For me, the word ‘queer’ is for the world at large (I don’t need to explain the details of my gender and sexuality to everyone, just know that I’m some version of queer and that that’s enough). My micro-labels are for me and a select few whom I trust a) to see me as I am, and not as they wish or imagine me to be, and b) not to judge me if/when those micro-labels evolve with further understanding and evolution of myself. I think our labels will come and go as all language does, but any label is useful in the now, if it gives us meaning and helps us find our community.
when my head is on straight for the day (pun not intended lol), there are some books and/or people to learn from that I've discovered or seen talked about. one of the most interesting things I've learned is that many people who are known more widely for working along a particular intersection -- like feminist thought or abolition or civil rights -- also hold queer identities. the more I learn, the more I realize that for myself, understanding intersectionality better means that I can also better understand the collective that is us.
I agree. I feel like microlabels have provided connection, or validation for some people, especially when your experiences are outside of the common, even as a queer person. I think that finding a word can be deeply useful when you’re learning about yourself. I think sometimes microlabels can even be reactionary because comphet gaslights many queers for so long, I’ve seen microlabels used almost like a talisman against this gaslighting.
I, too, hope one that one day we collectively get to a point where we are who are and we love who love and the process of sharing that or having it acknowledged in community is a conversation of invited intimacy where we share what our queerness means for us. When the shape, space, and actions of our queerness get to be held and validated and allowed to grow and shift and be explored-first by ourselves to ourselves and then to and in the communities we belong to.
For me, the word ‘queer’ is for the world at large (I don’t need to explain the details of my gender and sexuality to everyone, just know that I’m some version of queer and that that’s enough). My micro-labels are for me and a select few whom I trust a) to see me as I am, and not as they wish or imagine me to be, and b) not to judge me if/when those micro-labels evolve with further understanding and evolution of myself. I think our labels will come and go as all language does, but any label is useful in the now, if it gives us meaning and helps us find our community.
when my head is on straight for the day (pun not intended lol), there are some books and/or people to learn from that I've discovered or seen talked about. one of the most interesting things I've learned is that many people who are known more widely for working along a particular intersection -- like feminist thought or abolition or civil rights -- also hold queer identities. the more I learn, the more I realize that for myself, understanding intersectionality better means that I can also better understand the collective that is us.
I agree. I feel like microlabels have provided connection, or validation for some people, especially when your experiences are outside of the common, even as a queer person. I think that finding a word can be deeply useful when you’re learning about yourself. I think sometimes microlabels can even be reactionary because comphet gaslights many queers for so long, I’ve seen microlabels used almost like a talisman against this gaslighting.
I, too, hope one that one day we collectively get to a point where we are who are and we love who love and the process of sharing that or having it acknowledged in community is a conversation of invited intimacy where we share what our queerness means for us. When the shape, space, and actions of our queerness get to be held and validated and allowed to grow and shift and be explored-first by ourselves to ourselves and then to and in the communities we belong to.