Given that “allophone” means, in Quebec, ‘someone who’s first language is neither french nor english’, it rather implies that an allophone is some sort of tri-sexual, doesn’t it?
Although, it does have a nice ring to it, and could be used as a declaration of preference and pick up line all at once: “'Allo, sexual!”
Allosexuel.
snicker
I guess it works in a sense… But heck, it’s not like the allophones have avoided racial slurs either!
If I love the city am I a metrosexual?
No, that would be me.
Well, by the time you’ve done that, the group is completely meaningless and therefore useless.
No, that would mean you are erotically aroused by subways. And we already have somebody in that job description, right, Matt? 
I identify myself as “queer.” I do not identify myself as “lesbian,” “bisexual,” or “gay” etc.
I AM QUEER!
When I was in high school, the worst way to insult someone was to call them queer. For me, the word still has a sting to it.
I think ivylass has hit the nail on the head. I don’t find it as offensive when gays use queer to refer to themselves in a gay setting, although it still bothers me.
Yeah, well . . . you eat crayons, too. 
What the heack does this mean?
What does “queerness” denote that “gayness” does not? For me, I’m homosexual, that is, I love and desire sexually men exclusively. Yet, I don’t feel that I’m “queer,” which to me conveys a sense of being abnormal and freakish. Being gay is a normal variation on the spectrum of human sexuality.
DrM I don’t refer to mysef as “queer” in a gay setting. I identify myself as “queer” in all settings, such as the workplace. (I’m out rather publicly.)
And I know a lot of queer women who do the same – mainly because “lesbian” “bisexual” and “gay” seem too restrictive, innaccurate or inappropriate.
QUEER checking in.
That is all.
LC
For one: I’m not gay. I do not desire women exclusively. In fact gender is totally and utterly irrelevent to who I fall in love with.
“Gay” tends to imply someone who is attracted to members of the same sex (exclusively).
The term “bisexual” also has connotations and/or misconceptions that are not accurate. Many people think of “bi” as being simultaneously desirous of men and women. (And it also drags out stereotypical misconceptions about wanting sex with both simultaneously.)
I have been in a same-sex long term relationship for quite a long time and can’t forsee that changing at any time. Since I’m no longer dating men, does that make me gay? No, it means that I’m bisexual in a monogamous relationship. Except that few can seem to grasp the concept of “bisexual” and “monogamy” being used in the same sentence.
I know a lot of women and transgendered individuals who prefer “queer” because it’s ambiguity allows the term to be all-inclusive. “Queer” pretty much covers the entire spectrum: homoseuxal, bisexual and everything in between.
It could be generational and I suspect regional as well. But where I’m from “queer” is used all the time as a way of identifying oneself.
You still haven’t explained what meaning “queer” has that “bisexual” fails to define.
BTW- one of the many reasons “queer” has become so popular in my hometown is because it is used as an inclusive term in the community.
Commmunity groups like GLLOW started realising that saying “we are a gay andlesbian organization” was actually alientating some people who would profit from the discussion groups ad resources. “GLBT” and “gaylesbitrans” are sometimes used, but everyone found “queer” to be the most universally accepted in the community.
“Queer” doesn’t have such a locked-in definition.
I usually refer to myself as gay in mixed company, queer in gay circles… Kinsey 3.8 might be more appropriate, but “queer” gets the point across without having to list my sexual history to everyone I meet.
So you use “queer” to mean anything other than “strictly heterosexual”? I can’t say that this really improves linguistic clarity.
Linguistic clarity isn’t the point, not being defined by others is the point.
In most circumstances I refer to myself as gay, when someone finds out I had a girlfriend they may say “Oh, you mean bi.” No, it isn’t anyone else’s decision but mine how I define myself.
Well, yes, but…
This reminds me of an article from the current issue of Instinct that talks about guys in homosexual relationships who insist they are “straight.” While I respect people’s rights to define themselves and not to be strait-jacketed by the expectations of others, I disapprove of people twisting the meaning of language to suit themselves. If you sleep with men and women, you are not gay, you are bi-c’mon, that’s the freakin’ definition!
Gobear that would be one of preference. I prefer the inclusiveness of “queer.”
Ex/ I’m queer and so is my transgendered lesbian friend.
“Bisexual” means a lot of different things to a lot of different people and it can be really confusing. There are so many shades of grey that some pepple have to launch into long-winded discourses about what “bi” means to them. Some people throw “polyamory” into the mix, use "bisexual and “bicurious” interchangeably etc. “Bi” can be such a loaded term. I got sick of going over the subtleties of my sexual history everytime someone asked who I’m dating.
“Queer” suits me just fine.
Reminder: I am in a long-term monogamous relationship. I am not currently sleeping with men at all and haven’t for a few years. Does that make me gay? No. I’m still bi. I’m just sleeping with one woman.
This is exactly why I prefer “queer.”
When people are told I’m bi they ask my SO “How can you sleep with a woman who still has sex with men? That’s gross.”:rolleyes:
“Queer” implies only that I am interested in same sex relationships. It doesn’t carry the rest of the baggage.