Why does the Newfoundland and Labrador Queer Research Initiative use the term "Queer" History?
Queer is defined as a term that can include, but is not limited to, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, two-spirit, intersex and asexual people. It importantly takes into account that gender and sexual identity were not always identified with specific labels particularly when we look into historical contexts. This term has a complicated history which has in recent years been reclaimed by members of the community. In academia, the reclamation of the term has resulted in the development of a theoretical approach to research known as Queer theory. Many who study 2SLGBTQ+ history emphasize queer as the best term to use when it comes to historical analyses because it is fluid category of identification that encompasses both gender and sexuality.
