Queer
Queer is a term used by those wanting to reject specific labels of romantic orientation, sexual orientation and/or gender identity. It can also be a way of rejecting the perceived norms of the LGBT community (racism, sizeism, ableism etc). Although some LGBT people view the word as a slur, it was reclaimed in the late 80s by the queer community who have embraced it.
Questioning
The process of exploring your own sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
Intersex
A term used to describe a person who may have the biological attributes of both sexes or whose biological attributes do not fit with societal assumptions about what constitutes male or female.
Intersex people may identify as male, female or non-binary.
Stonewall works with intersex groups to provide its partners and stakeholders information and evidence about areas of disadvantage experienced by intersex people but does not, after discussions with members of the intersex community, include intersex issues as part of its current remit at this stage.
Asexual
A person who does not experience sexual attraction. Some asexual people experience romantic attraction, while others do not. Asexual people who experience romantic attraction might also use terms such as gay, bi, lesbian, straight and queer in conjunction with asexual to describe the direction of their romantic attraction.
I hope that makes everything clear. ( I added spinster as my own term of reference.
Anyway, it’s Monday now and I’ve two nights out and lots of assignment to do with my other non work days. Grayson Perry ( an evening with) is on Saturday and Giselle on Tuesday
I thought A was for ally or supporter? Someone who is an allay for all. Kathy
ReplyDeleteAlly is in there somewhere too Kathy x
DeleteI was living in London in the mid-60's when Polari was becoming commonly used. It took me ages to discover what it all meant.
ReplyDeleteInteresting cro, I thought polari just a radio show scetch
DeleteI think it does help to make it clearer. I have never thought to check Stonewall about the abbreviations.
ReplyDeletePage the Oracle
DeleteI just wish people didn't need to use labels and could just be who they are, without fear or prejudice. Unlikely ever to happen, sadly. xx
ReplyDeleteThis label stage ,is that , a stage which we will pass through eventually
DeleteI consider myself WLSBTT.....would like sex but too tired! x
ReplyDeleteExcellent answer
DeleteThank you, sad but true! x
DeleteSame
DeleteSpinster means an unmarried female, not a male. The word for an unmarried male is bachelor. Bachelor is still considered ok to use however spinster is considered outdated and derogatory.
ReplyDeleteI've never understood why gay people can't just accept who they are instead of keep labelling themselves in more and more ridiculous ways. We're all human beings. Why keep drawing attention to yourselves as if you deserve special and different attention? Can't you just accept yourself for what you are as heterosexuals do? They don't give themselves different pronouns or initials.
Making yourselves "different" means you don't want to integrate with the rest of humanity. I, and so many others, accept all differences in the human race, why can't you?
Spoken like the pious heterosexual she is.
DeleteCelebrating differences is vital and is respectful for all those gone before us who had no voices at all
Your final words are laughable
“ I and so many others accept all differences in the human race”
But you obviously cannot and have not done this
Foolish foolish silly woman
Anon doesn't say what their gender is, do you know it's a female? Ursula perhaps? Males can be anonymous too
DeleteHeterosexuals don't need anything equal to gay pride and being able to proclaim what they are to show their pride. Heterosexuals have never been beaten up, spit on, bullied, ousted from their families because of who they are. So until all of that behavior stops, people need to be allowed.to openly say what they are and live their truth. BTW, I am a heterosexual female.
DeleteThank you Linda , well said
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DeleteMore rubbish , this time deleted
DeleteUnless you have started to identify as female please don't use the term spinster, and even then you would be wrong, as spinsters have never married. Stonewall has a lot to answer for - not least terminology now being used in the NHS.
ReplyDeleteI will continue to use it, because it makes me smile and laugh
Delete@thevegartist, I agree. As a fully paid up woman, it cheeses me off when men use female descriptions to describe themselves. Apart from the fact that John is clearly a man, and a married and divorced one at that, Spinster is a misnomer - a female, unmarried and often viewed as of low worth person, perhaps he could begin to properly describe himself as a spinster if he took up spinning.
DeleteOh get over yourself ,
DeleteThis entry was an observation of things changed and a humorous one relating to spinster
Spoken like a man.
DeleteFrom one spinster to another, John. I welcome you as my sister.
DeleteI high five you my spinster bestie xx
DeleteIt must have been a strange weekend in blog land and there are some strange comments here….and some very strange blog posts as well
ReplyDeleteI don’t understand why people are concerned by terms that people wish to apply to themselves. If a person wished to called themselves an “X” (insert the appropriate word) that is fine by me.
