was this video just an elaborate excuse for me to talk about queercore? maybe. but i hope you all enjoy it anyway lmao 💜

you radicalize me more and more with every video and honestly i don't complain, great job

imagine bashing your gay kid to your other kid but the other kid is fucking oscar wilde. iconic.

Yo, remember when this was an "experimental" look for Ashton? Oh, how far they've come (Lovely video by the way :>)

i didnt know that about the gay brothers and honestly that story is ICONIC also i was dying the whole time at your dramatic reading of the letter omg

Dude! The fact that you worked so hard for this is amazing and it turned out great! Keep on doing these things man!

I've been waiting for this video since you talked about it in your Dan Howell's video!

I would just like to say, your makeup is rad and this video is rad.

THIS IS SO GOOD ASHTON!!!!! you did such a great job, i loved the format, you explained everything really well, and definitely taught me some things! also the makeup is awesome

This was lovely and so well made! Thank you for giving this to all of us.

You can be proud of yourself! This video is amazing and was so educative! I briefly looked into the history of the word queer but never as much. I knew genderqueer was radical but didnt know about queer! Now everything makes more sense! No joke this video might be my favorite of all the youtube videos i watched! So interesting and educative! Now i know more about my own identity! Thanks you :) Also i really hope for other video essays, i loved the format! But no pressure, if you don't want to make any others or need a lot of time (wich i imagine you do with all the work you put into it, researches, sources, writting, filming and editing. Oh btw the editing was extremely good!!) It's ok! I just want to say that i loved this video and appreciated it a lot. Not to be cheesy or anything but the more videos you put out, the more you become my favorite youtuber!

(0:52) the German word "quer" actually just describes a diagonal line. It doesn't have any social implications.

this video is goddamn amazing!! I thought I knew a lot about the word queer and yet you've still taught me so much in such an engaging way, thank you for making this ❤︎

this was a really great essay! this is the first video of yours we've seen. we hope you don't mind, but here are just a few small details we noticed on it: - the subtitles were really great and we appreciated them! there are a few spots where we got thrown off because the subtitles don't exactly match what you say, but it's not exactly world-ending! still was so good to be able to track what you were saying, as folks with auditory processing issues. - the editing was really good, but it seemed like there were a lot of places where a cut would be just as you started to say something extra, so there'd be these jumps of noise before you start saying another thing. - as far as actually addressing the main argument goes, this was really really excellent and the biggest addition is that we feel it's important to note that not everyone who uses the term "the queer community" means all LGBTQIA+ people. like, as an example, we run a website which specifically is for queer people, and our definition is just "if you self-identify as queer" to leave it open - but that doesn't include all LGBTQIA+ people and that's perfectly okay. inclusive terminology is good, but sometimes when you're specifically targeting queers who are comfy with the label for reasons like its radical usage, the distinction can be useful, even if it's technically less inclusive. and it can be really important to think about who you might be excluding by this, especially in some contexts like the "gay voices" -> "queer voices" change for a news website where the change was probably to be more inclusive, yet still has a category of people who were still excluded.

This was an amazing and thorough explanation. Me and a few friends have started an organization in Louisiana called QUEERPORT, and we’ve had a lot of pushback from some of the liberal gays in our community about our name specifically. This video is a great resource to show people like that! Thank you :)

I've finally finished watching the video and I loved it! I specially liked the part at the start in which you talked about why you personally identified with the word queer, I related a lot. I also feel like my sexual orientation, my romantic orientation and my gender are very complicated and hard to encapsulate in just one word, so I like the word queer because it's more unspecific and vague. Unfortunately, I'm not from an English-speaking country (I'm from Spain), so here it's not used almost at all. I think most people in the community have heard of it, since US culture is so dominant globally (thanks imperialism), specially on the internet, but it hasn't catched on as a word people use to describe themselves, unlike "gay", which is obviously an English word but is also widely used here (it definitely sounds better than the other option, "homosexual", or than the big variety of homophohic slurs). It's also quite funny the contrast between what words are seen as more radical in Spanish and in English, the most radical left here in Spain is quite orthodoxically Marxist (when not Stalinist...) and they see this kind of things as some postmodernist, bourgeois, liberal nonsense. They also say that pansexuality is a biphobic and transphobic (???) term that only creates division and invisibilizes bisexuality, that acearospec and intersex people don't suffer any state-organized systematic discrimination and therefore don't belong in the community (and don't get me started on what they think about nonbinary people)... basically they believe that anything that isn't L, G, B or T is some neoliberal conspiracy. Of course this isn't universally shared by everyone on the radical left, specially not by the people that decide the policies of our main radical left political party (a Bernie Sanders-like progressive democratic socialist party polling around 14% of the vote, which here with our somewhat proportional electoral system translates to many seats in Congress), who seem to have more common sense, and of course there're many queer radical actvists who disagree, but you'll see this mindset everywhere among young radical activists and in radical left Twitter, and I find it rather frustrating, specially when a fellow LGBT+ radical person calls you a liberal or a "posmo" for disagreeing. Ultimately, the reason why I prefer the term "queer" to refer to the community instead of "LGBT" or "LGBT+", etc, it's because as you say it's rather awkward to use an acronym and it creates this hierarchy between the people who are "LGBT" and the people who are grouped together in the +, if we appear at all. But I also acknowledge that I may be biased since obviously here I haven't seen it used as a slur at all. Lastly, I have to say that I really enjoyed your video essay format and that I'd be glad to see more videos like this in the future from you (from any topic, I'm sure it'd be interesting). Love you Asthon :33

