Meaning
What does Smear the Queer mean?
Smear the queer is a children’s game, similar to reverse tag and to football.
The rules are simple; players throw a ball up and whoever is closest to it when it lands is the queer.
The rest of the players then proceed to try to tackle or “smear the queer” which, when done, starts the game anew.
Origin
What's the origin of Smear the Queer?
It is unclear where “smear the queer” exactly originates from, however it has been played by people all over America for the most part of the last century.
The rhyming, rhythmic name of the game has been shouted and uttered by kids for over a hundred years as of March 23rd, 2021.
Spread & Usage
How did Smear the Queer spread?
The game was first defined on Urban Dictionary in 2003, with a couple of other entries being written on the topic since that time.
There has been a debate on the internet, whether or not the game’s name is homophobic or not.
This debate would appear on various articles and Reddit threads.
In 2020 Lance Knippers & The Shadowband released a song titled Smear the Queer on YouTube.
External resources
- The Post and Courier – Smear the Queer — A Lesson from the Playground
- Queer Majority – Smear the Queer