Both the terms queer and gay are a part of wider term LGBTQ which is an acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning. These terms are related to human sexuality, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Queer

The term ‘queer’ is used by people whose sexual orientation is not exclusively heterogeneous. The terms lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender are not exact definitions to understand their gender identity. ‘Queer’ is a wider umbrella term encompassing gender minorities who are neither heterosexual nor cisgender.

Gay

The term ‘gay’ is used as an adjective for people who have physical, emotional, romantic attraction for the people of same sex. ‘Gay’ is used in context of males and ‘lesbian’ for females.

First use of the term Queer was once considered pejorative against the people with same-sex relationships in the late 19th century. The term was taken up by Queer Nation (a LGBTQ activist organization in 2000s and it was increasingly used to describe a wide range of non-normative sexual and gender identities. Do you know anything? please share