Shout-out to the continued saga of Jennifer being the absolute worst-qualified journalist on campus. Or just having the passive perception of your average dump-WIS barbarian…that is also blind.
There are in fact heterosexual (read: platonic) explanations for that. They were not what happened. But they exist and I wish that phrase would die in a hole forever.
Sincerely, your local queerplatonic partnership haver.
I mean this question fully without sarcasm and entirely just genuine confusion: how does heterosexual, typically defined as being sexually attracted to the opposite sex, mean the same thing as platonic, typically defined as non-sexual?
Maybe I am misreading what you’re saying here?
AK
When someone says there is no heterosexual explanation for this, they mean this is not something people do platonically. They mean this is not something friends do.
It’s contextual. But the context here is pointing to a pair of women doing a thing together that’s weird for normative friendship and saying there isn’t any way this happens if they’re heterosexual. It’s actively rebutting a platonic reading, it happens because people are tired of straight people saying “it’s not actually gay they’re just gal pals” (which, fair) and it also often frames my important life experiences as implausible things that would never ACTUALLY happen platonically, it’s just straight people gaslighting you. Which. Uh. Hurts.
Li
I mean.
Amatonormativity sucks, but I don’t actually think “there’s no platonic explanation for this” is what “there’s no heterosexual explanation for this” means.
Heterosexual in this case is being used as a stand-in for pericishet, which it arguably shouldn’t be.
Queerplatonic is not pericishet.
Therefore, if there’s a queerplatonic explanation for something, that’s NOT a “heterosexual” explanation.
AK
Li, you are well intentioned and I appreciate you, and I have no doubt that if you said it that’s what you’d have meant. But to be really frank, I will extend this kind of benefit of the doubt when it is literally any different trying to get queerfolk to acknowledge QPRs than it is getting cishet etc. folks to.
I have grown up in very queer spaces. I have had both queer and not folks be lovely and understanding. I have also been told that if I wasn’t in a romantic relationship with my best friend people hoped we would figure it out soon. An awful lot of both straight/etc and queer people will get pretty hostile with you on the internet for suggesting an ace or queerplatonic understanding of something. The world, broadly, has not earned this kind of benefit of the doubt from me, because more often than not when I engage people using phrases like this they very much do NOT mean what you are saying.
Sorry. I’m not trying to be an asshole. But the thing you’re saying very much does not align with my lived experience.
Li
That’s fair, and I’m sorry.
idk, I know I’ve never used the phrase in any way other than self-deprecating (because it’s almost never being said about media where there’s any actual hope that the characters in question are anything other than pericishet), so.
People meaning it literally, in my experience, are teenagers.
Which doesn’t invalidate any of your points, just contributes further to a lack of nuance.
Josh
I appreciate the hell out of you, Li. Just wanted to say it. One of the best intentioned and understanding people around here.
AK
You’re good people. It’s just one of my particular sharp points. Used to be shit I laughed off but coming to terms with the fact that I will never be able to share insurance with that partner the way I can with my spouse has made all the platonic and poly stuff feel a lot sharper as a full adult. Sigh.
Man I WISH I was mostly encountering it unironically from teenagers. I used to hang out on relationship subreddits and oh boy have I had some really bad interactions with middle aged folks about these topics. Sigh. I do not spend time in those places anymore and it is probably for the best. I will second though that it feels like as most people get older they get more chill about other people’s life choices, at least in queerspace. And my people in real life are all good about it at this point. People confronted with real humans in real life tend to be kinder than people on the internet in general, I appreciate you bringing that level of humanity to your internet presence too.
Li
I try.
I don’t always succeed! It’s so easy to get lost in your own head and find you’ve become much more invested in Being Right On the Internet than makes any sense? Like. I do legitimately enjoy debate. But this isn’t a debate club, much less some sort of tournament! There’s no prize for “arguing a case the most effectively”.
But there sure is pride, isn’t there. And in some cases that can be harder to give up on than a more literal prize.
Thank you for explaining your feelings so kindly.
And I’m even more sorry reading this response! Glad that you’re in a better place, sorry that you had to go through what you’ve been through to get there. I’m ace but not aro: I try to remember my aro siblings, and I obviously need to do better.
I’m also not aro, just a heteroromantic ace who also does a lot of the same stuff they do in addition to like. Spouse. Not around but I believe in their beliefs. The funny category of guy who does some of the stuff from lots of buckets but none of it in ways that categorize neatly.
Probably relatable in different ways since you’re NB and I kinda get the sense that is often The NB Gender Experience TM.