This was enlightening! My kid is trans, aromantic, and acespec and he uses “queer” to describe himself and I think it’s a term of empowerment for him too. I think he embraced the radical, non-assimilationist roots of the word as well. He recommended I subscribe to your channel. This was an education! It gave my partner and I lots to discuss, process, think about and ultimately support our child better. Thank you for all your hard work!!!

Absolutely love this video, very informative without being the slightest bit boring. The editing is amazing too. Thank you for making it!

this was amazing ! ive found that it's hard for me to remain fully aware/interested during long videos, especially video essays, but you were fully engaging ! the substance of your video was also incredibly eloquent & well-researched ! you did it again :)

Omg, I was doing a research for my podcast about the word queer during history and I really liked your work! You mentioned the good and the bad without hiding information! You did an amazing essay! Good luck and thank you❤

HELL YEAH ASHTON THIS IS EPIC AND IM ONLY LIKE 1/4 OF THE WAY THROUGH

oh man i was just thinking about this! im glad you touched on the usage of the word queer in anarchist spaces, compared to the lgbt+ acronym used in liberal spaces! very very interesting!! id love to hear more videos on anarchism and anarcho queer and tranarchist theory tbh, bc your view on it is really really good!

I finally got to finish watching this, so I'm leaving a comment just in case you seeee,,, THIS IS SO GOOD OMG AND YOUR EXCITEMENT AT THE END MADE ME SO HAPPY I can tell how much love and thought went into this GOOD HECKIN JOB, FREN ✨✨✨✨✨

ok sorry for commenting AGAIN but I just finished the video and WOW. dude. this is?? so good?? I can tell how much work u put into this & highkey appreciate that

This video essay is amazing!! Not only was your content beautifully organized and worded, but it was also entertaining and thoroughly thought-provoking. Thanks for working hard to educate, as well as, entertain on this channel; your commitment really shows.

I love how this was filmed and the parts of you reading the poetry and the acting got me dead 😂 love you Ashton ! (I also learned a lot,thank you !!!!)

I’m stoked for this

Ooh I have been waiting for this for a long time! I’ve only been able to watch half of it before leaving for uni but I’ll watch the rest soon! So far it’s so damn good, I love the little dramatic reading cutaway things you’ve been doing

I’ve been watching your videos for a while but somehow missed this one. This is excellent!

This is actually really well made ^^

damn this alfred guy is kinda cute

Thank you so much for making this video! I learned a lot watching it. Also, that song you included sounds pretty cool.

ashton this is fantastic, your hard work really paid off!!

this was a really good video and you were really well spoken! my only critique of it was about the pelon (i forgot his name LMAO) guy from huff post being anti-reclamation, while his politics are shitty and him typing out slurs that he cannot reclaim, that doesn’t make his aversion from the q word any less valid. it’s the same reason that many other older people don’t like the usage of it and there’s no way of finding out EVERY older LGBT person’s’ stance on reclamation and personal politics, shitty or not, so it doesn’t make sense to discredit negative feelings towards it solely based on that. also just wanted to add some of us radicals do know the history of the q word and still don’t use it for ourselves! i have only had it used negatively against me a few times (not a very common slur where i live) but for me i feel like it dilutes my identity when i’d rather just come out and say i’m trans and gay. i feel like it’s thrown around everywhere and used to describe anything remotely lgbt related and make it a more ~commercial-friendly~ version of saying lgbt, especially where i live LOL, that’s just my own personal reasoning for not wanting to apply it to myself, not cause of internalized homophobia etc etc it just seems diluted now so i’d rather stick with just the hard hitting Trans And Gay, but my reasoning isn’t everyone’s feelings so it do not matter lol. love ur stuff sorry for super long comment

omg i love how ashton pronounces "ou"

Hey Ashton! I loved this video and I totally agree with the end message/conclusion of your video. I love learning about lgbt+ history and this video was so well done! I know it was a lot of research and time but maybe one day it’d be cool to see another video like this💓 as for me and my relationship with the word queer, I’m kind of indifferent to it. I don’t personally use it because it doesn’t click for me, but I don’t have bad feelings around the word as I’m someone who has lucky enough not to have traumatic memories with that word. I will say that I don’t mind if I’m called queer or in a group included in that word, it’s just not a personal thing I use for myself.

