TIL that there's a pride flag to represent queerness itself.
"Queer is an identity in and of itself that more and more people are choosing to identify with. It is a sort of label for those who don’t want to put themselves in a box. Often considered a movement, queer people are those who fall outside of and/or renounce the cultural norms around sexuality, gender identity, and/or gender expression.
The word queer can mean different things to different people, but the most accepted definition is someone who is not cishet or someone with variant experiences with orientation, gender, and/or sex."
https://queerintheworld.com/queer-pride-flag/
cc: @lgbtq_plus
I see where you’re coming from, but I think the reason “queer” works well in that context is precisely because it’s a word that refers to the community as a whole, and not a specific experience within the community that is separate and different.
Calling yourself “queer” signifies nothing more that you’re part of the LGBT+ community. Which makes it a great label for those who don’t feel that any of the the other labels define them perfectly — but it also works well for those who do claim another label as their own, too.
To me, it’s important that it’s a word (and a flag) that unites us, and not one that is in any way exclusive.
(Although I agree that the flag is beautiful <3 and I’ll never tell anyone they can’t use a flag they want to use!)