Queer is an identity, an umbrella term, and often considered a movement, for individuals for sexual and gender minorities, and individuals who fall outside of and/or reject the cultural norms around sexuality, gender identity, and/or gender expression. The word queer can mean different things to different individuals, but the most common definition is someone who is not cishet/someone with variant experiences with orientation, gender, and/or sex. The Queer Movement has largely been about anti-conformity and the rejection of binaries and being pushed into boxes. Similar to the term queer is the term variant.

Queer is often used as an umbrella term for those in the LGBTA+ community (though not all individuals in the LGBTA+ community identify as queer). One may identity as queer in addition to another identity (ie, queer gay, queer bisexual, etc). It can also be used be as an orientation on its own or as gender identity (see genderqueer). As an orientation on its own it is often found useful by, but is not exclusive to:

• individuals who have a complicated identity that is difficult to explain with a single term.
• individuals whose relationships/orientation cannot be classified using gay, straight, or other common terms due to being non-binary.
• individuals who are unsure of their orientation, but know they aren't straight.
• individuals who are not straight but do not want to label themselves with a more specific term.

The term is sometimes capitalized when referring to an identity or community, rather than as a general adjective.