The adjective queer [‘kwɪə(ɹ)] is an Anglicism and umbrella term for people, actions, or things that, through the expression of their sexual orientation or gender identity, define themselves in contrast to societal cisgender heteronormativity.
Historically, queer was used with a negative connotation — meaning “strange, odd, or suspicious” — to devalue homosexual individuals. Since the mid-1990s, however, queer has been increasingly reclaimed as a positive self-designation, particularly among non-heterosexual people.
Style-conscious feminists use clothing to transcend traditional gender roles — as a political statement and an expression of lived identity.
This portrait piece follows queer individuals who use fashion as a tool for feminist self-determination and visibility. Between everyday life and activism, style and conviction, it paints a multifaceted picture of how clothing can become a language — for tolerance, for diversity, for a different kind of togetherness.
