Single Release
Almo Sounds released "Queer" as the band's second single to alternative radio in the United States at the end of August 1995, upfront of the August 15th North American release date of Garbage. The song debuted at the end of September on the Modern Rock Tracks chart at number 30. The following week, Garbage debuted on the Billboard 200 at number 193, having spent the previous four weeks as a rising Heatseekers title. At the beginning of October, "Queer" debuted at number 62 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart, peaking a week later at number 57. In mid-November, remixes of "Queer" were sent to clubs. "Queer" peaked at 12th on the Modern Rock chart in its ninth week, but did not earn enough airplay to chart in the Billboard Hot 100. The song eventually finished its run on the Modern Rock chart in December 1995, for a total of 14 weeks.
In October 1995, "Queer" was issued as the band's second single in Australia and New Zealand. White issued a three-track CD single and cassette single backed with two newly-recorded tracks, "Girl Don't Come" and "Sleep", which had been recorded for the UK release of "Only Happy When It Rains". "Queer" peaked at number 55 in Australia, spending twelve weeks on the ARIA charts. In New Zealand, "Queer" debuted on the RIANZ charts at number 45 at the start of November, rising to a number 37 peak three weeks later. Across Europe, "Queer" was issued by BMG in a similarly configured CD single; a three-track release backed with "Girl Don't Come" and "Sleep". In Belgium's Wallonia-region, "Queer" peaked at number 24 at the end of January 1996. "Queer" debuted and peaked at 7th in Iceland the following month. In Spain, "Queer" peaked at number 33 on the airplay chart. In April 1996, performed "Queer" live on French television show Nulle Part Ailleurs and headlined a show at the Élysée Montmartre in Paris; BMG France released a three-track CD single of "Queer" featuring "Trip My Wire" and the Rabbit In the Moon remix.
Initially, Mushroom Records had scheduled "Queer" to be the lead single for the UK release of the debut album Garbage, matching the international single release strategy. At last minute, it was decided to release "Only Happy When It Rains" upfront of the album, with "Queer" rescheduled to later in 1995 to coincide with the band's first UK live show. "Queer" was quickly picked up by radio, and was B-listed by Radio One, whose breakfast slot DJ Chris Evans championed it as his "Single of the Week", and playlisted by Virgin Radio. "Queer" reached number 35 on the airplay chart. Mushroom issued the single on a limited edition 7" vinyl and a gold and silver CD single set on November 20, 1995. Each CD single was backed with a newly recorded track; "Trip My Wire" on the first and a cover version of The Jam's "Butterfly Collector" on the second. Four remixes of the title track were spread out across the CDs, with one also appearing on the flipside of the vinyl. Early indications showed that the single had a midweek position of 10, however at the end of its first week on-sale, "Queer" debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 13. That week, Garbage made a live appearance to perform the single on Top of The Pops, and performed both "Queer" and "Only Happy When it Rains" on MTV's Most Wanted.
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