It’s wild to me that the LGBTQ community divides itself over words.
Primer:
“Queer” is a slur
-but it is a reclaimed slur.
–therefore, use it carefully and proudly, but don’t give people shit for still being uncomfortable with it.
—and vice versa
“Bisexual” means “two sexes”
-but even from the beginning, bisexuality was about being not-monosexual, and has no inherent anti-trans or anti-nonbinary element
–so people who use the term “pansexual” should stop saying otherwise
—especially anyone whose definition implies that trans men and women are not men and women (respectively)
—-but maybe those who use either term should avoid using the difference to beat on each other
“A” is for Asexual or Ace Spectrum
-Allies are great, but they’re not who the initialism is talking about
–It’s not a club
—Not having a letter in the initialism doesn’t mean you don’t get to participate.
“Homosexual” was coined to name a disease
-and sometimes homophobes use it in a way that gives us the creeps
–like “the gays”
—but let’s not be too mean about correcting people for use that has historical problems if they’re actually trying
That said, not everyone who claims to be trying IS trying
LGBTQIAP+ do not get a free pass to be racist, ableist or misogynist. Cut that shit out.
-Being one letter does not give you the right to shit on another letter.
Labels are not for dividing
-they are to help us pull together, to feel less alone
–like, there are others out there who experience this????
—like, enough that there’s a NAME for it??????
There are proposed orientation names I’ve seen out there that are problems.
-the reason there’s no term for “attracted to trans people” is because trans men are men, trans women are women, fetishising transfolk is no bueno. So whoever invented the awkward faux-Greek term maybe think twice
“Sapiosexual” isn’t an orientation
-it’s actually low-key ableist if you get down to it, but you do you, Chachi
–preferences and types are not orientations
—but they can be racist
—-and *ist. Cut that out on your dating profiles
I do not know if “polyamorous” is queer
-I do not know if being kinky is in and of itself queer
–I do know it will be a great day when this whole conversation is unnecessary, and will be completely baffling to our descendents.