The practice of remembering something is essential to human beings, allowing them to preserve their memories for later recall, share knowledge with others, and learn from past experiences. Queer practices of remembrance, however, challenge traditional philosophical epistemologies that prioritize rational thought and objective truth over subjective experience. By emphasizing the importance of embodied memory, lived experience, and emotional resonance, queer remembrances offer a more holistic approach to understanding the world around us. In this essay, we will explore how queer practices of remembrance can transform our perceptions of time, identity, and community through an analysis of four different forms of remembrance: ritual, narrative, mourning, and commemoration.
Rituals are often seen as a way to reinforce social norms and control individual behavior.
Queer remembrance challenges this viewpoint by creating new rituals that affirm alternative ways of being in the world.
Drag performances and gender nonconformity have become powerful symbols of resistance against heteronormativity and patriarchy, while sex parties and kink communities provide spaces for self-exploration and pleasure outside of conventional sexual scripts. These rituals demonstrate that memory can be collectively created, shared, and reinterpreted rather than imposed from above. They also challenge traditional notions of time by blurring the lines between past, present, and future, inviting participants to engage in playful, creative explorations of identity and desire.
Narratives are stories told about ourselves or other people's lives that shape our understanding of reality. Traditional philosophy often views these stories as objective accounts of events that have occurred but do not necessarily reflect personal experiences or values. Queer remembrance disrupts this assumption by centering subjective perspectives on sexuality, gender, race, ability, class, religion, etc., allowing individuals to reclaim their own memories and identities.
Black queer authors such as Audre Lorde have used writing to document marginalized experiences and resist dominant narratives that erase or dehumanize minorities. This emphasis on embodied knowledge allows us to see the intersections between different forms of oppression and imagine new possibilities for liberation through collective storytelling.
Mourning is a critical aspect of grieving loss, whether it be due to death, illness, trauma, or social exclusion. In traditional philosophies, mourning tends to follow strict guidelines and timelines dictated by societal norms and expectations.
Queer remembrances offer an alternative approach that prioritizes individual needs and emotional truth over conformity.
The AIDS Memorial Quilt was created by friends and family members who lost loved ones during the HIV/AIDS crisis, creating a communal space for grief that challenged medical and political authorities. By honoring those who died outside of mainstream society, they showed how mourning can become a form of resistance against heteronormative and capitalist structures that perpetuate injustice and suffering.
Commemoration refers to public ceremonies celebrating historical events or figures. Traditional philosophy often views these commemorations as objective representations of reality but fails to recognize how they can reinforce existing power imbalances. Queer remembrance subverts this viewpoint by highlighting marginalized groups' contributions to history and rewriting their stories from the perspective of LGBTQ+ people.
Pride parades have become an annual ritual for queer communities worldwide, commemorating past struggles and achievements while also celebrating diverse identities and expressions. This recognition of queer visibility and resilience disrupts dominant narratives that erase or distort our histories.
Queer practices of remembrance challenge traditional epistemologies by emphasizing embodied knowledge, lived experience, and emotional resonance. They create new rituals, narratives, and forms of mourning that allow us to understand ourselves and others in a more complex and nuanced way. By rejecting objectivity and embracing subjectivity, we can develop a deeper understanding of identity, community, and social justice.
How do queer practices of remembrance challenge traditional philosophical epistemologies?
Queer practices of remembering are often characterized by challenging normative assumptions about how memory works. Traditional philosophical epistemologies tend to privilege linear narratives that follow a singular chronology of events and emphasize objective facts over personal interpretations. In contrast, queer approaches highlight multiplicity, disruption, and fragmentation as key elements of recollective processes.