RAND, A. J. 2004. A Disunited Nation and a Legacy of Contradiction: Queer Nation's Construction of dentity!. Journal of Communication Inquiry, 2".

# autor co$e%a constatando u$ uso fre&uente e u$ 'rocesso de no(a significa%)o da 'a*a(ra queer+ segundo o autor esse 'rocesso , co$u$ente associado ao Queer Nation na d,cada de -..0, a'esar de*e n)o ter sido o /nico fator i$'ortante. [Objetivo e Hiptese do Artigo] t is to t0e &ueer identities forged t0roug0 Queer Nation, t0en, t0at 1ant to turn to

2egin to e3'*ore t0e 0istoricity of t0e 1ord. 40ese &ueer identities are r0etorica**y constituted 2y esta2*is0ing unity a$ong dis'arate indi(idua*s t0roug0 a s0ared re*ations0i' to (io*ence and anger 10i*e defining t0e$ against a see$ing*y dissi$i*ar gay and *es2ian! identity. 5o1e(er, t0e conso*idation of a &ueer identity is a*1ays necessari*y 'artia* and contingent+ 2ot0 t0e unity a$ong &ueers and t0eir 'ur'orted difference fro$ gays and *es2ians are constant*y fraug0t 1it0 contradictions. 6art of t0e significance of Queer Nation in s0a'ing a &ueer identity, contend, is t0e 'roduction of t0e contradictions t0at continue to co$'*icate and ena2*e (arious 'otentia* $eanings of &ueer today. 7'. 2""8.9

Queers Read This: A Manifesto for Queer Identity? [Histrico] At a $eeting in ear*y A'ri* of -..0, a grou' of A D: Coa*ition to ;n*eas0 6o1er 7AC4;69<Ne1=or> City $e$2ers e3'ressed interest in direct actions focused on 2ias cri$es! against gays and *es2ians. 6ro$'ted 2y t0e -22? increase in antigay incidents since t0e 2eginning of t0e year 2ut *i$ited 2y AC4 ;6@s concentration on*y on issues of 5 A<A D:, t0ey 0e*d an infor$a* $eeting t0at &uic>*y 2urgeoned into Queer Nation. A*t0oug0 t0ey initia**y did not 1ant to 0a(e a na$e, and did not (ote on Queer Nation! unti* *ate Bay, t0eir first actionC10eat8'asting 0and2i**s reading By De*o(ed Eas Queer8Das0ed 5ere! around t0e cityCa*ready 0inted at t0e grou'@s connection to t0e use of t0e 1ord &ueer. 7'. 2".9

40e e3istence and re'utation of Queer Nation see$ed to crysta**iFe, 0o1e(er, at Ne1 =or> City@s -..0 Gay 6ride 'arade and t0roug0 t0e su2se&uent 'ress co(erage of t0e e(ent. A''ro3i$ate*y -H,000 co'ies of a f*yer 1it0 t0e tit*es Queers Read 40is! on one side and 5ate :traig0ts! on t0e ot0er 1ere distri2uted at t0e $arc0, a''arent*y 2y $e$2ers of Queer Nation. A*t0oug0 t0e indi(idua*s 0anding out t0e f*yers 1ere $arc0ing 1it0 t0eAC4 ;6 contingent of t0e 'arade, Iourna*ist Jst0er Ka'*an c*ai$s t0at t0ey 1ere acting inde'endent*y and t0at t0e f*yer 1as understood to 2e a 'roduct of Queer Nation. Aut0ors0i' of t0e f*yer is de2ata2*e+ t0e 2y*ine reads, 'u2*is0ed anony$ous*y 2y &ueers,! and Queer Nation itse*f did not necessari*y c*ai$ res'onsi2i*ity. 7'. 2".9 #s $anifestos, segundo o autor, fora$ contro(ersos inc*usi(e entre os $e$2ros do QN as some were distur ed y the se!aratism and the antistrai"ht sentiments that it seemed to cham!ion! 7'. 2".9. 4o t0e e3tent t0at t0e f*yer 1as ta>en u' 2y t0e 'ress as a $anifesto of &ueer anger and as an argu$ent for Queer Nation@s 'osition, it 1as instru$enta* in t0e conso*idation of a 'articu*ar >ind of &ueer identity. 40is identity re*ies on (io*ence and anger as unifying forces and on a differentiation fro$ $ore $oderate gays and *es2ians. 7'. 2.09