I think writing is a medium that tends to want you to be certain of the things that you put down. It’s real work entertaining the amount of uncertainty that you get to just passively hold when having a conversation in the air with someone. I think that definitely contributes to the Trying To Be Right On The Internet phenomenon. Anyway. I don’t really think you can be faulted for not holding all possible human experiences in your head at once every time you say words. We all gotta use shortcuts and shorthands places, and sometimes they’re the wrong ones and we update for the circumstances.
Anyway mostly replying bc of my perpetual (and perhaps foolish) desire to be understood 100% correctly at all times, have my general positive regard, may we both look forward to tomorrow’s strip.
AK
*not aro
Sorry voice to text typos are stupid sometimes.
AK
Yes I use an insane mix of phone typing and voice to text don’t @ me. I’m going to run away now.
Li
Thank you.
Also pff not judging how you communicate!!! I am all too often typing stuff on my phone in these comments. And uh. Sometimes jogging at the same time! Smart! Safe!
My peripheral vision is good! I haven’t injured myself yet! fff
Fish
AK – I just wanted to say that I think you’re super cool, and this reply must have taken a lot of effort to write so well. It is joyous as a third party to see someone working so hard to find trust in others and react kindly when something erasing has happened, but still explain what is up. Your purpose was not bringing a bright spot to my day, but you did so, and I needed it, so thank you.
AK
This comment made all the tension leave my body all at once. Thank you. I appreciate you saying this.
OngoingConversation
No, but that’s also not what people usually mean by “no heterosexual explanation”. The way it has been used consistently is “There’s same-sex attraction going on here”, which there in this case very much is. But what AK is getting mad at is the fact that this mindset applies to almost any other context where “no heterosexual explanation” is called. Queerplatonic is not pericishet, as you say, but it’s also not necessarily gay. And, more importantly, not all meaningful platonic interaction is queer. Lots of things can happen between friends, but because of amatanormativity people will assume it’s romantic/sexual. There can be an explanation of meaningful moments between two girls that is entirely platonic, as opposed to romantic or even queer, and thus entirely heterosexual. That absolutely was not the case here, but the phrase in general is used in ways that support amatanormativity.
Which in turn is no excuse for the gross underrepresentation of sapphic love, or straight people deciding things aren’t gay because the people involved are just “gal pals”. But still. Gal pals (and other close pals) do exist, and would like to be recognised as such.
Li
Two things. Let’s see if I can be at all brief. Mostly fair points well made! But two things.
One: boy would it not be what I meant by the term, I don’t care if a given character is gay, I am much more interested in characters being queer. Especially in non cis gay ways, bc we don’t have much of any rep but we have the most of that kind.
But I also don’t use this term unironically, so I should not be assuming my usage is typical. Even if it were, it would be worth pushing back on the wording to be more inclusive.
Two: oh man the way I bristled at “same-sex attraction”.
TL;DR: the push to use this term in LGBTQIA+ spaces came from TERFs. Lots of people then used it perfectly innocently, but it’s not a great term even on its face, much less as a litmus test for who is and isn’t “””really””” LGBT. I’m nonbinary: I don’t have a “same” sex. Lots of nonbinary people feel the same way. Also, because it came from TERFs, you can guess what they thought of trans women and men being “same-sex attracted”.
Bonus: the term ORIGINATES in conservative Christian circles. They used it to minimize the significance of queer feelings in order to better argue for conversion therapy. Because it’s just attraction, see, not an intrinsic part of your identity.
TERFs tried to argue this wasn’t the origin of the term and that it was somehow instead an off shoot of Black queer terminology. Which… they were appropriating and changing so that white people could use it. Great defense there, TERFs! A+.
Li
I FEEL A DESPERATE NEED TO CLARIFY: I was not accusing you of anything! Big big emphasis on “innocently repeated” terminology. It SEEMS like it should build a bridge between the LGs and the Bs, at the very least. Please don’t feel bad for saying a thing, we’re a big community and trying to keep up with terminology is daunting af.
Wilde
I think I understand now. You weren’t saying heterosexual is equivalent to queerplatonic, but taking issue with the implications of using the phrase. I was confused by the “(read: queerplatonic)” because I’ve only seen it used as equivalence. Thank you for clarifying!
It’s baseball season! (Context: Elmer was trying to determine hunting season for rabbits and/or ducks, only to be told baseball season in the dead of winter)
Jeff K!
And then begins shooting at the baseball that is bouncing away…
Deanatay
Elmer: Sowwy, fewwas, but I’m a vegetawian. I only hunt fow spowt.
