I don't know about you....Sharon.

[JazzyMaxie]

Let me begin with what I am about to write is not meant to be offensive in any way, shape, or form. This has just been bugging me all day, so I have to say something...

Earlier today, I was reading through some of the threads, and I noticed that your (Sharon's) profile was listed as a self proclaimed "The Queer Jew." Fine...you can be a Jew if you want. But, for the life of me, I cannot figure out why you would refer to yourself as Queer?

Dictionary.com defines Queer as....

1. strange or odd from a conventional viewpoint; unusually different; singular: a queer notion of justice
I don't find anything overly strange or odd about you. Yes, we differ in lifestyle and some choices...but when it comes down to it, we are pretty much trying to achieve the same goal...to be happy and to be the best mothers that we can be for our children!
2. of a questionable nature or character; suspicious; shady
If I cared enough, I might question your sexual preference, but it really isn't any of my business! Besides, if you knew some things about me...you would seriously think that I have lost my marbles! Suspicious....Shady....I don't think so....You are a lot like me in that you will call things as they are....and people don't have to wonder what you are thinking!
3. not feeling physically right or well; giddy, faint, or qualmish: to feel queer.
I don't think that you are physically ill most of the time.
4. mentally unbalanced or deranged.
Deranged? Unbalanced? Nope....maybe a few characters from MLM I would describe that way...but not you.
5. Slang: Disparaging and Offensive .
a. homosexual.
b. effeminate; unmanly.
We are going to leave number 5 alone...because I don't want to be offensive!

So....if you don't mind, Sharon. I don't think that I can think of you as Queer. I think that I will just need to keep thinking of you as Sharon. I don't care what is politically correct. You are Sharon. As a matter of fact, I think that I will begin referring to all positive homosexual women as Sharon....because think of the wonderful contributions that they would be making to this world if they were only a fraction of a Sharon.

Once again, I hope that I did not come across as offensive in any way...this is just what has been running though my head all day. And now that I got it out, maybe I can focus a little bit more closely on things that I am supposed to be paying attention to; rather than being bothered by my perception of a word.

As always....Just My Two Cents...

[CindyChapman]

wow...i have tears in my eyes. <3 Sharon!!!!!!! and <3 Jazzy!!!

[sharon]

Jazzy you are so sweet. I cannot remember ever being offended by anything you have said. Sure, I have disagreed with things you have said at times, but that is different than being offended.

Queer, as I use it, means none of the those things you list above. (Although I am definitely "unmanly.") Queer is an inclusive term that means members of the GLBT community. I feel like a sandwich if I say I am GLBT. And truly, I am not, since GLBT encompasses a community but one person could not be all 4 letters. I do identify as Queer and feel nothing but grateful and proud about that.

I guess the dictionary hasn't caught up to modern usage yet. Wikipedia had a more up to date entry: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer.

It is a term that is still controversial in some communities, but not in Minneapolis as far as I've experienced, as evidenced in this website listing the groups affiliated with the Queer Music Consortium and referring to Queer arts in Minnesota:
mnfreedomband.org/content/affiliates/

[sharon]

Oh, but I should add, you aren't required to call me Queer if you don't want. In fact, IME most Hets don't use the term.

[sharon]

familieslikemine.com/about-lgbt-families/faqs-about-lgbt-families/isnt-it-easier-for-you-to-just-say-queer-instead-of-lgbt/

Here is another link. Abigail Garner has written and spoken about being a woman who is heterosexual but "culturally queer." (She's an adult Heterosexual woman with two Gay fathers) It's a term she coined that makes a lot of sense and I have used it since hearing her do so. But she does talk about the term being troubling to some.

[supermommy]

Thanks for the insight Sharon! Jazzy that was so nice of you to write that, I think we can all agree Sharon is a wonderful person and doesn't match those descriptions :-)

[megs25]

I love this thread!

[nevaehsmom327]

LOVE THIS!!!!

Jazzy and Sharon, you're both such amazing women!

[sharon]

You guys are so sweet!