Callin" #ut the Queers 40e 0eading of t0e f*yer, a''earing in *arge, 2o*d, ca'ita* *etters, co$$ands, Queers Read 40is.! LMN 40e f*yer is t0erefore c*ear*y intended for a 'articu*ar target audience: Not on*y are certain 'eo'*e encouraged to read t0e acco$'anying te3t, 2ut ot0ersC t0ose 10o are not &ueerCare acti(e*y discouraged fro$ reading furt0er. 40is s'ecific na$ing of t0e audience of t0e f*yer 'otentia**y 0as at *east t0ree effects: an individuals identification with the label queer, the recognition of the actions required by such an identification, and the constitution of an i agined co the flyer. 7'. 2.0 O grifo $eu9 Dy c0oosing to read t0e f*yer, t0en, an indi(idua* is i$'*icit*y inter'e**ated as a &ueer, and a &ueer identity, 1it0 its 'otentia* for e$'o1er$ent and ris>, is constituted. 7'. 2.-9 unity of those who read

Not on*y does t0e f*yer ser(e as a $eans of 0ai*ing t0ose 10o 1ou*d ca** t0e$se*(es &ueer, t0en, 2ut it a*so 0as an instructiona* 'ur'ose, effecti(e*y out*ining so$e of t0e 'ers'ecti(es associated 1it0 t0is identity. 7'. 2.-9 40e recognition of onese*f as a &ueer, 0o1e(er, is not t0e on*y 1or> t0at is done in t0e Queers Read 40is! f*yer. As Cindy 6atton asserts, a** identities a*so entai* certain 'ercei(ed $ora* o2*igations or re&uire$ents to action. LMN Dy inc*uding t0e 'u2*is0ed anony$ous*y 2y &ueers! 2y*ine Iust 2eneat0 t0e Queers Read 40is! 0eading, t0e f*yer i$$ediate*y i$'*icates a** &ueers in t0e te3t t0at fo**o1s. As soon as one recogniFes onese*f as 2eing na$ed a &ueer 2y t0e tit*e, one $ust a*so acce't res'onsi2i*ity for t0e anony$ous 'u2*ication of t0e f*yer 2y &ueers.! 7'. 2.-829 #ne of t0e 'ri$ary actions for 10ic0 t0e f*yer ca**s is for &ueers to 2e (isi2*e and c*ai$ t0eir rig0ts to 'u2*ic s'ace. LMN :i$i*ar*y, in a section de(oted s'ecifica**y to *es2ian (isi2i*ity, t0e need for a re(o*utionCand t0e ro*e of &ueers in instigating t0at re(o*ution Cis e$'0asiFed LMN A &ueer identity as it is r0etorica**y constituted 2y t0e f*yer, t0erefore, is not si$'*y a state$ent of one@s se3ua*ity+ instead, it in(o*(es a co$$it$ent to act in 'articu*ar 1ays. 7'. 2.29 Queers Read 40is! not on*y constructs an indi(idua* &ueer identity 2ut a*so 'osits an i$agined co$$unity of &ueers. LMN n ot0er 1ords, 10i*e Queers Read 40is! o'ens u' t0e 'ossi2i*ity for an indi(idua* &ueer identification, 'er0a's a $ore i$'ortant effect is its discursi(e 'roduction of a &ueer counter'u2*ic t0at is united t0roug0 t0e circu*ation of t0e f*yer. Purt0er$ore, counter'u2*ics are, 2y Earner@s definition, s'aces of circu*ation in 10ic0 it is 0o'ed t0at t0e 'oesis of scene $a>ing 1i** 2e transfor$ati(e, not re'*icati(e $ere*y!. 40is as'ect of counter'u2*ics see$s c*ose*y re*ated to t0e re&uire$ent to act t0at, according to 6atton, is integra* to identity. 40e f*yer constitutes &ueer identities, t0en, t0at are not on*y i$'*icated in a &ueer counter'u2*ic 2ut a*so 're$ised on t0e need for transfor$ati(e 'o*itica* action. 7'. 2.28 Q9 Decause t0e &ueer identity fas0ioned 2y t0e f*yer does not assu$e t0e e3istence of a natura*! c0aracteristic t0at a** &ueers s0are, it is an identity t0at is 'resu$a2*y a(ai*a2*e to anyone, regard*ess of race, c*ass, or gender, 10o is 1i**ing to acce't its attendant ris>s. Queerness is a''arent*y a2*e to cut across t0ese traditiona* a3es of difference, 2ui*ding unity in t0e face of di(ersity. 5o1e(er, defining a &ueer identity a*so re&uires a