Bugs: Oh yeah? Well, there’s other sports besides hunting, ya know!
Daffy (suddenly in full tennis regalia): Anyone for tennis?
nah, the bugs/daffy gay requires a sort of loving bitchiness towards one another that these two just aren’t capable of right now.
This is also different from the statler/waldorf gay relationship where the bitchiness is equal among both partners. if one side of the pairing isn’t flinching at sudden appearance of the other, its not a bugs/daffy situation.
maybe in their twenties when they can explore bdsm without all these judgy bitches breathing down their necks
Li
I think Big Z is probably thinking of Joyce channeling Daffy Duck when she intruded on Dorothy and Walky’s conversation. If he’s not, it sure was MY first thought.
Megan
joyce and walky aren’t into each other, though, thats not bugs and daffy, that’s just having an enemy
Li
Well, Walky was NOT being Bugs Bunny, Joyce was just being Daffy Duck about breaking him and Dorothy up.
So, halfway there already as in, Joyce recently behaved kinda like Daffy Duck, now we just need Dorothy to behave like Bugs Bunny?
As an aroace who’s baffled by this whole subject, I can confirm. Can also confirm the adorableness Vanessa mentions, though.
zee
Allos in general are incompehensible. Weird as fuck
Embe13
there is no normal we are all weird!!!
Gigafreak
“Queer” is a synonym for “weird”
Taffy
The Straights™ are weird, but they don’t get to be Queer.
Jon
Autistic straight confirming – I’m weird, but I’m not queer. (My wife is, though; she’s pan.)
Li
I have never met a pericishet person who wanted to call themself queer who didn’t have a VERY valid reason for doing so tbh.
Even if they weren’t yet out to themselves, that feeling doesn’t come from nowhere.
Mr D
*(Your results may vary if you aren’t speaking english)
Li
…I don’t think in any way that matters?
Like, translate it into the appropriate local diction, it will still be true. Straight, perisex, cisgender people who want to call themselves [local vernacular for queer/LGBTQIA+] pretty much always have a very valid reason for doing that, even if they don’t know it yet. People are not drawn to our community for no reason.
The “cringey overly invested ally” might never come out to YOU (because you were an asshole to them and made them feel unsafe!), but that doesn’t mean they’re never going to come out.
Not to be confused with: “why isn’t there a Straight Pride month”, which is entirely separate and annoying.
Mr D
The point I was trying to make was that Queer specifically, as a word that can mean both “Strange/Weird” and “Somewhere in the LGBT+ spectrum”, is an english thing.
Li
Sorta? I know that it’s also a loanword meaning LGBTQIA+ in several other languages, though!
I would otherwise assume that if you aren’t speaking English, and you are talking about this sorta thing, you are using the local vernacular. I dunno why you would translate what I’m saying into a different language but not also translate the word queer appropriately.
Mr D
Mostly because the comment chain you were responding to was talking about the difference between weird and queer (which means weird but is usually used as a part of the LGBTQIA+ umbrella), which only really works if you’re speaking English. I am commenting specifically about that.
424 thoughts on “Non-bathing suit”
Nono
Okay but which was the gayest part
Animedingo
Hand holding, obviously
motorfirebox
Hands are well-known as the most prevalent infection site for cooties.
Reltzik
I would have thought that pressing foreheads against each other was a more viable infection site.
Pocky
its all on a sliding scale of gay
GreyICE
Obviously. The most degenerate of fetishes.
CianM1301
Right up there with calling your partner by their first name
Casi
I’m not kink shaming but that’s going too far
Deanatay
Probably the calm, rational discussion about each other’s definitions and boundaries.
Slartibeast Button, BIA
Now I am filking Blondie’s “The Hardest Part” in my head.
NGPZ
“That sounds a little gay dude.”
“It is a little gay dude.”
RassilonTDavros
TFS really is the gift that keeps on giving.
not someone else
Well that’s just objectively true, Jennifer.
Longshot97
Shout-out to the continued saga of Jennifer being the absolute worst-qualified journalist on campus. Or just having the passive perception of your average dump-WIS barbarian…that is also blind.
Icalasari
Super gay
Icalasari
…Gravatar completely unintentioned, but fitting as I could see Walky saying that
ReFlex76
Confirmation, Joyce was thinking of Dorothy when she had that first orgasm.
To repeat the saying: There is no heterosexual explanation for that.
AK
There are in fact heterosexual (read: platonic) explanations for that. They were not what happened. But they exist and I wish that phrase would die in a hole forever.
