Q word

[WhyThatsDelightful]

I believe the Q word to be an offensive term for homosexual and it’s public use is an act of homophobia, either as a printed display or spoken.

Are there any successful UK public complaints along these lines?

'Queer' has been reclaimed by many gay groups. But yes, many people use 'queer' as a slur.

Some LGB people have indeed reclaimed the term but that doesn't stop it being a homophobic slur to many

It’s a particular ideology that not all LGB people ascribe to. Many (most?) of us just want our sexual orientation to be completely unremarkable rather than transgressing boundaries and being constantly celebrated. I hate it that there are plenty of charities that think it’s absolutely fine to use, makes me think that in fact they know fuck all and are not a place that understands the needs of most LGB people. I don’t know about any challenges though.

Queer is another of those words that have been used to dismiss gays and lesbians, especially within groups. Suddenly something we had is now open to everyone, all identities, all sexualities (retch) etc. sometimes it is linked to kink which is not part of any movement I wish to be involved in. Lesbian not queer.

Are the people who have "re"claimed the word, and deemed it acceptable for use by society at large, the same people against whom the slur was used?

To me it feels as though it's been claimed more than it's been reclaimed.

I mean, yes, it has been reclaimed, in the usual sense of the word, for several decades now, but it's also been taken and used to label a now barely-related theoretical/critical approach (or whatever you'd describe Queer Theory as), and from there, worn as borrowed credibility by people who were never its original targets, and used as convenient unfalsifiable handwaving vaguery.

You have described what is going on really well.

I'm not sure that a public complaint claiming the word queer is homophobic would gain any traction today. It's become a practically meaningless term.

In the past it was undeniably a homophobic slur, but unfortunately loads of trendy young middle class university students identify as "queer" because they, for example once wore something rubber and kissed their same-sex friend whilst pissed.

Also, identifying as queer nowadays gets you into the best nightclubs and in with the coolest social groups. You don't even need to be gay, just to be a bloke who sometimes wears nail polish is enough.

Many seem not to be. Yuk.