Quote Originally Posted by sinkov View Post
It is indeed very unusual to see queer used these days as in that article, I would think there'd be a s-h-i-t-storm, if you'll excuse the pun, should a journo in England use it to describe gays in that way.

On the origins of the word queer to describe homos-e-xuals, I always thought it was used because the meaning of the word queer was 'strange, unusual, abnormal,' which is how gay folks were thought of back then. Of course we live in more enlightened times now.

I wonder if 'queer' is being reclaimed by the gay community to describe themselves, in the same way that the N word is sometimes used amongst themselves by members of the black community ?
I was playing for one of the Manchester non-league teams in a "friendly" and for myself the game was a trial to see if the club wanted me to sign.

I was playing at right back and the opposing winger really was ebony black and quick. After about 20 minutes the call came from the coach on the sideline, "FFS stop that n-i-g-g-e-r!" Ultimately, I did not think that joining this football club was in my best interests.

That was in 1970, I'm pretty sure the police would be called now, some 52 years later. Where does the time go?