Why do we refer to homo***ual men & women as "queer"?

[ClaretinBudapest]

No need for language like queer BT.Looks like the Ausie`s are lacking behind the USA/UK on curbing homophobic language.It is exactly what we used to call them at Barden Secondary and Burnley Grammar School.In fact we used to call gay people queers up until I left the UK in 1991.
There were many other alternative names like brown hatter, back door man or turd burglar but I dont think you would get away with them now.

[sinkov]

No need for language like queer BT.Looks like the Ausie`s are lacking behind the USA/UK on curbing homophobic language.It is exactly what we used to call them at Barden Secondary and Burnley Grammar School.In fact we used to call gay people queers up until I left the UK in 1991.
There were many other alternative names like brown hatter, back door man or turd burglar but I dont think you would get away with them now.

Uphill gardener was the one that always made me smile.

[Swissclaret]

No need for language like queer BT.Looks like the Ausie`s are lacking behind the USA/UK on curbing homophobic language.It is exactly what we used to call them at Barden Secondary and Burnley Grammar School.In fact we used to call gay people queers up until I left the UK in 1991.
There were many other alternative names like brown hatter, back door man or turd burglar but I dont think you would get away with them now.

Lots of great phrases at the time. Shirt lifter was another. Happy naive days when people could be offended without the law being changed.