Queer Identity and the Stigma of Labels: An Outsider’s Perspective

Is the Queer Identity Movement Becoming Too Obsessive with Labels?

This question just made me laugh. Anyone need any more to realize that the queer community is becoming the most intolerant group in the country LOL. This kind of humor is not unique to me; it reflects a broader concern within the queer community about the role of labels and their impact on identity.

A Cisgender Male’s Perspective

Total outsider perspective, cis male, no experience with lesbian groups, but I’d question the idea that ‘soft butch’ would be somehow degrading to butch people. It’s just specifying a subtype of butchness. For comparison, it'd be like saying ‘cis male’ implies cis people can't be male. It's just not how those words work.

As for ‘low femme’, it’s a new term to me, but like… someone else’s identity is never a ‘phobia’. Saying ‘you don’t perform femininity/lesbianism the way I want and that’s bad’ is the real phobia.

Mask Language for Sexual Kinks

This is masked language for sexual kinks. Reminds me of two annoying girls who wouldn't stop talking openly about being “switch” or “dom” or “sub”… nobody cares about that, keep it to yourself. These are not personality labels; these are mask labels to hide the lack of personality.

Prejudice Against high Femme

From my observations, the prejudice is more against high femme. Both among lesbians and straight women, there's a reluctance to be seen as too feminine as it gives the impression of someone who spends too much effort on appearance and is assumed to have no time for more important things. I'm amused by how often I get complemented on my outfit, followed by “I couldn't wear something like that.”

The Stigma of Identity Labels

What a load of crap this question is. Femme this, butch that, get over it. The LGBT movement was about getting away from labels, not creating a shedload more that people would then be bound by. If you are labelling yourself and spending your time worrying about this or that specious identity, you need to get better interests. This sort of thing is ridiculous.

A normal person does not make their sexuality or gender the entire basis of their identity. I'm straight but so what. Do you suppose that colleagues and acquaintances go “That’s Marc, he's straight”? Of course not; it simply doesn’t matter. I hate all this labelling crap, I really do. It's nothing but morbid self-obsession and entitlement. And what the hell is a ‘safespace’? Somewhere that reality doesn't apply, presumably.

If you need a safespace to function, what's wrong with you? Why are so many LGBT people so weak nowadays? Do you suppose that the Stonewall protestors needed a safespace? Hell no, they were getting their heads cracked with nightsticks for standing up for their rights. How many of them burst into tears because a nasty policeman used the wrong pronoun? "Oh, I need a safespace somebody didn't validate my identity and now I’m suicidal!" Wtf.

In conclusion, the obsession with identity labels in the queer community can sometimes overshadow the true essence of the movement. It's important to appreciate the diversity within the community while avoiding the pitfalls of rigid categorization. Let’s strive for a more inclusive and understanding environment where people can thrive without feeling the need to adhere to strict labels.