when they are not straight.
Anonymous
August 21st, 2016 7:10pm
Being queer means different things to everyone, including me. I'm a pansexual agender and proud of it and being queer makes me feel like I'm accepted for who I am, rather than who I'm not.
Queer is an umbrella term in the LGBTQ community. Because of that describes all kinds of different "non-standard" identities and orientations that fall out of the norm of usually cis-gendered and heterosexual people. It describes a whole range of different experiences and it will mean different things to different people.
So when it comes to what it MEANS to be queer, then it simply means that some (or multiple) of the terms used as a standard - be it heterosexual, male, female are not enough to describe you.
To be strange or odd. To be different than others at least depending on your definition of different or normal. Or by LGBT definition, An umbrella term sometimes used by LGBTQA people to refer to the entire LGBT community. An alternative that some people use to "queer" the idea of the labels and categories such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, etc. Similar to the concept of genderqueer. It is important to note that the word queer is an in-group term, and a word that can be considered offensive to some people, depending on their generation, geographic location, and relationship with the word.
Queer is an umbrella term used by the LGBT+ community meaning (as defined by merriam webster)
-denoting or relating to a sexual or gender identity that does not correspond to established ideas of sexuality and gender, especially heterosexual norms
Some of us within the LGBT+ community prefer to use the term queer and some don't. It's more of a term of personal preference.
It means that you simply do not fit into society's preconfigured archetypes of sexual behavior that some assume is "right". Aren't we all a little queer?
To be queer can mean a variety of things. To many it's more of an umbrella term rather than a specific sexuality. It can mean gender queer too! If you are not heterosexual , hetero romantic and cisgenger, then you are queer!
Queer just means that you're part of the LGBTQ+ community, If you identify with any sexuality on this spectrum you can call yourself Queer. (:
Anonymous
February 2nd, 2018 6:52pm
Queer is an umbrella term for all sexualities and genders. You can identify as anything you feel, and it's up to you to determine your feelings
To be queer is to identify as something other than straight or cis-gendered. This includes anything in between the binaries.
Anonymous
May 30th, 2018 3:26pm
Queer means you are naturally attracted to thr same sex, or it could mean, you are naturally attracted to anything outside of the society's norm for relationships.
Queer is an umbrella term to describe people who deviate from gender and sexuality norms. "Queer" is also political term to describe the way that LGBTQIA+ people understand the world as marginalized people. Queer is beauty, resilience, strength, and community.
Queer is an umbrella term for sexual and gender minorities who are not heterosexual or cisgender. Originally meaning "strange" or "peculiar", queer came to be used pejoratively against those with same-sex desires or relationships in the late 19th century.The meaning of 'queer' has changed a lot over the past few decades. From being a slur, to being reclaimed by some LGBT people and rejected by others, 'queer' means many different things to many different people. ... Like the word Gay used to mean “happy”, queer used to mean “strange” or “different”. Queer is a word that describes sexual and gender identities other than straight and cisgender. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people may all identify with the word queer.
It means to have an identity that is eccentric with respect to the conventional male-female gender roles. For example, gender identities like non-binary or genderfluid fall into the broader queer category. Queer has also been used with an expanded meaning, indicating all LGBTQ+ identities. It has become a quite common colloquial use.
I think of the word Queer as an umbrella term for anybody that identifies as non-heterosexual. I've heard of some people that identify as non-cisgender using the term as well. Some members of the LGBT community don't like or identify with the term Queer, so it's always best to let people label themselves and respect the ways they choose to self identify :)
Anonymous
July 23rd, 2016 1:28am
Genderqueer: A term which refers to individuals or groups who “queer” or problematize the hegemonic notions of sex, gender and desire in a given society. Genderqueer people possess identities which fall outside of the widely accepted sexual binary (i.e. "men" and "women"). Genderqueer may also refer to people who identify as both transgendered AND queer, i.e. individuals who challenge both gender and sexuality regimes and see gender identity and sexual orientation as overlapping and interconnected.
The dictionary defines queer as an umbrella term for sexual and gender minorities that are not heterosexual or not cisgender.
Anonymous
July 29th, 2016 11:11pm
It means to not be cisgender and heterosexual simultaneously. Some people think being queer also requires you to be out (like if you're trans, then you can't just pretend to be cis if you pass) and to support the LGBT+ community and have some modicum of pride in your identity.
To be queer by definition means to be odd or weird but socially it can mean to be attracted to the opposite sex or anything outside of heterosexual.
The word queer has had many meanings throughout history. Currently, being queers means not being straight or heterosexual. This includes sexual identities like bisexuality, homosexuality, asexuality, and other identities.
Anonymous
March 24th, 2017 1:08am
If you're queer that means that you aren't straight, and either don't like using a specific label for any reason (sometimes because you're questioning but know that you aren't straight- there are many reasons), or just like the word. I'm bisexual, but sometimes use the word queer to describe myself, and my friend who's asexual also uses it. It's an umbrella term for "not straight"
Related Questions: What does it mean to be Queer?
How do I come out as nonbinary?I've just come to terms with being transgender. How do I come out to my girlfriend of many years?How do I tell my boyfriend that I'm transgender?Is there any chats/groups/forums specifically for Transgender teens 18 and under?I'm love with my best friend, but she's straight. What do I do?How do I come out to my parents?How to deal with falling in love for your best (and straight) friend?How can I explain homosexuality to my parents?Hi. I’ve had trouble with my family lately. My mom says she supports me-being an enby but won’t call me by my pronouns. And got angry at me now I’m in trouble. Please help?How do I come out if I don’t even know if I am coming out as gay or bi or pan?