This is a great video, and so well articulated. I will probably be referring anyone who asks me why I use to word queer to this video from now on. Nice one:)

I absolutely loved this! I only came to listen for a little, but you caught my attention and taught me a lot.

Super great video! You really covered a ton of stuff, while still regarding everyone in a respectful manner.

your eloquence and awesome explanations remind me of the way abigail from philosophy tube talks about stuff and dude it is awesome

I absolutely love this video. I identify as a non-binary trans man, and I’m also gay, so I choose to just say queer to sum that all up. I feel close to the word queer, and I like to describe myself as such because it resonates with me. However, it is important for those of us who claim queer as an identity or label to be respectful of others who do not feel described by queer, thus not using it to widely label people who do not wish to fall under that descriptor. I learned so much from this video. Thanks for creating such a lovely video essay Ashton!

I loved watching this. So educating whist being funny and entertaining.

this was super interesting! keep up the good work name twin

this is so long but: finally had time to listen to this during some studying, and I really loved it! I personally don't like the word queer used for ME in particular but am not bothered when other people use it for themselves - I already knew some of the history behind it as a slur but it's never, to my knowledge, been used against me. like you stated in the video, I understand why it's easier or maybe even better to use queer in reference to the lgbt+ community, but I always squirm a little knowing that it is being used for a large group of people who may not identify with queer. I think when it boils down to it, I become uncomfortable with the word as a descriptor for my identity because (while I know a lot of lovely queer people) I dislike the negative connotation it has had. besides that, I feel like I'm already comfortable with the other descriptors I use, and that those are loud enough. I really liked your addition at the end where you proclaimed your love for the word but also respected anyone who doesn't feel the same way you do - in the past I feel like some people have sort of pushed me to use the word queer because of how empowering and all-encompassing it can be for someone's identity, but I didn't like the way it was being tacked to me. anyways, lovely video ashton!

thank you so much for this video!

Wow, I think I’m in love. I thoroughly appreciate all of the effort you placed on delivering this succinct and critical overview of one the most important words of our time-thank you. Please keep making work like this, the world needs this level of critical analysis.

Amazing! Thank you ❤️

Such a helpfull video, very interesting and helped a lot with the preparation of my presentation. 10/10 for you

Your looks: Not what I expected to ever see, but interesting in a good way. It works pretty well! (will edit after I've watched the whole video)

I absolutely love this video! Thank you for all the education :)

Fucking amazing video Ashton, neatly chaptered and easy to understand, I would love to see more videos like this

It makes me so happy to see videos like this. I'm a small gay that lives with homophobic parents and went to a Christian school for my first 8 years of school even though my family isnt religious. Ive been lucky enough to not have slurs thrown at my face yet, but ive also been somewhat scared to actively search for Lgbtq+ and allies until recently. I can honestly say I'm happy i was introduced to ur channel and I hope to b as confident as u r someday

bless this video...... we absolutely stan

I love ❤️ this video and you look so great in your makeup and you also look so very happy and awake and upbeat & vibrant more than I actually am used to seeing you in most videos and you look so excited and fresh!!!!😁 I am also loving the content...it isn’t boring & it is very entertaining and you should make more videos like this and I really love the lighting in the video and special effects and how it is devided into chapters and it was very well edited and the content was excellent overall as well as extremely well worded and your voice was crystal clear you can literally also tell that it took you ages to plan this out and congratulations on all your hard work and endless effort and endless energy to make actually in my opinion one of the best videos I have ever experienced on your KZfaq channel keep up the awesome work I love 💕 it! Please make more similar videos to this and remember you are important and an excellent person and lgbt 🏳️‍🌈 activist and you also have a huge impact and inspiration on other people’s lives who are influenced by you who are experiencing very similar stuff that you & others go through daily & to everybody out their stay strong 💪 and remember you got this and no matter what you are important and needed on this earth and you are loved if not by everyone you at least have me and Ashton that love and support you and care about you very much through whatever journey you are going through stay strong & always remember you are special and you got this this life is yours! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜💝+ 🥰😍👍🏻🌸🌻🌼

This is why i love just telling ppl my sexual and gender identity is sus

WOW. I'm speechless, wonderful video! *THUMBS UP BIG TIME* I think editing would be the worst part too TBH! I just film mine and throw them out there lol!

