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Queer describes anyone who does not fit into traditional ideas of gender and sexuality. It criticizes set social norms and categories around sexuality and gender.

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LGBT refers to specific sexual orientations and gender identities. It describes people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. These terms are about sexual orientation or one's gender identity.

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What is the Difference between LGBT and Queer?

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What is the Difference between LGBT and Queer?

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LGBT refers to specific sexual orientations and gender identities, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. Queer is a broader, more flexible term that challenges traditional labels of gender and sexuality, often used by those who feel these labels don't fully represent their identity.

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You may have questions about why some people identify as gay, queer, both, or another specific way. For respectfulness and inclusivity, it's important to understand the difference-and to remember that people's use and feelings about the words vary widely.

In this article, we will explain how the terms and are used differently in the context of sexuality and gender identity.

Both and are often used as self-identifying terms. As always, when referring to another person-and when sexuality or gender identity is relevant-it is best to use whatever term a person uses for themself.

In the context of sexual identity, the word gay is generally used to mean "of, relating to, or being a person who is sexually or romantically attracted to people of their own sex or gender." Often, the word is used specifically in reference to men who are attracted to other men. Women who are attracted to other women often use the word lesbian , though some women also use the term as well.

On the other hand, people who apply the word queer to themselves use it to indicate a sexual orientation that is not heterosexual and/or a gender identity that is not . Some people may identify as both gay and queer, with some using the terms to indicate different things in different contexts.

It is very important to note that while the word has been widely reclaimed as a term of pride by many within the LGBTQ+ community, including sometimes as another way of discussing the community as a whole, this is not universally true. Some people avoid it due to the term's origin and its legacy as a slur, or for other reasons.

Here are a few specific examples of how the terms may be used. A man who is attracted to other men may identify as gay while also identifying as part of the queer community. A person who is attracted to women may identify only as queer, while another nonbinary person who is also attracted to women may use a different identifying term altogether. These are just a few examples that illustrate some of the many different ways people may identify with these terms or others.

Remember, it is always best to use whatever term a person themself uses-if it is relevant to mention at all.

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Queer vs. Gay: How The Words Are Different, And Why It's Important

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Knowing how to talk about identities of gender and sexuality is key to understanding LGBTQ+ experiences. Learn the distinctions between "queer" and "gay."

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Isn’t “Queer” a bad word? » The Safe Zone Project

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No, Sometimes, and Yes. For many people (especially those who are younger, or in more urban areas) queer is a word of pride and the best way to “umbrella”

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The controversy between LGBT and queer lies in differing views on labels. Some argue that the LGBT acronym is important for visibility and advocacy of specific identities, while others feel queer challenges rigid categories and promotes a more fluid understanding of identity. Critics of queer often point to its history as a slur, making some individuals uncomfortable with its broad use.

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The LGBT term remains crucial for recognizing specific communities that have faced discrimination, highlighting distinct identities for targeted rights and protections. However, queer fosters inclusivity and flexibility, offering a space for those with fluid or complex identities, and has gained importance in academic and activist circles for challenging societal norms and celebrating the diversity of sexual and gender identities.

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The term queer to refer to non- cishet people has spread since the 1990s-reaffirming if used as a self-identifier among queer people but extremely offensive if used against them.

In 1991, Queer Theory-a subset of gender and culture studies-made its academic debut. In 1999, the TV show Queer as Folk aired in the UK and portrayed the everyday life of gay men-the American version was a hit across the pond the following year. In 2003, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, a reality TV show where gay men give straight men a makeover, became a huge hit too. It was even rebooted in 2018 on Netflix as Queer Eye.

For some in the LGBT community, queer is still offensive because some people still use queer as an anti-gay or anti-trans slur. For an example of how queer gets used in a derogatory sense (illustrating why using queer as a slur is so hurtful), look no further than the schoolyard game Smear the Queer, a variation of dodgeball where one student is the queer who gets "stoned" with balls.

The fraught history of the term queer to insult non-cishet people can cause controversy even when organizations are trying to be inclusive of LGBTQ identities. For example, a man in his 60s applying for a job at Colorado College in 2013 filed a formal complaint with the state when the application gave him the option to mark his gender identity as queer -something that reminded him of being evicted and losing his job for being gay.

The Q in LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) is taken to stand for queer but also questioning. The debate continues, although both interpretations are generally accepted.

