What being ‘queer’ means as JoJo Siwa says she’s ‘no longer a lesbian’ after CBB experience

JoJo Siwa, the influencer and singer famous for the song 'Karma', has spoken about how she feels she is ‘queer’ on Celebrity Big Brother.

Siwa announced the realisation regarding her sexual orientation when speaking to fellow housemate Danny Beard, one of the winners of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, saying: “I think I've always told myself I'm a lesbian. I think you - I think being here - I've realised I am not a lesbian, I’m queer.”

Siwa’s revelation will be a sweet moment for members of the LGBTQ+ community to see a young star openly talking about their struggles with defining their sexuality, a common experience for young LGBTQ+ people.

But many will be wondering what exactly the difference in the distinction is.

What does being ‘Queer’ mean and what is the history of the word?

The term has been reclaimed by the LGBTQ+ community (Circle Creative Studio via Getty Images)

Queer was a normal term used up until the 20^th century for something peculiar or unusual. This was then co-opted by homophobes as a slur against LGBTQ+ people for being perceived as being ‘unnatural’.

LGBTQ+ communities, however, have in many cases reclaimed the term, with ‘We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it’, being a common and unifying chant at pride events.

Though many still consider the term to be an offensive slur, others have reclaimed it, using it as a catchall term.

The expansive word can be used in the context of both sexuality and gender identity, with Stonewall saying it is used by ‘those wanting to reject specific labels of sexual orientation and/or gender identity’.

Speaking about the origins of the term as an identifier of sexual orientation, Maya Satya Reddy, founder of the Queer Asian Social Club told CNN: “Queerness is cloudy by definition –– essentially, what is not the norm… I think queerness gave and still gives me a lot of space to flow between identities or what something means to me on that day.”

What has JoJo Siwa said on Celebrity Big Brother?

JoJo Siwa spoke about the term on Celebrity Big Brother, which comes just two weeks after Mickey Rourke drew controversy for making homophobic remarks to Siwa, telling her that after four days with him she ‘wouldn’t be a lesbian’ anymore.

Siwa’s decision, though, is nothing to do with Mickey Rourke or his disgusting remarks, stating that it is by being around housemate Danny Beard and spending time on the show she came to that realisation.

She went on to say of the choice to identify as queer rather than as a lesbian: “I think that's really cool, I'm switching letters! I've dropped the L and I've gone to the Q baby! That's what I love about sexuality.”

Beard responded with a sweet joke saying: “And you know what British people love more than anything? To queue!"

Siwa’s partner, Kath Ebbs, is non-binary and uses she/they pronouns rather than cisgender pronouns such as he/him or she/her.

Earlier this year, Siwa spoke in an interview on Celebs Go Dating star Paul C. Brunson’s podcast We Need to Talk, saying of Ebbs: "I have the most amazing, beautiful partner, they are an incredible human being who I don't know how I snagged them at all.

"With Kath, I just trust them beyond trust."