From: Date: Fri, 3 Mar 1995 14:12:46 -0500 Subject: More on Use of the Word Queer RE: Use of the Word Queer - - On February 26 I sent out an opinion/editorial piece on the Use of the Word Queer and I also posted it in the "Gay Newspapers" file in the Gay and Lesbian Community Forum of America On Line. I hope you have seen or read the op/ed piece. (if not, let me know and I'll gladly send it to you). - - The response to my essay/editorial on the use of the word Queer by the homosexual/bisexual/transgendered community has been overwhelmingly positive so far. Only one response has been against it, sort of, and that was from someone who apparently thought I was suggesting that we stop saying "gay and lesbian" and start using "gay" to mean homosexual men and women again. In case anyone else somehow managed to read the essay that way, let me restate what my opinion piece suggests: the suggestion is that we redefine the word Gay to mean homosexual/bisexual/transgendered, not just homosexual. And I am not suggesting that we stop using homosexual/bisexual/transgendered or that we stop saying gay and lesbian, only that when we want to use, alternately, a single word for our entire community, that that word be "GAY." Writers, speechmakers and others could go on saying homosexual/bisexual/transg endered people, or "the gay and lesbian community", or "gay and lesbian issues" as often as they like, but with the option to simply say "Gay Issues" "Gay Community" "Gay Publication" and have us all accept it as meaning homosexual/bisexual/transgendered (or transsexual, is that the same thing?) While we're at it: I dare, (probably because I'm a woman, and a lesbian feminist in my forties,) to ask why it is that we've found it necessary to constantly refer to homosexual men and women as "gays and lesbians" but we just assume that "bisexual" and "Transgendered" both include both men and women and we feel no need to emphasize that fact. I mean, why don't we have to say "bisexual men and women"? Why is just "bisexuals" enough? What I'm really saying, of course, is that maybe we've finally reached a point where lesbians feel they're visible enough (this is the "lesbian chic" era, after all) that we can go back to just saying "homosexuals" - and everyone can get comfortable with the fact that that includes both women and men unless we specify otherwise? Maybe we can start saying the "homosexual/bisexual/transgender" community rather than having to say "gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender community". I'm not saying this is going to be easy, of course. Education on the new use of the term Gay would have to happen. It would be no more difficult than changing the definition and emotional connotations of the word Queer, though, and I would think that more of us would agree on, and be happy with, the expansion of the word Gay. I would think that our publications would need to include notes about the new use and definition of the word Gay . . . probably for a long time. It would be something that would have to be discussed and debated in our press and in speeches, and that organizations would have to discuss it and it's possible impact on the names we use. But the discussion already happens all the time, doesn't it? And it has gone on for years . . . what do we call our event, organization, community center, project? This would add one more choice for possible terms and names, and maybe we'll all get really comfortable with Gay meaning homosexual/bisexual/transgender. I keep writing the word (Gay) with a capital "G" - and that is perhaps a way we can write it to remind people that this is the inclusive use of the word. Using the capital G is not important, though - it was just a passing thought. I'm still seeking feedback on my ideas, and would be happy to share that feedback with others who request it. If you send me feedb ack, you might want to let me know if it's OK for me to share your comments with others. I've closed my post office box, by the way, so if you want to contact me by mail, please us my home address in Salt Lake.(below) Or call me at (801)288-9294. Email: KathyWUT@AOL.com I would really love to get copies of any publications where my original op/ed piece is published, or at least a photocopy or tear sheet. Or at least email me to let me know you're running it. It's fun to hear how far it is reaching. Thanks!