In the UK, queer is still used in some situations to mean "strange" or "odd" without any relation to sexual or gender identity, particularly in the expression "don't be queer," or "don't act strange." A Brit might get some sour looks using language like that in the US, though.

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Queer Is Being Reclaimed: What Does That Mean?

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While queer can mean "strange" or "odd," it's more often used as a slur against or a self-identifier for non-heterosexual or non-cisgender people.

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Butler's "Imitation and Gender Insubordination" argues that gender is not inherent but socially constructed through actions and behaviors. Her ideas on imitation and gender subordination support queer theory’s rejection of fixed identities and critique heteronormativity, both aiming to deconstruct imposed gender performances and traditional expectations.

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In her writing "Should There Be Only Two Sexes?", Fausto-Sterling challenges the idea that there are only two sexes. While LGBT are relevant for advocacy, Fausto-Sterling advocates for a more inclusive movement that recognizes those whose sex characteristics don't fit within male or female categories. Thus, directly relating to Queer-theory that believes that gender and sexuality are fluid and don't have to fit into specific categories.

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The Equality Act prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, education, and other areas, ensuring that LGBT and queer individuals are legally protected from discrimination and have equal access to opportunities and services in various aspects of public life.

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The U.S. Supreme Court on June 15 issued a landmark ruling, saying Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects gay and transgender workers from employment discrimination.

Consolidating multiple cases, the 6-3 ruling affirms that federal employment protections cover LGBT employees.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act already banned employment discrimination based on:

Now, the Supreme Court ruled that when it comes to "sex," employment protections apply to LGBT individuals, as well.

"An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex. Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what Title VII forbids," conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the majority opinion.

Fewer than half of U.S. states have laws expressly forbidding discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation or gender identity. About 4.5 percent of the population in the U.S. identifies as LGBT, according to a 2018 poll.

Also of note: The high court made its ruling during Pride Month, an annual celebration of the LGBT community that also commemorates the Stonewall Riots, which took place in June 1969.

Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation

The Supreme Court in October 2019 agreed to tackle the issue of whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 covered gay and transgender employees.

While federal courts have generally interpreted the law to exclude sexual orientation from employment discrimination, Monday's ruling means it is now included.

Below is a rundown of three of the cases the Supreme Court considered in making its ruling.

Bostock v. Clayton County

An employee claimed he was fired because he was gay in Bostock v. Clayton County. The company claimed the man, who worked as a volunteer coordinator, was fired for financial mismanagement.

However, he alleged he was terminated only after it was discovered that he played in a gay softball league. He also claimed he was the subject of homophobic slurs.

An earlier circuit court decision sided with the county.

Altitude Express v. Zarda

Another case was about a skydiving instructor who was fired after a woman claimed he groped her during a tandem jump.

In an effort to ease concerns from female clients during tandem jumps, the man said he often told female clients he was gay. He filed a discrimination charge claiming he was let go because of his sexual orientation.

In this instance, a court of appeals found that discrimination based sexual orientation was unlawful.

Harris Funeral Homes v. EEOC

In Harris Funeral Homes v. EEOC, a worker told the employer that she was transgender and claims she was subsequently fired because of it.

The company had a sex-specific dress code and said the worker refused to abide by it, resulting in the termination.

Conclusion

The same federal laws that have protected others since 1964 now apply to gay and transgender employees.

Penalties for such discrimination can reach $300,000, depending on the size of the employer.

The Supreme Court ruling further enforces that employers should take precautions to prevent sexual discrimination in the workplace.

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Supreme Court: 1964 Civil Rights Act Protects LGBT Employees from Workplace Discrimination

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The U.S. Supreme Court on June 15 issued a landmark ruling, saying Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects gay and transgender workers from employment discrimination. Consolidating multiple cases, the 6-3 ruling affirms that federal employment protections cover LGBT employees.

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The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (2009)

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The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (2009)

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This law includes sexual orientation and gender identity as protected categories under hate crimes, allowing federal authorities to prosecute crimes motivated by discrimination against one's sexual orientation or gender identity. Thus, ensuring further protection to LGBT and queer individuals against hate violence.

