By TooLesbian - 25/09/2014 02:33 - Australia - Kellyville

Today, my insane roommate yelled at me for using the word "stupid" because apparently it is a slur against mentally disabled people. Later, she went on and on about this "queer" club she's attending to meet "queer" people to talk about "queer" issues. She's not gay. I am. FML
I agree, your life sucks 36 235
You deserved it 3 578

TooLesbian tells us more.

TooLesbian 6

I am the OP for this post. She is not my friend, just the sister of a friend (I live with both). Where I live in Australia, "queer" is still used as a derogatory word against gay people, and gay men and women are often called that by homophobes in public. She is completely straight, but thinks she is revolutionary by joining the gay rights movement as an "ally". Because she knows gay people, she assumes that she is entitled to use words we call ourselves. She knows I'm not comfortable with the word "queer" because I've had it used against me by bullies at high school, but she continues to use it because "it's an umbrella term" (although it isn't, some a word SOME LGBT people call themselves). She isn't a homophobe, and I'm not insinuating that she is - just really annoying.

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Comments

newzealand 28

They're either trying to aggravate you or they are a few peas short of a casserole.

12 5
crandel 11

Queer is widely accepted as a term for non-heterosexual people (or at least of some specific subgroups of them). Just because she is not one doesn't mean she cannot use them. As stupid as her objection to the term stupid is, your criticism of her use of queer is totally unjustified.

23 42
kewpiesuicide 29

I have to agree. It's called LGBTQ for a reason. The word queer can be used as an umbrella term for somebody who is not straight. This can include being gay, lesbian, bisexual, being attracted to transgendered individuals, etc. You can also identify as queer from a gender neutral standpoint meaning that you don't consider yourself male or female.

16 12
the_zero_article 15

While that may be true, her roommate's use of the word is kind of like (but not nearly as bad as) a white person using the n-word in front of their black roommate. Queer is still used as a slur and for people who are not LGBT+ to be using it to people who are is much more offensive than saying "stupid"

12 6
Quasita 26

That's ridiculous. I'm not offended at all when people use queer in front of me...

1 0
mountland 4

Heya, I can see why you may be confused - in some parts of the world 'queer' is still used as a derogatory slur, however, it was mainly reclaimed in the 70s and 80s and is now widely used as a non-slur, so in the context she is using it is not a slur and probably the approved term - for example queer studies is the approved term for any academic study of lgbt+ issues. It sounds like this is just a clash of regional/cultural perspectives. Have a look at 'queer' on wiki for a good introduction to the topic. If her use of it still bothers you still then maybe have a discussion with her about it, say that it makes you uncomfortable due to past history of the word.

38 4
vikky538 28

OP is not a converter who can change people from gay to straight or straight to gay...

1 1
vikky538 28

according to roommate agreement ...before she goes for partying next time make sure you put some laxatives in her food... its totally under contract...

3 10
kewpiesuicide 29

Queer is an acceptable term nowadays. It's been redefined as an umbrella term for somebody who is not straight. This can include being gay, lesbian, bisexual, being attracted to transgendered individuals, etc. You can also identify as queer from a gender neutral standpoint meaning that you don't consider yourself male or female. There are still people in the older generation and certain ignorant younger people who use it as the old definition with the intention of being insulting but it sounds like your friend was trying to be politically correct. Remember it's called LGBTQ for a reason.

6 12
Jackbaumeister 1

god just stop. she was not trying to be politically correct. really? a queer club? us that politically correct. **** off.

1 0