Tbh, I don’t really understand the tendency to try to add ‘queer’ to the LGBTIA+ acronym.
Seems to me like queer is itself a community term for LGBTIA+ people that resist labelling and a signular focus on identity politics, that strive towards a more revolutionary and intersectional approach to queer politics, and do not want to be assimilated into a pro-capitalist Gay Rights Under Capitalism movement.
Given all that, why would you want to put the Q under a big LGBTIA+ umbrella? What’s in it for the queer movement? Why would you try to get ‘queer’ a seat at the table of identity politics?
What’s the point?
Queer isn’t a population group within the LGBTIA+ community, it’s a whole movement of its own. So why try to be just another letter in the acronym?
Embrace.
Extend.
Extinguish.
I mean, growing up I was always taught that the “Q” was for “Questioning”, those who might be gay, or lesbian, or bi, or trans, but just don’t know, or- if they do know that they’re one of these other letters but don’t know what to call themselves, they’re still included in LGBTQIAP+ like, for suresies. And that’s the proof. They’re the q.
But a lot of people who identify as “queer” also do so for the same reason. Because they’re questioning but they know they’re not cis and/or straight. Queer is a really useful catchall because it is so good for identifying when your identity isn’t clear, clear cut, as well as just being it’s own rebellious “down with the system” sorta thing.
So like. There’s multiple reasons why someone might ID as “queer”, including reasons that would have them still be a part of LGBTQIAP+.
I for one am one of these people? I mean, I use “Queer” for myself in two different ways. One, I’m simply queer, cause of my gender, romantic orientation, and sexuality are all queer identities! But, I also ID as Queer specifically for my romantic orientation. What is it? Bi? Pan? Aro spec? WHO KNOWS??? It queer.
So like, in one sense, I’m LGBTQIAP+ cause I don’t know what my romantic orientation is and said “fuckit, it’s still a part of this overall community.” but, like, I’m also very much so “queer” as in, I prefer to call myself that than LGBTQIAP. I’m.. still both though, guys.
Like, it doesn’t have to be black and white my friends.
To be honest, personally I don’t care at all whether the Q in the LGBTQIAP+ stands for Queer, Questioning or both. For me, trying to assign Queer one letter within a boring acronym is selling the movement short.
Queer is biggest than all the letters put together.
We can do so much better than try to assimilate queer in that alfabet soup of suffering.
QueerAnarchism 