What are the difference between the words gay, lesbian and queer?

Celebrity Big Brother contestant JoJo Siwa has prompted conversations online about the differences between being gay and queer.

The former Dance Moms star came out as pansexual in 2021 but more recently referred to herself as gay and is currently in a relationship with non-binary actor Kath Ebbs.

On Tuesday evening (22 April), following a triple eviction, Siwa told CBB housemate and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard that she feels “so queer”.

She went on to say: “I’ve always told myself, I’m a lesbian [but] being here I’ve realised I’m not a lesbian, I’m queer. I think that’s really cool, I’m switching letters. I’ve dropped the L and I’ve gone to the Q, baby!”

@pinknews

JoJo Siwa has just announced that she no longer identifies as a lesbian. During her stay on Celebrity Big Brother UK, JoJo confides in drag queen housemate Danny Beard about her sexuality. The Dance Moms star was seen on the show’s livestream saying, “I feel so queer”. The Karma singer, who has been dating influencer Kath Ebbs confessed that she does not feel like a lesbian. ‘I’ve never – I think I’ve always told myself, I’m a lesbian. I think you – I think being here – I’ve realised I am not a lesbian, I’m queer.’ Continuing to expand on her identity, JoJo stated: ‘And I think that’s really cool, I’m switching letters! I’ve dropped the L and I’ve gone to the Q baby! That’s what I love about sexuality.’ The 21-year-old came out as pansexual in 2021 but has described herself as gay in recent interviews. JoJo has also been very candid about her gender identity during her time in the house, confessing that she may identify as non-binary. #jojosiwa #lesbiansoftiktok #bigbrother #celebritybigbrother #queertiktok #lgbtqia

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Siwa’s update has led some people to wonder about the differences between being gay and queer. If you are one of those people, you are in the right place to find out.

To some people, the two words are one and the same, but there are actually some key differences.

The historical origins of the words

The word “gay” has a complex history. Originally, in the 12th century, it was derived from the Old French “gai”, meaning joyful or carefree. By the 17th century, however, it had evolved to mean someone who was addicted to pleasures and dissipations, often being used to describe prostitutes or promiscuous individuals.

In the late 19th and early 20th century, “it was used in English-speaking countries as a euphemism for homosexual, although it was still considered slang.

It wasn’t until the mid-20th century, specifically during the gay liberation movements of the 60s and 70s, that it was widely adopted by the homosexual community mainly because “homosexual” was seen as clinical and pathologising.

“Queer” has a different historical trajectory. The word comes from the German “quer”, which means across or transverse. It was originally used in English during the 16th century, to describe something strange, odd or peculiar.

Queer vs Gay

Given that the original meaning of “gay” was light-hearted and carefree, while “queer” originally meant strange, the latter is still offensive to some, and has been used pejoratively to refer to LGBTQ+ people.

Nowadays, “gay”, according to Stonewall, “refers to a man who has an emotional, romantic and/or sexual orientation towards men”.

It is also “a generic term for lesbian and gay sexuality, and some women define themselves as gay rather than lesbian.

What does queer mean?

Looking further down Stonewall’s glossary of terms, “queer” is defined as “a derogatory term for LGBT individuals”, but, the charity is keen to emphasise, this was in the past.

“The term has now been reclaimed by LGBT young people, in particular, who don’t identify with traditional categories around gender identity and sexual orientation,” the entry continues.

But he word is “still viewed to be derogatory by some”. However, it is sometimes preferred because it is ambiguous and allows people to avoid the more rigid boundaries associated with labels such as gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender. “Queer” is not as specific as “gay”, it doesn’t reveal your gender, or the gender of your partner, whereas lesbian, for example, usually implies that you’re a woman who is attracted to other women.

Similarly, if people are attracted to others across the gender spectrum, they might not want to identify as bisexual because the term implies a person is attracted to just two genders.

Other words – pansexual, for example – are available for people who feel this way, but “queer” has become a useful umbrella term for some sexual and gender minorities who do not fit into the traditional categories around gender identity and sexual orientation.

So, “queer” essentially means a person who is not straight, while “gay” refers to a person who is attracted to the same sex as themselves.

Ultimately, however, it’s up to the individual to decide how they want to be labelled – or not labelled.

PinkNews has its own glossary of LGBTQ+ terms to help your understanding of key words.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.