Is Queer A Bad Word?

The traditional meaning of the word "queer" is "strange".  One can use the word to mean strange, without offense, if the word is applied as originally interpreted:  "It was a queer day; the sun rose and set over an ominous layer of gray clouds that never seemed to part."

But somewhere along the way, the meaning of the word as applied to homosexual orientation derived.  To refer to someone with that orientation as "a queer" or that he/she is "queer (it's more often applied to male rather than female homosexuals for some odd reason) is considered derogatory, crass, and hateful.

There is more than one way to use the word queer.  If you are referring to a homosexual it is insulting to them.  If you are just calling someone that to be mean, it is worse than insulting it is hateful.  On the other hand, you can say someone is queer meaning that they are unusual or different and not exactly like everyone else.  As far as queer being vulgar or a cuss word, it is not. Do be careful how you use it, you don't want people to think you are rude or hateful.  

It is just not a nice way to put it