Who are you calling strange?

'Queer' does not mean 'strange', although from about the 16th century to the mid-19th century, this is exactly what the word meant (it had nothing to do with sexuality).

'Queer' is not a homophobic insult, although from about the late 19th century through much of the 20th century, it was used in this way. Towards the end of the 20th century, 'queer' was reclaimed as a positive term of self-identification, which stripped the word of its derogatory power.

'Queer' is not necessarily a political term. It certainly can be, however, and since the 1980s, it has been embraced by numerous anti-assimilationist and radical gay groups.