OPINION
The origin of the word queer isn’t entirely certain. It came about sometime in the 16th century to refer to something odd, unusual, or strange. In the 19th century, people began using it to refer to homosexual men. It can still be used derogatorily, but people in the LGBTQ+ community have reclaimed the term and use it to describe themselves.
Identity can be confusing. Sometimes people find that just one label doesn’t suit them and they feel more comfortable fluctuating between identities. It’s flexible. Those are the people that often prefer to call themselves queer, since it can cover multiple identities.
Queerness has been around for millennia. It’s been noted multiple times throughout history, sometimes vaguely and other times very prominently. Queer people make up a small part of history, but it’s important and beautiful nonetheless.
As stated by Wikipedia, earliest evidence of queerness was Mesolithic rock art in Sicily’s Grotta dell’Addaura. It depicted male figures in religious settings, as hunters, and in homosexual relationships. This was somewhere between 9600 and 5000 BCE. Circa 7000 and 1700 BCE, human drawings in Greece and Cyprus were often dual-sexed or had no characteristics identifying their sex. These would sometimes be described as “third-sex” humans.
Sometime between 2900 and 2500 BCE in Prague, a man was buried in garments typically reserved for women. It’s speculated that this person could have been transgender or neither male nor female. Khnumhotep and Niankhkhnum are the first recorded potentially queer couple.
Rainbow and Co’s article on lesbian identities describes sapphic as any woman who likes other women. However, today it’s more common to see sappicism and lesbianism defined as non-men who are attracted to other non-men. This could be two non-binary people, a non-binary person and a woman, or two women.
The word “sapphic” came from the Greek lyric poet, Sappho. She was born on the island of Lesbos, where the word “lesbian” came from. Sappho is famous for the themes of lesbianism in her poems, hence why her name and birthplace were given the definition of lesbianism.
Homosexuality was prominent and very often practiced. Some men had close, lifelong relationships with one another that weren’t dissimilar to marriage. It’s speculated that one of these relationships was between Greek general Hephaestion and Alexander the Great.
The two had formed their friendship as children. Hephaestion worked as Alexander’s general and personal bodyguard. They were each other’s dearest friends and confidants. Aristotle, who tutored both of them, claimed that they were, “one soul abiding in two bodies.” As acknowledged by National Geographic, the true nature of their relationship isn’t confirmed, as they were both married to women, but they absolutely loved each other in whatever way that may be. When Hephaestion succumbed to illness and died, Alexander is said to have laid himself over his friend’s corpse, cut his hair, and refused to eat as he grieved.
Alexander organized a large funeral for Hephaestion. He had the oracle at Siwa grant Hephaestion divine status, therefore giving him the title of a Divine Hero. Alexander himself died only a year later.
In multiple cultures, queerness was revered and celebrated. In Native American cultures, some people presented themselves with both male and female traits. They were considered neither male nor female. They had their own label given to them – Two-Spirit.
New Zealand’s indigenous group, the Māori, use the term “takatāpui,” which directly translates to “intimate companion of the same sex.” It has since evolved to encompass all Māori people who identify with diverse genders and sexualities. In Hawai’i, people who have both masculine and feminine characteristics or identify as a third gender are referred to as “Māhū.” It translates to “half-man, half-woman.”
Some cultures are known to accept non-monogamy, otherwise referred to as polyamory. The Zo’é peoples of Brazil and Ladakhis in the Himalayas tend to practice it and view it as normal. In India, there are a few third-sex groups, but people called “hijras” are the most common. These are people that are often born male but dress in feminine clothing. Sometimes they’ll undergo a ceremony to be castrated as an offering to the Hindu goddess Bahuchara Mata.
Colonialism had a huge impact on the acceptance of queerness in society and indigenous cultures. Indigenous groups, once colonized, were expected to give up their culture and practices. They were expected to conform to white ideals, meaning rejecting polyamorous, homosexual, and transgender practices.
Traditional beliefs were disrupted and attempts were made to erase them entirely. Eventually, this became the norm. Stigma was created surrounding queer people. Something that had once been honored and revered became frowned upon.
This was just how it was now. It was for a long time. Any form of queerness was taboo and being open about it could be dangerous.
The 1960s brought in an era of change and rebellion. In June of 1969, the Stonewall Riots began. These riots weren’t the first of their kind, but they marked the beginning of queer rights being pushed for both in the US and around the world, according to History.com. For several nights, these riots went on and police were unable to control it.
Marsha P. Johnson was one of the most prominent figures in the riots, if not the most. She was a black transgender woman, always advocating for queer rights. She was one of the leaders of the Stonewall riots, along with Sylvia Rivera, Stormé DeLarverie, and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy. Marsha P. Johnson was said to have thrown the first brick during the riot.
This is what made June “Pride Month.” It was labeled as a month to commemorate the Stonewall Riots and honor queerness.
Throughout the 70s, homosexuality was becoming more and more prominent. While still generally frowned upon, activism for the LGBTQ+ community continued on.
Alternative cultures are generally a safe space for queerness and, while at first the acceptance was lacking, being queer and being alternative are things that go hand in hand now. They’re two cultures that are against the norm. Punk beliefs include equality for everyone, and that of course involves the queer community.
The metal community is also a fairly accepting community. They tend to be a little more insensitive about the words they use, but it’s generally a safe space.
Judas Priest’s vocalist, Rob Halford, publicly came out in 1988. He said he was worried about negative reactions, but was instead met with kindness and support from his community. He’s happily married to Thomas Pence.
This is only scratching the surface of queer history. There are so many stories that are still waiting to be heard. There are stories that have been lost to time. Even today, we’re still fighting for our rights and fighting to be seen.
We are here. We exist. We aren’t going anywhere.