Sincerely, your local queerplatonic partnership haver.
OngoingConversation
As a fellow QPR-haver, amen. Usually most things can have a platonic explanation, but as you said, that is not what happened.
not someone else
Heterosexual (read: platonic)? What?
Hetero doesn’t just mean not gay, y’all.
Wilde
I mean this question fully without sarcasm and entirely just genuine confusion: how does heterosexual, typically defined as being sexually attracted to the opposite sex, mean the same thing as platonic, typically defined as non-sexual?
Maybe I am misreading what you’re saying here?
AK
When someone says there is no heterosexual explanation for this, they mean this is not something people do platonically. They mean this is not something friends do.
It’s contextual. But the context here is pointing to a pair of women doing a thing together that’s weird for normative friendship and saying there isn’t any way this happens if they’re heterosexual. It’s actively rebutting a platonic reading, it happens because people are tired of straight people saying “it’s not actually gay they’re just gal pals” (which, fair) and it also often frames my important life experiences as implausible things that would never ACTUALLY happen platonically, it’s just straight people gaslighting you. Which. Uh. Hurts.
Li
I mean.
Amatonormativity sucks, but I don’t actually think “there’s no platonic explanation for this” is what “there’s no heterosexual explanation for this” means.
Heterosexual in this case is being used as a stand-in for pericishet, which it arguably shouldn’t be.
Queerplatonic is not pericishet.
Therefore, if there’s a queerplatonic explanation for something, that’s NOT a “heterosexual” explanation.
AK
Li, you are well intentioned and I appreciate you, and I have no doubt that if you said it that’s what you’d have meant. But to be really frank, I will extend this kind of benefit of the doubt when it is literally any different trying to get queerfolk to acknowledge QPRs than it is getting cishet etc. folks to.
I have grown up in very queer spaces. I have had both queer and not folks be lovely and understanding. I have also been told that if I wasn’t in a romantic relationship with my best friend people hoped we would figure it out soon. An awful lot of both straight/etc and queer people will get pretty hostile with you on the internet for suggesting an ace or queerplatonic understanding of something. The world, broadly, has not earned this kind of benefit of the doubt from me, because more often than not when I engage people using phrases like this they very much do NOT mean what you are saying.
Sorry. I’m not trying to be an asshole. But the thing you’re saying very much does not align with my lived experience.
Li
That’s fair, and I’m sorry.
idk, I know I’ve never used the phrase in any way other than self-deprecating (because it’s almost never being said about media where there’s any actual hope that the characters in question are anything other than pericishet), so.
People meaning it literally, in my experience, are teenagers.
Which doesn’t invalidate any of your points, just contributes further to a lack of nuance.
Josh
I appreciate the hell out of you, Li. Just wanted to say it. One of the best intentioned and understanding people around here.
AK
You’re good people. It’s just one of my particular sharp points. Used to be shit I laughed off but coming to terms with the fact that I will never be able to share insurance with that partner the way I can with my spouse has made all the platonic and poly stuff feel a lot sharper as a full adult. Sigh.
Man I WISH I was mostly encountering it unironically from teenagers. I used to hang out on relationship subreddits and oh boy have I had some really bad interactions with middle aged folks about these topics. Sigh. I do not spend time in those places anymore and it is probably for the best. I will second though that it feels like as most people get older they get more chill about other people’s life choices, at least in queerspace. And my people in real life are all good about it at this point. People confronted with real humans in real life tend to be kinder than people on the internet in general, I appreciate you bringing that level of humanity to your internet presence too.
Li
I try.
I don’t always succeed! It’s so easy to get lost in your own head and find you’ve become much more invested in Being Right On the Internet than makes any sense? Like. I do legitimately enjoy debate. But this isn’t a debate club, much less some sort of tournament! There’s no prize for “arguing a case the most effectively”.
But there sure is pride, isn’t there. And in some cases that can be harder to give up on than a more literal prize.
Thank you for explaining your feelings so kindly.
And I’m even more sorry reading this response! Glad that you’re in a better place, sorry that you had to go through what you’ve been through to get there. I’m ace but not aro: I try to remember my aro siblings, and I obviously need to do better.
Internet gesture of support. 🙁
Li
also, gosh, Josh, thanks. You’re pretty cool, too. 🙂
AK
I’m also not aro, just a heteroromantic ace who also does a lot of the same stuff they do in addition to like. Spouse. Not around but I believe in their beliefs. The funny category of guy who does some of the stuff from lots of buckets but none of it in ways that categorize neatly.