refusa* of t0e si$i*arities t0at su''osed*y e3ist a$ong a** gays and *es2ians+ in ot0er 1ords, a &ueer identity is conce'tua*iFed in contrast to a gay or *es2ian identity. LMN 40is tactic of a*igning different su2Iect 'ositions on t0e 2asis of t0eir o''osition to anot0er set of su2Iect 'ositions $ig0t 2e descri2ed as a c0ain of e&ui(a*ence. LMN A &ueer identity, t0en, unites dis'arate indi(idua*s t0roug0 t0eir s0ared difference fro$ and o''osition to do$inant nor$s of se3ua*ity as 1e** as to $ore $oderate gay and *es2ian identities. 5o1e(er, t0e *ogics 2y 10ic0 certain indi(idua*s are articu*ated 1it0in a c0ain and 2y 10ic0 different c0ains are set in o''osition are a*1ays te$'orary and situationa*+ t0ey cannot 2e $aintained indefinite*y. 7'. 2.Q9

Reclaimin" An"er and $iolence #ne of t0e 'ri$ary defining features of a &ueer identity as it is for$u*ated 2y Queers Read 40is!Cone t0at $ar>s it as different fro$ a gay or *es2ian identityCis its re*ations0i' to anger and (io*ence. 7'. 2.Q9 Dy in(o>ing t0e (io*ent acts t0at &ueers 0a(e suffered, 0o1e(er, t0e f*yer does not cast t0e$ as 'assi(e (icti$s, nor does it ad(ocate a non(io*ent res'onse. nstead, Queers Read 40is! suggests t0at &ueers s0ou*d res'ond in >ind+ t0ey s0ou*d 2as0 2ac>.! 40e *anguage of t0e f*yer is una'o*ogetica**y (io*ent and fu** of rage: :traig0t 'eo'*e 0a(e a 'ri(i*ege t0at a**o1s t0e$ to do 10ate(er t0ey '*ease and fuc> 1it0out fear,! it 'roc*ai$s. 40is 'ri(i*ege $ust 2e sto''ed, 2ut strai"ht !eo!le will not do this %oluntarily and so they must e forced into it& 'trai"hts must e fri"htened into it& Terrori(ed into it& )ear is the most !owerful moti%ator& *o one will "i%e us what we deser%e& Ri"hts are not "i%en+,- they are ta.en/ y force if necessary& & & & 'trai"ht !eo!le are your enemy&! 7'. 2.49 Not sur'rising*y, $edia u'ta>es of t0e f*yer often e$'0asiFed t0is (io*ent content, casting t0e f*yer as a $anifesto of &ueer rage. 7'. 2.49 E0en Queers Read 40is! is understood to 2e for$u*ating a 'articu*ar >ind of &ueer identity, t0e (io*ent r0etoric of t0e f*yerCand t0e 'otentia* for &ueers to enact (io*ence of t0eir o1nC2eco$es an i$'ortant as'ect of t0is identity. 40e f*yer suggests t0at t0e *egacy of (io*ence against &ueers can 2e sy$2o*ica**y re(ersed and recu'erated as &ueer rage. Deing &ueer, in t0is sense, is no *onger associated 1it0 'assi(ity or (icti$iFation

