![]() Although they recognize that non-Black people may attempt to use it in a celebratory way, Blain says intention isn’t enough. ![]() “I think people assume that I want to hear that from them, or that I want them to sort of validate my Blackness by saying that.”īlain thinks it’s inappropriate for non-Black people to use the phrase and that it’s stealing from Black culture. It’s especially frustrating for Blain when people who aren’t Black use the term ‘Yas Queen’ to try to connect with them. “Black folks are sort of vilified for the way that they speak or the way that they dress, yet if a white person or a non-Black person does that or puts that on it’s cool and desirable,” they said. “It’s not a word that comes from oppression like the N-word so to me it doesn’t have that ‘Oh my God, why are you using that word?’ feeling to me, it’s just like make sure you’re know you’re using it right, and know where it came from.”įor Cicely-Belle Blain, a diversity and inclusion consultant in Vancouver (who uses they/them gender pronouns), there’s a double-standard when people who aren’t Black use language originating from Black communities. ‘yas queen’ is sometimes yelled encouragingly at performers during competition. He sees his work as promoting and uplifting Black culture, and wants people of all backgrounds to participate. Miyake-Mugler organizes balls in Toronto, which are parties rooted in queer Black culture and include competitive vogue dancing and drag performance. “I have no problem with it, it’s not a Black-exclusive word, to me it’s like, just know where it came from,” he said. Twysted Miyake-Mugler, of the Toronto Kiki Ballroom Alliance, said it doesn’t upset him to hear non-Black people using the term, if they’re using it correctly. “We’re not going to police the word because (we) racialized people have already been policed enough … (but) try to find out where you learn stuff from, not just say it.” Guerra Maynes said he won’t stop non-Black people from using the term. “Many folks in our queer community, especially the white folks, are not seeing what are the (achievements) … or the supports in our community, that were created by people of colour, or Black queer people,” he said. Johnson built the foundation of the queer liberation movement. And many remain ignorant to the fact that trans women of colour such as Marsha P. Osmel Guerra Maynes, executive director of the queer resource centre Qmunity, sees white queer people using ‘yas queen’ as part of a larger pattern of ignoring the contributions and struggles of queer Black people and queer people of colour.įor example, he said, many white people have adopted the saying, while simultaneously failing to speak up when they hear a racist remark. While they held differing opinions on whether it’s ever OK for non-Black people to use the term, they all said it’s particularly upsetting when people use it without knowing it originated from Black women and queer Black culture. The Star interviewed four LGBTQ+ Black people who are leaders in community organizing and the arts. This festival wants to reinvigorate the identity of Vancouver’s Black community “As a Black person, when I hear white people say things like that it makes me feel wildly uncomfortable, and honestly it makes them look so stupid,” she said.Īn artist trying to make ends meet, Aganaba recalls her young white colleagues bandying about the phrase at the cannabis dispensary where she worked last year. The phrase, which is a rallying cry of encouragement among Black women and queer people of colour, originates from Black vogue and drag scenes, and was likely first used by Black trans women.īut as with many other aspects of Black culture, the white mainstream has glommed onto it, without knowing its origin, causing frustration among many queer Black people.įor Vancouver musician Tonye Aganaba, hearing white people say ‘yas queen’ is equally jarring as being called the N-word. VANCOUVER-‘Yas Queen,’ if you haven’t heard it by now, maybe you’re out of touch with the youth, maybe you don’t exchange gifs on social media very often, and you’ve probably never seen an episode of Rupaul’s Drag Race.
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