Looking at the words “queer” and ”dyke,” my opinion is that they can be hateful words to be avoided, or affirmations to be celebrated, and even terms of endearment- all depending on the context of the situation. They did start out as words with negative connotations, but now we can hear it among the homosexual community like everyday, “normal” words. I have also heard it used as what may sound like an insult or derogatory comment, but because it was used between two homosexuals, it became a joke and something to laugh at. I think that these words, “queer” and dyke,” were adapted by the homosexual community because instead of continuing to let society use these words in negative lighting, they took the initiative to control the meanings of these words, at least to some extent. Even though these words have had other meanings added to them, that does not mean that the negativity associated with these words has been erased. I probably could count for days the number of times I have heard or even used phrases like, “That’s gay,” or “What a queer/dyke.” And I do think that you do have to be careful when using these words (that is, if you care about the feelings of others) if you are not a part of the homosexual community- because the fact that you aren’t a homosexual changes your context and means that there are other possible meanings behind these words when you specifically use them. I do know homosexuals who don’t like the words at all, even being part of the homosexual community.
-angela
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