2ut 1it0 anger, strengt0, and t0e a2i*ity to defend onese*f. LMN E0ereas 2eing &ueer and 2eing angry or (io*ent1as 're(ious*y assu$ed to 2e $utua**y e3c*usi(e, t0e Queers Read 40is! f*yer as a $anifesto of &ueer rage incor'orates anger and (io*ence as an integra* 'art of a &ueer identity and as 'art of 10at distinguis0es &ueers fro$ gays and *es2ians. 7'. 2.H9 Queerness, t0e f*yer see$s to suggest, is no *onger a *ia2i*ity or ris> factor+ it is no1 t0e (ery $eans t0roug0 10ic0 one can 2as0 2ac>.! 40is connotation of &ueer is used to furt0er differentiate it fro$ gay and *es2ian. E0ereas t0e use of t0e1ord gay1or>s to o(erco$e t0e association of 0o$ose3ua*ity 1it0 sadness and $e*anc0o*y, &ueer $a>es no suc0 atte$'t. LMN nstead, &ueer ca**s for an ac>no1*edg$ent of frustra tion and o''ression LMN A2o(e a**, t0e f*yer 'ro$otes t0e use of t0e 1ord &ueer as a 1ay of refusing to 0ide or co1er. Rat0er t0an acce'ting t0e 2urden of s0a$e and atte$'ting to reduce t0e stig$a of 0o$ose3ua*ity t0roug0 assi$i*ation, Queers Read 40is! constitutes a &ueer identity t0at is confrontationa* and c0a**enging to t0e nor$s of 0eterose3ua*ity t0at enforce $argina*iFation. 7'. 2.H8R9 Purt0er$ore, 2ecause t0e f*yer associates a &ueer identity 1it0 t0e rec*a$ation of rage and t0e 'otentia* for (io*ent action, it grants &ueers a certain >ind of 'o1er or agency t0at is denied 10en t0ey are cast as 'assi(e (icti$s. $'*icit in t0is distinction 2et1een t0e 'o1erfu*, angry &ueer and t0e 'o1er*ess, confor$ing (icti$ is a*so a di(ision a$ong indi(idua*s 10o $ig0t see$ si$i*ar on t0e 2asis of t0eir s0ared 0o$ose3ua*ity. 7'. 2.R9

)ruitful Contradictions A*t0oug0 Queers Read 40is! 'artici'ates in discourses of identity 7re9for$u*ation and a*t0oug0 it certain*y constructs a 'articu*ar >ind of &ueer identity, it does not do so in a sea$*ess, consistent $anner. nstead, 2ot0 t0e te3t of t0e f*yer and t0e f*yer@s u'ta>e 'roduce a nu$2er of contradictions t0at disru't t0e 'ossi2i*ity of a co0erent or c*osed &ueer identity. 40is is not to say t0at t0ese contradictions frustrate t0e f*yer@s te*eo*ogica* efforts, t0at t0ey are $isconce'tions t0at s0ou*d 2e set straig0t, or t0at t0ey are co$'*ications t0at need to 2e e3'*ained. nstead, as Bic0e* Poucau*t contends, contradictions are t0e$se*(es o2Iects to 2e studied 2ecause it is t0roug0 contradiction t0at discourse arises. LMN n ot0er1ords, it is t0e contradictions t0at 0aunt and in0a2it

