We are not amused

[Karl Rand]

Eurgh. I hate the word Queer. Heard it enough at school, had it drilled into me enough in a negative way. No way will I ever want to identify as queer. I get the notion that people want to reclaim the word back from it's negative roots, but for me it will always be a negative word, and identifying as queer for me implies that we are weird, abnormal, outsiders. It is not an inclusive word IMO. Just my opinion of course.

Given my negative view of our species in general, held from a very early age, I’ve always felt proud to be thought ”˜weird, abnormal and an outsider’. For me however this has always been an issue far wider than my being gay given normal insiders are destroying this planet with such enthusiasm. 
   As a young queer I was frequently picked on and bashed by other (supposedly normal) children. Luckily a neighbour, a retired professional boxer and karate instructor took me under his wings telling me to say nothing at school about what I was learning until he thought me ”˜ready’. When I finally had sufficient boxing and martial arts skill I unleashed a long held loathing for ’normal’ boys who had attacked me over the years. With hindsight I confess I may have gotten carried away at times with my need for revenge. In my 70’s I still find it impossible to regret coming out fighting, a proud, nasty little pugnatious queer.