Queer is an umbrella term used to describe anyone who is not cisgender, straight, allosexual and/or alloromantic.[1] Queer has also become a word that creates a space for those that are othered by LGBTQ+ spaces and movements, social norms and customs, and outdated notions of gender.[2] It is sometimes used to represent that orientation and gender can be complicated, change over time, and might not neatly fit into either/or identities, such as man or woman, or gay or straight.[3]
Queer is also considered a political movement.[4] In this context, the term is used to represent resistance and rejoicing the diverse experiences of the world.[5] Due to this, it has come to replace the term "LGBTQIA+".[6]
Due to its history, it's best not to call someone else "queer" unless the individual has made it clear that they are okay with it.[3]
Etymology
Queer originated as an adjective to mean "odd," "strange," "weird," "eccentric," and "unconventional."[7]
History
The word used to be, and sometimes still is, used to put down and disrespect individuals in the LGBTQ+ community.[3] The term "queer" was used for anything that seemed odd. However, by the 1920s, some individuals, gay men in particular, began using the term to describe their attraction to the same gender. It wasn't until the 1940s that the word became derogatory to mean "sexual perverts."[8]
However, in the late 1980s, the LGBTQ+ community adopted the term as a form of pride, with the AIDS crisis and the rise of LGBTQ+ activism.[9][1] The political identity of queer emerged as a counter to the assimilation of the LGBTQ+ community into societal ideals.[10]
Flags & Symbols
The most common queer pride flag is the Chevron Queer flag. It was originally created by Tumblr user TransToken2 on October 3, 2016.[11] It was later redesigned by Tumblr user bizexuals on October 5, 2016. The chevron design and off-white background represent the inherent non-straight aspect of queer identity. The chevron is reminiscent of militaristic imagery, used to represent the radical anti-assimilation of queer identity.[12]
An older queer pride flag was designed in 2015 by user pastelmemer. The pinks and blues represent same-gender attraction, the orange and green are for non-binary individuals, and the black and white represent a-spec individuals.[13]
Another queer flag was designed by Tumblr user officialqueer. The colors were picked from the rainbow pride flag, but pastel colors were chosen to separate it from the older flag. The grey stripes in-between represent a spectrum of identifying as a broader term rather than committing to an identity, such as pan, bi or gay.[14]
A Community Queer flag was created by Cypress L. Catwell in 2022. The lavender was chosen due to its history in the queer community, and represents spirit, spirituality and healing. The blue represents inspiration and liberation, the yellow represents joy and optimism, and the orange represents energy and community.[15]
Another queer flag was created by Reddit user AldhairCL97 on the r/queer subreddit. The turquoise was chosen due to it being a dropped color from Gilbert Baker's rainbow pride flag, and the lavender was chosen due to the term lavender boy and the "Lavender Scare," in which there was a mass hunt for queer individuals in the United States government. The pink triangle was added due to its connection to the way gay men were identified during Nazi Germany.[16]
Community
Controversy
There are arguments on who is considered under the queer umbrella. In general, anyone who is cisgender, heterosexual, monogamous or anyone who does not self-identify as queer are not considered part of the queer umbrella. However, whether or not ethical non-monogamy or kink should be allowed under the queer identity is a controversial conversation. Some feel as though heterosexual individuals who are polyamorous using the term is "piggybacking off the community, and it's marginalized members, as well as years of activism."[1] Others argue that polyamory and kink are inherently queer, because they "question dominant gender, sexual and relationship norms."[10]
The term is also controversial due to its usage as a derogatory term. There is a divide between the LGBQ+ community on whether or not individuals should even be allowed to reclaim the word.[17]
