Queer impostor syndrome is a very real phenomenon. It manifests when individuals question whether they are ‘queer enough’ to be part of the community. 

Whether it comes from an internal questioning of their sexuality or they believe they don’t look like their queer peers, they might feel the need to prove to themselves and the rest of the world that, indeed, they belong in the community. 

So, what exactly is imposter syndrome? 

This term refers to the feeling of being inadequate despite proven success. In a queer sense, Mental Health America says it refers to LGBTQ+ individuals that are unsure if they are queer enough. 

Queer imposter syndrome may arise from different contexts. These emotions emerge as a result of various life experiences that shape somebody’s perception of their sexuality and how they present it to the outside world.

For instance, when somebody comments that a person “looks straight”, it might sound like a harmless observation at first. But for individuals still navigating their sexual identity, it can be a struggle to deal with.

Similarly, some may struggle with impostor syndrome because they haven’t yet fully come out, or have never had a sexual experience that matches what they perceive to be the queer experience.

The issue can also be fueled by not listening to queer musicians, not enjoying queer art, or not dressing in a queer-coded way (how society expects you to dress if you are queer). These factors together can make people question their belonging within the community.

These feelings often stem from the internal conflict between personal identity and societal expectations—caused by being assumed straight from birth and later trying to fit into the stereotypes shown in movies and television shows. In other words, the constant trial of being straight until proven queer.

In today’s globalised world, the internet has amplified these stereotypes, further perpetuating rigid ideas of what a ‘proper’ queer identity should look like. Social media and online communities have made these expectations more pronounced, and many LGBTQ+ individuals may feel pressured to fit into these stereotypes. 

However, it’s important to remember that there is no singular or right way to be queer. 

Just as with heterosexual people, queer people’s experiences and degree of emotional investment in their identity is unique to each individual, and changes over time.   

At its core, the LGBTQ+ community is a safe space for those who don’t conform to heteronormativity. Let’s not fall into the temptation of imposing a queer mirrored version of those standards, which we have always tried to tackle.

And if that happens, because it is part of human nature to categorise to understand things, we should resist the temptation to impose rigid queer standards and embrace the idea that it’s perfectly fine not to fit every mold.