t0e constitution of &ueer identities t0at 'roduce t0e $ost interesting >inds of identity ta*>! and t0at *ead to t0e 'ro*iferation of $eanings associated 1it0 &ueer. 7'. 2.R8S9 Purt0er$ore, 10en identities are (ie1ed as situationa* and strategicCrat0er t0an in0erent and tota*iFingCt0e *ogics on 10ic0 t0ey are 2ased $ust a*so 2e understood to 2e contingent and te$'orary. LMN indeed, t0e 'rocess of constituting a &ueer identity is ne(er tru*y co$'*eted, and a &ueer identity is ne(er fina**y ac0ie(ed. nstead, a &ueer identity is on*y a te$'orary and strategic c*osure t0at is effected 2y t0e articu*ation of (arious discourses. 7'. 2.S9 [Objetivos da pr!i a parte do artigo] 1ant to turn no1 to a discussion of t0e contradictions t0at reside 1it0in t0ese articu*ations. ;*ti$ate*y, 1i** argue t0at t0e ne1 discourses t0at e$erge fro$ t0ese contradictions 're(ent &ueer identities fro$ e(er 2eing fu**y c*osed and co$'*ete and t0erefore *ead to t0e conte$'orary 'ro*iferation of t0e $u*ti'*e significations of &ueer. 7'. 2.S9

0isunited in 0i%ersity 6er0a's one of t0e $ost sa*ient features of t0e Queers Read 40is! f*yer@s use of t0e1ord &ueer is its a2i*ity to refer to a 1ide range of 'eo'*e, ostensi2*y 1it0out s'ecifying gender, race, c*ass, or age. Queer Nation@s atte$'ts to create an inc*usi(e and di(erse grou' 1ere often touted as ground2rea>ing and i$'ortant 1or>. 40ey 1ere seen as trying to for$ a co$$unity out of 'eo'*e 10o $ay 0a(e (ery *itt*e in co$$on 7ot0er t0an $argina*iFation on t0e 2asis of t0eir se3ua*ity9 and to restore a sense of coo'eration and toget0erness in a co$$unity t0at 0ad 2een de(astated 2y 5 A<A D:. 7'. 2.S9 ["obre a participa#$o das ulheres]

#t0er aut0ors a*so c0a$'ion Queer Nation and &ueer identities as a $eans of o(erco$ing differences a$ong indi(idua*s, 2ut t0eir o'ti$is$ is &ua*ified 2y criticis$s of Queer Nation@s a2i*ity to fo**o1 t0roug0 1it0 t0is tas>. 40is is es'ecia**y a''arent in regard to t0e ro*e of 1o$en in t0e organiFation. LMN Purt0er$ore, 10i*e a gay $a*e identity can a''arent*y 2e easi*y a2sor2ed into a refor$u*ated &ueer identity, t0ere is so$et0ing a2out 2eing a 1o$an or 2eing a *es2ian t0at resists suc0 a2sor'tion. 6er0a's

