RHS lgbtq+ history in this months magazine

[KeeeeeepDancing]

Hi has anyone else seen the article this month?

I've read it. Lots of lesbian gardeners. Breaking the gender norms of the day. Was the word lesbian used? No, of course they have all been queered.

I think can only add 3 photos. Will load more tomorrow if people are interested.

Mary Delaney is a fabulous character and made wonderful artwork. I suppose they can't call her a lesbian because there's no definitive evidence that her relationship with the Duchess was sexual/romantic.

What's that - 'plants have given solace to LGBTQ people for ages'?

Plants have given solace to people for ages.

Yay! for the fact they say sex, not gender

I found the full article here for anyone who wants to read it
https://www.rhs.org.uk/education-learning/libraries-at-rhs/articles/lgbtq-history-month

Without derailing the thread, can I please ask a quick question about something that I've always struggled to understand?
Why are gay & lesbian people now referred to as 'queer?' I only ask as growing up, that was a word which was used in place of words such as weird, strange or odd? Surely that's a completely unacceptable noun to use to describe gay or lesbian people???
Where did this come from and when? Or have I imagined/dreamt it?!?

It is a very recent thing. In the last year I think.
I'm pretty sure someone will have its origins pinned down.
But it just feels like erasure of the gay and lesbian terminology. LGB have no connection to T+ as far as I can see. And just because stonewall etc keep pushing them together does not mean it is so.

Yes, 'queer' was and often is used as a slur.

1. Some gay/lesbian/bi people use 'queer' to 'reclaim' it.
2. Queer theory is/was an academic theory applied to subverting 'heteronormativity'. It's a part of postmodernism that is all about questioning and often subverting social norms.

Many people still see it as a slur. It's not a word I would use to describe anyone, personally.

Queer has been used by lgb people to describe themselves since the 1930s. It took off big time in the 1990s political protests against homophobia. It is divisive still but it's certainly not new.