Known Individuals
Representation
TV
- Jadzia Dax (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)[20]
- Julian Bashir (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)[21]
- Puen (Project S: SPIKE)[22]
- Raffi Musiker (Star Trek: Picard)[23]
Subterms
| Label | Flag | Description | Coiner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queerflexible |  [24]
|
Identifying mainly as queer, but also feeling flexible in one's identity. | Beyond MOGAI Pride Flags[24] |
Related Terms
| Label | Relationship | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cishet | Opposite | Being both cisgender and heterosexual. |
| Conformant | Opposite | Having an identity that falls into the expected societal ideas for some form of identification. |
| LGBTQ+ | Similar | An acronym used to refer to the community. |
| Gae | Similar | Being queer or being an ally. |
| GLOW | Similar | An acronym used to refer to the community. |
| GSRM | Similar | An acronym used to refer to the community. |
| MOGAI | Similar | An acronym used to refer to the community. |
| M.O.V.I.N.G - H.E.A.R.T.S. | Similar | An acronym used to refer to the community. |
| QANSTIVEM | Similar | An acronym used to refer to the community. |
| QUILTBAG | Similar | An acronym used to refer to the community. |
| SAGA | Similar | An acronym used to refer to support of the community. |
| Variant | Similar | Having an identity that does not fall into the expected societal roles or self-identification. |
Alternative Flags
-
![Queer flag without "Q" (pastelmemer)[25]](//static.wikitide.net/lgbtqidentitywiki/thumb/e/ec/Queer_3.png/120px-Queer_3.png)
Queer flag without "Q" (pastelmemer)[25] -
![Queer flag (bihetnaomi)[26]](//static.wikitide.net/lgbtqidentitywiki/thumb/b/b6/Queer_4.png/120px-Queer_4.png)
Queer flag (bihetnaomi)[26] -
![Horizon Queer flag (disasterbisexual)[27]](//static.wikitide.net/lgbtqidentitywiki/thumb/2/2f/Horizon_Queer_Flag.png/120px-Horizon_Queer_Flag.png)
Horizon Queer flag (disasterbisexual)[27]
![Queer flag without "Q" (pastelmemer)[25]](/wiki/File:Queer_3.png)
![Queer flag (bihetnaomi)[26]](/wiki/File:Queer_4.png)
![Horizon Queer flag (disasterbisexual)[27]](/wiki/File:Horizon_Queer_Flag.png)
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Clark, Casey, and Gigi Engle. “Yes, the Term “Queer” Is an Identity, but It Also Represents a Community.” Women’s Health, 27 Apr. 2023, www.womenshealthmag.com/sex-and-love/a22652248/what-does-queer-mean/. Accessed 22 Oct. 2023.
- ↑ Cheves, Alexander. “9 LGBTQ+ People Explain How They Love, Hate, and Understand the Word “Queer.”” Them., 4 June 2019, www.them.us/story/what-does-queer-mean.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Planned Parenthood. “Planned Parenthood.” Plannedparenthood.org, 2019, www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/teens/sexual-orientation/what-does-queer-mean.
- ↑ Heidi. “What Does “Queer” Mean? Why Are Younger Generations Reclaiming the Word Queer?” The Center, 12 Dec. 2022, thecentercv.org/en/blog/what-does-queer-mean-why-are-younger-generations-reclaiming-the-word-queer/.
- ↑ Unitarian Universalist Association. “Queer 101: Identity, Inclusion, and Resources.” UUA.org, 14 Jan. 2014, www.uua.org/lgbtq/identity/queer.
- ↑ “What Does “Queer” Mean Anyway?” Minus18.org.au, 2024, www.minus18.org.au/articles/what-does-%22queer%22-mean-anyway/.
- ↑ Merriam-Webster. “Definition of QUEER.” Merriam-Webster.com, 2019, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/queer.
- ↑ Zambon, Veronica. “What Does “Queer” Mean? Definition and History.” Www.medicalnewstoday.com, 26 Oct. 2020, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/what-does-queer-mean.
- ↑ Thomas, Sophie Saint, and Carina Hsieh. “What Does It Really Mean to Be Queer?” Cosmopolitan, 21 Sept. 2020, www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/a25243218/queer-meaning-definition/.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Iovine, Anna. “What Does the Word “Queer” Even Mean?” Mashable, 13 June 2023, mashable.com/article/what-does-queer-mean.
- ↑ istudyhumanhope. “TransToken2.” Tumblr, 1 Oct. 2016, istudyhumanhope.tumblr.com/post/151300952133/my-friend-luca-and-i-saw-you-idea-officialqueer. Accessed 22 Oct. 2023.