si$'*y 2eing $ar>ed as a 1o$an reduces one@s a2i*ity to s0ift t0e ter$s of identity in suc0 a 1ay t0at one@s 'ri$ary identification is as a &ueer. 7'. 2."9 40e u'ta>e of Queer Nation in 2ot0 t0e $ainstrea$ and gay 'ress a*so e$'0asiFes t0e tensions surrounding t0e '*ace of 1o$en in t0e organiFation. 7'. 2."9 A*t0oug0 1o$en can 2e a 'art of Queer Nation, it see$s to say, t0ey cannot 2e &ueer, and t0eir fore$ost concerns are s'ecifica**y 1o$en@s! concerns. :tories of 1o$en@s conf*icts 1it0 Queer Nation e$erge not on*y fro$ e3terna* sources suc0 as Ne1s1ee> 2ut a*so fro$ 1it0in t0e organiFation. 7'. 2."9 A*t0oug0 a &ueer identity is 're$ised on inc*usi(ity and su''osed*y incor'orates 1o$en, 2ot0 t0e f*yer itse*f and t0e stories a2out Queer Nation indicate t0at 1o$en are inc*uded on*y 'eri'0era**y and t0at t0eir identities as 1o$en 'rec*udeCat *east to so$e degreeCt0eir identities as &ueers. 7'. 2..9 ["obre quest%es de ra#a e classe] Queers Read 40is! ac>no1*edges racis$ on*y insofar as it suggests t0at &ueers s0ou*d fig0t racis$, se3is$, and ot0er for$s of o''ression a*ong 1it0 0o$o'0o2ia. LMN No10ere, 0o1e(er, does it recogniFe t0e s'ecific for$s of o''ression, 0atred, or (io*ence t0at &ueer 'eo'*e of co*or $ay endure+ nor does it ad(ocate tactics for fig0ting racis$ eit0er outside or inside t0e &ueer co$$unity. C*ass differences a$ong &ueers are not addressed at a**. 40ese o$issions are significant, gi(en t0e r0etoric of unity t0at see$s to $oti(ate t0e &ueer agenda. A*t0oug0 e(eryone is ostensi2*y inc*uded under t0e &ueer u$2re**a, t0e ter$s of inc*usion see$ sus'icious*y E0ite, $a*e, and $idd*e c*ass. 7'. 2..9 [&uest%es de diversidade se!ual] ronica**y, e(en di(ersity of se3ua*ity is a source of contradiction in t0e constitution of &ueer identities. 40e inc*usion of 2ise3ua*s under t0e &ueer! 2anner c0a**enges t0e association of &ueerness 1it0 0o$ose3ua*ity. LMN 6o*itica* correctness aside, $ost references to Queer Nation ca** it a grou' of gays and *es2ians+ t0e 2ise3ua* contingent is easi*y forgotten. Queers Read 40is! ne(er s'ecifica**y addresses 2ise3ua*ity, 2ut one section does refer to a doctor 10o 0o'ed to $a>e 0is 'atient 7'resu$a2*y, t0e aut0or9 2ise3ua* rat0er t0an &ueer.! 5ence, t0e on*y $ention of 2ise3ua*ity in t0e f*yer

'ointed*y distinguis0es it fro$ &ueerness, 1it0 t0e i$'*ication t0at 2ise3ua*ity re'resents a co$'ro$ise or 'artia* surrender to 0eteronor$ati(ity. 7'. 2..9

6er0a's t0e $ost i**u$inating e(idence of t0e tension 2et1een unity and di(ersity in t0e construction of identities t0roug0 Queer Nation is t0e 'ro*iferation of focus grou's! 1it0in t0e organiFation. LMN E0at is significant a2out t0ese focus grou's is not t0at t0ey resisted 2eing su2su$ed 1it0in a 2roader &ueer identity 7after a**, &ueer is not constituted as a 0o$ogenous identity 2ut as an a$a*ga$ation of dis'arate indi(idua*s9 2ut t0at t0ey fe*t as if t0eir concerns1ou*d not 2e considered at a** 1it0out t0e se'arate grou's. 40is suggests t0at t0e &ueer identity 2eing constructed $ig0t 2e 1e*co$ing to a** 2ut 1ou*d ser(e t0e interests of on*y a fe1. 7'. Q009 40e effect of t0ese focus grou's is to reinstate t0e di(ersity a$ong &ueers and to si$u*taneous*y ca** into &uestion t0e assu$edCor t0e (ery intentiona**y constructedC connections 2et1een t0e$. LMN A >ey contradiction at t0e core of &ueer identities, t0erefore, is t0is strugg*e 2et1een a desire for unification to create a recogniFa2*e and efficacious &ueer front and a need to 'rotect t0e di(erse indi(idua* identities t0at $ay resist or 2e 're(ented fro$ ta>ing on a &ueer identification. 7'. Q009

