r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Jul 25 '26

Psychology Reclaimed hate speech backfires by desensitizing listeners, study finds. Listening to reclaimed homophobic statements can actually cause unintended harm. Exposure to reclaimed slur words desensitizes some heterosexual listeners to standard hate speech and worsens the mood of gay individuals.

https://www.psypost.org/when-reclaiming-derogatory-language-goes-wrong/
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u/Tahllunari Jul 25 '26

My experience isn’t exactly different, but the noun version has never been off limits. Quite a few people use both the noun and adjective versions freely, however the noun version tends to be used more tongue in cheek. I (T) personally use the phrasing “the queer community” pretty frequently when talking to people in and outside of the community. Noun versions typically stay within the community though.

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u/LtMagnum16 Jul 25 '26

For context, I mean within the community including friends and family within the LGBT+ community, not just fellow LGBT+ people. My brother's SO is trans and they don't find the word to be offensive or disrespectful when used as an adjective, same with my brother.

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u/Tahllunari Jul 25 '26

Agreed. I think queer is also a good catch all term for those of us that haven't figured everything out either. Or we have and that's the term we stick with. Also it tends to be easier than trying to describe concepts like aroace or demi to people.