Larry Kramer's Case Against "Queer"

"Queer" is hate speech. It was first picked up by gay & lesbian people in the early 90s, when the shortlived political group Queer Nation was formed. Queer Nation used "queer" in an angry rebellious way, with the sense that "yes if you want to call me horrible words like queer then I'll pick up that queer identity and brandish it in your face to make my revolution." This is still, basically, how the term is used by gay and lesbian people. The power of the word is dependent upon it's being hate speech. It never stops being hate speech. The impulse is understandable but the term, ultimately, is without dignity. Gay and lesbian people are the only oppressed minority that does this - that names itself using the hate speech of its oppressors. To my mind, this comes out of our self-hatred. I think we have a worse problem with self-hatred than any other minority.

The C.A. Tripp book about Lincoln makes a convincing case - good read if anyone's interested. Also liked George Chauncy's (Yale prof mentioned here) history of gay NYC. But the "queer" controversy... I don't get it, maybe this is somewhat generational but I'm no kid & it doesn't have any sting or bad effect for me, so I'm guessing people in their 20s don't find it at all offensive. For someone Kramer's age it may have a different impact, but you just can't win generational slang battles - the kids always win and change the language. I suppose you can make the case that's it's not such a good "umbrella" term. But to some of us it sounds more lively than "LGBT"! (and whatever other letters they're adding to LGBT lately)...

Queer, always had been and always will be a derogatory term.

Kramer - didn't do a little history checking on Bayard Rustin either. If, in fact, he claims to be a finder of facts concerning history, he would have known that Mr. Rustin attended and spoke at one of the first March on Washingtons and it's documented in film. Yes- there needs to be something authentically done concerning queer history - but it's got to be inclusive of the contributions of all cultures.

Oh and James...Larry also "maligned" the FDA, the Reagan administration, the christian right, the catholic church, Ed Koch and a host of others who sat back and watched thousands of gay men die and did NOTHING in large part because we were only "queers" to the powers-that-be. Before you go calling him a liar, please consider the monumental success of ACT UP of which I was a proud member. To dismiss this man as a liar because he ruffled some feathers at Yale is beyond stupid. In my mind he is the greatest gay leader this movement has produced in a very long time. In the 80's we could not afford to sit around and theorize about what we should call ourselves...we were literally dying and being a part of ACT UP at that time in our history was infinitely more empowering than opining on queer theory.

To CS- Actually, he said "and neither are you." I do not like using queer as an umbrella term either but in this piece Kramer explicitly told all of us to stop using the term queer. He doesn't like it fine, but to stand up and tell others to stop using it is b.s.

I find the use of the term queer demeaning and hurtful. I realize this may be generational but when I was growing up queer was far more apt to be used to degrade and demean especially gay men. I too cringe when I hear it and find nothing "empowering" about its use to label our community let alone to label theories that are supposed to help us understand ourselves within a historical, political and cultural context.

To - Fred Remus - I understand your perspective, but isn't the issue here the adoption of the word as a standard term for our entire community? It isn't really about whether one person likes it or not. If there are gay men and lesbians who find the term incredibly insulting and offensive, isn't it wrong to cultivate it as a term to name all of us? You could still use it as a way to name your own identity.

sorry larry, but i am queer, i have always been queer, and never felt a need to apologize for it. i embrace the word and all it means. from the time i could realize such things, i have been different from seemingly everyone around me. been a vegan and animal rights advocate since i was 14, a loyal deadhead who spent many, many years traveling around the country for just one more show. an artist, a carpenter, a muscian, a mechanic, a lover of men, a fairy, a jock. for many years had hair down to my ass, loved to wear matching ear-rings, had a long beard and wore long flowing dresses over my jeans and boots as i danced the night away at grateful dead concerts. no box is big enough to contain all the things that i am. just one big ol' queer. and sorry larry, but i don't give a rats ass in hell in heterosexuals can't or won't accept me. and i do love larry kramer.

GO, LARRY, GO!! YOU RULE!! Can't wait to see the book.