What does it mean to be Queer?

What I have always appreciated about the word "Queer" is that, far from being a pejorative or negative term, it highlights the uniqueness that is YOU as an individual with a sexual identity. This identity may not fit into any pre-defined "box" but it is a personal part of who you are that may change, adapt, and grow as you learn more about yourself. Queer identities may be any number of identities and expressions of gender or sexual orientation. You get to decide what "Queer" means to you. Best to you on your journey!

I feel as though being queer can be interpreted many ways, some people might take it negatively and some people might take it positively. If you identify as queer in a postive light, you are simply stating that your gender and/or sexuality is fluid or different in some way shape or form. However this term may be considered negative to some people. The term queer may minimize someones sexual and/or gender identity. For example a trans person might feel offended if you call them queer because genderwise they are not queer. Also people who are homophobic and/or transphobic may use this term in another way to offend an lgbtq person. But to me, queer is a term I generally dont like to use. I dont really like the history behind the term and it is

To be queer is a broad term for anyone who is not heterosexual or cisgender. So it means you could be gay, bisexual, asexual, pansexual, male to female, female to male, genderfluid, among many other things (LGBTQA+).

Knowing that your identity is no longer simply binary - especially when it comes to sexuality or gender identity. Being Queer is a statement - an identification with the fact that you are different, not in worth, but in perception. When it comes to details, it may be that there exists a specific term you identify with, but being Queer is to look beyond such boundaries. It is proclaiming that you are different - and being okay with it.

Be queer means to be yourself and be proud of who you are! It is to love whoever you want to love. It is to be proud and strong.

"Being queer" has many defintions, really. I will try to explain MY definition of queer. Most of the times, people using this term are not comfortable to "label" themselves based on their behavior. For example, it is totally fine for you to either be a boy, be a girl, or to be gay at the same time perhaps, or to identify as something without a specific name! Queer people just do not like it to be put in one or another of these 2 gender role boxes. And they are more than right: why should you be defined by all those stereotypes of modern day society, right? Love, Myrthe

anything on the spectrum, it's something hard to define simply because it's an umbrella term, or a term used by people who don't want a bunch of terms boxing them in, or their views on themselves change.

By the book, it means ones identity to be divergent from heterosexuality. Not by the book, that is a tricky question, at least for me. I feel like for me, it symbolizes freedom of expression and a break away from tradition of seeing people for what is between their legs (I am gender fluid). For me, being queer, means being unapologetic about whom I like, about seeing people for who they are and loving them for their history, what has brought them to be that which is in front of me. I feel more in touch with my humanity and that much closer to understanding myself. Every day is a journey.

can be used to describe someone's sexual orientation or stand as a political statement. Its definition has many dimensions, from gender identification to a resistance against structural rigidity to a strange sensation or state of being.

Queer is an umbrella term describing anyone in the LGBT community. It can be used to describe anyone who is not straight or cisgender.