An Am i%alent 0istinction LMN t0e e3tent to 10ic0 &ueer re'resents a radica* s0ift a1ay fro$ t0e identity categories 2y 10ic0 gay and *es2ian are defined or is $ere*y t0e *atest $oni>er for young gay and *es2ian acti(ists a*so de'ends on t0e (arious 1ays in 10ic0 t0e f*yer and Queer Nation@s actions 1ere ta>en u' and descri2ed 2y t0e $edia. 7'. Q0-9 #n one 0and, t0e $edia often treated Queer Nationa*s, or &ueers in genera*, as if t0ey sy$2o*iFed *ifesty*es and (a*ues t0at 1ere irre(oca2*y different fro$ and $ystifying to a(erage *es2ians and gays. 40is difference 1as co$$on*y defined in ter$s of t0eir yout0. LMN Dy e$'0asiFing t0e age and difference of t0ose 10o are associated 1it0 Queer Nation, &ueer and gay and *es2ian identities are effecti(e*y defined as $utua**y e3c*usi(e. 7'. Q0-9 40e difference of &ueers is a*so accentuated 2y a strange fascination 1it0 t0eir c*ot0ing and a''earance. LMN Dy dra1ing attention to t0e yout0fu*ness and fas0ion sense of

&ueers, not on*y are t0ey c*ear*y distinguis0ed fro$ gays and *es2ians, 2ut t0eir 'o*itica* i$'ort is a*so di$inis0ed. LMN 40e difference of &ueers, cast as yout0fu* re2e**ion and an odd sense of sty*e, not on*y $a>es t0e$ easi*y identifia2*e as a grou' 2ut a*so essentia**y offers t0e$ as a sca'egoat, 10i*e t0e $ore $oderate *es2ian and gay acti(ists can a*ign t0e$se*(es 1it0 $ainstrea$ 70eterose3ua*9 society. LMN 'he constitution of a queer identity as quite distinct fro their perspectives and goals fro for queers+ 7'. Q0-829 #n t0e ot0er 0and, t0is contrast 2et1een &ueers and gays and *es2ians is constant*y 2eing under$ined 2y a conf*ation of t0e t1o sets of identity ter$s, as 1e** as a 2*urring of t0eir 'o*itica* agendas. n $ost accounts of Queer Nation@s 'rotests, t0ey are descri2ed as a gay8rig0ts! grou', and t0e 1ords gay and &ueer are used interc0angea2*y. 7'. Q029 4o conc*ude t0at t0ese descri'tions of &ueer identities are $ere $isre'resentations 2y t0ose 10o do not understand t0e su2t*e difference 2et1een &ueer and gay is too faci*e. n fact, t0e *anguage of t0ese 1riters ref*ects t0e a$2iguous usages of &ueer and gay and *es2ian in Queers Read 40is.! 40ere is no indication t0roug0out t0e f*yer t0at one $ust forsa>e a *es2ian or gay identity to ca** onese*f &ueer+ instead, 2eing &ueer see$s to indicate t0at one s0ares a si$i*ar set of goa*s 1it0 a *arger co**ecti(e 10i*e $aintaining a *es2ian or gay identification. 40e distinction or sense of conf*ict 2et1een &ueer and gay and *es2ian does not e3ist in t0e f*yer LMN 40e discourses t0at cast &ueers as a s'ecific radica* grou' and dissociate t0e$ fro$ t0e 1ider *es2ian and gay co$$unity, t0en, are counter'oised 1it0 ot0er discourses t0at en(ision &ueerness as a s0ared 'ers'ecti(e and e*ide t0e differences 2et1een &ueer and gay and *es2ian. 40e &ueer identity constituted is, t0erefore, $ar>ed 2y a$2i(a*ence+ it is neit0er fu**y co$'ati2*e 1it0 nor c*ear*y distinct fro$ a *es2ian or gay identity. 7'. Q029 A*t0oug0 t0e conf*icts regarding di(ersity a$ong &ueers ca** into &uestion t0e articu*ation of (arious su2Iect 'ositions 1it0in a c0ain of e&ui(a*ence, t0e tensions surrounding t0e differentiation of &ueers fro$ gays and *es2ians 'roduce co$'*ications in t0e *ogics 2y 10ic0 t0at c0ain is organiFed in o''osition to ot0ers. As 're(ious*y noted, t0e identity of a c0ain of e&ui(a*ence is esta2*is0ed t0roug0 its contrast 1it0 a gay or lesbian identity, then, is a project underta(en not only by queers the selves )who want to delineate those of the gay and lesbian assi ilationists* but a(e sure that they are never ista(en also by the gays and lesbians who want to

