kin+system blog

everything else aside, there are major distinctions between how “gay” and “queer” came to be used within lgbtq populations, not least of which is that “gay” was used as intracommunity code in a way that “queer” was not. this is obviously incredibly complicated and no one can account for the varied ways that words have been used, but in the context of the US, when people are talking about the “reclaiming” of gay and queer, they’re generally talking about “gay” being used within lgbtq communities starting around the 1930s, and “queer” being used as a political strategy starting around the 1970s. the fact that people could talk about being “gay” in public in the early-mid 20th century and straight people would have no idea that they meant “homosexual” is significant! this is not the case when we’re talking about the use of “queer” in the late 20th century, in which people were using a word that was understood to mean lgbtq (it was predominantly understood to mean “homosexual male”) and attempting to alter its signification as a political strategy.

as a side note, “gay” was, prior to its usage among gay populations, used in reference to sex workers and as a euphemism for promiscuity. etymology is difficult and contentious and anyone making claims to knowing the exact origins or pathways of a word is either ignorant or lying, but considering how much homophobic rhetoric is dedicated to vilifying gay people for our supposed sex addictions, i wouldn’t rule out a connection between “gay” as euphemism for promiscuity and “gay” as intra-community slang for homosexuality. considering how some people are convinced that gay people who enjoy fucking are privileged over straight people who don’t, the different meanings that “gay” has carried are significant imo 

Gay people didn’t like hetero environments so we made our own places. If aces don’t like gay or hetero spaces go off and make your own shit... stop trying to edit a community you dont belong to lol