Before we can support and preserve queer culture in a world where assimilation seems to be the mainstream modus operandi, let’s first try to define what queer culture is.

What you qualify as LGBTQ culture will depend heavily on your self-identified segment and/or segments of the community and your own demographics. Still, there are some queer culture clues and characteristics that apply no matter your personal identity mix.

Queer culture is made up of four main parts:

• Works by and for LGBTQ people
• An understanding of LGBTQ social movements
• Recognition of out figures who represent different factions of LGBTQ life including artists, celebrities, creators, drag kings and queens, etc.
• Acknowledgement of historical figures who identified as LGBTQ or expressed same-sex attraction and/or gender non-conforming identities.

Whatever kind of LGBTQ works you admire, whichever queer movements and social causes you support, and whomever LGBTQ people inspire you, there are steps that we can take to keep queer culture alive.

Here are 10 of them.

Engage LGBTQ political figures

There are elected officials and vocal advocates who share your vision. They need your time and donations to gain and protect your rights. Local advocates are waiting and say engaging is rewarding and easier than ever.

Support LGBTQ artists

Attend shows, buy their work, share their sites and feeds.

Read and share queer media

Atlanta has dwindling choices, and Project Q is proud to be the best for daily fresh takes.

Wield your power

Politicize and prioritize your queerness. Talk about it. Make it incidental to discussions of equality and social justice.

Attend LGBTQ events

From annual festivals to weekly shows, gather together. We list options every weekend.

Live your love openly

Like Mama always said, love is better when you show it.

Consume queer content

Music, writing, films, art and performances.

Reject total mainstream assimilation

It’s good to be part of the whole. It’s bad to be unidentifiable from the rest of it.

Embrace intersections

Queerness is more than sexuality and gender identity, and we are more than either or both. Celebrate your multi-faceted self — your race, your ace, your kink, your monogamy or non-monogamy.

Reclaim your history

Queer lineage is long and winding. Learn it. Who was at the Compton Cafeteria Riots? What was the GLF? Who were the Salsa Soul Sisters?

This feature also appeared in Q ATLus magazine. Read the latest issue here:

Pick up each weekly edition of QATLus at LGBTQ and allied venues around Atlanta, and find fresh content right here every day.