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]

That would include me then, and I for one am not in the slightest bit insulted by it, and I firmly believe people like Thatchell should just shut the hell up and stop making out I'm being constantly repressed by every silly little thing. He's only liable to cause more harm. I'm not on a crusade and I never for one moment want anybody I meet to have a pre-conceived notion that I'm gay and therefore on a huge defensive, especially over something petty such as a word or name-calling. I'm actually very chilled out, but do resent groups like Stonewall making all this spammy noise on my behalf.

My point still stands; if the people who seriously intend "gay!" as a meaningful insult become aware of all the fuss and nonsense to make them stop, then naturally, they're going to carry on using it, maybe even more-so. Great work, Stonewall. Especially children, who have a knack for exploiting any personal weakness with ruthless effect. I've never heard of a single adult shouting "gay!" as an insult, and if anybody does, I hardly think they're going to stop and consider wider implications of what they're saying before verbally putting someone down. Abhorrent and narrow-minded people will still behave that way regardless, and that's something everybody has to deal with now and again.

And as for me, I'll jolly well carry on using it as a joke! People really need to chill out over issues like this, I firmly believe that. The best way to diffuse a situation is to make light of it, and let people for their own opinions over time.

(Personally though, I am much more concerned about individual children on the receiving end of such taunting, particularly if they are gay or confused. That some idiot might think my being gay is the worst thing ever doesn't bother me one jot, but to think there are young people driven to suicide over school bullying is hopelessly sad. To hijack their suffering and turn it into a wider non-issue for nameless grown up people is, to me, downright selfish. I'm not crying - but somewhere, somebody is because of personal abuse by horrible vicious people. That's what needs attention.)

[schnee.livejournal.com]

I have no idea who Stonewall or Thatchell are. Feel free to continue using the word the way you are, too; it doesn't really matter. To be honest, I'm not even sure we're talking about the same thing.

[rustyfox.livejournal.com]

Stonewall are a UK charity (although I think pressure-group might be more appropriate) to "promote" LGBT issues, whose output nearly always leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Peter Thatchell (mentioned way back in Lupe's post!) is a rather outspoken activist too, whose bile also I rarely ever agree with.

Actually now that I check, seems that Thatchell doesn't have anything to do with Stonewall, so my bad. In fact he's been critical of them also, I assumed he must promote them as I find both their ravings equally inane and self-serving. They've both jumped on the "gay is not an insult!" homophobic bandwagon before now.

[schnee.livejournal.com]

Ah, I see.