Genderqueer: One Part of the Gender Spectrum

Within the LGBT community lives a growing group of people who define themselves as genderqueer. This classification is, based on its definition, somewhat ironic. Additionally, this term can be used to refer to any transgendered person - though each form of transgendered individual has some sort of label.

To best understand the term as it grows in popularity and use, it should be noted that you have to accept the concept that gender identification is highly personal and may vary wildly from person to person.  This concept is called the gender spectrum.

Various definitions exist for the term genderqueer.  While the basic idea is the same, here are a few examples:

• A genderqueer individual rejects heteronormativity, the two gender classification system traditionally applied.
• Synonymous with intergender, genderqueer is a catch-all term referring to gender identities beyond "man" and "woman."
• An individual who identifies as neither completely male nor female.
• A person who defines their gender outside of traditional roles.
  

Socially speaking, genderqueer people are just like anyone else, deserving of kind and courteous treatment and regarded in the same way you would treat anyone.  Gender identity differences do not imply that a person's self worth has changed to any degree, they are simply people.

That being said, there are right and wrong ways to speak about/to a person - these limits are generally imposed by the person involved, so no truly universal set of "genderqueer rules of etiquette" are imposed.

Some GQ people prefer to use alternate forms of reference which are less gender specific.  For example, some may prefer the use of Hy, Hys, Hyr, Hym over the use of He, His, Her, Him.  Male dominant natal (born) females may choose to be referred to primarily in the male word types.  Female dominant natal men may desire to be spoken of in the female word.

Let the individual create the ground rules, in some cases you may have to ask questions,