as the 'queer is a[n unreclaimed] slur' rhetoric is being reheated, let's take a moment to remember:

1) some LGBTQ+ ppl feel discomfort being called 'queer' or lumped into the 'queer community'.

2) TERFs have HIJACKED their discomfort to make it all about (cis) lesbians*. https://twitter.com/freetofic/status/1089912629399834624

*this is not the fault of cis lesbians. Nor are most cis lesbians TERFs. TERFs, however, TERFs colonize cis lesbian visibility to isolate&alienate cis lesbians & turn them *into* TERFs.

in other words: TERFs PREY on cis lesbians, because TERF comms are predatory & cultlike.

& TERFs prey on the rest of the LGBTQ+ community by claiming that 'queer is a slur' by leaving off the implied exclusionary rhetoric phrase at the end.

ie: "queer is a slur ...
-- that has never been reclaimed & can never be reclaimed by anyone."
-- against cis lesbians."

why is it, when all our labels have been used as slurs against us, that 'queer' gets particular attention?

It's b/c queer people being part of the LGBTQ+ community is anathema to *all exclusionists* (a group which includes TERFs) because the queer identity is hard to gatekeep.

Exclus see the 'queer' label as way for 'cishets'* to 'sneak into' the LGBT-full-stop community & abuse LGBT ppl.

TERFs see the 'queer' label as a way for anyone who isn't a lesbian to 'sneak into' the good graces of (cis) lesbians to prey on them.

*'cishet' used to be code for 'ace & aro people', but it is increasingly code for 'anyone who isn't Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or FTM/MTF Trans' - i.e. 'not LGBT'.

some exclus also believe 'pansexual' = 'bisexual w/internalized biphobia'.

These 'rules' are arbitrarily enforced.

At the same time, wider straight cis media will (incorrectly) refer to the entire LGBTQQIAAPN+ rainbow as 'the queer community' in news broadcasts or marketing blasts.

This adds tension&confusion when queer ppl refer to the 'queer community', despite meaning only themselves.

The tension & confusion caused by the mass media's misuse of 'queer community' is what TERFs lean into and exacerbate by spreading the 'queer is a slur [against cis lesbians that can never be reclaimed]' rhetoric.

That's how TERFs have HIJACKED legit discomfort with 'queer'.

(& yes: the same thing happens when straight cis media calls us the 'gay community' as a whole, but the internal disgruntlement with that *isn't* being agitated by outside forces such as TERFs).

tl;dr: the phrase 'queer is a slur' is a TERF dogwhistle.

further: it's a dogwhistle that *exclusionists can hear*.

& both TERFs & exclus love it when well-meaning ppl who genuinely dislike being called 'queer'/part of 'the queer community' use the phrase to police queer ppl.

"this post isn’t saying non-straight, non-cis people who don’t claim ‘queer’ are supporting TERFs.

"it’s saying that TERFs are STEALING from you to damage the unity of Pride - a community that [lesbians & queer ppl & many others] are ALL a part of." https://freedom-of-fanfic.tumblr.com/post/182989119984/yoroimikoto-freedom-of-fanfic-ive-been