Yesterday, Lady Rebel Club announced me as their Neuroqueer Ambassador.
This raises many queries, which I am delighted to answer! I hope this will open up some really good conversations. There is nothing like respectful curiosity.
Firstly, can I clarify that Lady Rebel Club is trans and non-binary inclusive. Otherwise, I would not be involved, as a bisexual and gender non-conforming woman myself, proud mother of queer teenagers, and a fierce ally to the trans and non-binary community.
The term ‘neuroqueer,’ coined by Dr Nick Walker in 2008, works on different levels.
You can read more about it in her book ‘Neuroqueer Heresies’, or here on her website: ttps://neuroqueer.com/neuroqueer-an-introduction/
As Dr Nick Walker explains, ‘I originally conceived of neuroqueer as a verb: neuroqueering as the practice of queering (subverting, defying, disrupting, liberating oneself from) neuronormativity and heteronormativity simultaneously’.
‘Queer’ is a verb as well as an adjective. Here is one definition of queer (the verb):
‘To question or challenge norms: Historically, “queer” has been used as a verb to describe the act of challenging or questioning societal norms, particularly those related to gender identity, sexual orientation, or social expectations’.
As Dr Nick Walker reminds us, ‘I should first of all acknowledge that any effort to establish an “authoritative” definition of neuroqueer is in some sense inherently doomed and ridiculous, simply because the sort of people who identify as neuroqueer and engage in neuroqueering tend to be the sort of people who delight in subverting definitions, concepts, and authority’.
Neuroqueering, then, is a form of rebellion? Well, that certainly fits with Lady Rebel Club!
Language evolves and expands, and I mainly use ‘neuroqueer’ to refer to matters relating to both neurodivergence and queerness. This is in recognition of my work to promote acceptance and inclusion for people on the ‘double rainbow’ intersection; those on both the neurodivergent spectrum and the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. Also it ties in with Weird Pride Day which I support to counter the damaging effect of normative bullies, freeing us to be our weird and divergent selves. Normality is not the standard for humanity. Weird is wonderful!
I will be talking more about the ‘double rainbow’ as we approach 5 April 2024, which I have dubbed ‘Double Rainbow Pride Day’ in memory of my eldest child Iggy who was weird, wacky and wonderful. Iggy was a generally happy soul, many things brought him joy and delight. But he was tormented by mean kids who bullied him for his differences. Iggy ended his life on 5 April 2019, aged 15. I rebel against normative expectations in his memory, and for my daughters and others like them. And for my younger self, who did not have my newfound confidence to be unashamedly weird.
Ausome Charlie 