- ↑ bizexuals. “Maybe the Blood in the Flower Is a God’s.” Tumblr, bizexuals.tumblr.com/post/151401412287/more-queer-pride-flagsvariations-see-if-you-can. Accessed 22 Oct. 2023.
- ↑ Pride-Flags. “Queer (1) by Pride-Flags on DeviantArt.” Www.deviantart.com, 17 Aug. 2015, www.deviantart.com/pride-flags/art/Queer-1-554425236. Accessed 22 Oct. 2023.
- ↑ officialqueer. “Love and Rockets.” Tumblr, officialqueer.tumblr.com/post/151277458988/this-is-my-and-the-thought-museums-take-on-a. Accessed 22 Oct. 2023.
- ↑ Catwell, Cy. “Introducing the Community Queer Pride Flag, Made by a Queer for Every Queer.” Backlit Pixels, 27 Nov. 2022, backlitpixels.blog/2022/11/27/introducing-the-community-queer-pride-flag-made-by-a-queer-for-every-queer/. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.
- ↑ AldhairCL97. “Reddit - the Heart of the Internet.” Reddit.com, 2017, www.reddit.com/r/queer/comments/hnuavv/queer_pride_flag/. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.
- ↑ Rocheleau, Juliette. “A Former Slur Is Reclaimed, and Listeners Have Mixed Feelings.” Npr.org, 21 Aug. 2019, www.npr.org/sections/publiceditor/2019/08/21/752330316/a-former-slur-is-reclaimed-and-listeners-have-mixed-feelings.
- ↑ Spangler, Todd, and Todd Spangler. “YouTube Star Dan Howell Comes out as Gay: “It Gets so Much Better.”” Variety, 14 June 2019, variety.com/2019/digital/news/dan-howell-youtube-video-gay-1203243334/.
- ↑ Skatunenetwork. “X.com.” X (Formerly Twitter), 2024, x.com/Skatunenetwork/status/785962095263227904. Accessed 11 Aug. 2024.
- ↑ Dale, Laura. “Jadzia Dax, Deep Space Nine, and an Early Sci-Fi Trans Allegory Handled with Respect.” SYFY Official Site, 9 Mar. 2020, www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/jadzia-dax-deep-space-nine-and-an-early-sci-fi-trans-allegory-handled-with-respect.
- ↑ Coates, Lauren. “How Garak and Bashir Finally Get Togehter on “Star Trek: Lower Decks.”” Variety.com, 2025, variety.com/2024/tv/news/garak-and-bashir-together-on-lower-decks-1236247517/. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.
- ↑ “Puen (Project S: SPIKE).” LGBT Characters Wikia, Fandom, Inc., 2025, lgbtqia-characters.fandom.com/wiki/Puen_(Project_S:_SPIKE). Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.
- ↑ Orquiola, John. “Seven of Nine & Raffi’s Star Trek: Picard Love Story Origin Revealed by Michelle Hurd.” ScreenRant, 29 Apr. 2024, screenrant.com/star-trek-picard-raffi-seven-of-nine-romance-origin-michelle-hurd/. Accessed 5 Feb. 2025.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 beyond-mogai-pride-flags. “Queerflexible Pride Flag.” Tumblr, 4 Feb. 2019, beyond-mogai-pride-flags.tumblr.com/post/182567198705/queerflexible-pride-flag. Accessed 22 Oct. 2023.
- ↑ Pride-Flags. “Queer(2) by Pride-Flags on DeviantArt.” Www.deviantart.com, 17 Aug. 2015, www.deviantart.com/pride-flags/art/Queer-2-553625141. Accessed 22 Oct. 2023.
- ↑ bihetnaomi. “Queer Pride Flag [2].” DeviantArt, 10 Dec. 2016, www.deviantart.com/bihetnaomi/art/Queer-Pride-Flag-2-650418588.
- ↑ lgbtqiarchive. “Lgbtqiarchive.” Tumblr, 1 Nov. 2019, lgbtqiarchive.tumblr.com/post/189305731780/disasterbisexual-queer-pride-flag-this-is-my. Accessed 22 Oct. 2023.