GOTH QUEER FASHION SCENE
Before we dive right into it, what is the denotation of the word ‘queer’. The word in itself has quite a journey. The term literally means ‘peculiar’ or ‘strange’. It was used as a derogatory term in terms of defining gender up until its new meaning in the 21st century. Queer is an umbrella term for all those who do not identify as cisgender or heterosexual. The term Queer has gained new meaning with more and more people embracing their sexuality and turning towards the term to define themselves. Queer is a term contained in the LGBTQ flag.
When it comes to Goth, a lot of debate has arisen over the fact the question of why we need a ‘queer’ goth fashion as such when there exists the idea of androgynous clothing in the culture which the cisgender and heterosexual can also use. It is still a disputed idea but lets just say that not including it in the culture would be again a sort of epistemic violence where we try to hide the fact that these people do not have a gender. And since fashion is a tool of communication, it would be an absolute denial of someone’s right to express their sexuality.
Queer fashion, to be honest, in the Goth scene has a mixture of a lot of cultural elements along with reference to gender. It does make the use of a lot of androgynous clothing that is available in the community as well. Most vibrant, in our opinion is the hair and the hairstyles. Some of them do not make a gender statement, for example, the traditional Goths rocked a hairstyle that was and still is accepted within both the gender based and queer community. Others, such as the Victorian Goth were very much to make a traditional statement.
So instead, you’ll see a reversal there. Instead of keeping a long mane, most queer groups ought to do the opposite. Some dynamics are even adopted from the mainstream fashion such as using a wig (usually drag queens and transgender men use it). The community is prone to using pastel shades a lot as well. Also, their makeup is usually inspired from the drag community adding to the much needed flair that they need. The goth queer fashion trope does not work onto create a shock in the community to be noticed but just dramatizes the cigendered looks to suit their own.
However, the most important thing to notice is that they are people just like us. Their sexuality does not define their way of treatment in our or any other culture for that matter. We, as a community been labeled as weird, queer and peculiar by the mainstream media and that is what these people have been too. The best part about goth? We accept them as they are and do not let gender or sexuality as a filter to define the way they are to be treated in the community. More love and support to fellow Goths who are struggling to get out of the closet or are out of it. Remember, the closet is for your black clothes (and bones), not for you.