ot0er c0ains. E0en a &ueer identity is (ie1ed as congruent 1it0 gay and *es2ian identities, t0ey can 2e understood to 2e *in>ed 1it0in a sing*e c0ain of e&ui(a*ence, 10ic0 $ig0t 2e o''osed to, for e3a$'*e, far rig0t grou's t0at conde$n 0o$ose3ua*ity. 5o1e(er, if t0e re*ations0i' 2et1een &ueers and gays and *es2ians is (ie1ed as essentia**y antagonistic, t0en not on*y $ig0t t0ey not 2e articu*ated 1it0in a sing*e c0ain of e&ui(a*ence, 2ut t0ey $ig0t 2e organiFed into o''osing c0ains. Gays and *es2ians $ay t0en 2e a*igned 1it0 $ainstrea$ 0eterose3ua* cu*ture in t0eir disa''ro(a* of, for instance, &ueers@ tactics of outing and t0eir (io*ent r0etoric. 40e &ueer identity t0at is 'artia**y constituted t0roug0 t0ese *ogics, t0erefore, is necessari*y $ar>ed 2y an irreduci2*e e&ui(ocacy. 7'. Q0Q9

The Queer 1e"acy 40is 'rocess of identity negotiation 'roduces an e3'ansion of t0e 'ossi2*e $eanings and referents of &ueer: one 10o engages in an intentiona* reIection of traditiona* identity categories, a radica* acti(ist 10o fa(ors *eat0er Iac>ets and $u*ti'*e 'iercings, a s0ort0and notation for a $e$2er of t0e non0eterose3ua* co$$unity, or e(en 7in t0e case of t0e ne1 $etrose3ua*9 a 0eterose3ua* $an 10o enIoys $anicures and t0e arts, to na$e Iust a fe1. 7'. Q0Q9 #f course, not a** of t0ese 'ossi2i*ities are e&ua**y transgressi(e, and so$e $ay e(en reinforce t0e 0eteronor$ati(e syste$s t0at t0e &ueers of t0e ear*y -..0s 1ere atte$'ting to dis$ant*e. Ne(ert0e*ess, any effort to deter$ine t0e 'ro'er! $eaning of &ueer or to esta2*is0 nor$ati(e criteria for its use denies t0e contradictory i$'u*ses t0at 0a(e 2een e$2edded 1it0in it. As D,ru2, and Jscoffier 'oint out, t0e 'ri$ary 'arado3 of &ueer identity is de$onstrated 2y Queer Nation@s o1n na$e, 10ere Q;JJR T D PPJRJNCJ! and NA4 #N T :ABJNJ::!. 40ey argue t0at t0e co$2ination of usua**y irreconci*a2*e e*e$entsCfuture and 'ast, o*d and ne1, seriousness and fun, and, of course, difference and sa$enessCis t0e defining feature of &ueer identities and acti(is$. LMN Queer Nation did, in fact, disintegrate ra'id*y, $ost*y 2ecause of strugg*es o(er t0e (ery tensions and conf*icts t0e *egacy of contradiction. 7'. Q0Q849 0a(e descri2ed+ 0o1e(er, t0ey 0a(e certain*y *ed t0e 1ay into ne1for$s of &ueer identitiesC&ueer identities t0at $aintain