Happy Pride Month, day 2, queer

[sonia]

2. I am proud of being queer. I was going to say proud of being bi, but that feels more like it’s vaguely embarrassing. I know I’m supposed to be proud of it! Although now that I say that, it’s just a fact about me like brown (now graying) hair.

Reposting a relevant quote from Nina Felwitch

I don't remember who said it and I don't remember the exact words, but being queer is more than just being part of LGBTQIA+. It's political. It's leftist, progressive, anti-fascist.
Fascists can never be queer.
People who reject this word, which the community has reclaimed, usually do so because they don't want to stand out, they want to be assimilated into cisheteronormativity. They want to be "normal", whatever that means.
Being queer is being proud to be different and fighting for a better future for all of us.

I am queer and I am proud to be queer. Being queer makes life more colorful, more beautiful.

Comments

[sonia]

I also say that being any piece of LGBTQIA+ is political.
Excellent point, thank you! I am proud to be part of LGBTQIA+. I've just absorbed the idea that being bi is somehow less committed, more wishy-washy than the others, even though I know that isn't true.

that big-tent-ness of queer is reason enough to love the word.
Yes, fully agree!

[sanguinity]

Yup, those are easy messages to internalize about being bi. But anyone who is willing to claim the word can be presumed to be willing to claim the fight, too.

(Disclosure: I id as lesbian or bi, depending on whichever I think is more relevant to the conversation -- but usually just say 'queer', figuring that covers the field nicely.)

[sonia]

<3