The Word 'Gay'

[lupestripe]

When did the word 'gay' start to be used to describe something bad or to be ridiculed? And isn't the repeated use of the word in this way a tacit acceptation of discrimination? The fact that the word was used repeatedly during my secondary schools days in such a negative way caused untold problems when it eventually came to accepting my sexuality. I rarely agree with Peter Tatchell but I think the overuse of the word in the playground and online to describe bad things sometimes does have negative connotations. Or am I just suffering from a humour by-pass?

Comments

[rustyfox.livejournal.com]

Humour by-pass.

In the playground it might have been a little bit nastier, but for me that was over 20 years ago, and kids are hardly known for their compassion. I've since only ever read / heard 'gay' as any derogatory term being used in mild jest - equally as often by us filthy gays as much as anyone else.

What's life if you can't laugh at yourself?

[megadog.livejournal.com]

Indeed. Playground banter is all about abusive terminology and learning to live with/adapt-so-you-can-reflect-abuse-back-at-your-abusers.

I'd really hate it if the word "Gay" were to be seen as off-limits and politically-incorrect to the point that it then gets 'reclaimed' by identity-politics types to the point it can only legitimately be used by-gays about-gays (like 'nigga' has become in black circles).

[shep-shepherd.livejournal.com]

"What's life if you can't laugh at yourself?"

Indeed. I actually use the word in mild jest myself from time to time :)

[darkone238.livejournal.com]

That's really gay



:P