Exactly lol
DeleteLearn lots this week, and keep exploring the world.
ReplyDeleteAmen david
DeleteIt's always nice to learn something new, I didn't know the IA and it has confused me for a while. It makes sense now, thank you.
ReplyDeleteI needed to clarify the acronyms
DeleteSaw Grayson Perry earlier this month and it was an excellent evening. Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI’m looking forward to the evening
DeleteSpinsters were the dependent females, the property of the head of the house, domestic slaves with no rights, of less value than paid servants. The name comes from their work from early childhood to old age, from dawn to late at night, spinning the wool which provided the wealth of the wool trade.
ReplyDeleteI had a great aunt who, apart from the spinning, fitted this description. Even as a child I could see that she had drawn the short straw. Probably why I dislike the term so much.
DeleteI always think Maiden Aunt was an unfair label as and single uncle was just referred to as Uncle.
DeleteI’m my memory maiden aunts, spinsters or old maids were only called that by FEMALE relatives
I think John is playing with us when he says he wants to be referred to as a spinster. It’s called japing people
I welcome all of these labels because , to many they will be cherished
Keith
Xx
Enough about bloody spinsters already lol xx
DeleteIn my understanding of it - only when finding a mate would it be anyones business - I would not fill in any form which asked me personal details - also with religion - I reply Universal x
ReplyDeleteSoon,mit won’t matter at all
DeleteHumans are a glorious mix of differences and commonalities. I have learned so much from my trans son and his friends who have accepted me for who I am as I accept them for who they are. I feel that my life has been greatly enriched by knowing so many different people in the queer community. And call yourself a spinster if you want! Why should that disturb anyone?
ReplyDeleteIt was tongue in cheek, but I suspect you knew that.
DeleteThe acronym just keeps getting longer and longer, doesn't it? I just stick with LGBTQ+ and hope that the + is sufficient to cover everyone else.
ReplyDeleteYes I prefer this one, like you said it encapsulates everyone
DeleteEnlightening on this Monday morning.
ReplyDeleteHope you find time for the many assignments and plans you have ... and work, of course!
Hugs!
Diplomatic babs
DeleteThere’s also “2S, have you seen, for the Native term “2 Spirit “
ReplyDeleteI love that you’re a Spinster! (For now, anyway.) Language is for playing with!
For those who don’t know and are interested:
Delete“ Two-Spirit refers to (only) Indigenous people who express their gender or sexual identities as different from others. Not all Indigenous individuals who are not Cisgender or Heterosexual will identify as Two-Spirited, but all Two-spirit individuals identify as Indigenous. Some nations hold space for more than 2 genders, such as the Díne, The Anishnaabe, and the Lakota.”
This maybe doesn’t apply much in Wales…
Delete(I live in Minneapolis—which was Anishinabe/Lakota land)
Fresca , I was reading about the two spirit references today , fascinating
DeleteI can’t remember the string of initials or what they all mean, so to me you are whoever you are or want to be. Gigi
ReplyDeleteSimply and nicely put
DeleteLabels are just labels. Living your best life under any definition is the ideal.
ReplyDeleteAgreed
DeleteAnd these are constantly shifting sands, aren't they? Back when I came out, there was just gay and lesbian! (I mean, I'm sure everyone else existed, but they weren't specifically referenced.)
ReplyDeleteMe too steve , and I understand some of the frustration here, but in the future even straight could disappear
DeleteAnd maybe it should. Maybe it's an overly broad label.
DeleteI wonder if I can sign up for an evening class which covers human sexuality and its vocabulary. I thought a "spinster" was someone who sat at a spinning wheel all day with a pile of wool to spin. Is an orgasm a tiny wriggly thing best seen through a microscope? I admit that I have a lot to learn.
ReplyDeleteNow I’d pay to go on that night class
Delete"Learn something new every day"...I always thought a spinster was a dried up unmarried penniless woman, grudgingly tolerated in Victorian households for the unpaid labor they supplied. Now refitting that to mean ''single gay guy".
ReplyDeleteoff topic, if the ballet is in London I saw pics of I think Regents street decorated lavishly with holiday lights. It looked enchanting, worth an pre ballet stroll.
It only means gay single pensioner in Trelawnyd lol
DeleteYou are so much more than that! x
DeleteOf course I am
DeleteWhy do we need this clumsy set of initials? Can't we just be gay, lesbian, straight, male or female?