Probably relatable in different ways since you’re NB and I kinda get the sense that is often The NB Gender Experience TM.
I think writing is a medium that tends to want you to be certain of the things that you put down. It’s real work entertaining the amount of uncertainty that you get to just passively hold when having a conversation in the air with someone. I think that definitely contributes to the Trying To Be Right On The Internet phenomenon. Anyway. I don’t really think you can be faulted for not holding all possible human experiences in your head at once every time you say words. We all gotta use shortcuts and shorthands places, and sometimes they’re the wrong ones and we update for the circumstances.
Anyway mostly replying bc of my perpetual (and perhaps foolish) desire to be understood 100% correctly at all times, have my general positive regard, may we both look forward to tomorrow’s strip.
AK
*not aro
Sorry voice to text typos are stupid sometimes.
AK
Yes I use an insane mix of phone typing and voice to text don’t @ me. I’m going to run away now.
Li
Thank you.
Also pff not judging how you communicate!!! I am all too often typing stuff on my phone in these comments. And uh. Sometimes jogging at the same time! Smart! Safe!
My peripheral vision is good! I haven’t injured myself yet! fff
Fish
AK – I just wanted to say that I think you’re super cool, and this reply must have taken a lot of effort to write so well. It is joyous as a third party to see someone working so hard to find trust in others and react kindly when something erasing has happened, but still explain what is up. Your purpose was not bringing a bright spot to my day, but you did so, and I needed it, so thank you.
AK
This comment made all the tension leave my body all at once. Thank you. I appreciate you saying this.
OngoingConversation
No, but that’s also not what people usually mean by “no heterosexual explanation”. The way it has been used consistently is “There’s same-sex attraction going on here”, which there in this case very much is. But what AK is getting mad at is the fact that this mindset applies to almost any other context where “no heterosexual explanation” is called. Queerplatonic is not pericishet, as you say, but it’s also not necessarily gay. And, more importantly, not all meaningful platonic interaction is queer. Lots of things can happen between friends, but because of amatanormativity people will assume it’s romantic/sexual. There can be an explanation of meaningful moments between two girls that is entirely platonic, as opposed to romantic or even queer, and thus entirely heterosexual. That absolutely was not the case here, but the phrase in general is used in ways that support amatanormativity.
Which in turn is no excuse for the gross underrepresentation of sapphic love, or straight people deciding things aren’t gay because the people involved are just “gal pals”. But still. Gal pals (and other close pals) do exist, and would like to be recognised as such.
Li
Two things. Let’s see if I can be at all brief. Mostly fair points well made! But two things.
One: boy would it not be what I meant by the term, I don’t care if a given character is gay, I am much more interested in characters being queer. Especially in non cis gay ways, bc we don’t have much of any rep but we have the most of that kind.
But I also don’t use this term unironically, so I should not be assuming my usage is typical. Even if it were, it would be worth pushing back on the wording to be more inclusive.
Two: oh man the way I bristled at “same-sex attraction”.
TL;DR: the push to use this term in LGBTQIA+ spaces came from TERFs. Lots of people then used it perfectly innocently, but it’s not a great term even on its face, much less as a litmus test for who is and isn’t “””really””” LGBT. I’m nonbinary: I don’t have a “same” sex. Lots of nonbinary people feel the same way. Also, because it came from TERFs, you can guess what they thought of trans women and men being “same-sex attracted”.
Bonus: the term ORIGINATES in conservative Christian circles. They used it to minimize the significance of queer feelings in order to better argue for conversion therapy. Because it’s just attraction, see, not an intrinsic part of your identity.
TERFs tried to argue this wasn’t the origin of the term and that it was somehow instead an off shoot of Black queer terminology. Which… they were appropriating and changing so that white people could use it. Great defense there, TERFs! A+.
Li
I FEEL A DESPERATE NEED TO CLARIFY: I was not accusing you of anything! Big big emphasis on “innocently repeated” terminology. It SEEMS like it should build a bridge between the LGs and the Bs, at the very least. Please don’t feel bad for saying a thing, we’re a big community and trying to keep up with terminology is daunting af.
Wilde
I think I understand now. You weren’t saying heterosexual is equivalent to queerplatonic, but taking issue with the implications of using the phrase. I was confused by the “(read: queerplatonic)” because I’ve only seen it used as equivalence. Thank you for clarifying!
AK
<3
Searcher
Actually, there is a rather simple and elegant explanation for it, but sadly it is too large to fit in this comment box.
