Queer people face unique challenges when it comes to expressing their authentic selves in open communities.
They may fear rejection or harm due to prejudice based on their gender identity or sexual orientation. This leads them to constantly defend themselves from being judged unfairly, which can take an emotional toll on them.
To understand how this happens, let's look at the definition of "queer." According to Merriam Webster, queer is defined as "strange, odd, peculiar, eccentric" as well as "unusual, unconventional," among others. In recent years, however, queer has also been reclaimed by some members of the LGBTQ+ community as an umbrella term for anyone who doesn't fit into traditional heteronormative categories - regardless of whether they identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or otherwise. Queer people may have different ways of expressing their sexuality and gender than what is considered normal or expected in society. They may dress differently, talk differently, act differently, and even behave differently than cisgender and straight individuals do. As a result, they often experience microaggressions like being ignored, excluded, misgendered, or disrespected simply because of who they are. This can be especially difficult if they live in areas where there aren't many other queer people nearby or if they don't feel safe being out about their identities.
When someone feels like they need to defend their right to exist without judgment, it takes a lot of energy. Defending one's legitimacy all the time can lead to feelings of exhaustion, frustration, and even depression. It can also cause people to become hypervigilant about every aspect of their lives and interactions with others. This hypervigilance can make them overly sensitive to potential slights or insults, leading to further emotional distress.
Constantly having to explain oneself can create anxiety around how others will react if they discover something personal about you that you haven't shared yet (like your sexual orientation). It can lead to a lack of trust in others and even isolation from friends and family members who don't understand or accept your identity.
To avoid these issues, some people choose to hide parts of themselves from others so they won't face discrimination based on their gender expression or sexual orientation. Others learn to brush off negative comments or ignore them entirely rather than engaging in arguments or debates about why what was said was wrong. Still, others may seek support from allies within their community who have had similar experiences and can offer advice for navigating challenging situations.
However, no matter what steps someone takes, defending one's own existence is an emotionally taxing task that can take its toll over time.
What emotional toll does constant legitimacy defense impose on queer contributors in open systems?
The process of constantly defending one's queerness in an open system can have significant emotional consequences for those who identify as LGBTQ+. It can lead to feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression. This is because individuals may feel the need to always be on guard against potential discrimination and prejudice, which can take a toll on their mental health.