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A brief overview of the language I’m using in this research.

Going back to my days in secondary school I was always interested in the words people used to describe themselves and the world around them. That’s not to say I had an aptitude for language; far from it as my French teacher would DEFINITELY agree! But how people use language to manifest the descriptions of particular ideas always interested me. Perhaps that’s why I chose to study philosophy at undergrad, or why I eventually made my way into social science.

When it comes to labels, the LGBTQIA+ community has long had a love/hate relationship with them. The language used to describe us as a group has changed and developed over time. For some, delving deep into the minutiae of identity is critical for understanding who they are, who is part of their community and how to navigate through life. For others, the idea of any kind of ‘label’ is abhorrent, flying in the face of individualism and inclusion which is a mainstay of the community.

There can be a fluidity to language use too – for a long time I identified strongly as lesbian, then I began to use the simpler ‘gay’ to describe myself. Now, as I grow older and have an appreciation that nothing remains fixed, I much prefer the term queer. For me, it encompasses a far greater reach than sexuality or sexual orientation; the idea of ‘queer’ is to challenge, to ‘disrupt’ and to trouble. ‘Queers’ is anti-assimilationist in many ways.

However, I do understand that for many in our community the word ‘queer’ can be hurtful; for other it is a symbol of pride and of empowerment. I have chosen to use the word queer in the title of my study for two reasons.

1. It is my own personal preference to describe myself. As a member of this community, and as someone who is a former family carer for a number of different family members over time, I am embedded ninths research – I am what they call an ‘insider’. I am being as transparent as possible about that.
2. It is more manageable, and encompasses more people and identities that either LGBTQIA+ or the shorter, but somewhat more benign ‘sexual and/or gender minorities’.

An excellent introductory article on Medium.com includes a brief history of terminology and notes that although there are many different preferences that we all have when it comes to how we are described, that language use must be seen as diverse, and without any kind of hierarchy of merit.

There is not now, nor has there ever been, a consensus on approaches to activism within the LGBTQ community, including the politics of language. LGBTQ people are as diverse and varied as any other group. What unites us is a shared experience of being gender and sexual minorities, though the particularities of that experience differ from person to person. The point is not to position some versions of the initialism as “wrong” and others as “right.” Rather, it is to encourage critical thinking around language as a vehicle of social change, and to recognize that people do not have to agree on all things to work communally. Language ideally brings us together, not divides us. We should not exclude others for using terminology we may not agree with or prefer, or for taking a different approach. We should, however, think critically about the words we use and if they are actually serving their intended purpose, or creating additional problems.

A Brief History of the LGBTQ Initialism – Jeffry J. Iovannone

I’m always interested to hear what other researchers and members of the community are using; it’s easy to stay stuck inside a bubble where everyone uses the same language, the same assumptions, the same everything. Within my Doctoral research I will be going into these debates in much more detail, critiquing them, and before I finalise my thesis this language choice may change. I’ll keep you informed!