ReplyDeleteI think if you have never had an accepted identity than labelling is important , belonging is important .having your identity spoken about and respected is important
DeleteI get what your saying about the clumsiness of the letters….but they are more than just letters to the groups they represent
But why do the letters need to be glued together? Being gay is wholly different from being trans. Being attracted to someone of the same sex is wholly different from conceiving yourself as a member of the other sex.
DeleteThere is strength and safety in unity Paul
DeleteWell said john , well said ( waving my rainbow flag madly)
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DeleteToo much
DeleteThere was nothing abusive in what I said. May one not ask what exactly is supposed to be the common factor that underpins this indefinite grouping together under the initialism (LGBTQIA+)? That's all I asked. If it isn't sexual orientation, and it isn't, what is it?
DeleteReally bored by this obsession with gender and sexuality labels. All I am interested in is the light in the eye and the brightness of the soul. But wildly distracted by the photo of Clint Walker (Cheyenne, from good old telly days) -what a mix of messages no-one seemed able read in the Fifties. Or did they?
ReplyDeleteI understand this boredom. You are enlightened and annaccepting , all inclusive woman x
DeleteThank you. I know I should really say "I try" but I don't; it is just how I am and have always been. Here's a little story from last weekend. Was travelling through a small Lincolnshire market town, and in a charity shop. Rummaging around on the floor I bumped into a lady standing next to me in an elegant red coat, black trousers, patent high heels, all expensive and classy. From our various heights we shared a joke, and it was only as I creaked up to standing I realised this tall elegant woman had a beard. Had no idea which way she was transiting, and I didn't care; here was someone elegant, brave and classy.
DeleteI heard myself offer a compliment on such a handsome beard - as I was a connoisseur, I explained, as my husband had had a very similar beard in all the 46 years I knew him, and earnt myself a genuine smile. Also as I stood she saw the "History, Huh?" slogan on my sweat shirt, which is the key phrase from the gay romantic comedy film Red White And Royal Blue. (which I have now probably seen 40 times) Her eyes filled with tears as she realised I was just being my honest self talking to her honest self, sexuality and gender irrelevant, and labels could and should, go hang. We parted on a smile, just a fleeting contact that said so much and I will probably never forget.
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ReplyDeleteIn case anyone is interested, there is a wonderful series on Showtime right now called Fellow Travellers. It begins in 1952 with the McCarthy Hearings and the Lavender Scare and racism and religion and takes us into the 80s with the advent of AIDS. I can't recommend it enough. The first episode is quite graphic. If you don't like that kind of thing I encourage you to hang in there because the series is very touching and eye opening.
ReplyDeleteI’ve found it rather moving Linda
DeleteTina in west oz. Not having to worry about a thing is a sign of privilege. In this case, being cis gender and straight in a society where that is not only the accepted norm but where also at times that norm is enforced with shame, violence, loss of family and career, and even death. For others, finding a label that fits and a pronoun and/or a personal name you choose and having them accepted and used can mean the difference between life and death. Especially for a teen. It does us no harm to be kind and can do someone else a world of good.
ReplyDeleteMy patients sexuality is non of my business. I address them however they want.
ReplyDeleteI work with a fair who are transitioning. Quick chart review and away we go. I just want to give the best experience I can when they cross my path.
If you want to identify as a unicorn, so be it. It has no effect on my life. I just want them to be a happy unicorn.
Oh, and I live in an area with a large First Nations population. There have been more than a few women transition to men. Very few identify as 2 spirited but it's easy to recognize them, not so much with those who are transitioning.
I don't understand why people get so fired up on this topic. How a person identifies changes nothing about my own identity. Live and let live. Haven't we learned that much?
ReplyDeleteI/We have many gay and lesbian friends, and it's never been an issue. You have a friend because their personality sparks something in yours, not because of a label about their sexuality. I was gobsmacked last week when, for the first time in my life, someone told me they were uncomfortable with a person we meet weekly at church because they weren't sure about the person's identity as a transgender woman and what was the person's sexual practice!!! I pulled myself together (while madly thinking they were nuts) and said that frankly I had no idea, and as I didn't want that kind of a relationship with her it didn't seem to me to be any of my business!
ReplyDeleteWhat should I have said? How could I have helped her become more reconciled to that person's self identity? I'm still of the opinion that as a heterosexual, married woman I have little to contribute...
Well said Debby! Jackie
ReplyDeleteI don’t understand the whole sex thing. The cos the not cos. Wry complicated and I always worry I’m going to
ReplyDeleteOffend so
Wine. So I just shut the fuck yo and try to listen.
Sorry auto correct. Cis, stfu, somebody not wine . JFC
ReplyDelete