Queer – an opportunity?

What actually makes “queer” an opportunity?

If I'm gay or trans*, or if I come out, then I'm taking a path that's often not yet considered "normal." Many things are possible today – but the common perceptions are often still the same: father, mother, child. A man is a man, a woman is a woman. And a woman loves a man, a man loves a woman. Or are they?

We mostly grow up with old role models in which men are supposed to be "masculine" and women "feminine." This affects not only the idea of family, but also many social attributions:
A man is "Doctor," a woman is "Nurse." Women cry and know about waterproof makeup. Men are the tech geeks and have to help out at every event when their laptop breaks down. But if you look closer, you realize that these categories are far too narrow.

And what if I am “different”?

Then I can examine what this means for me and my inner role models. Then I can recognize: I am God's beloved child – just as I am.

I'm allowed to be me, even if there may not be a label for it. I'm allowed to develop. I don't have to categorize myself (again). I am me.

My difference is neither a flaw nor an illness. Concepts of "man" and "woman" are shaped by society—and these are not set in stone. Because every human being has both masculine and feminine aspects. The clear distinction between "male" and "female" is often a limitation that prevents us from developing our full selves.

Queer means growing beyond these narrow categories – and therein lies an opportunity.