Some Queer Thoughts about the “Weird” Discourse
If you’ve been paying any attention to U.S. politics over the last week or so, then you’re probably aware that Democrats have taken to calling MAGA Republicans “weird.” (For those unaware, this article provides an overview.)
I will admit that I didn’t quite get the appeal of this strategy at first. For starters, the adjective “weird” seems to undersell how scary MAGA policies (such as Project 2025) and rhetoric actually are. On top of that, like many artists and queer folks, I have long embraced the fact that I am “weird” — that is, I differ from the norm in certain important respects.
Normally, I would say: People will inevitably differ from the norm in all sorts of ways, so we should learn to appreciate those differences. Thus, calling politicians we disagree with “weird” seems counterproductive, at least in this regard.
But over the last few days, MAGAs have suffered a complete meltdown over the word. They have been unable to formulate a coherent rebuttal to this charge, other than claiming that it is somehow “wrong” or “unfair” to call them “weird.” To be clear, this is a political party that routinely (and baselessly) smears their opponents as “groomers,” “vermin,” and “satanists” — words which are far more dehumanizing and demonizing than “weird” ever could be.
So why the big freak-out over the relatively mundane word “weird?”
I think it has to do with the MAGA worldview being centered on them being the supposed norm. They are heavily invested in the notion that their perspective and lifestyle is the one true and righteous way that all others must follow. Calling them “weird” upends this worldview.
In this sense, the word “weird” is like the word “queer.” These words are not pejoratives if you are comfortable with the fact that you fall outside the norm. But if you call or insinuate that a straight person is “queer,” they will sometimes flip the fuck out. Those who freak out tend to be the ones who believe that straightness is the one true and righteous way that all people must follow. I think “weird” is evoking a similar visceral reaction here.
If the idea of being different from the norm (with regards to sexuality or otherwise) freaks you the fuck out, then you most certainly have a problem on your hands. The problem isn’t that you are “weird” per se. It’s that it is severely unhealthy — both for an individual’s psychology and for a pluralistic democracy — to be freaked out by difference in other people. And unfortunately, that’s the MAGA worldview in a nutshell.
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