The meaning of ‘queer’ has changed over time, from a slur to being reclaimed by some LGBT+ people, while being rejected by others. The short answer is that ‘queer’ means different things to different people.
There’re lots of reasons why people identify with ‘queer’, either individually or as an umbrella term. It encompasses a wide range of identities and doesn’t risk excluding groups that the LGBT+ acronym may leave out. Some people find queer’s ambiguity appealing since it gives a sense of community without the need for a more specific label. “You might be gay, I might be trans – but we’re both queer, and that brings us together.”
For some, using ‘queer’ also aims to be an all-inclusive unifying umbrella term. This includes people who are same-gender attracted and gender diverse, as well as other intersections and identities within our community. People like “queer” because it’s easy to say and has fewer syllables than LGBTIQIA. Queer is easier to say and remember, especially if this is all new to you.
There are some who dislike the term, mostly because it has also been used as a slur (a word people use with hate). In the 1960s onwards, people used the word queer as a weapon, usually saying it when attacking or trying to humiliate LGBT+ people. It wasn’t until the 1980s onwards when activists began to reclaim it, writing it on banners and flags when marching and protesting.
Queer (LGBT+ Glossary | MEN R US
