THE SHAPE OF QUEER - ASSIMILATION AND ARTICULATION

The rise of queer theory and activism have posed problems of identity and of goals. Queer theory has problematized identity, including queer identity: who or what Is queer? Queer activism, on the other hand, ha s been fraught with those challenging sexual boundaries and those for whom ''queer'' is just the new name for gays and lesbians. Many of the se latter activists reject earlier politics, and are in danger of retu rning to interest-group liberalism as a result. This paper sketches th ese problems and argues that wholesale rejection of lesbian-feminism a nd gay liberation is a mistake. The broader vision of these movements offers the possibility of articulation with other movements for change , and this possibility must be renewed and rethought.