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Remarks by the President at Reception Commemorating the Enactment of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act

Testimony of Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. before the Senate Judiciary Committee

The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009, 18 U.S.C. § 249, was enacted as Division E of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010. Section 249 of Title 18 provides funding and technical assistance to state, local, and tribal jurisdictions to help them to more effectively investigate and prosecute hate crimes.

It also creates a new federal criminal law which criminalizes willfully causing bodily injury (or attempting to do so with fire, firearm, or other dangerous weapon) when:

(1) the crime was committed because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin of any person or (2) the crime was committed because of the actual or perceived religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of any person and the crime affected interstate or foreign commerce or occurred within federal special maritime and territorial jurisdiction.

The newly enacted § 249 has three significant subsections. Subsection (a)(1) criminalizes violent acts (and attempts to commit violent acts undertaken with a dangerous weapon) when those acts occur because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, or national origin of any person. This section of the statute has a broader reach than existing hate crime statutes. (18 U.S.C. § 245, for example, requires that government prove not only that the crime was motivated by animus but also because of the victimç—´ participation in one of six enumerated federally protected activities). Section 249(a)(1) was passed pursuant to Congress's Thirteenth Amendment authority to eradicate badges and incidents of slavery. The government need prove no other "jurisdictional" element to obtain a conviction.

Subsection (a)(2) of § 249 protects a wider class of victims. Subsection (a)(2) criminalizes acts of violence (and attempts to commit violent acts undertaken with a dangerous weapon) when motivated by the actual or perceived gender, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity of any person. It will also apply to violent acts motivated by animus against those religions and national origins which were not considered to be "races" at the time the Thirteenth Amendment was passed. This portion of the statute was passed pursuant to Congress's Commerce Clause authority. Thus, to obtain a conviction, the government must prove that the crime was in or affected interstate or foreign commerce. Subsection (a)(2)(B) of the statute contains a detailed description of the ways the commerce clause element may be fulfilled.

Subsection (a)(3) of § 249 provides for prosecution of crimes committed because of any of the characteristics defined in (a)(1) or (a)(2), whenever such crimes occur within the Special Maritime and Territorial Jurisdiction (SMTJ) of the United States.

The statute criminalizes only violent acts resulting in bodily injury or attempts to inflict bodily injury, through the use of fire, firearms, explosive and incendiary devices, or other dangerous weapons. The statute does not criminalize threats of violence. Threats to inflict physical injury may be prosecutable under other hate crimes statutes, such as 42 U.S.C. § 3631 or 18 U.S.C. § 245. Such threats may also be prosecutable under generally applicable federal laws preventing interstate communication of threats.

Read recent opinions addressing constitutional challenges to the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act:
United States v. Beebe United States v. Maybee Glenn v. Holder

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The Matthew Shepard And James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act Of 2009

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Remarks by the President at Reception Commemorating the Enactment of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act Testimony of Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. before the Senate Judiciary Committee The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009, 18 U.S.C.

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Queer Theory: Definition, History, and Impact - 2025 - MasterClass

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Queer theory represents a departure both from previous scholarship about gender and sexuality and how identity politics tend to work. Learn about queer theory and its rich history.

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Butler's publication played a big role in setting the difference between LGBT and queer by challenging norms about gender and sexuality.

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Matthew Shepard’s brutal murder in 1998, due to his sexual orientation, brought national attention to the violence faced by LGBT individuals. His death lead to calls for federal legislation to include sexual orientation and gender identity in hate crime laws. This contributed to the passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act in 2009.

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VOX: Considering Matthew Shepard - ABC listen

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Composer Craig Hella Johnson has taken the murder of Matthew Shepard and composed an oratorio about it.

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The Differences between LGBT & Queer Explained- Today

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The Differences between LGBT & Queer Explained- Today

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Unlike LGBT, which primarily focuses on the recognition and rights of sexual minorities, queer is a more expansive and political term that advocates for a transformative movement. It goes beyond mere legal recognition and seeks to challenge and dismantle traditional norms of gender and sexuality. Rooted in activism, queer theory emphasizes the fluidity of identity, the rejection of binary constructs, and a broader vision of social justice. In this way, queer represents a call to not only secure rights but also to reimagine and deconstruct societal structures that reinforce heteronormative ideals.

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Queer vs LGBT: Unraveling the Key Differences

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Explore the nuanced difference between queer and LGBT, uncovering their origins, politics, misconceptions, intersectionality, and societal impact.