Queer theory often falls impotent in its palatability across disciplinary lines. I offer a conceptual paper that interrogates the disease and divide when considering queer theory in and for the health sciences. In so doing, I look to foster a process of making queer theory more tenable to applied practice - and to make practice in social work, at least, more queer. The exemplar of HIV is deconstructed as a preeminent discourse and health disparity. In the end, it is argued that queer theory may be an essential intervention in the arsenal of the helping professions.
Keywords: HIV/AIDS; Queer theory; identity; social work.