For me, it's an empowering word because with me being my genderqueer, asexual, autistic self, I don't fit in with the rural-ish community I live in and I'm proud of it. Here, there is a lot of different=bad sentiment and some people really like to spread rumors about others, especially those who don't fit in, in typical village fashion. If this was in an English speaking country, the word queer would certainly be used against me. I'm different from the rest in many ways but unlike them, I'm not ashamed of it. I'm unapologetically and proudly queer, in the truest sense of the word. (also, the German word quer could roughly be translated as across or going in a different, somewhat perpendicular direction and that's just something I identify with very much)

These videos are the best 🖤

god those letters are so damn tender

I love how you scripted this: you're such a talented writer and I really enjoyed how you organized all the topics. I swear it would be so cool to be friends with you- also sorry I keep saying "you" since you might not get the chance to read this

I love this video and I don't know how I didn't find it earlier

Oh shit i just realized that back when i was a liberal, i didn't like the term, but after becoming a leftist I reclaim it for myself... never thought about that omg. Also i like it because it's a nice catch-all for not being het AND also having a complicated relationship with gender

I, too am inlined to choose to avoid any reclaimation of words with a history and also would dissuade, if also induces (more) internalised phobia, too, let alone, if overheard and taken out of context?

dude this is so awesome!!

You're voice deeep God bless you 🏳️‍🌈♥️

I loved this✨

You touched on a really good point... I, and almost everyone I know of my age or younger (under 30s) had the term gay used derogatorily towards us thousands times more than we ever even heard the word queer. Does that not matter about people's usage of the word gay as the word for the gay community? Like, I ain't gay cause I ain't a man, but that word was used to hurt me a lot when I was hiding as a boy. But I could get how if I was a man I would personally take some time to get used to being called gay and not hearing the hate behind the word. Just because gay is the one that the older gen got used to doesn't mean the younger gens have to get used to gay as well. Especially given queer, unlike gay, is no longer commonly used as an insult. So, if we go based on actual modern use; gay is out, queer is in.

Lol your makeup looks so good!

So....did you release a playlist of queer core music?

Oml awesome makeup u look beautiful! (1st comment)

Not sure if you know or mentioned but you may find interesting if new to you and that is that punk is a term from hobo vernacular referring to a young guy boy or teen that was eccentrically some older guy's honey.

"If I were to kick a homeless person because of their lack of wealth, that would be classism. But if I were to kick Jeff Bezos because of his wealth that would be praxis." 😂😂😂😂😂 Love it!

Excellent, good job

ive been waiting for this video for a while! and i got a good laugh at the jeff bezos thing

ONLY 5 MINUTES IN AND I LOVE IT🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈💕💕💕💕

The word breeder is one to do some more research on though. ;)

yo petition for ashton to just read gay poetry. like all the time.

I was drawing while watching this and messed something out of pattern then cried , how nerudivergent of me

Make up looks fantastic your a pro Ashton also the rainbow flag have you always had it or is it new

MOM HELP I'M LOST 😭

Sure; the Q works for you, and that's fine. (Ugh, the dreadful Bosie - such a rivulet.) And if it's going to be given a wide and easily recognized usage, it should probably apply to those for whom, like yourself, It's Complicated. It should not be applied (usually against our will) to those of us for whom It Isn't Complicated. I'd argue that it's the Q movement that's as assimilationist on one side as pushing to join the PTA is on the other. The Q-pushers want to blur vital differences and enforce community on a group of people who would mostly be better served by an amicable divorce. The radicals want to eradicate gay or at the very least make certain terms words of action instead of words of being. Merci, non. Use the Q for yourself and for those it fits. I will not use it, and I am about as anti-assimilationist as possible. Adopting the Q word for myself would be an acknowledgement that the right-wing harm that was done to me attached to that word was correct (the same applies to the F word). It would also be an acknowledgement that radical leftist anti-gay rhetoric is correct. Again, merci, non. I do hope your side wins the future. I foresee a time when the pressure to claim the Q will grow so great that those of us who don't will be demonized by those who do. At least you aren't pushing for that. In my neck of the woods, the follow-up was "We're not going shopping!"

Wait im confused whats wrong with The Human Rights Campaign?

aaaaaa so good so good aaaaaa

why are you so cool?

We need another draft. Please let ww3 strat and the firey flames cleanse these lands.

Ah yes the Canadain states. Like Alberta. And Nunavut. Yup. Staaaaates. Not provinces and territories. Staaaaates. Because everywhere has staaaaates.

You have a v nice voice and an obvious talent on speech. And also you are an anarchist but hate libertarians? What?

I like your makeup.

oh no 666 likes and 66 dislikes spooky 😨😨😨

No offense, but you kinda look like Hunter Avallone

🤢🤮

Ew