Reg
A Pierre de Fermat reference in the Dumbing of Age comment section? These are my people.
Megan
the only way to get gayer is to develop some sorta Bugs Bunny/Daffy Duck dynamic
ReFlex76
The Huntin’ Twilogy wasn’t them trying to get each other killed.
They were fucking with Elmer, literally caused him to lose his mind at the end.
Staszu13
It’s baseball season! (Context: Elmer was trying to determine hunting season for rabbits and/or ducks, only to be told baseball season in the dead of winter)
Jeff K!
And then begins shooting at the baseball that is bouncing away…
Deanatay
Elmer: Sowwy, fewwas, but I’m a vegetawian. I only hunt fow spowt.
Bugs: Oh yeah? Well, there’s other sports besides hunting, ya know!
Daffy (suddenly in full tennis regalia): Anyone for tennis?
*Elmer shoots Daffy*
Daffy (shot): Nice… game…
Big Z
They’re at LEAST three-quarters of the way there already, let’s be honest.
Megan
nah, the bugs/daffy gay requires a sort of loving bitchiness towards one another that these two just aren’t capable of right now.
This is also different from the statler/waldorf gay relationship where the bitchiness is equal among both partners. if one side of the pairing isn’t flinching at sudden appearance of the other, its not a bugs/daffy situation.
maybe in their twenties when they can explore bdsm without all these judgy bitches breathing down their necks
Li
I think Big Z is probably thinking of Joyce channeling Daffy Duck when she intruded on Dorothy and Walky’s conversation. If he’s not, it sure was MY first thought.
Megan
joyce and walky aren’t into each other, though, thats not bugs and daffy, that’s just having an enemy
Li
Well, Walky was NOT being Bugs Bunny, Joyce was just being Daffy Duck about breaking him and Dorothy up.
So, halfway there already as in, Joyce recently behaved kinda like Daffy Duck, now we just need Dorothy to behave like Bugs Bunny?
That’s my guess, though, I’m not Big Z.
Big Z
Pretty much.
Steamweed
In those cartoons, _everyone_ is gay for Bugs.
Michelle J Caboose
Yep. Witness all the times Yosemite Sam and Elmer (just to mention a couple) have drooled all over Bugs in drag. 😉
Madock345
Jennifer speaks the truth
Derek
nah that wasn’t gay, just weird as fuck
RassilonTDavros
It can be both
Vanessa
And it can be quite adorable too.
Megan
gayness is more often than not weird as fuck
Tawnee
straightness seems to pretty weird as well
deliverything
As an aroace who’s baffled by this whole subject, I can confirm. Can also confirm the adorableness Vanessa mentions, though.
zee
Allos in general are incompehensible. Weird as fuck
Embe13
there is no normal we are all weird!!!
Gigafreak
“Queer” is a synonym for “weird”
Taffy
The Straights™ are weird, but they don’t get to be Queer.
Jon
Autistic straight confirming – I’m weird, but I’m not queer. (My wife is, though; she’s pan.)
Li
I have never met a pericishet person who wanted to call themself queer who didn’t have a VERY valid reason for doing so tbh.
Even if they weren’t yet out to themselves, that feeling doesn’t come from nowhere.
Mr D
*(Your results may vary if you aren’t speaking english)
Li
…I don’t think in any way that matters?
Like, translate it into the appropriate local diction, it will still be true. Straight, perisex, cisgender people who want to call themselves [local vernacular for queer/LGBTQIA+] pretty much always have a very valid reason for doing that, even if they don’t know it yet. People are not drawn to our community for no reason.
The “cringey overly invested ally” might never come out to YOU (because you were an asshole to them and made them feel unsafe!), but that doesn’t mean they’re never going to come out.
Not to be confused with: “why isn’t there a Straight Pride month”, which is entirely separate and annoying.
Mr D
The point I was trying to make was that Queer specifically, as a word that can mean both “Strange/Weird” and “Somewhere in the LGBT+ spectrum”, is an english thing.
Li
Sorta? I know that it’s also a loanword meaning LGBTQIA+ in several other languages, though!
I would otherwise assume that if you aren’t speaking English, and you are talking about this sorta thing, you are using the local vernacular. I dunno why you would translate what I’m saying into a different language but not also translate the word queer appropriately.
Mr D
Mostly because the comment chain you were responding to was talking about the difference between weird and queer (which means weird but is usually used as a part of the LGBTQIA+ umbrella), which only really works if you’re speaking English. I am commenting specifically about that.
Needfuldoer