--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The word queer first started being used…" description: "\"The word queer first started being used in the late 1980s by members of the community who wanted to reclaim something negative and turn it into a posit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd7/olly-alexander-5923_community_the-word-queer-first-started-being-used_3140560.jpg" --- # The word queer first started being used in the late 1980s… ![“The word queer first started being used in the late 1980s by members of the community who wanted to reclaim something negative and turn it into a positive. It's still a painful word for some, and lots of people don't identify with it. But for me it's a helpful and empowering term that unifies an…” quote by Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd7/olly-alexander-5923_community_the-word-queer-first-started-being-used_3140560.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd7/olly-alexander-5923_community_the-word-queer-first-started-being-used_3140560.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd7/olly-alexander-5923_community_the-word-queer-first-started-being-used_3140560.jpg) > “The word queer first started being used in the late 1980s by members of the community who wanted to reclaim something negative and turn it into a positive. It's still a painful word for some, and lots of people don't identify with it. But for me it's a helpful and empowering term that unifies an ever-growing community.” [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reclaiming a derogatory term can transform it into a source of empowerment for a community. **In simple terms:** Turning a negative word into a positive identity. Key Takeaway Embrace language that unites and empowers. Themes identity empowerment language community Mood proud reflective Type social personal When to use this quote - activism - pride events - support groups - education - public speaking Key Concepts reclamation social identity semantic shift Questions to Reflect On - How does reclaiming language affect personal identity? - What are the risks of using reclaimed terms in broader society? A Different Perspective Not everyone feels comfortable with reclaimed terms; some may reject them. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Empowering Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empowering-term-5594092/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/late/) [Negative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative/) [Painful Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painful-word-1940428/) [Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive/) [Queer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/queer/) [Queer Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/queer-started-5594091/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [Word Queer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/word-queer-3252810/) ## Related quotes > [These names: gay, queer, homosexual are limiting. I would love to finish with them. We're going to have to decide which terms to use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-jarman/these-names-gay-queer-homosexual-are-limiting-i-would-love-to-finish/) [Derek Jarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-jarman/) > [“nothing but that one sufficient little word queer; he's queer, says Stubb; he's queer—queer, queer; and keeps dinning it into Mr. Starbuck all the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/nothing-but-that-one-sufficient-little-word-queer-he-s-queer-says/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [I embrace the word queer as all-encompassing and how inclusive it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-bearse/i-embrace-the-word-queer-as-all-encompassing-and-how-inclusive-it-is/) [Amanda Bearse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-bearse/) > [“Your past is like a bag of bricks; set it down and walk away. Quit collecting every painful word, memory and mistake. Collect hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/your-past-is-like-a-bag-of-bricks-set-it-down-and-walk-away-quit/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Nothing can be more painful than the cry of the word which gave us the inspiration to dream of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/nothing-can-be-more-painful-than-the-cry-of-the-word-which-gave-us/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [I identify as a gay man all the time, but I also like to identify as queer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-identify-as-a-gay-man-all-the-time-but-i-also-like-to-identify-as/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [In my dictionary, and everyone's dictionary in the 1970s, the word 'queer' did mean strange and unusual. There was no slur to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wurzelbacher/in-my-dictionary-and-everyone-s-dictionary-in-the-1970s-the-word/) [Joe Wurzelbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wurzelbacher/) > [We are traumatized by growing up in a world that doesn't really accept us. Obviously, we've made great leaps and bounds, but I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/we-are-traumatized-by-growing-up-in-a-world-that-doesn-t-really/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [Pop music has a pretty good track record of embracing queer culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/pop-music-has-a-pretty-good-track-record-of-embracing-queer-culture/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [So many queer people come out constantly for the rest of their lives, ya know? To the people they work with, to people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/so-many-queer-people-come-out-constantly-for-the-rest-of-their-lives/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [I get a real thrill for being 'overtly queer' in my aesthetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-get-a-real-thrill-for-being-overtly-queer-in-my-aesthetic/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [What's great about being gay is that you can celebrate all types of sexualities, because we understand that being queer means you might also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/what-s-great-about-being-gay-is-that-you-can-celebrate-all-types-of/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [When you're young and queer and closeted, you can end up in this place where you regard your straight peers as the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/when-you-re-young-and-queer-and-closeted-you-can-end-up-in-this-place/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [“If your organization is not formally committed to a policy of nondiscrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression or gender presentation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-d-acquaviva/if-your-organization-is-not-formally-committed-to-a-policy-of/) [Kimberly D. Acquaviva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-d-acquaviva/) > [“There's something very... I don't know; primitive, perhaps, about you, Gurgeh. You've never changed sex, have you?' He shook his head. 