This reading was so fascinating because it described all of the different types of people there are and can be within the realms of queer culture, and hinted at the idea that there are almost limitless combinations for how people can identify themselves.
The overall message that I took away from this reading is that queer culture is anything but new, yet it is only now starting to be recognized as something more than just a section of fringe culture. It's history seems anything but linear, which is in line with the general definition of 'queer' itself.
This reading dispelled so many horrible preconceived ideas that were drilled in to my head growing up in a heavily Christian culture. For one, I don't have to flinch at the word queer because it can (and should) be viewed as a positive trait. So far, I'm learning that when it comes down to our inner most secret thoughts, we're all queer in one way or another, which makes sense given the many meanings and definitions of queer. I feel that is why a straight/gay binary would not truly fit ANYONE because, as some of the studies in this reading show, if someone professes to be completely straight to the point where they're homophobic, it is most likely because they are suppressing gay tendencies or secret gay desires.
It is readings like this that I want to mail home to my parents, and post on my Facebook account and talk about over coffee with friends. So many people have a misunderstanding of what queer means and this article just proved that not one of us is completely straight and probably, not one of us is completely gay. And we all have tendencies in between.
I really enjoyed your entry, I agree with your logic. I too wanted to send this posting home to force people to open their eyes and come down from lala land and understand how it's impossible to be completely identify with one group and those of them that do are typically hiding their queerness...
I really like how you pointed out that "queer culture is anything but new, yet it is only now starting to be recognized as something more than just a section of fringe culture". It is interesting to reflect on historical perceptions of queerness. Many ancient civilizations were accepting or accustomed to queer acts but somewhere down the line (often because of the spread of homosexuality-denouncing religion) it became the norm in many cultures to keep mum about anything outside of one man and one women relationships. I think it is about time that other forms of relationships, along a spectrum, are gaining recognition and acceptance, as people have always been inclined towards "queerness" throughout history.