'Or slept with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-m-banks/there-s-something-very-i-don-t-know-primitive-perhaps-about-you/) [Iain M. Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-m-banks/) ## More by Olly Alexander > [I've always loved sci-fi and fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-ve-always-loved-sci-fi-and-fantasy/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [I used to travel a lot as a kid and when I first moved to England I felt lonely and my parents were splitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-used-to-travel-a-lot-as-a-kid-and-when-i-first-moved-to-england-i/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [I can't play guitar well at all, so I had to learn that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-can-t-play-guitar-well-at-all-so-i-had-to-learn-that/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [I think everyone knows what it is like being in love. It's never a smooth thing. Whether you are happily together or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-think-everyone-knows-what-it-is-like-being-in-love-it-s-never-a/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [I'm fascinated by technology and how it is changing the way we live and view our humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-m-fascinated-by-technology-and-how-it-is-changing-the-way-we-live/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [I'd love to work with SBTRKT if he'd have me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-d-love-to-work-with-sbtrkt-if-he-d-have-me/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [The likelihood is that you or someone you know closely will suffer from a mental health condition in your lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/the-likelihood-is-that-you-or-someone-you-know-closely-will-suffer/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [I identify as a gay man all the time, but I also like to identify as queer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-identify-as-a-gay-man-all-the-time-but-i-also-like-to-identify-as/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [There's entrenched homophobia behind the scenes at all levels of the music industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/there-s-entrenched-homophobia-behind-the-scenes-at-all-levels-of-the/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [I want to do a song with Rihanna - we need to make that work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-want-to-do-a-song-with-rihanna-we-need-to-make-that-work/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [I don't know if there's ever a point where you go, 'Oh, I'm successful now. Look at all this great stuff I've done,' because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-don-t-know-if-there-s-ever-a-point-where-you-go-oh-i-m-successful/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [Everyone has a different definition of what they find sexy, so why do we so often get given one version of what sexy is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/everyone-has-a-different-definition-of-what-they-find-sexy-so-why-do/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [I think all of the best songs are about heartbreak and love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-think-all-of-the-best-songs-are-about-heartbreak-and-love/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [We could perform in space or be the first band to play moon, but we want to be the first 'Star Wars' band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/we-could-perform-in-space-or-be-the-first-band-to-play-moon-but-we/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [I don't want to be normal, I don't want to grow up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-don-t-want-to-be-normal-i-don-t-want-to-grow-up/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) [Explore all 100 Olly Alexander quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) ## More Community quotes > [Race is the idea that a human being is more superior than another human being, race in society grants illusional rights to mistreat each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/race-is-the-idea-that-a-human-being-is-more-superior-than-another/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/) [Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/) > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. 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They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-beauty-contests-and-popularity/) [Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/) > [We're at a point in history were we have to become a part of the neighborhood of inhabited planets, like a neighborhood of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-re-at-a-point-in-history-were-we-have-to-become-a-part-of-the/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/) [Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/) > [It rolls off my back. Ridicule doesn't mean anything - even from people you're supposed to wear knee pads around, like the scientific community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-schultz/it-rolls-off-my-back-ridicule-doesn-t-mean-anything-even-from-people/) [Dwight Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-schultz/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we're hungry for another kind of truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-think-that-most-of-us-anyway-read-these-stories-that-we-know-are/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [Human life consists of doing certain things ... to take part in the life of the community; to be able to talk about subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/human-life-consists-of-doing-certain-things-to-take-part-in-the-life/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. 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Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-a-reich/) [Browse all 13,840 Community quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The word queer first started being used in the late 1980s by members of the community who wanted to reclaim something negative and turn it into a positive. It's still a painful word for some, and lots of people don't identify with it. 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